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MARCH-APRIL 1979 NUMBER 30 REVIEW $1.50 Interviews: JOAN D. VINGE STEPHEN R. DONALDSON

Orson Scott Card - - Elton Elliott - Bill Warren SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW Formerly THE ALIEN CRITIC

P.O. Be* 11408 MARCH, 1979 — VOL.8, no.2 Portland, OR 97211 WHOLE NUMBER 30

RICHARD E. GEIS, editor & publisher CONFUCIUS SAY MAN WHO PUBLISHES ALL LIFE DOOMED TO PUBLISHED BI-MONTHLY SEEK MIMEOGRAPH IN HEAVEN, HEKTO- COVER BY JAN., MARCH, MAY, JULY, SEPT., NOV. Based on "Hellhole" by GRAPH IN (To appear in ASIMOV'S SF MAGAZINE) SINGLE COPY — $1.50 ALIEN THOUGHTS by the editor...... 4 PUOTE: (503) 282-0381 INTERVIEW WITH JOAN D. VINGE CONDUCTED BY DARRELL SCHWEITZER....8 LETTERS------THE VIVISECTOR GEORGE WARREN...... A COLUMN BY DARRELL SCHWEITZER. .. .14 JAMES WILSON...... PATRICIA MATTHEWS. YOU GOT NO FRIENDS IN THIS WORLD ...... # 2-8-79 ORSON SCOTT CARD.. A REVIEW OF SHORT FICTION LAST-MINUTE NEWS ABOUT GALAXY BY ORSON SCOTT CARD...... 20 NEAL WILGUS...... DAVID GERROLD...... Hank Stine called a moment ago, to THE AWARDS ARE Ca-IING!I! RICHARD BILYEU.... say that he was just back from New York and conferences with the pub­ BY ORSON SCOTT CARD...... 24 GEORGE H. SCITHERS ARTHUR TOFTE...... lisher. [That explains why his INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN R. DONALDSON ...... phone was temporarily disconnected.] The GAIAXY publishing schedule CONDUCTED BY NEAL WILGUS...... 26 JONATHAN BACON.... SAM MOSKOWITZ...... is bi-monthly at the moment, and AND THEN I READ.... DARRELL SCHWEITZER there will be upcoming some special separate anthologies issued in the BOOK REVIEWS BY THE EDITOR...... 31 CHARLES PLATT...... DAVE PRILL...... GALAXY magazine-size format. SHALL WE INDULGE IN RISHATHRA? ALLAN BEATTY...... Hank is close to moving to a RONALD LAMBERT.... new house, but the editorial address BY will remain the same: ILLUSTRATED BY BILL ROTSLER...... 33 SANDRA MIESEL...... GALAXY/Hank Stine SCIENCE FICTION ON FILM ON PAPER 585 Caddo St. Baton Rouge, LA 70806 BY WAYNE KEYSER...... 34 His phone number will probably be THE HUMAN HOTLIFE changed by the time you read this. S-F NEWS BY ELTON T. ELLIOTT...... 38 He also called to tell me my GAIAXY book review column (with SMALL PRESS NOTES Alter-Ego in charge!) will be needed in two weeks. BY THE EDITOR...... 43 INTERIOR ART------THE BEAST OF BEACHWOOD TIM KIRK—2, 4, 31, 64 FUJI REVIEWS AND NEWS ALEXIS GILLILAND—3,6,12,18,26,27, BY BILL WARREN...... 45 OTHER VOICES...... 50 ALLEN KOSZOWSKI------8,55 BOOK REVIEWS BY GEORGE R.R. MARTIN, RANDY RUSTIN 10,54,60 JOE SANDERS, , BILL ROTSLER----- 20,33,34 STEPHEN LEWIS, MICHAEL MAIDA, FRED MICHAEL GILBERT------21,23,32,49,62 PATTEN, CLIFFORD MCMURRAY, MARK RICK JANSEN------22 MANSELL, DEAN R. LAMBE, ROBERT TEDDY HARVIA------14,17,47,50 FRAZIER, STEVE BROWN, JAPES J.J. WADE GILBREATH------28,51 WILSON. UNCREDITED------24,39,57 ISSN: 0036-8377 INTERVIEW WITH NORMAN SPINRAD VIC KOSTRIKIN—42,43,44 CATHY HILL------45 BY CHARLES PLATT...... 60 THE ALIEN CRITIC SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW WHERE THEY LIVE Available in mjeroform from: CONTRIBUTORS ADDRESSES...... 63 OXFORD MICROFORM PUBLICATIONS LTD Wheatsheaf Yard, Blue Boar Street Oxford OXI 4EY

Science Fiction Review is published at 1525 NE Ainsworth, Portland, OR Copyright (c) 1979 by Richard 97211 NO ADVERTISING WILL BE ACCEPTED E. Geis. All rights are hereby Second Class Postage Paid assigned to the contributors. at Portland, OH 97208 SUPERMAN...... 46 REVIEWS------QUINTET...... 47 THE GREAT FETISH...... 14 INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS....48 was ir necessary THE FACE IN THE FROST...... 14 THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY...... 49 70 SCORE YouR WEERL-Y ACTIVtY REPORT Fok "BFAS5 CLASSIC SCIENCE FICTION: IN PRAISE OF OLDER WOMEN...... 49 ANO PERC<7SS(onz AbELMAN ? THE FIRST GOLDEN AGE...... 15 THE BRINKS JOB...... 49 FOUNDATION #1-8...... 15 THE GLACIER FOX...... 49 THE WORLDS OF PETER WOMAN ON OF TIME...... 50 BEAGLE...... 16 DIRTY TRICKS...... 51 THE TOWER OF THE ...... 16 GLORI ANA...... 51 THE WAY THE FUTURE WAS...... 16 THE STAR TREASURE...... 52 DYING OF THE LIGHT...... 52 (SHORT FICTION TITLES REVIEWED LIST SURVIVOR...... 53 ON PAGE 24) IVAN EFREMOV S THEORY OF SOVIET THE NECROMICON...... 31 SCIENCE FICTION...... 53 HANIBOOK FOR SPACE PIONEERS...... 31 MASTODONIA...... 54 THE OFFICIAL BATTLESTAR GALACTICA GORDON R. DICKSON S SF BEST...... 54 SUBSCRIPTIONS I crpADDnoi/ S NIGHT SHIFT...... 55 THE ANTS WHo'tOOk'^Ay'tII^...... ',,3.. THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE...... 56 SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW ice!...... 3.. THE EMPEROR OF THE LAST DAYS...... 56 THE RUINS OF ISIS...... 3.. FIRESHIP...... 57 P.O. BOX 11408 TOMORROW AND BEYOND...... 3.. THE BEST OF ...... 57 PORTLAND, OR 97211 VECTOR ANALYSIS...... 32 THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE...... 5o THE MAGIC GOES AWAY...... 32 SIGHT OF PROTEUS...... 58 THE PERFECT LOVER...... 32 For One and Two Years wildeblood 's empire...... 59 At Six-Issues-Per-Year Schedule COWBOY HEAVEN...... 32 ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE FICTION...59 THE HORROR PEOPLE...... 34 A HERITAGE OF HORROR...... 35 UNITED STATES: $7.50 One Year THE FLEISCHER STORY...... 35 $15.00 Two Years THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ....36 FEATURED hEXT ISSUE: FANTASTIC TELEVISION...... 36 CANADA*: US$8.00 One Year FROM THE LAND BEYOND BEYOND...... 37 US$16.00 Two Years THE OUTER LIMITS...... 37 "on the edge of futuria" *Canadians may pay with personal BY RAY NELSON THE DIRECTORY OF MULTILINGUAL cheques if the chequing acct, num­ FANS...... 43 AN INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW J. OFFUTT ber on their cheques is printed in FANHISTORICA #8...... 43 WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY C.J. CHERRYF computer numerals. (Thus we become FANTARAMA...... 43 slaves to the needs of the Machine.) SPACING DUTCHMAN...... 43 STAR WHORES—PART ONE OF A THE THIRD BOOK OF VIRGIL FINLAY...43 BY RICHARD E. GEIS UNITED KINGDOM: Send pound equiva- THE CARTOON HISTORY OF THE lent of US$8.00 One Year UNIVERSE VOL.2...... 43 PLUS "other voices/' US$16.00 Two Years FREAS ARTWORK...... 43 "small PRESS notes/' to agent WM. DAWSON 5 SONS FANTASY CROSSROADS...... 43 "AND THEN I READ..." Cannon House ROCKET S BLAST COMICOLLECTOR #146.43 AND THE NOT-IN-HAND BUT EXPECTED Folkestone, Kent, SPEAKING OF SCIENCE FICTION...... 44 S-F NEWS, THE MOVIE NEWS AND CT19 5EE THE WHOLE CATALOG...... 44 REVIEWS, AND A LOT OF INTERESTING or write them for current quote. NORMAL BEAN...... 44 LETTERS. FANTASY MONGERS...... 44 CURRENT AND BACK ISSUES OF. TAC AND THE REVOLT OF THE UNEFPLOYABLES...44 SFR .ARE AVAILABLE FROM: BEYOND THE FIELDS WE KNOW #1...... 44 FANTAST (MEDWAY) LTD. PRINCIPIA DISCORDIA...... 44 39 West Street, Wisbech, Cambs., PEI3 2LX ECHOES FROM THE VAULTS OF YOH- VOMBIS...... 44 ARIEL #4...... 44 AUSTRALIA: A$8.00 One Year PHANTASM...... 45 A$14.00 Two Years CIRCLE OF IRON...... 46 to agent SPACE AGE BOOKS 305-307 Swanston St. Melbourne, 3000 Vic.

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IF YOU MOVE WE NEED YOUR FORMER ZIPCODE AND YOUR NEW COMPLETE ADDRESS. as simply space-wasters, now. The ALIEN THOUGHTS zest is largely gone from the thing, and I'd like to not do him anymore. But we'll see if I can actually kill though. Lowbrow entertainment nev­ him off.)) er hurts anything. It is the pre­ tentious crap that hurts the media. NASHVILLE hurt the movies. THE PUB­ LIC BURNING hurt the hardback novel. # LETTER FROM JAPES WILSON THE SORROW AND THE PITY hurt docu­ 1215 30th St. mentaries, and so did HEARTS AND Des Moines, IA 50311 MINDS. 'Just got back to Drake from my 'We went out to see a few movies Christmas vacation in my home town: recently. We hated SUPERMAN cordi­ . Among the many items in ally and INVASION OF THE BODY SNAT­ my mailbox I was very happy to find CHERS not so cordially. PINOCCHIO the latest R.E.G. Haven't had time was a jewel, but the new Disney to read it yet. short feature with it was dismal, insincere button-pushing and poor 'Other items of note were let­ animation to boot. I have not had ters from Arnold Abramson, Fred the guts to go see or Pohl and . Isaac has LORD OF THE RINGS yet. I am afraid cleared up a recent minor question. to. I have a lingering affection In SFR #27, Elton mentioned in his for both books. In spite of myself. column that OPUS 200 would be Isaac's 200th book and he quoted me as the 'We did see THE RED SHOES and source; the November LOCUS said that TALES OF HOFFMANN a while back IN MEMORY YET GRfEN is to be Isaac's though, and noted that the former 200th. Both are half correct. BY THE EDITOR is available now in a novelization by the authors (rather good one 'Isaac says, ..."Both books will too). Those guys really gave the be published in February simultan­ 1-8-79 Roger Elwood called the oth­ world a lesson in how to film bal­ eously and will tie for my 200th er da}’ to correct information given let and opera, back in the late 40s book."' in George Warren's letter concerning but nobody picked up the ball. the demise of Roger's magazine IN­ Filmed opera is still the same old SPIRATION. .. shit and nobody learned the lesson Roger said that he was not fired » LETTER FROM PATRICIA MATTHEWS at all, and Powell and Pressburger 1125 Tomasita St, NE at Peterson Publications. It was de­ -- who the hell were they anyhow? cided to cease publication of Roger's Albuquerque, NM 87112 Just a couple of arty nances with Jan. 11, 1979 magazine and he decided not to stay no cachet. They never got to make on. another movie after HOFFMANN bombed. 'Why will your STAR WHORES His analysis of why INSPIRATION 30 years passed. And now it is pos­ was folded is that the publisher's have artificial bodies and sentient sible to see them as the fantastic minds? In the setup you described, usual distribution pattern was not creative geniuses they were. Bah. suited to the magazine; too few real whores do everything they can Talk about operating in a vacuum. to blot out the fact that they are copies to "Bible-belt" areas and And this in a medium in which a non­ too many to the more secular out­ sentient, with drugs and alcohol. entity like Robert Altman is prais­ And wouldn't management prefer pro­ lets and areas. ed as a creator. Roger said he may give the grammed beings? magazine to another publisher—one 'OMNI is still not selling. I 'Easier to handle. Or would more suited to it. think it is not-selling even worse this be punishment, like the broth­ He said the magazine made some than it used to be not-selling. Huge els of Shainsa? Am looking forward money, just not enough to suit the stacks on the stands just sitting to answers.' publisher. there not moving at all. I don't He said that was the case with see any re-runs of Asimov's flat­ the Laser sf line—the books made size mag either although the digest­ ((Gome present-day whores are into money, but not enough to keep the sized ones seem to be doing damn depressants to dull the unhappiness publisher happy. well. (I cannot see why; I can't of their lives. Some present-day, read it either.) Where is Geis in highly paid whores are happy as the latest GALAXY? I miss him- clams with their lives. I suspect # LETTER FROM GEORGE WARREN (I don't miss Alter either. I am the happiness/unhappiness level is POB 114-C sure you were getting tired of him. more due to factors other than the Pasadena, CA 91104 That is the way of series-characters sex activity involved. Life Scripts January 22, 1979 the world over. I am getting tired given to the child by the parents, of Nick Carter -- after only 3 of a need to punish oneself, punish 'For some reason I keep watch­ them.)' others by humiliation, etc....are ing BATTLESTAR GALACTICA and half­ the wellsprings <, ’ why a whore is a way enjoying about every third epi­ whore, today. ((Yes, truth to tell, I AM tired of ((In the future I envision for sode in spite of myself, in spite doing the Alter-Ego shtick, and re­ of the inescapable fact that there STAR WHORES, sex workers are highly luctantly note that my unfinished unionized and respected as profess­ is something in there to GALAXY column in which Alter is in make me wince. (That was true of a ionals. The implantation of a human command is not very good. But, brain/mind into an android or robot lot of KOLCHAK: THE NIGHT STALKER then, I begin to wonder if I'll ev­ too, for all the wit in some of the body for a term as a sex worker on er get the go-ahead to finish it. a starship would be a matter of a scripts and in all of McGavin's and I look upon the Alter/Geis dialogues Simon Oakland's performances.) I contract, with each party----mining do not think it will hurt TV SF 4 ship owners and worker---- bound to the negotiated terms of the con­ you? Okay, let me stand you a shot regular house calls because he had tract . of penicillin. Roll over." few enough patients for this to be ((Society, in my future, will possible; not so many people could have found other put-down roles and 'The point of this anecdote is afford his services, modestly priced behaviors to use.)) merely that doctors and nurses are though they were. He comforted the human too. And this brings us to sick and the dying because usually Mr. Wilson's thesis #1, that they there was nothing else he could do are "getting rich and fat out of the # The following is an anonymous for them. Today's medics, in office pain and suffering and agony of their contribution. or hospital, save a much higher per­ fellow citizens". centage, but they do it with equip­ ODE TO BATTLESTAR GALAXATIVE 'For God's sake! Are they ex­ ment, lab tests, and pharmaceutic­ (Or...A Funny Thing Happened On The pected to work for nothing? I speak als that are monstrously expensive. Way To The Peace Conference) from the heart now, because so often (The high price of drugs is due in Something appealing (John Dykstra's I am asked to contribute my time to large part, though not entirely, to visual effects) this or that, on the bland assump­ the cost of developing them; an even Something appalling (The writing, tion that the income which supports larger part is due to the cost in acting, and everything else) my household comes out of nowhere. time and paperwork of getting them Something for everyone (Bits and And I don't have many years of ex­ approved by the federal bureaucracy.) pieces cribbed from every major pensive education behind me, or an Somebody has to pay for these things, -and several minor---- mythologies expensive office and assistant and whether it be in his medical bills that ever existed. The ponderous assorted equipment to pay for, or or his taxes. I much prefer the former owner of the Ponderosa. And inflated malpractice insurance to former. a lot of other stuff too depress­ maintain -- or, for that matter, 'In spite of the cost, we have ing to talk about) anything like those unsanctified sufficient prosperity nowadays that A travesty tonight (Did they even hours to keep. A million dollars a most people can avail themselves of consult^ any of the sf writers in year could not get me into that kind physicians and hospitals. This heavy Los Angeles?) of working conditions. Life's too case load combines with the modern short. At least there's still "Pigs In kind of therapeutic to Space" 'Actually, nearly all doctors make the whole process usually very I've had to do with have been per­ impersonal. Too bad, perhaps; but Whimper...... fectly decent, concerned people. (It if a shot of antibiotic will fix me cannot be expected that they will be up, I don't need my hand held into as concerned with my illness as they the bargain. would be with a wife's or child's or # LETTER FROM POUL ANDERSON mother's. Given a few hundred pat­ 'A major reason why so many are 3 Las Palomas ients, that would tear them apart. seeking doctors today is that insur­ Orinda, CA 94563 But they have been genuinely interest­ ance or the government (Medicare, Jan. 10, 1979 ed in getting me, or some member of etc.) pick up the tab. This natur­ my family, well.) Their charges ally drives prices up, according to 'Robert Anson Wilson's diatribe have been reasonable, all things the law of supply and demand. Soc­ against the American medical profes­ considered. Not uncommonly, they ialism can't repeal it, either. All sion and your own more temperate but have declined to do this or that that socialism can do is drive the mostly favorable reply call for an procedure, explaining that it was quality of medical care down by ov­ argument, merely in the interest of not necessary or would be too risky. ercrowding the hospitals and wait­ fairness. I am not a physician my­ (Nota bene, my family and I are not ing rooms still more. self, nor do I have any interest in invalids, but in pretty good health. 'Even considering this, I must any hospital or the like. However, I am discussing only the usual ills admit that hospital bills are often T have known a pretty fair number of to which the flesh is heir.) out of line. It is also true that medical people, sometimes as a pat­ many people still can't afford care ient, sometimes a friend. I have 'On the friendship level, I've they need. Many others are finan­ also looked into some elementary ec­ seen some doctors and nurses weep cially ruined, or their families onomics and . The fact at what they themselves have witnes­ are, by prolonged treatment which seems to me to be that Mt. Wilson is sed -- but this would take us too does no real good. What to do about assailing a straw man with a Hitler far afield. Suffice to say: Sure, all this? I don't believe in utop­ face painted upon it. This wouldn't a certain percentage are evil, and ian solutions to problems, but do matter in itself, but unfortunately, a larger percentage are fools. Can agree that there is room for improve­ a lot,of other people feel the same you name me a profession of which ment . way. Let me make a few observations. this is not true? The medics seem to average at least as well as any­ 'Socialized medicine is fre­ 'First, then, about friendly body else. quently advocated. If this means versus professional relationships. making all doctors and nurses gov­ I have always tried to keep these 'Now, Mr. Wilson's point 2, ernment employees, no, thanks! Why separate where doctors are concerned, about American medicine being "cold, do liberals assume that people ins­ if only for reasons for privacy; i.e., inhumanizing, and generally treats tantly become wise and benevolent I don't mingle socially with my G.P., (sic) the patient like a part on a when they enter government? History though he's a perfectly pleasant man Ford assembly line". There is a cer­ shows that, if anything, the tend­ However, such fences can't always be tain amount of truth in this as re­ ency is the opposite one. kept up. So, for example, I once had gards hospitals -- though there are to appeal to a also hap­ more exceptions than examples -- but 'There is something to be said pened to be a kinsman; there was no­ again, part of the reason lies in for the state underwriting medical body else readily available. "Look, the of the case, and part of insurance. This has been done for Jens," I said, embarrassed, "I ex­ it goes back to economics and poli­ generations in the Scandinavian coun­ pect to be billed for this; business tics . tries, , and there it and friendship are different things". 'The horse-and-buggy doctor made works pretty well; the standards of To which he replied briskly: "You'd care are at least as high as ours, let me stand you a drink wouldn't 5 and in some areas higher. However, when you look at the whole picture, backs. The last of these benefits derful taste) and is far from ending you see society paying for this, is, all by itself, ample reason to up on the final ballot as one of the and similar public undertakings, adopt such a policy.' five or so final nominees. Also, I with sky-high taxes, bloated bureau­ misled Elton when I told him that cracies, and a generally unenter­ A PLANET CALLED TREASON would be out prising populace. in February -- official word is the end of March. Dell has bought the 'We don't need that over here. 1-16-79 I see that multiple ear rights. And a few words All we need is to extend coverage piercings are a fad—with as many of praise to St. Martin's and Ace by private insurance. In my own as seven earrings decorating the and Baronet -- they have been scrup­ case, I pay about $700 a year for ear. ulous about typesetting my manuscr­ what amounts to open-ended protec­ My male sexist mind speculates ipts as I wrote them, with no argu­ tion for my family; no medical cat­ that someday women will begin having ments .' astrophe can wipe us out. It costs their labia pierced and will decorate no more than that because there is those with precious stones and finely a fairly high deductible, $1250 to wrought and silver filigree. THE BOOK be exact. We can meet that, and Before that happens, though, one should only insure against un­ there will have to be a complete Editor, Orson Scott Card bearable losses. divorcement of the womb-vagina system Art Director, Michael Goodwin 'This situation is probably not from childbirth. That is, a fool­ applicable to everyone, e.g., those proof, perfect, no-drawbacks system With one page of four-color art with lower incomes. But almost ev­ of contraception...or...an artific­ for every page of fiction, this an­ erybody can work out something ap­ ial womb technology which frees the thology will combine the best of propriate for himself. I don't like woman totally from pregnancy and fantasy with the best of fantasy Blue Cross and Blue Shield either, childbirth. art. The stories must include drag­ but they are far from the only game When that point is reached the ons, but the may be protag­ in town. Shop around, folks. child-bearing plumbing becomes de­ onist, antagonist, or even peripher­ moted and modesty concerning those al (but still necessary) characters. areas will fade. The purely sexual/ Stories can be funny or serious, 'There are, of course, some peop­ pleasure function will emerge and and any reasonable definition of the le too poor to buy any insurance. all kinds of cultural variations word dragon will be accepted, pro­ I would not oppose government pay­ will emerge in clothes, customs and vided it still allows an artist to ing for them. But this doesn't re­ attitudes. draw a dragon. Settings can range quire nationalizing the industry; it One could write a fine sf novel from Middle Earth to Merry Oide Eng­ need only be a part of welfare. on that: the political and social land, from downtown Chicago in 1979 'To maintain the prices of doc­ conflicts forced by the artificial to Aldebaran in 8875. In other tors, laboratories and hospitals -- womb technology. Thinking the im­ words, I'm open to any good story. or better yet, reduce prices -- in plications through and constructing Advances will be 5

SFR: Have you ever perceived science so I don't know what portion of fan­ VINGE: I really don't think so, fiction as a male-dominated field? dom has always been female. I get by just about anybody in the field. the impression that it wasn't a large I think there are one or two -- one VINGE: I think probably just about part in the past, but the women who person in particular who shall re­ every woman who has read science were in it were pretty active. I main nameless, but who would, I fiction for any length of time has think the coming out of women in think, sooner die probably than buy perceived it in the past as being a the reading of science fiction and stories from women. I have certain male-dominated field. I think it the numbers of women who are writing unfavorable and unhappy memories of has changed radically in the 1970s. it and writing it very well now, sug­ having my stories rejected by this The whole idea of society being af­ gest that there must have been some person. But in general, I think ev­ fected by the women's movement seems sort of unappreciated group of women en people who were not exactly in to have come out in an extreme way enjoying science fiction all along. the forefront of encouraging women in science fiction. The acceptance to join the field now realize that of women writers has been very great. SFR: The only recorded case of out­ a good story is a good story, that I have really been impressed, be­ right discrimination in the field the readers appreciate a good story cause for an awfully long time it was Hugo Gemsback's claim that wo­ and it doesn't really matter whether has been regarded as a bastion of men couldn't write science fiction, a man or a woman wrote it. Sending maleness. The men did all the things and then discovering much to his sur­ a story to just about any editor in the stories and the men did most prise that Leslie F. Stone, from that you could name these days with of the writing too, and the women whom he had been buying, was a woman a woman's name on it can't hurt. who wanted to write it very frequent­ Will a woman entering the field to­ In some cases it might even help. ly had to hide behind male names. day find herself treated any dif­ I understand that OMNI is looking ac­ I think Ursula LeGuin broke the ice, ferently than a male writer? tively for women writers just be­ really hitting it big as a woman wri­ cause they want to get some women's ter, and that paved the way for other women writers. Now it is prob­ ably one of the most egalitarian fields as far as being a woman writ­ er. That's very gratifying. It makes me feel like science fiction is keeping its promises to the world somehow by being in the forefront of social change.

SFR: How much of this is cause and how much effect? Is it more of a passive thing in terms of few women being interested, or active resis­ tance to women writers? I know that going way, way back, you can find women in the science fiction maga­ zines under female bylines. Claire Winger Harris is the earliest one I can think of.

VINGE: Well, there were always wom­ en writing under female names, but for the most part they never hit the way the men did. I don't know, but I think it may be something of a fallacy to say that women didn't read science fiction in the past because I've been read­ ing science fiction for about fif­ teen years, and all my female friends -- just about everyone I know -- separately have discovered science fiction and have read it. I know a lot of people whose mothers liked science fiction. Their brothers would get all of the old science fic­ tion magazines and they would covert­ ly read them. I think there may have been a large underground audi­ ence of women out there. Somehow they just never talked about it. I haven't been into that much, names on the cover as well as men's besides science fiction. I like to when you look back at history you names. write about characters. I write ab­ have what has already happened, which out people a lot, and I've thought is essentially an uphill struggle to It's practically been a fad for to myself from time to time, well, inprove the lot of humankind in gen­ a while now to publish a woman sci­ if characters are the most inportant eral, advancing 13 steps and sliding ence fiction writer. There have thing, why don't I just write main­ back 12. This all comes down to the been a lot of anthologies of stories stream fiction? And I realized fact that I prefer science fiction by women and things like that. To that actually it wasn't the charac­ over historical fiction, but I do some extent that may be reverse dis­ ters. It was the new ideas and the acknowledge the fact that as far as crimination, which is unfortunate. unique alien backgrounds that real­ their background goes, they share But on the other hand it has let ly appealed to me. I have a back­ some similarities. the readers see that women do write ground in anthropology -- a B.A. very good science fiction. I think SFR: How far can you go depicting I think that the appeal of anthrop­ the positive values in science fic­ that once the readers enjoy their ology and the appeal of science fic­ writing, things will settle down and tion without the negative ones, be­ tion for me were very similar. I fore you lose versimilitude? I don't establish a normal status quo where just liked having my mind stimulat­ women and men are both accepted eq­ see how the future is going to be ed, thinking from a different point anything else but an uphill struggle ually as writers. I think that is of view than the one I'd always seen beginning to happen at the present to improve the lot of mankind. In things from -- the typical Western this sense, more of the past. time. point of,view. I liked the idea that people could function in dif­ VINGE: You don't mean that Mankind SFR: It seems to me that some of ferent ways and still function well. is destined to repeat all its mis­ this is a kind of category market­ To leam about people in a different takes, do you? ing. A feminist book fits into a culture here on Earth or about one category unto itself, and a science SFR; No, we'll invent new ones. on a completely alien world some­ fiction book does likewise. Somebody where in space is so exciting. It is trying to hit both audiences. is wonderful, and it stimulates the VINGE: Well, that's probably true, imagination. I just enjoy that. I and that's very frequently what sci­ VINGE: Well, perhaps you could say get an immense thrill out of it. It ence fiction deals with -- that is, that about a certain small percent­ really is the ideas that make science man inventing new mistakes and try­ age of science fiction written by fiction what it is, and that's what ing to figure out what to do with women which is very strongly femin­ I like about it. those. I think the ecology movement ist oriented, but I think the major­ SFR: Do you see this appeal as be­ demonstrated this -- every new thing ity of things written by women -- you do has a direct effect on the like Ursula LeGuin, Vonda McIntyre, ing similar to that of a historical novel like SHOGUN? old things, and other unexpected ef­ and most female SF writers including fects that nobody ever imagined be­ myself -- generally has a very human­ VINGE: To some extent I think that fore. Certainly if you always go istic bent rather than a strictly is true. When you get a historical about creating utopias in which ev­ feminist bent. I think that most of novel you get a very different erything is perfect you have no con­ the women who are writing science world view. In SHOGUN there is flict and you have no story. You fiction are primarily interested in of course the Japanese culture which can't get away from having drama writing science fiction. They may is to the Western mind very unusual and conflict when you're writing ab­ want to portray women in strong and almost like being in an alien out the future too. I don't mean roles, but a lot of the male writers world. To some extent I enjoy read­ to sound absolutely simplistic. It's who are writing nowadays, people like ing historical novels and anthropol­ just that you have little choice John Varley and Spider Robinson, are ogy for the same reasons. I think when you're working with a histori­ also writing about strong women. It there are a lot more things that cal novel. If you want to accurate­ is not strictly a thing that has to you could actually think of as sci­ ly reflect what actually happened, be a feminist diatribe. I think ence fiction because they do have you can't tinker too much. that the idea of science fiction be­ this different viewpoint. We were ing a narrow category unto itself is talking earlier this evening about There are some things like broadening out too, so that more the movie AIRPORT and how inportant Georgette Heyer's stories, of course, and more people who don't normally the technology was to that, to the which are essentially set read science fiction are beginning airport situation. It's all the in Regency England. But I had in to find -- thanks to STAR WARS which same sort of thing. It's a differ­ mind those long, thick historical is giving it a boost -- that science way of looking at the world. In novels which tell the life history fiction js not so unapproachable. AIRPORT it's the technology that's of Henry V or someone -- where es­ I think feminist science fiction is inportant. In SHOGUN it's more the sentially you have to deal with the only a small percentage of what wom­ social sciences. I think it's the society the way it was if you want en science fiction writers are doing uniqueness factor of the background. to reflect it accurately. When you these days. Sometimes I don't care for histor­ are creating future, you can manipu­ SFR: What attracted you to science ical fiction as much because very late various things. When you're fiction originally? often it reflects in a very playing with something which is es­ literal way. The author must attempt sentially brought out of your own im­ VINGE: I think it was the sense of to portray the society as it actual­ agination, it's like getting to wonder business. The first story play God, in a way. You can do what­ that I read was 's STORM ly was, and most of human history has not been all that great, frankly. ever you want in a society, and even OVER WARLOCK. When I was in junior if things are unpleasant you're al­ highschool I found that at the corn­ I suppose it's the "escapist" side of science fiction which counterbalances ways in control. History is in con­ er grocery store and I read it, and that for me -- when you make up a trol when you're writing a historical I was so excited by it. I thought, novel. gee, where has this been all my life? society of your own, very often you can make one that's very wonderful Just the idea of things taking place That's part of the excitement and has all the positive values on another world and the absolute im­ of the future that it contains unex­ that you would like to have in a soc­ agination of it, appealed to me so pected things, and you are the mas­ iety. Not always, of course, but much. I've never really wanted in ter creator of them. When you're my own writing to write anything 9 writing science fiction that's real­ ly wonderful, and I think that when ground? when I'd make an outline --at the you're reading it a lot of the excite­ thought of making a more detailed ment is in seeing what has come out VINGE: Well, I think I was not as orderly in my preliminary work when outline -- about whether that would of someone's mind: An entire future curtail my creativity once I got in­ history, or a world in a certain I first started writing. I would start out with certain basic premis­ to the story, because very often as novel or story that has been created the story begins to grow, something essentially out of one person's imag­ es, but I wouldn't go into a lot of detail in my plot outline about them will suggest itself, out of the way ination. It's really incredible to The more I work the more preliminary the story has developed, that I nev­ see the new insights an author can er thought of when I was first lay­ come up with. detail I go into, because I find that the more you have thought some­ ing it out. I was afraid that if I SFR: I know this can't be reduced thing out ahead of time, the easier locked myself into an outline too to a sinple formula, but how do you it is to write. Getting from point carefully this spontaneity that I go about creating a society? A to point B in the plot when you get when I'm writing would be spoil­ ed. But I find that even if I have VINGE: How do I go about it? Well, actually begin to write a story, makes you discover all the steps you a detailed outline for something, I tend to use my anthropological back­ the surprises are still there and ground, because it comes in handy have to take in between, and if you haven't thought out the society ah­ the spontaneity is still there, the for simply laying things out. I do things which make it fun to write. ethnography for the society, an out­ ead of time, you have to stop in line in which I think about things the middle of the writing and do The outline is like having a like the physical setting and what more thinking. trellis and the story becomes vines, the economic base would be, what the Planning ahead gives you a path which wrap themselves around the resources are like, what sort of vi­ from point A to point B. So I learn­ trellis. It's useful to have that able society would work in that sit­ ed as I went along how important it format. Then you have flexibility uation, and what their economic struc­ is to do careful background work be­ ture would be, what sort of religion forehand. It saves you time. It they have and so on. Then very often makes your job easier. In the proc­ I will take pieces of one society ess of my writing I learned just which I have read about and combine how inportant these things were to them with pieces of another to create knowing where I was in the structure a new society which has elements of of the story. I don't have every­ both. You know, a caste system from thing laid out. I never do before one society and an imperialistic I start writing a story, but the twist from another. You can fit more of a basic outline you have to them together and create societies begin with, the more steps you have which have not existed on Earth but thought of ahead of time, the easier which are recognizable and under­ those steps are to take when you're standable to the average reader. I actually putting them down in prose. build them from the ground up, think­ ing about the various factors which SFR: Do you have an actual outline would enter into how an actual group of the plot? of people on Earth would develop. VINGE: Yes, I usually do. I have By reading anthropology you be­ at least the main characters I want gin to get a feel for that sort of to write about, and the background thing. That's one of the things of course, and I have brief charac­ that really interests me about Ursula ter studies done. Usually I know within it to make it richer and broad­ LeGuin's work. She does have an the beginning and the end of a sto­ er than you expected originally. So anthropological background, because ry, and depending on the length, I an outline is a very useful thing. her parents were very well-known in have various major incidents in the I recommend it highly, and I think story developed ahead of time. I the field. You can see that in the that people who worry about it ruin­ way she creates her mythologies and know some writers who lay out every­ ing their spontaneity don't need to, alien societies and how they inter­ thing they do ahead of time, and my because it won't. act with their environments. I mind boggles. I can't imagine how think that's one of the things that they do it. But I do usually have SFR: Have you ever discovered half way through that you are nowhere gives me the most pleasure when I an outline in classic outline form, near the outline and going off 180 write, creating new societies. From saying what the people are doing and degrees? there I take the sort of characters what they will be doing next. that I want to deal with in the sto­ I keep thinking of this novel VINGE: Thank God, I don't think ry and I think about how the society which I have just writing, that's ever happened to me. But I have created will affect those which I thought would be a two-hund­ frequently when you have a world en­ characters and that develops their red-page novel and has just turned visioned, when you actually have to personalities. out to be a six-hundred-page novel. put it down in cold hard prose, you find it doesn't look at all like’you Of course, on top of that you I thought I had all the main points thought it did when you were first have the basic plot, where you're of that story figured out before I thinking about it. It's like first starting from with them, and where started writing it, but once I got looking at a picture and then look­ you want them to go. But for me, into the story there was just so ing at it under a magnifying glass. creating the background first is much more of it. It kept growing The details you see change your tot­ probably the most inportant part of and growing, and it turned out much the story. better for it. al view of the background. But usu­ ally a story remains for me pretty SFR: When you first started to Stories do take on a life of true to what it was when I started write, did you first have backgrounds their own and characters take on a it. and start writing stories about them life of their own, and I'm really or did you have stories and later de­ pleased with that. I used to worry I think my story "The Crystal velop your ability to create back­ Ship" was one that didn't. It turn­ 10 ed out to be a much longer story than I thought it would be, and the influenced the various Celtic, Near which I hope to expand into a novel. character of the alien in that story Eastern and Greek mythologies. The The short story is essentially go­ really took over. He was a very mythological elements seemed to fit ing to be the very beginning of the strong character and he dominated in very well with THE SNOW QUEEN be­ novel. The particular novel is not the story a lot more than I thought cause most folk tales and fairy tales going to be a masterwork. I hope it he would, and so that story became are degenerate mythology. When you will be an enjoyable light adventure a longer and more complex thing than begin reading at all deeply into novel in a fantasy setting. I thought it would originally. And European mythology you find that the It involves a were-unicorn that one was the one I had the most parallels are very striking. I began trouble writing as a result, because working with these within the scie­ among other things --a man who turns it got away from me and went in some nce fiction framework -- THE SNCW into a unicorn instead of into a strange directions. But usually when QUEEN actually is a science fiction wolf. I would like sometime to do I write I find that the vines stick story, but it has mythological ele­ maybe a trilogy bringing in a lot of the mythology that I've read. to the trellis. The basic premise ments and it can be read hopefully, and outline I had develop into a sto­ on various levels by people, depend­ Sometime when I get the right inspir­ ry that works out pretty much the ing on what they want to get out of ation for it, I'll do something like way I thought it would. Usually I'm it. that. I don't really have any de­ satisfied with what I've done when sire to write fiction outside of the I've finished it. But the science fiction ele­ science fiction and fantasy area, ments are something quite apart from but I definitely have an interest in SFR: Isn't even a runaway a kind of the mythology, and it's ... it's so fantasy as well as in science fic­ learning experience, because by the huge I can't go into a complete run­ tion. time you're done with it you have down of the plot or we'd be here all enconpassed everything it has attempt­ evening. I feel that it's far and SFR: What fantasy interests you? ed to run away with. away the best thing I've done, and part of that is the fact that it did VINGE: Yes, I definitely think that VINGE: Well, of course, I enjoy is true, as long as a story doesn't grow so long. I knew that I wanted to tell a very large story. Part of Tolkein very much. I like just ab­ refuse to finish itself, I think it out everything, I guess with the ex­ is always a learning experience. it centers around a certain city which is a starport on a backward ception of the "Wombats of " gen­ Even if you never sell it, sometimes re...Let me think...It's like some­ it's a learning experience because by world. The city is called Carbuncle, because it is "either a jewel or a one asking if you've heard any good sending it out you'll find out where jokes lately. Every one immediately fester depending on your point of you went wrong with it, and hopeful­ flies out of your mind. RED MOON ly, not repeat that mistake in the view", and in the city of Carbuncle different cultures from a small gal­ AND BLACK MOUNTAIN by , and future. It is a surprise to have a I like Patricia McKillip's work very story turn out differently than you actic empire come together and inter­ mingle. Near this city's world there much too. I think some of the most thought. Yet this doesn't necessar­ artistically beautiful writing that ily mean it isn't a good story or is a black hole which is used for transportation from world to world has been done recently has been done that it shouldn't have been written. in the fantasy field. You don't begrudge it for having tak­ in the empire. People come here to en on a life of its own. It's ex­ this planet from other worlds and go There are a lot of new people citing in a way. It makes your writ­ to them, and I wanted to deal with coming into the field. Elizabeth ing exciting because you never know the cultures of the different worlds Lynn is doing a fantasy trilogy and if things are going to work out the and how they interact. Dianne Duane, and I'm really looking forward to reading something by both way you think they will. It's like I knew I would need a lot of of them. I've read some of Elizabeth reading someone else's story. characters in order to do justice Lynn's science fiction and I've en­ Part of the pleasure of reading some­ to the various cultures in the story. joyed it, and I think her fantasy one else's story is finding out what I didn't have all my characters when ought to be good to. new twist is lying around the bend; I started writing it. I had the by figuring out how your own story main characters and I figured I'd SFR: This brings us back to where twisted in a way you didn't expect, meet the other characters as I went we started. Why is it that the fan­ you can leam things about how your along in the story, and I did. I tasy field, as opposed to the science own mind works, and the way your writ­ kept getting more and more characters fiction field, seems to be dominated ing works on a technical level too. I was interested in, and as a result by women? Most of the major writers of getting more characters whose stor­ are women. SFR: What is this long novel you ies I wanted to tell, I wound up with mentioned which grew to 600 pages? VINGE: I don't know. I know that a six-hundred-page book. I was very at one time on some panel we were VINGE: It's a novel called THE SNOW pleased, ultimately, because, although talking about that. I was saying QUEEN, which Dell is in the process I felt it was out of control for a before that a lot of women seem to of buying. It's based in part on while, and I'd begun to wonder if I'd like all the different genres in the Hans Christian Andersen's folk-tale, ever get all these stories pulled science fiction field, and like to "The Snow Queen". There was a nifty together into a cohesive end (or if write about them. animated movie made of that once I was going to do a year's work and which captured my fancy, and I thought then find out I had to throw the I think it might be that no it would be fun to take that as just whole thing away), everything final­ one ever denied that women had imag­ the bare bones and build a science ly came together for me. ination. It's just the technical fiction story around it. For some association: Men were supposed to SFR: Have you ever wanted to do a write the technical stuff. The cul­ reason that really appealled to me. straight mythological fantasy? I have also been doing a lot of read­ tural river guided women more to the ing in mythology, which is another VINGE: Well, I would like to, actu­ fantasy sort of story, which wasn't area of anthropology I am interest­ ally. I think I'm waiting for the loaded down with technological back­ ed in, and I've read Robert ' right inspiration, the right story. ground, but still contained the same IHE WHITE GODDESS, a fascinating I do enj oy fantasy a great deal. elements of imagination, the basic book which deals to a great extent As a matter of fact, I'm working on things which still appeal to the sci­ with the "vegetation cult" religion a fantasy short story right now ence fiction reader. and the mother goddess and how they 11 There's no question in my mind that a lot of women have a great that women are getting more involved cost more raised by this intensive deal of talent at writing just as a in careers, though the technology quasi-hydroponic, controlled envir­ lot of men do, and it may be cultur­ involved in most science fiction and onment system, but money is saved al inclination, just as in the past the social sciences, are actually in transportation costs and higher girls were encouraged not to go in­ relatively recent "contemporary" prices are being charged for guar­ to mathematics, even though in the phenomena themselves. Without those anteed freshness. lower grades they do just as well as things it's difficult to write any­ boys. It's the sort of thing: "Oh, thing but fantasy, and of course, So how does this impinge on sci­ girls don't need math". It might there have always been women among ence fiction? be, "Oh, girls don't need to write the foremost writers in the mystery The techniques and technology de­ science fiction". They end up writ­ field. veloped by these large corporations ing fantasy instead. I don't know can unquestionably be used in space, You know, there are very few if fantasy was thought of as less totally controlled environment farms men who measure up to Tolkein. It's hard-nosed and more women were in­ are required for space colonies and hard to point your finger at one clined to write it. I don't know if long-voyage spaceships. classic in the science fiction field, that actually had any bearing on it And the libertarian/self-suffic- but it's very easy to point to Tol­ or not. I could see something like iency-living part of my character is kein in the fantasy field. There's that influencing it. attracted to the idea of using an nothing in the world anyone has ever upstairs room...a large closet...as I can see more crossover of done which everyone agrees is the a controlled environment farm to men writing in both fields in the fu­ greatest thing, but with Tolkein produce food year around to suplement ture too. Of course, a lot of men it's probably as close to unanimous that grown in the outside gardens. already do. Poul Anderson does and as anything every gets. Tolkein is The big questions are costs— Larry Niven does and Gordon Dickson head and shoulders above the rest, electricity, food solutions for the has written fantasy. if only by having gotten there first plants, equipment...and time required in creating such an epic fantasy. to service the plants and mechani­ SFR: The curious thing is that this cals. female dominance of the fantasy field Most of the books in the Bal­ lantine fantasy series, including I imagine that single-house sized is a contemporary phenomenon. In operations would be too costly at the past, it was almost exclusively those by men, were also things which had been long out of print. A lot the moment. But I also suspect there male territory. There is no woman are ways to cut costs and perhaps writer with the stature of, say, Tol- of those books were quite obscure, really, and some of them with good compromise on the 'total' control of kein, Peake or . The environment required. It's worth Ballantine fantasy series came up reason. I think that in general women did not have the freedom even thinking about and certainly a good with Hope Mirrilees and Evangeline science fiction writer would have to Walton, both of whom were hopeless­ that they did 15 years ago, to go out and do what they wanted to in incorporate this technology into ly out of print and forgotten. Do his futures. you think there's been some sudden society at the very beginning of the change in the past 15 years? 20th Century, when a lot of that fantasy was written. VINGE: I don't know. I think it's perhaps just the change in society SFR: Thank you, Joan Vinge. # The Academy of Science Fiction ************************************ Fantasy and Horror Films (334 West 54th St., Los Angeles, CA 90037) has sent a giving the nom­ inees for the 6th annual Academy awards. The 1300 member organization will vote, and the winners will be announced during the SCIENCE FIC­ TION FILM AWARDS which will be taped February 24th, 1979 and syndicated on TV throughout the country. The 1978 awards nominees are: BEST SCIENCE FICTION FILM: THE BOYS FROM BRAZIL THE CAT FROM OUTER SPACE CAPRICORN ONE INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS SUPERMAN BEST : HEAVEN CAN WAIT ing to completely controlled environ ALIEN THOUGHTS CONT. FROM P. 7 ments—lights, heat, nutrients— LE MERVEILLEUSE VISITE all scientifically controlled and WATERSHIP DOWN timed. They are getting tremendous THE WIZ yields per square foot of "garden", 1-20-79 There is a new development in and this total control allows the BEST HORROR FILM: intensive, technological vegetable companies to set up shop anywhere, HALLOWEEN farming that can have great impact especially close to the markets for MAGIC on the future in many ways. the crops, and the crops are availa­ THE MEDUSA TOUCH General Electric and General ble year around. They produce vege­ PIRANHA Mills have entered the 'indoor farm' tables up to twice as fast as field THE WICKER MAN industry. Not greenhouse farming, farms and greenhouses. The crops BEST ACTOR: but warehouse building farming— WARREN BEATTY, Heaven Can Wait windowless farming. They are turn­ 12 , The Wicker Man LAURENCE OLIVIER, The Boys From that latin mean "May a vile disease States alone and the possible 1,000 Brazil fly up 's nose"?)) courses at the high school level CHRISTOPHER REEVE, Superman are literally educating new genera­ DONALD SUTHERLAND, Invasion of tions of youths to read science fic­ # LETTER FROM JONATHAN BACON the Body Snatchers tion. They don't have to accident­ 7613 Flint, #A ally find the stuff somewheres. BEST ACTRESS: Shawnee, KS 66214 BROOKE ADAMS, Invasion of the 'Also, one to three hundred sci­ Body Snatchers 'I haven't read all of SFR #29 ence fiction and fantasy GENEVIEVE BUJOLD, Coma but via skimming I don't see any on display tends to give it incred­ MARGOT KIDDER, Superman mention of the Balrog Awards. I ible availability. The science fic­ ANN-MARGARET, Magic hope maybe you can mention them in tion movies can't help but create DIANA ROSS, The Wiz your March 1979 issue. I've en­ more adherents. The hardcover book closed copies of the info sent earl­ field is in pretty good shape, too. BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: ier. By March it'll be too late to MICHAEL ANSARA, The Manitou nominate, but SFR readers could 'Perhaps the strangest phenomena MICHAEL JACKSON, The Wiz write to me for a ballot and vote. are the one hundred or so books ab­ JAMES MASON, Heaven Can Wait Deadline for voting is March 23, out science fiction that have come BURGESS MEREDITH, Magic 1979. We're really anxious to have out and the new ones appearing in a LEONARD NIMOY, Invasion of the a good turn-out ballot-wise. Indi­ steady stream. Thirty years ago, if Body Snatchers viduals wishing ballots should write anyone had told me that a book about me at: Student Activities Office, science fiction could be a drag, I BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: would have thought him or her crazy. DYAN CANNON, Heaven Can Wait Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, KS 66210. I not only find them hard to read, I UTA HAGEN, The Boys From Brazil find precious little I didn't know MABLE KING, The Wiz 'On another matter, my new ad­ dress for FANTASY CROSSROADS and in them. How someone can turn out a VALERIE PERRINE, Superman 70,000-word book on science fiction BRENDA VACCARO, Capricorn One personal correspondence is ((at top of this letter)). FANTASY without a single new fact seems to BEST DIRECTOR: CROSSROADS #15 is due back from the me a very difficult thing, but it FRANKLIN J. SCHAFFNER, The Boys printer on January 22, 1979. Many is managed and very frequently.' From Brazil thanks for the nice comments you've WARREN BEATTY and BUCK HENRY, offered on past issues. I continue Jack Dann, who edited WANDERING Heaven Can Wait to get a few new subscribers every­ PHILIP KAUFMAN, Invasion of the STARS (Harper § Row, 1974; SFBC, time you blurb the mag. I hope you 1974; Pocket Books, 1975), is con­ Body Snatchers enjoy #15; it's got (what I hope RICHARD DONNER, Superman sidering doing another WANDERING you'll consider an interesting in­ STARS anthology, as there were stor­ ROBIN HARDY, The Wicker Man terview with Stephen R. Donaldson, ies he would have liked to have us­ Awards will also be given for: a shot of the Balrog Award, a front ed in the first book but could not BEST WRITING, BEST MUSIC, BEST SPEC­ 6 bacover by Fabian, plus a couple for reasons of space. IAL EFFECTS, BEST COSTUMES, BEST more chapters of the round robin MAKE UP. novel by Lumley 5 Long.' WANDERING STARS II has not yet The Academy will also present been submitted to a publisher and ((The Balrog Award(it should should not yet be considered a mark­ non-televised awards for: be noted) is a fantasy fiction BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN, BEST EDIT­ et. Dann is interested in short award. I ignored the Balrog Award stories and novelettes, either fan­ ING, BEST SOUND, BEST EXECUTIVE flyer because, frankly, I thought ACHIEVEMENT, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, tasy or science fiction, with Jew­ it a small-time thing, thought the ish themes. Send him a Xerox or BEST PUBLICIST, BEST FILM CRITICISM, name Balrog ugly-sounding and dumb, and a LIFE ACHIEVEMENT CAREER AWARD. just a note where the story can be and feel that the field does not found. need another fantasy coward. The # LETTER FROM ROBERT BLOCH World Fantasy Awards seem adequate The new WANDERING STARS will 2111 Sunset Crest Dr. to honor the field. contain original material, but will Los Angeles, CA 90046 ((Nevertheless, for those in­ most likely be invitational. How­ terested in voting, the opportunity ever, authors who have ideas for 'Well, you've certainly started above is there. stories and would like to contribute the new year right! I'm fascinated ((A copy of FANTASY CROSSROADS, should contact Dann. Do not send by the plethora of material reviewed by the way, costs $3.00.)) original manuscripts! —but share the view that this is probably the last literate genera­ This is a chance for those of you who missed the first WANDERING tion. The technologists will, of # LETTER FROM SAM MOSKOWITZ course, continue to "read" mathemat­ STARS to get into the second. With 361 Roseville Ave. ical formulas and computer print­ G-d's help, there won't be a third. Newark, NJ 07107 outs, but visual orientation is rap­ Jan. 16, 1979 (A note: The original WANDERING idly moving in other directions. STARS is still making royalties, al­ I'm just grateful to be around during 'In re your references to a pos­ beit small ones for its authors. the Decline of the West. By the way, sible tapering off of the science And the royalties paid were more thanks for suggesting me for Pope---- fiction boom. Having watched a than the original advances on the but my wife won't let me! series of booms and declines extend­ stories.) 'Pax vobiscum, to say nothing of ing back 45 years, this present boom Kyrie Ellison.' Contact Jack Dann at: leaves me without any pat answers. ((I dunno...... somebody is buying There is a groundwell of interest Box 555 all those books and magazines. I in science fiction. In part it has Johnson City, NY 13790 think it's too soon to bury the grown out of the colleges. Or telephone him after 3:00 pm written/printed word. 'The three to five hundred col­ at 607-797-3386 or 607-797-1000. ((I wasn't sure if you wrote lege level courses in the United 'Pax’ or 'Pox’ in your inimitable ALIEN THOUGHTS CONT. ON P. 17 green script, Bob. Err... does 13 THE VIVISECTOR A Column By Darrell Schweitzer

But my pen name THE GREAT FETISH By L. Sprague de Camp is my real name. Doubleday, 1978, 177 pp., $7.9S

In THE SFWA HANDBOOK, Poul And­ the protagonist) illegal, he has to ia McKillip's work is still market­ erson gives this advice to writers: put aside his plans, but they get ed as juvenile in hardcover, even "A planet is a world, likely to be accidentally carried out anyway, and though it's an adult, general cir­ as diversified both physically and complications result. Much of the culation paperback. This is also socially as Earth". subsequent story deals with the at­ true of the LeGuin trilogy, tempts of the hero and a friend to assorted Alan Gamer titles and I wish more writers would pay reach a philosophers' convention in quite a bit else. What this means attention to that. I am tired of a balloon the latter has invented. is that the distinction between seeing stories which suffer from More difficulties arise from a church "juvenile" literature and "adult" the State of Delaware Syndrome, i.e. vs. state heresy battle. It seems is frequently an arbitrary fluke of a whole planet no more varied cul­ that the world of the novel is a category publishing, and that the turally, politically, geographical­ lost Earth colony, but with the paperback edition is often crucial ly, etc.,than Delaware. slower-than-light mission having in gaining recognition for a book One of the reasons that THE gone awry, there hasn't been any beyond a few knowledgeable readers GREAT FETISH is one of the most en­ contact for centuries. Technology and a lot of children's librarians. joyable science fiction novels to is on a pre-industrial level, and Unfortunately, Bellairs' impres­ come along in a while is that de the Earth is thought to be a spiri­ sive debut in the fantasy field Caup knows how to create a world. tual afterworld. went virtually unnoticed for this Each time his characters enter a All of this is presented very very reason: There was no quick pa­ new country, the difference is ob­ smoothly with a great deal of wit perback in the "adult" category. vious from the first people they and a good eye for detail. There Now, ten years after the first pub­ meet, just as someone from Delaware is a genuine substance in it, in lication, there is, and I think he would notice it at once if suddenly the satire, and particularly in the is about to become famous, especial­ plunked down in Baghdad. Of course, discussion of the value of scientif­ ly if he follows up and writes some­ de Camp has travelled widely, and ic truth vs. its social consequenc­ thing else. But at the same time, I he knows how these things work, and es. The "fetish" of the title, by hope he doesn't let success go to this is why his places have texture. the way, is of religious/anthropol- his head, and conclude that he knows His characterization is not ogical variety. Leather and chains everything there is to know about quite as good. The two familiar types can ge re-read DHALGREN. writing, because he doesn't. THE figures, the muscular adventurer FACE IN THE FROST shows a lot of who wants to be a scholar, and the first-novel flaws which have to be puny scholar who wants to be an ad­ overcome, but also a sometimes aston­ venturer, are with us again. Both ishing array of strengths with which behave plausibly, exactly as more THE FACE IN THE FROST to overcome them. detailed characters would, but we By John Bellairs The author's greatest gift is never get to know them very well. Ace, 1978, 174 pp., $1.75 truly inventive imagery, coupled I'm not sure if this is because with a spare, straightforward, but they are excellent two-dimensional THE FACE IN THE FROST is appar­ very visual style. He is at his inpersonations of three-dimension­ ently one of those curious hybrids best describing supernatural pheno­ al human beings, or simply because of the publishing world, the hard­ mena, and he knows it, which causes ordinary characters are much harder cover juvenile/paperback adult book. him to try to cover up a sometimes to write. De Camp's characters are Until very recently, it seems, Am­ flimsy storyline with incident after usually straightforward, healthy erican publishers have not really incident. The , Prospero, types, and you will notice that grasped the concept of fantasy for ("not the one you are thinking of) the most memorable folks in liter­ grown-ups. had to care­ and his friend, Roger Bacon, (the ature tend to be out-and-out nuts, fully explain what he meant by "Ad­ Bacon of myth who tried to ring Eng­ like Captain Ahab or Macbeth. ult Fantasy" in the first book of land with a wall of brass, as told his Ballantine series. (The 1969 Anyway, it seems like the normal, in Greene's FRIAR BACON 6 FRIAR BUN­ edition of Pratt's THE BLUE STAR.) GAY, not the historical inventor of healthy and sane thing to do for Probably it was the Carter series, our hero to seek to slay the man who the scientific method) spend most along with the continued success of their time traveling around in has run off with his wife, since of Tolkein that made the difference. his culture expects this of him. search of clues to the identity Nowadays most paperback publishers and intentions of an evil sorcerer. (Again, de Camp escapes the ordin­ have caught on, but hardcover houses, ary. How many formula novels start In the course of this they encount­ perhaps inherently more conserva­ er a series of supernatural dangers out with the hero motivated that tive, have not. As a result Patric- way?) In a neighboring country, and boobytraps with such regularity where homicide is (inexplicably to 14 that after a while the reader is sure that this next village or cast­ 'And still the woman stood sil­ fall" and "Victory Unintentional" le or forest will contain one, and ent, staring down with dead eyes... by Isaac Asimov, "Child of the Green always he's right. Prospero, how­ He walked to where the slumping fig­ Light" by , "The Twon- ever, doesn't seem to have figured ure stood. Grasping her shoulders, ky" by , and "Storm that out, nor does he wonder why he shook her violently... He looked Warning" by Donald A. Wollheim. things happen so conveniently. He up at the woman again and stepped However, this one is distinguished wins out in the end by means of a back with a gasp. His hand went to from the usual compilation of fam­ spell he's always known, but never his face and his staff fell to the iliar stories by Carr's extensive been able to use. He just happens floor. The woman's eyes were gone. and well researched introductions, to meet someone who has had a key In her slowly rising head were two which set each item in the context in the family for centuries which black holes. Prospero saw in his of its time and the author's car­ opens a cabinet containing a note mind a doll that had terrified him eer. The result is a very lively telling him to use the spell. When as a child. The eyes had rattled in history of science fiction in the things look hopeless he enters in­ the china skull. Now the woman's 1940s, as good as any I've seen. to another world and meets a new voice, mechanical and heavy: "Why Highly reconrnended as a textbook, a character who proves very helpful. don't you sleep? Go to sleep." Her gift to neophyte readers and for mouth opened wide, impossibly wide, libraries. Halfway through the book, when and the whole face stretched and Prospero and Bacon have reached the writhed and yawned in the faint light. library in which they look up what (PP- 94) they want to know about the evil wizard, then keep on traveling, we A sure sign of Bellairs' enor­ FOUNDATION #1-8 wonder where they are going and why. mous potential is his ability to March 1972 to March 1975 Only then does Prospero remember shift from such scenes of sheer hor- Editor, Peter Nichols et.al. that he and the villain studied to­ or to wacky humor and back again Gregg Press, 1978, $35.00 gether and share power over a mag­ without one ever ruining the other. Facsimilie of issues, paginated ical "paperweight" they built to­ The description of Prospero's gadg­ separately, plus, introduction 5 text. gether. et-cluttered house is reminiscent But even if he is piling scene of the very best of T.H. White's Gregg Press has done us another anachronistic humor. There are ev­ upon scene for their own sake, Bel­ great favor by preserving the first en a couple of good Lovecraftian lairs is one of the few writers who eight issues of The Science Fiction jokes. Prospero collection of arc­ really knows how to handle magic Foundation's journal in a long-last­ ane tomes includes such titles as in fiction. Few things are more ing hardcover. To my mind FOUNDA­ NAMELESS HORRORS AND WHAT TO DO AB­ tedious than standard sword-and-sor­ TION has been consistently the best OUT THEM and, "of course, the dread­ cery conjuring, a few demons and academic/scholarly SF magazine. The ed KRANKENHAMMER of Stefan Schimpf, the like. Bellairs' magic is more writing is far superior to that in the mad cobbler of Mainz." When a pervasive, more part of the universe SF STUDIES and EXTRAPOLATION. Hap­ few celestial bodies go astray in a of the novel: pily the British, who supposedly miniature universe in a tower, the have a reputation for stuffiness, 'One man told how frost formed creator-hobbyist remarks, "I think put out a magazine which is much we must blame that terrible black on the windows at night, though it less pedantic and muddled than its planet Yuggoth, which rolls aimles­ was only the middle of September... North American counterparts. I sly in the stupefying darkness", people saw seasick wavy lines, dis­ think one reason for this is that a (p. 50) And yet within a few pages turbing maps that melted into each larger percentage of the contribu­ of these, Bellairs produces one of other and always seemed on the verge tors are fiction writers, not pro­ the best pictures of an innocent fessors. As somebody points out of some recognizable’ but fearful man corrupted and overpowered by shape. At dawn the frost melted, al­ herein, the talents of storytelling evil lore that the field has seen and criticism don't necessarily ways in the same way: At first two since "The Haunter of the Dark" and black eyeholes formed, and then a spring from different sources; in THE CASE OF CHARLES DEXTER WARD. long steam-lipped mouth that spread the past many of the great critics and ate up the wandering white pic­ All Bellairs has to do is learn were also fiction writers, and it's ture. In some towns people talked how to plot more carefully. He nice to see such traditions being of clouds that formed long opening has all the other gifts required to upheld in science fiction. I also mouths... Doors opened at night in­ make him an absolutely first-rate find refreshing the statement by side some houses and that fantasist. Kathryn Buckley: could not be cast by firelight fell across beds and floors. People who 'Beware of the critic who says, lived near forests and groves dream­ "Ah, but you see, it's all symbol­ ed that the trees were calling to CLASSIC SCIENCE FICTION: THE FIRST ic" leaving the poor reader feeling their children; in the daytime, GOLDEN AGE that he must be too obtuse to under­ pools of shadow that floated tremb­ Editor, stand the thing. If neither critic ling around the trees seemed darker Harper 5 Row, 1978, 445 pp., $14.95 nor reader can make some sort of than they should have been... Voices sense out of the symbolism then the rose from empty wells, and men lock­ The contents of this book should reader is entitled to assume it may ed their doors at dusk.' (pp. 123-4) be familiar to most of you, and well be the writer who is at fault.' they speak for themselves: "The (Issue #1, pp. 17-18) Iri one of the most vivid passag­ Smallest God" by , es, Prospero comes to an inn in a "Into the Darkness" by Ross Rockly- Which may give you some idea of town which doesn't seem to be quite nne, "Vault of the Beast" by A.E. the tone and quality of FOUNDATION. all there. Of course, it is a mag­ van Vogt, "The Mechanical Mice" by The criticism tends to be direct, ical facade set up to entrap him. Eric Frank Russell, "And he Built a concise and substantial. Of course, Slowly the unreality of the place Crooked House" and "By his Bootstraps not all the contents are critical. shows through. Mirrors don't reflect by Robert Heinlein, "Microcosmic There is a small amount of fiction anything. All the other rooms in the God" by , "Night- and even a story or two, plus an inn are empty and bare. When he fin­ excellent series of articles by var­ ally confronts the landlady: 15 ious writers on how they came to write SF. Some of the material is a story of imaginary lands, magic, Howard ever wrote. "The God in the available elsewhere; Samuel Delany's wizards, mythical creatures, etc. Bowl" is just so-so, a talky Hybor- "Shadows" is in THE JEWEL-HINGED This one is about the last unicorn ian ’whodunit with a rather contrived JAW and the Silverberg and Aldiss in the world trying to find out what ending. pieces are in HELL'S CARTOGRAPHERS, happened to all the others, and it but most is not. It would be hard ranges all the way from whimsey to in the space available even to list terror and back again. It's a much all the highlights. There's a ser­ more active book than A FINE AND ies of articles on precursors of SF PRIVATE PLACE, and I think it dem­ THE WAY THE FUTURE WAS by Peter Nichols, an analysis of onstrates a better coimand of the By social attitudes in 1950's SF by novel form. Del Rey, 1978, 312 pp., $8.95 Robert Chapman which, curiously and provocatively enough, suggests that "Lila, the Werewolf is about an ordinary girl in the present day who This is yet another book which all the bad movies of the period had could not have been published by a more in common with literary SF than has one bad habit. The linkage be­ tween lycanthropy and sex is one of bigtime publisher until very recent­ we'd care to admit. Contributors ly, simply because there was not include , Ursula LeGuin, the more interesting variants of the subject I've seen. Beagle's protag­ enough interest in books about sci­ Poul Anderson, Ian Watson, James ence fiction. Or about science fic­ Tiptree, Larry Nival, Douglas Bar­ onist finds the werewolf downright attractive at times, in a manner tion writers. Or by science fiction bour, J.J. Pierce, Bob Shaw, Mark writers, about themselves. I think Adlard and other notables. There which probably could not have been printed in most places not long ago. we have the academic interest to are a lot of book reviews, some of thank for this -- something good has which, like those in Knight's IN Lastly, "Come, Lady Death" is about a bored socialite of the 18th Century come of it, see? THE WAY THE FUTURE SEARCH OF WONDER, remain of inter­ WAS is just what the doctor ordered est years afterwards because of the who invites Death to her ball just to make things interesting, and for libraries with huge SF collec­ principles they set down and illum­ tions, for historians of the field, inate. ends up taking on the job herself. Again Beagle manages to create gen­ as a primary source for the Ph.D I imagine $35.00 is too high uinely living characters and avoid mill. a price for many individuals, but all the cliches that usually turn And for just plain readers. the book is a must for the serious up in such stories. No Grim Reaper It's a very enjoyable, immensely collector and for any university with a scythe this time. readable book, which is the highest library with any pretense of a ser­ compliment I can give it. Interest­ ious SF collection. The edition is handsomely illus­ trated by Darrell Sweet, printed on ing. Probably important. In a lot good paper, and bound in heavy, cloth- of ways, illuminating. covered boards, but I wish they'd Briefly, it is the story of Fred used sewn signatures rather than just Pohl's life, from earliest childhood glue to hold the pages in. Alleged­ up through the 1970s, and there are THE FANTASY WORLDS OF PETER BEAGLE ly if you use the right kind of glue lots of fascinating nuggets buried Viking Press, 1978, 430 pp. $14.95 it'll last forever (I remain uncon­ in it. Ignore the silly jacket blurb vinced: my copy started to come un­ about "the bizarre world of the pulp This omnibus contains all the done a bit 8 I had to add a drop of magazines" and (ghodhelpus!) "the published fantasy of Peter Beagle, my own glue), but in any case it strange mating rites of the SF com­ his only other work being a travel would be nice if a book which is go­ munity" (which conjures up images of book, I SEE MY OUTFIT, plus some ing to be lovingly reread several South Sea savages jumping off towers screenplays, notably that for , and slowly, could be laid with vines around various parts... LORD OF THE RINGS. Of course, it's flat, which this can't. Viking Press all noted by our anthropologist in best that any artist take his time used to do it right. As recently ith helmet) and you'll find much to produce his very finest work rath­ as KINGDOMS OF ELFIN they did. that's intriguing: First hand mat­ er than a flurry of hurried and sec­ erial on how some of Pohl's famous ond rate stuff, but I wish Mr. Beag­ works came to be written (or not le would devote more time to writ­ destroyed, like the novel he burned, ing. He has been working on another page by page while rereading it to novel, by his own account, "for what THE TOWER OF THE ELEPHANT remind himself just how bad it was; seems like half my life". By Robert E. Howard large helpings of personal anecdotes His conplete works consist of Grosset 8 Dunlap, 94 pp. $6.95 about many famous names in science two novels, THE LAST UNICORN and A fiction; for those who weren't there FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE, a short sto­ The second of G8D's facsimile (and perhaps those who were), a good, ry, "Come, Lady Death", and a novel­ reprints of Donald Grant's ser­ vivid account of what it was like to et, "Lila the Werewolf”. All are, ies. A very handsome package, for grow up in New York during the De­ in their own separate ways, excel­ those inclined to pay seven bucks pression and how many things we take lent. A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE I for a paperback of material available for granted just were not seen in reviewed here a couple issues ago. elsewhere. Grant's Conans have rang­ the same way (e.g. 1930s Communism; Maybe it's too long, and a little ed from superbly illustrated (Barr) and answers to lots of questions. static, but it is immaculately writ­ to disasterously bad (Boas). This Why didn't Larry Niven, the leading ten, witty, filled with charmingly one is somewhere in the middle, more "hard science" writer of the late bizarre characters, and at times gen­ toward the upper end of the scale. 1960s, ever appear in John Campbell's uinely moving. You may put it down Several of Richard Robertson's 9 ANALOG? Answer: Pohl had first for a while, but you'll eventually color paintings are very good indeed, grabs at everything, and when he fin­ come back, remembering everything impressionistic, and quite a depart­ ally suggested that. Larry submit vividly. THE LAST UNICORN is a Tol- ure from the majority of the bulge- something to Campbell, it (A GIFT keinesque fantasy which, like all and-bicep school. As for the two FROM EARTH) was rejected, which goes first-rate Tolkeinesque fantasies, stories in this volume, "The Tower a long way in showing how JWC manag­ doesn't resemble Tolkein much at all. of the Elephant", about Conan's ad­ ed to abdicate his position as lead­ Beagle is on his own, quite unlike, olescence, is one of the best things er of the field. ((Actually, the say, , but he has written 16 footnote on p. 241, which brags of 9 stories in THE HUGO WINNERS from ALIEN THOUGHTS CONT. FROM P. 13 work suffers from repetition and Pohl magazines, 2 from all other haste. His sword 6 sorcery novels sources, is a bit misleading. A are all rewrites of each other. Of HISTORY OF THE HUGO, NEBULA, etc. 1-25-79 I was contacted the other course, after that many times through (the DeVore book) reveals for the night by a representative of the the , the routine becomes Portland s-f organization whose name years in question, 1960-69, (years polished, which is why I always ad­ I have forgotten—never having at­ of publication, not when the awards vise people to read the more recent tended a meeting [mostly because of were actually handed out), the score specimens, like the second Corum inertia and ennui]—and the club is was: ANALOG - 1, F$SF - 2, DANGEROUS trilogy. does look inter­ thinking seriously of putting on a VISIONS - 2, NEW WORLDS/YEAR’S BEST esting. I went through the trouble small convention this coming Nov­ SF - 1, IF/GALAXY - 8. No ANALOG of sending away for the Allison & ember . Busby edition, which I probably story won between Poul Anderson's Would I be willing to be Fan "The Longest Voyage", Dec. 1960, and would have reviewed if somebody else Guest of Honor? hadn't gotten there first. George Martin's "A Song for Lya", At first I said yes/no, then yes June 1974, which does make the point, provided it was understood I would 'But sometimes I think Moorcock that Pohl had the competition trounc­ not make a speech or appear on any is barking up the wrong tree on the ed, despite a lower budget.)) panels. I'm perfectly willing to matter of artistic integrity. I I, for one, find the literary wander around with a large name tag remain unconvinced that the writer wrangling fascinating. There's the and a foolish grin and meet people, has to be anything more than true to incredible story of how Pohl as an but that's about it. what he has written. Thus any mag­ agent, was selling more material to So it was agreed that I would azine or anthology which will pub­ many editors than all other sources be a "Non-participating" GOH. lish the story without making unauth­ combined, but still managed to go Now we'll see how the group orized changes in it is okay. (As broke. And how he single-handedly makes out in its convention plans for editing, sometimes the editor forced the top rates up a third in and execution. This will be, I un­ can make very helpful suggestions 1950. I wish he could force today's derstand, their first attempt. about lapses in logic, a sentence medium-to-low rates up... One thing that doesn't make sense, inconsis­ I noted was that while, as an editor's # Metagaming has issued a new game: tencies, etc. No writer is perfect, assistant, I can make more in an aft­ STICKS 8 STONES ($2.95), which is and often another viewpoint catches ernoon than he got in a week for be­ their MicroGame #11. the sort of thing which becomes em­ ing editor in chief of two magazines; It is stone age warfare—10,000 barrassing in print. But the editor I've sold a lot of stories at 1940 B.C.... battles between tribes. should never try to fix anything. prices. And the dealings of Don I'm not into these board games He should have the author do it.) Wollheim and friends with Hugo Gems- and would appreciate anyone out there * My experience, which is of course back are very reminiscent of the con- who is sending a review of these more limited than Moorcock's, is tenporary GALAXY. new issues by Metagaming and others. that most editors today will print I could go on like this, but no, This is an aspect of science fiction a story as I write it, give or take let him do it.* Sometimes THE WAY and fantasy that should be covered. typos and an occasional closing of a THE FUTURE WAS is very funny. When The address of Metagaming is gap I wanted open to indicate trans­ describing tragedy, it is moving. Box 15346, Austin, TX 78761. ition. ANDROMEDA sent me galleys It is never dull. Highly recomnend- to go over. I found that the editor ed. had changed one sentence, shortened ft LETTER FROM DARRELL SCHWEITZER the name of a spaceship, and allow­ 113 Deepdale Road ed me to consistently misspell Aqui­ *An eyebrow-raiser in the last chap­ taine throughout. FANTASTIC print­ ter or so is the statement that The Strafford, PA 19087 January 23, 1979 ed me verbatim, after the editor had Amazing Randi taught Pohl how to do made a very constructive suggestion Uri Geller's key-bending trick. 'I find the in­ about the ending which I carried Gee, if only he'd outlined the meth­ terview and letter of much interest. out. Basically, I have yet to have od in some detail right there on the Covell's interview came off a lot a serious run-in with what John Brun­ page, so there'd be thousands and better than mine (in ALGOL), pos­ ner calls The Meddling Moron, except thousands who could do it... sibly because Moorcock expresses in FANTASY 6 TERROR some years ago, A*AA*AAA*AAAAA*AAAAAAA***AAAAAAAA*AA himself better on paper than into a which was hardly a major market. So tape recorder. My one attempt at a I don't see why a writer shouldn't through-the-mail interview didn't take Norman Spinrad's often repeated work very well, so I've always done advice and "aim high" when submitting them in person. stories. Moorcock's approach will only insure that he will continue to 'Anyway, Moorcock might be glad be better known for novels, since to know that I've never suspected his short work seldom appears in him of being out to get me, for all wide-circulation outlets. A writer he's disagreed with me time after whose output consists primarily of time in your pages. I have too short fiction would go broke that much respect for him for that. I way. admire his integrity, and his refus­ al to compromise his fiction, even 'I would also differ with Moor­ if at the same time I don't know how cock on the Fuck The Reader approach he reconciles this with having dash­ to editing and publishing. On page ed off the Hawkmoon books in three 21 he describes the NEW WORLDS ap­ Wha+’s the matter, E. Coli days. I'm glad to hear that he's proach as "we didn't give a shit baby? Ain’t you never seen taking far more time and care with about money, circulation, or public his newer stuff. He's always struck opinion", although this doesn't a padded cell before? me as being a latter day Robert E. quite mesh with the statement at Howard, a superior writer whose the top of page 23 that he can't write unless he is sure the reader 17 can enjoy the result. The problem with Fuck The Readerism is that the stories remain in print. (This in­ # LETTER FROM DARRELL SCHWEITZER reader will fuck you back by ceas­ cludes work by Moorcock. Often I ing to read. This may seem naive of got the impression that he was the Dec. 16, 1978 me, but somehow it seems to me that only professional level writer in­ when more readers flock to a maga­ volved in the later NEW WORLDS, and 'IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: zine or anthology, the editor gets he was slumming with the amateurs.) I would like it to be known that letters of praise, and the circul­ NEW WORLDS is very much a magazine the statements attributed to me in ation figures go up; this is a good to read in reprints. All the good the 11th issue of Tarai Macdonald thing. When the reader throws the stuff has been reprinted. (Except and Victoria Vayne's "news"zine book across the room in disgust, something called "The Circular Rail­ DNQ in regards to relations between writes an angry letter and then way" by John Calder, in #182, which ASIMOV'S SF and the artists Freff stops reading, this is a bad thing. really deserves to be anthologized.) and are absolutely un­ Correct me if I'm wrong. My guess 'NEW WORLDS and are very true and I never said anything of is that much of the "New Wave" of much alike in that both print(ed) the sort. Furthermore, this "re­ the 1960s destroyed itself by sheer much brilliant and innovative fic­ port" was published without my know­ economics. If no one will read it, tion, but fail(ed) to maintain any ledge or permission, and no adequate it doesn't continue to be publish­ minimum standard of readability. If retraction has been made. The com­ ed. I don't see how NEW WORLDS was two stories in a book are excellent ments in issue #12 seem to vaguely supposed to be reaching for a larg­ and the rest are outrageously bad, perpetuate the distortions and un­ er audience when the circulation the reader will give up more readily truths originally printed in #11. was at fanzine level. (Remember than he will with one where one sto­ (The truth is you'll be seeing work that article "An Editor's Day" by ry is excellent and the rest are so- by both artists in future issues.) Charles Platt you published about so. Minimum standards are as impor­ 1969? In it he described putting 'To add insult to injury, I was tant as maximum ones. The other all the subscription copies into a not sent a copy of the issue in magazines, GALAXY, ANALOG, etc. were bag, hopping on his motorbike and which the first item appeared, and able to go through the same period going to the postoffice. I recall had to find out aljout it second hand. undisturbed because, while they Ted White's incredulous remark, The same is true of issue #12, which didn't as frequently print stuff as "Surely he doesn't think this is contains the inadequate and half­ good as NEW WORLDS' best, they didn't what a professional editor does!") hearted response to my protests. even approach its worst. Also, comments in #12 would imply ^Now, the period of NEW WORLDS that I am retracting because George in question is that of the large­ Scithers got upset about the affair. sized issues, #173-201, roughly 1967 Well, he did, but so did I as soon to 1970 when the New Wave crested. as I found out, and I wrote to DNQ I find that very few fans are famil­ before having heard about it from iar with the magazine, since it was him. I don't like having false and not widely circulated. For a short potentially damaging statements at­ while it showed tremendous promise tributed to me!' as an experimental , publishing things like CAMP CONCENTRATION, BAREFOOT IN THE HEAD, a chunk of , 'The same is true of ORBIT. It # LETTER FROM CHARLES PLATT most of and so on. has died now because too many read­ 70 Ledbury Road But as it went on, it began to re­ ers threw it away in disgust. (Al­ London W.ll, England semble the undergraduate literary so, honestly, other factors are in­ January 5, 1979 magazines I was putting together at volved. The anthology field is the time (early 70s -- I was getting still not out of the post-Elwood 'I'm at the above address at the magazines from dealers a couple depression.) It also will be some­ least until March. Mike Moorcock years late), and frequently no bet­ thing which will be fondly remember­ lent me his copy of SFR #29 last ter. There was far too much of ed in the future and read through night; I'm writing first in reply what I call "non-functional word reprints of about 25% of its con­ to Orson Scott Card's review of patterns", which is the Fuck the tents. The same with QUARK, which Eleanor Arnason's THE SWORD SMITH Reader attitude taken to an extreme suicided more quickly and for the (a novel that I accepted while I in the writing itself. To cite some same reasons. This sort of edit­ was editor at Condor). examples, I don't see how a Ballard ing always destroys itself, and I 'I feel sorry for Orson (his condensed novel, or "How Dr. Chris­ think does more harm than good by endearing humility encourages the topher Evans Landed on the Moon" convincing publishers that anything use of first-names). He emerges (#187) or "The Generations of Amer­ with serious intentions and ambition from the punishing drudgery of read­ ica" (#183), or much of the work of won't sell and therefore should not ing for purposes of review, every Giles Gordon, James Sallis and Gra­ be published. single story in every single cur­ ham Charnock, or ' "Babel" rent science fiction magazine. He (191) have anything to offer to a 'P.S. Some news: I've sold picks up THE SWORD SMITH. His eyes fiction reader at all. This goes another novel, well, really a bunch scan the pages for the familiar for virtually the entire contents of stories in sequence cobbled to­ formulas, the heroics, the gimmicks, of the newest incarnation, #213. gether into one, a 'la THE DYING EARTH or EYES OF THE OVERWORLD. It the quests and climaxes that cons­ 'I recall another particularly is the medieval fantasies about the titute literature as he knows it -- relevant comment made by Ted White knight, Julian, "The Hag", etc. and -- nothing! The hero isn't a (about 1970, when he gave a talk in (More are forthcoming in HEROIC FAN­ hero, the dragon talks like some­ Philadelphia) that NEW WORLDS was TASY, THE YEAR'S BEST HORROR and one's aunt, none of the people in no longer a fiction magazine at all, various Paul Collins anthologies.) the book act with any high drama, but one of "tightly written para­ The title presently is WE ARE ALL or even ambition! What the hell is graphs". Ten years later it seems LEGENDS and the publisher is Borgo. going on here? What (in the famil­ the readers have borne me out. The Out in the early 80s.' iar phrase used by Orsons every­ gibberish NEW WORLDS published is where) is the point? I suppose I forgotten, while the few outstanding 18 can offer him a. point. In Michael Moorcock's words (p. 22, SFR #29) it isn't right to paper everything any craftsman or artist is happiest "Fiction serves only one purpose. over blandly. And I know that part being true to his talents and skills To formalize and interpret the ex­ of my motivation for pursuing ob­ and the luckiest artist/craftsman is perience of its readers". --A pur­ jectivity was to assemble, in due the one who knows his talents and pose that THE SWORD SMITH obviously course, a collection of such inter­ character and has the guts to be fulfills, as evidenced by Orson's views, with the aim of selling them true to them. It 's so easy to be commendably honest list of reasons as a book; and I thought the book jealous and envious and compromise for his own identification with Am- would have a better chance of sel­ for the big money. It's a problem ason's "hero". ling if it was built to this spec­ many cannot solve. I suppose most ification than if it was more opin­ compromise...and are only marginal­ 'I am pleased -- excited even -- ionated and rude. So once again, ly unhappy as a result. that an Orson should be able to en­ even in this trivial instance, the ((Andy Porter, editor/publisher of joy (in his fashion) and recommend market controls the composition, ALGOL, called a few days ago and this novel. But I am depressed that and I'm no better than any of the we talked for a while. He said he he was baffled by it. Here is a crap artists salivating at the scent laughed at my review and he played book whose strength is its simplic­ of dollars in the air and trying to his usual one-upmanship games, con­ ity. It could hardly be easier to hit that Winning Formula instead of scious and unconscious. He also read. Damn it, it's half way to be­ trying to write something with in­ astonished me by saying he never ing a children's book! Yet the lit­ tegrity. makes subscription refunds, as a erary experience of an Orson is so matter of principle. Well, he did narrow, his preconceptions are so 'Well, I still want to write once when a subscriber died and entrenched, his self-awareness is up the Delany interview for you, the heirs asked for the money back. and since I am not a close friend so lacking, he doesn't "understand" Of course it is his privilege to the book -- or even why he sort-of of Chip's, and he knows I disagree not make refunds, but that policy enjoyed it. His only virtue is his with him strongly in some areas, should be known to potential sub­ frank admission of his own inade­ I'll feel freer to be franker, and scribers. As a matter of personal quacy. Oh, well, back to Conan... the result will perhaps be more in­ and publishing, ethics a notice of teresting as well as less diplomatic. 'And to Darrell Schweitzer ex­ "no refunds" should be in all ALGOL posing himself openly, at last, as 'Meanwhile it's back to work on advertising. It isn’t. Why not?)) a true elitist-juvenile secret-soc­ the three different books I am now iety member, in his wholly narcis­ contracted to write for various U.S. sistic "introduction to fandom" publishers. All the books are form­ that no one but an already-entrench­ ula jobs. The only advantage of # LETTER FROM DAVE PRILL ed fan could possibly penetrate; such work over, say, working on an 1211 W. 86th Street and magazine reviews listing the assembly line is that the hours are Bloomington, MN 55420 publications in order of the word­ shorter and the pay is better. January 22, 1979 rates they pay; and myself sounding like a true wide-eyed sycophant in 'Incidentally, I loved your re­ 'Thought you (and collectors of my little article on Asimov, misguid- view of ALGOL --a deft touch; use your 1960's porno novels) would be edly attempting to be "objective". it more often. And thanks for your intersted to know that CD/DM Books has BEDROOM CITY listed in their Whatever happened to values? Thank very kind mention of NEW WORLDS. I science fiction and fantasy catalog God we find some -- almost a pious am currently at work on NW 216 (will from last fall (their latest, I be­ excess -- in the Moorcock interview, be typesetting it next week); NW 215 lieve). The price is $1.00. You but as usual the interviewer's pri­ is being printed now and NW 214 has can get a copy of the catalog by vate reality didn't intersect at just been mailed to the USA, where writing to: CD/DM Books, Box 7188, any point with the interviewee's, it will be distributed by my assis­ Powderhorn Station, , so it's pearls before swine. Mike tant at "Patchin Productions" and MN 55407. They have a lot of real­ is, of course, right: Better to be you should get a copy (naturally) ly obscure titles. true to oneself than "objective", though you probably won't like it. no matter how you justify it (my Oh, well. Onward. Issue 214 was 'Most of the interview with John own justification was that I wanted considerably delayed in its appear­ Brunner seemed a waste. Instead of to put a word in for fiscal restraint ance in the U.S. because the first getting 7 pages of Brunner's thoughts/ among greedy workers in the writing shipment never turned up, and it feelings/philosophy, etc., we got a business -- a polite word, couched took me six weeks to be sure of half dozen pages of Brunner correct­ so tentatively, so naively, even an this, and then send out more copies ing Ian Covell's misconceptions and Orson might take note, and stop try­ from here, once I arrived in London. one page of fascinating discussion. ing quite so hard to become a new Nothing is simple.' Better preparation would have help­ ... but really who ed. the hell cares about Orsons? Or ((Darrell wrote that article on fan- ' are now called the Poumelles for that matter. That dom at my request, to give new fans and their latest album self-obsessed smug fascist bastard and those SFR readers who are not (as far as I know) is "PXR5". This ... excuse me. fans an idea of what the hardest information comes from an article in 'And now you're scheduled to core is like...or was like. MELODY MAKER (November 18, 1978) in run my Spinrad interview, which ag­ ((Too often the 'integrity' issue in which and Michael ain is another piece of objectivity writing ignores the integrity of the Moorcock talked with MM's Mike Davies so-called, which is to say that it professional who deeply believes in about the group. is not entirely frank in its expres­ "giving the reader what he wants" 'I think "The Review of Short sed opinions. Some cosmetic work and submitting himself to that end. Fiction" would be much more effec­ has been done. I was not as open The 'personal artistic integrity ' tive if the space given each story in my opinion of Norman's new book attitude is too often a mask for was cut down. One or two lines are as I should have been, really, were attacking successful, money/enter- enough. Crisp, concise and combust­ I to be true to my ideas about val­ tainment oriented writers and/or ible. Go for it, Orson. ues. So how honest can one be? Es­ excusing personal failure. pecially reviewing the work of ((My belief is that a writer or friends. I don't know, but I know ALIEN THOUGHTS CONT. ON P. 29 19 YOU GOT NO FRIENDS IN THIS WORLD A Review Of Short Fiction By Orson Scott Card

fly own stamina surprises me. I some arcane purpose, has an intui­ just finished reading my 105th story tion which, while completely logical in preparation for writing this col- 3 M icN&n ■ in origin, borders on prescience and uim, and I don't hate science fic­ telepathy in effect. When Ship as­ tion. In fact, despite tired eyes signs him to work with two other col­ and a screaming baby in the next room onists, he does not realize that (he is determined that all his wak­ Ship is using the three of them al­ ing hours will be spent walking ar­ ft doc*.! most like fingers, unthinkingly ful­ ound holding onto my fingers, which filling purposes they neither compre­ makes it difficult for me to type), hend nor even suspect. Ostensibly I was able to recognize in the 101st they are investigating the balloon­ story I read the finest one of the like ouranids, trying to find out bunch. If you can still fall in enough about them to enable the hu­ love with a story after reading a man settlers to cope with them. hundred of them, you have stamina. They discover that the ouranids are "Palely Loitering", by Christo­ a group-mind -- sent out by an intel­ pher Priest, (FSSF, Jan.), is not ligent mass of seaweed exactly as only well-written, it is also a Nikki and friends have been sent good story. Too often in my reading out by the Ship. And then, the dis­ I've found that a writer who puts covery made, one of the crew disap­ words together in ways that make my pears, himself a direct creation of hands tremble while I read doesn't Ship and not a man at all. A stun­ know hew to turn that marvelous ning story that proves Herbert still style into a story and I end up frus­ has it in him -- wasn't a one- trated. Priest has written with shot. the grace and slow tempo of the best * * * of the Victorian writers, yet where even Hardy often plods, Priest's Another Medea story, Jack Will­ writing sings. Ostensibly this is iamson's "Farside Station" (lA'sfm a story, but Priest has Nov/Dec), also deals with religion, made it so much more: It is the act though more directly than Herbert, story of a love growing up, of a F , and also deals with an effort to man who gradually becomes his fath­ 2 A- communicate with the ouranids. The er, of an adult surrounded by his writing is good, and he gets over adolescent self. The time travel the hurdle of dealing with members paradox, in Priest's hands, becomes of a fanatic religious group rather a metaphor. well. At the end, however, his am­ ates the religious experience bril­ bition far surpasses his achieve­ And "Palely Loitering" does ment, and when he wraps things up something I've longed to see more liantly. Dean Ing's "Domino Domine" (DESTINIES, Jan/Feb) is one such sto­ with news of an upcoming virgin birth science fiction do -- develop char­ it seems not exalting but rather nast- acters in a real family setting. ry, in which the incredibly powerful god of a savage tribe turns out not y and horrible, perhaps because the True, Priest's family is a Victorian child will be as much the child of a one, with the traditional dominant to be quite so omnipotent as he had seemed. corpse as of the Cosmic Union. The father and the son much intimidated one is too ghastly, the other too ab­ by, yet enamored of him. But it is Another treatment of the God­ stract to mean much to me. believable, and because we have seen man relationship is 's * * * his family the first person charac­ "Songs of a Sentient Flute" (ANALOG, ter is more fully fleshed than most Feb), the last and best of the 1EDEA A third Medea story is "Concepts" SF protagonists -- even when the auth­ stories to appear in print before by Thomas M. Disch (FfjSF Dec). I ors have all the pages of a novel to the book itself is published. I don't intend to use this column for work with. have a confession to make. While I pan reviews -- the space is too lim­ loved DUNE, I have not liked a sing­ ited and there are too many good At the heart of "Palely Loiter­ stories to recommend. But since Ed ing" is a myth, one of the most pot­ le thing by Herbert besides that book, not even (especially not even) the Ferman praised the story in the blurb, ent, to me, at least. It is the which he does not usually do, and story of the man who pursues some­ DUNE sequels. Herbert's hard sci­ ence was too heavy on plot, too thin since Harlan Ellison called the sto­ thing all his life, something beau­ ry "Thomas Disch's most brilliant tiful, and then discovers that it on people; his Dune sequels were far too mystical, and seemed to me SF story", I couldn't just ignore it. was already caught somewhere in his to be mistakes that only weakened past and he missed it and let it go And so, over the past few weeks and doesn't have even the memory of his masterpiece. I have been carefully constructing it. But in "Songs of a Sentient my verbal destruction of shallow * * * Flute", I believe Herbert has redis­ avant-garde writing that achieves covered the balance between mystic­ boredom, affectation, and little Religion is usually treated un­ ism and science, between action and else. Not only that, but a story by fairly in science fiction, primarily character that made DUNE such a Jack Dann, "A Quiet Revolution for because the voice of science fiction memorable experience. Nikki, a Death", from NEW DIMENSIONS 8, found is almost inevitably an agnostic poet raised by the godlike Ship for its way into my mailbox in the form voice. Yet, now and then, a science of a Xerox copy that arrived suspic­ fiction story or a fantasy illumin- 20 iously close to Nebula nominating time. The Dann story and the Disch son of a dead movie star starts no­ of Bootstrap Stories ("All You Zomb­ story seemed to me to be cut from ticing that his father has started ies", "By his Bootstraps", "Door in­ the same cloth, and boy, was I going speaking to him out of his old films, to Summer", all Heinlein); he actu­ to rip them to shreds. which are slowly altering to take ally does something new. the young man in. The only life he * * * Until I examined the proverbial has had with his father is in those beam in my own eye, and realized films, and at the end of the story I had strong prejudices about that if intelligent people are lik­ that unreal life becomes reality. 's work long before ing this stuff, it can't be the ut­ Both have some of the finest, most I ever read any of it. Because he ter dreck that it looks like to me. believable characterization I've Certainly neither Dann nor Disch can is a professor of physics, I assum­ seen in science fiction and fantasy. ed his work was the hardest of hard be dismissed, as I had been tempted science fiction. In utter contradic­ to dismiss them, as mere imitators * * * of the worst of self-indulgent Amer­ tion to this, I also thought of him Themes often seem to pop up in ican fiction in the seventies. I as an artsy-fartsy writer on the a- different stories at the same time, haven't changed my mind about the vant-garde end of things. This lat­ but it's not too common for such stories -- I still find them impene­ ter impression came because of the similar stories to appear in the trable -- but I have changed my mind reviews of IN THE OCEAN OF NIGHT, same issue of the same magazine. about my motives. which made it sound like the snob The February issue of FANTASY AND hit of 1977, and because every time I'm just a believer in the fut­ SCIENCE FICTION contains a story by I glimpsed him from a distance at ure of humanity and the fundamental Stephen Dixon, "A Home away from the 1978 Nebula Awards weekend he goodness of man, and both these sto­ Home", in which a middle-aged man was surrounded by an eager coterie ries seem to me to be saying I am is forced to take his aging father's of (I prejudged them) sycophants and wrong. Both present characters that place in an old age home, and there disciples. Which just goes to show are so blindly selfish and relation­ discovers that old age is a product what a fool I can be when I let my ships that are so pointless and of expectations -- he ages premature­ prejudgments get the better of me. shallow that, if I ever truly believ­ ly while his father, free at last of You see, I've been reading his ed people are or ever could become his son's constant reminders about work now. And three of his stories that way, I don't know how I could how feeble and incompetent he is be­ turned up in this batch, all of continue living among them. My res­ coming, is restored to youthful them worth reviewing, and all of ponse is visceral, however I cloak health. In the same issue, "Not to them showing completely different it in rationality, and so I viscer- the Swift", by James Patrick Kelly, facets of his talent. ally tell you that I do not like or tells of an old man who is losing understand the people in these sto­ his place in society -- the designer "Time Guide" (DESTINIES, Jan/ ries and therefore I do not like or of a magnificent building, he is Feb) is a hilarious satire on var­ understand the stories. now reduced to serving as a janitor ious historical periods, including * * * in it, and even that job is about our own, in the form of warnings to be taken from him. He gets in­ and hints to time-traveling tourists That may be the very reason I volved with an experiment in eidetic who want to blend with the natives. so much enjoyed R.A. Lafferty's memory -- total recall. And, at the A sample: Visitors to Berkeley in "Quiz Ship Loose" (CHRYSALIS 2), ev­ end, he finds a way to trigger that the late sixties are told, "Cultiv­ en though he, too, is dealing with a memory whenever he wants it, provid­ ate a dreamy, dislocated expression; future society so jaded and sophis­ ing his escape from a steadily more occasionally don't finish your sent­ ticated that it is incomprehensible unpleasant life. ences. (Option; every once in a to the normal human. What makes the * * * while, wander away into traffic and difference, I think, is that Lafferty have to be led back to the side­ has presented such a story from a "Ker-Plop" is the silly title of walk.)" group of (almost) normal humans' an excellent by Ted Reynolds point of view. And his beliefs ab­ (lA'sfm, Jan.). Most of the story "Old Woman by the Road" (DESTIN­ out human nature come a bit closer is the eidetic memory of Checker IES, Nov/Dec) is a short, sensitive to mine -- his jaded future society Cotter Oren, induced hypnotically characterization of a young man and is bored and boring, and all their by -- well, this one has enough sur­ an old woman, both of whom are rel­ pent-up or rejected imperfections prises that I don't want to reveal uctant to leave their swanpy, ugly, come out in their children, who are them. I hope this is the skeleton beloved home country in time for it marvelously insane and therefore of a novel, or that this story can to be destroyed in a stupid conflict. have something to offer the rest of find its way into book publication And, going off in a third direc­ the universe. -- it deserves as many readers as tion entirely, "A Hiss of Dragon" it can get. There are only two good * * * (ONftll, Dec., in collaboration with characters, but that's above aver­ Marc Laidlaw) is a hard-science ad­ Two of the finest stories I age ; and the idea has the scope of venture yam as good as any I've read deal with a child's relation­ , Riverworld, Foundation read. You can see the professor ship to his or her dead parent, and or Rama. of physics in this one --it had both writers dealt with the ghoulish Another good story with an un­ never occurred to me before that in topic so sensitively that they made fortunate title is "Just in the my informal list of the best handful Niche of Time" by Thomas F. Monte­ of stories reviewed this issue. leone (CHRYSALIS 2). The title THAT5 ww r AWJAY5 "The Wanda Lake Number" by Robert leads the reader to expect a joke biAMiTort) TnetHit Thurston (ANALOG, Jan), brings to­ story. While the story is light in gether a show business agent with tone, it turns serious toward the delusions of integrity, a strange end, as a rich man who is in troub­ but beautiful woman, and an impres­ le with the mob finds an easy way sionist who does his act in three to change his life through a series dimensional illusions that become so of cold sleeps and time trips. It real they have a life of their own. isn't another entry in the long list And in William Rotsler's "Parental Guidance Suggested" (FtjSF.Jan) the 21 low gravity you could throw a rock SPIRODINIID CILIATES FROM THE CAECUM at somebody and then talk to him for OF THE AFRICAN ELEPHANT: AND A RE­ a while until it hits.... VISION OF THE SUBFAMILY POLYDINIEL- LINAE NOM., Nov. And this story So much for my prejudgments of makes her fiction credentials just Gregory Benford as a writer. He as secure. She has actually taken doesn't fit in any of the categories. the superman theme and made a mov­ A damned inconsiderate thing for him ing, believable, suspenseful, and to do to a reviewer who feels most satisfying story out of it. And you comfortable sorting people into var­ thought it couldn't be done.... ious cubbyholes. A * * Kerstin Lange's "By the Hours in a Day" is a treatment of an old I'm not a fan of H.P. Lovecraft. theme, too -- the woman who wants Not that I have any objections to a mechanical man to be the perfect his work -- I'm just uninterested. replica of her departed lover. What So I confess that if I hadn't set my­ makes the story unique is what hap­ self the goal of reading every story, pens when she meets the original I would have skipped Richard Lupoff's lover again. It won the National "The Devil's Hop Yard" (CHRYSALIS 2) Federation of Fantasy Fans writing a sequel to Lovecraft's "The Dun- contest "a while back", according wich Horror". I discovered that to ISAAC ASIMOV'S SCIENCE FICTION while Lovecraft leaves me cold, Lup- MAGAZINE, in which it appeared off doesn't. And he came up with (Nov/Dec). what was to me a new horror idea -- Back in the spring I fell in a young girl who remained infant it is getting reviewed elsewhere. love with Glen Cook's "Ghost Stalk", size, but while still a child devel­ Suffice it to say that I enjoyed one of the most gripping and power­ oped a fully adult figure. it thoroughly, and if she has in ful fantasies I had ever read (I re- of conpletely alien mien do nothing other stories been known to write comnend you get an old FfjSF and read to me. Monsters of human form who with more depth, it is nice to know it.'). He came up with a not quite are odd only in detail or scale that she can also a good adven­ so brilliant (but only weaker by strike me as being far more frighten­ ture yarn. comparison) SF story in the December ing. However, the buildup was so FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION: "The I didn't know there was such a intense and so well-handled that no Quiet Sea". Maybe it's partly be­ writer as Edward Wellen until I ending could possibly have been ­ cause of my love for the Horatio started doing these reviews. Now isfying. Hornblower series, but Cook can write I'm aware, and eager for more. His The ending of "Hand in Glove" about life on a sailing ship so that "While-You-Wait" (F8SF, Jan) is by Robert Aickman (FfjSF, Jan) also I can taste the salt and hear the built around a narrator who solves failed to work for me, but for the lines singing in the wind. crimes by computer and clever think­ different reason that Aickman was ing. The story is good; the char­ "Body Game", by Robert Sheckley a bit too obscure. In his tale of acter is wonderful; I hope Wellen (OMNI, Dec), tacked a kind of dumb vengeance taken by jilted lovers he writes more stories using him and ending on an otherwise excellent wrote beautifully, but left just a his techniques, because I want a story about an old man who gets tak­ few too many questions unanswered book of about fifteen of them. Or en in by a shyster used-body lot, for me to feel horrified rather than more. where the retread corpses are only mystified by the ending. guaranteed for thirty days. And And Eric Norden's "The Gathering Perhaps it's just my theatre "To Race the Wind" by Jack C. Halde­ of the Clan" (FfjSF, Feb), while curs­ background, but the most horrifying man II (OMNI, Jan) started out as ed with a rather ordinary plot, is of all the horror fantasy stories if it were going to be a standard still so well written that the story was "One More Song Before I Go" by environmentalist tract, and then deserves some note. Craig Shaw Gardner (CHRYSALIS 2). wasn't. Instead it was a lovely * * * I can't think of a more terrifying and powerful story about a sport way to spend eternity than being for crippled and weakened people who In the continuing battle between trapped inside a tacky musical com­ could never hope to achieve their Aliens and Humans for Supremacy in edy with a bad lyricist -- and in ancestors' athletic prowess. the Universe, the two sides fought to a draw in these last few months. this case the ending was, to my taste * * * On the down side, in "Cultural Con­ at least, exactly right. Gardner flict", by (DESTINES, Another cubbyhole: SF crime is a new writer, and one well worth Jan/Feb), a group of well-meaning watching. stories. human beings inadvertantly destroy * * * "The Man With the Eye" by Phyl­ the entire intelligent species on lis Eisenstein (IA'sFM, Nov/Dec) a planet without ever realizing the I'm now getting into my cubby­ is superficially a fantasy mystery enormity of what they are doing -- holes. Five about a man who uses his telekinetic just a little clumsy, that's all. stories (beyond those already men­ powers to rip off or take advantage And the aliens also lose round one tioned) struck me as being quite of other people -- but only in mod­ in "Stand Pat, Ruby Stone" by Roger good. And one of them, "The Works eration. If Eisenstein had opted Zelazny (DESTINIES, Nov/Dec), in of His Hand, Made Manifest", by Ka­ for the easy ending, it would have which love takes three players and ren G. Jollie (CHRYSALIS 2), is a been nothing more. Instead she went the human beings are voyeurs deter­ first fiction sale, which makes the for good characterization and made mined to watch the most brutal sex brilliance of the story all the more it a memorable story. act I've ever read about. Not Zel­ remarkable. Jollie's scientific azny's best, just Zelazny's better- Joan Vinge's "Fireship" (ANALOG, credentials are secure -- she is than-most-other-people --he must Dec) is the lead novella in her book the author of TWO NEW GENERA (THOR- get frustrated having his excellent by the same title (Dell, 1978), so ACOTHRIX GEN., Nov., AND POLYDINIOPSIS works constantly compared to his GEN., Nov.) .AND FIVE NEW SPECIES OF 22 perfect works and found wanting. The aliens come out ahead in "The Bulldog Nutcracker" by Thomas Frank Herbert's and F.M. Busby's Thurston (CHRYSALIS 2) starts with "Come to the Party", (ANALOG, Dec.), the supposition that John Keats is in which the human race commits it­ still alive and dominates a rather self to support of a beleaguered odd social group. I quote the sec­ intelligent race without realizing ond paragraph: that in the process they are turning an infinitely more intelligent spec­ "Keats reads all the biographies ies into implacable enemies. Writ­ of himself several times each. He ten with great good humor, the sto­ marks every section that is not true ry still manages to be chilling. with a Flair pen and charts all the Aliens also prove their superiority, inaccuracies chronologically on his bathroom wall. He plans to collect but more benignly, in "Old Rocking were ever in love. In fact, that Chair's Got fie" by Suzette Haden El­ all the inaccuracies into a book lab­ eled the definitive biography." may be the problem. The story prob­ gin (F8SF, Feb.). A young female ably should have been a novel. Hur­ alien runs afoul of the legal system If this is the same Robert Thurs­ ried as it is in this short form, when she reaches out to provide some ton who wrote the novelization of exposition sticks out and looks ug­ kind of relief to an utterly blind, BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, this story ly; a third character who could be handicapped species -- us. Believe and "The Wanda Lake Number" are lovely is so abruptly handled that me, the story will make you want to enough to win him absolution. Or she looks like a young Mary Worth; buy a rocker. almost enough. and because the story moves along In "The Ways of Love" (DESTINIES And OMNI, which is not limited at a too-brisk pace, Robinson's ir­ Jan/Feb), Poul Anderson spends what to hard science fiction, has printed repressibly cheerful style of writ­ seemed an excessively long time tel­ two fine fantasies, the first of ing is constantly at war with a much ling a gently ironic story in which which, "The Chessmen" (Nov) by Wil­ more poignant plot. What's frust­ some good human beings run into al­ liam G. Shepherd, is the story of a rating is how good the story is de­ iens who really know what love is Russian woodcarver who cleverly made spite those weaknesses. With more all about. a chess set where one side was Com­ time and a less dashing tone, he munist and the other side capital­ could make it an intense and power­ Too often first-contact stories ful book. have Joe Average and the Normal Am­ ist. Unfortunately, the capitalist erican Family meet the benevolent side could not lose, and the Commun­ * * * ists could not win; a bleakly de­ aliens. In "Where is Next Door?" by I want to wrap up the column by Mildred Downey Broxton (CHRYSALIS 2), lightful story. "And Whether Pigs Have Wings", by (Jan), mentioning three stories that must the aliens instead are trying to have been written with chortles and help a human family that is deeply is a first person story by the al­ ien who is trying to make life liv­ a fiendish glint in the writer's troubled: Their only child has a eye. "To Be or Not" by congenital terminal illness, which able for mankind. She tried once before, but they crucified her. (DESTINIES, Jan/Feb) takes cloning is pushing the husband deeper into to its excruciatingly logical ex­ his work and the wife closer to mad­ The idea sounds a bit hokey, but the story is skillfully executed and treme. "Be Jubilant, My Feet!" by ness. They can cure the illness -- Gary Jennings (FfjSF, Dec) is a de­ but can they cure the human malaise? works well. * * * lightful spoof on the horror genre, starring an intrepid missionary for a * * I am a Harlan Ellison fan. But the Southern Primitive Protestant Church. And "Controlled Experiment" Stephen R. Donaldson, by a ter­ I'm sure I'm not the only one who by Rick Conley (OMNI, Nov) is an rible miscarriage of justice, did was disappointed by "Count the Clock ironic proof of the importance of a not win the John W. Canpbell Award That Tells the Time" (OMNI, Dec). Yes, the style is still Harlan's, scientist's never taking anything in 1978 (no, dammit, I won't give for granted in his research. it back), but his Thomas Covenant still inimitable, still entertain­ trilogy has earned him a permanent ing. But the exposition sticks out AAA awkwardly from time to time, and and prominent place in the landscape What good is this review column, of modern fantasy. To the frustra­ where the story isn't vague it feels, anyway? By the time it comes out, tion of those of us who would like well, a bit silly. Ellison wrote none of these magazines is going to to take it easy and not have to wor­ this while on display at Iguanacon be on the stands any more -- you ry about being good every time, he in Phoenix, and perhaps is a hint can't rush out and buy a copy. keeps on proving he deserves that that not everything he writes while place. "Mythological Beast" (FtjSF, on display ought to be displayed. No, you can't. But I suspect Jan) is the story of a man who makes It's not a complete disaster, just many of you are like me. You have a metamorphosis as exalted as Kafka's a disappointment to those of us who good intentions of reading the maga­ was demeaning. Disney to the con­ have been conditioned to expect much zines, and you buy most of them ev­ trary notwithstanding, disobedient more from him. ery month (or subscribe). But after boys don't turn into jackasses -- Another disappointment was Spid­ you read the editorials and letters they turn into unicorns. Except er Robinson's "Antimony" (DESTINIES and science articles and book re­ for Peter S. Beagle, no one has ev­ Nov/Dec.). The idea of the story views, you set the magazine aside er made me care so much about uni­ is good enough for a novel: A man until you have time to read the sto­ corns; and only Donaldson has made and a woman fall in love in the last ries. If you get back to them at me wish I could be one. year before her terminal leukemia all, you read only the shortest ones or the stories by writers whose has created another forces her to be frozen to await the names you instantly recognize. engaging with "The Pot discovery of a cure; unfortunately, Child" (FfjSF, Feb). 's the process of freezing and thawing I did that time after time, until "The Humanic Complex" (F§SF, Dec) her wipes out all her memories of I finally realized that if everyone deals with the frustrations of try­ that last year, so that she does did that no one would ever have no- ing to cure God's delusions of hum­ not know (but he does) that they ticed me except my mother. The mag­ ility and get him back on the job; azines, contrary to popular opinion, a delightfully written piece. And 23 are not going to hell. Fully half of the stories printed are worth "Where is Next Door," Mildred reading, and some of the finest Downey Broxon short fiction in the English lang­ "Mythological Beast," Stephen R. okay but lm uage is appearing first in periodi­ Donaldson WARNING you. I cal form. And so I appointed my­ "The Pot Child," Jane Yolen CAN GIVE, you A self to go through and find which "The Humanic Complex," Ray Russell TREMENDOUS of these are good enough to be not­ "The Bulldog Nutcracker," Robert HEARTBURN/ iced by a lot more people. I've Thurston tried to identify them as clearly "The Chessmen," William G. Shepherd as possible, not just arbitrarily "And Whether Pigs Have Wings," as good or bad, but also by the Nancy Kress type of story each is, so that you "Count the Clock That Tells the can use this column as a guide to Time," Harlan Ellison which stories in those piles of un­ "Antimony," Spider Robinson read magazines are worth looking up "To Be or Not," Ben Bova and reading. "Be Jubilant, fty Feet!" Gary Jennings So for heaven's sake, pick up "Controlled Experiment," Rick Conley the damn magazines and read. If you don't, I read those 105 stories in vain. MAGAZINES AND ANTHOLOGIES REVIEWED ANALOG, Dec, Jan, Feb CHRYSALIS 2, (Dec 1978) STORIES REVIEWED (In Order) DESTINIES, Nov/Dec, Jan/Feb FANTASY and SCIENCE FICTION, Nov/ "Palely Loitering," Christopher Dec, Jan Priest OMNI, Nov, Dec, Jan "Domino Domine," Dean Ing "Songs of a Sentient Flute," Frank Herbert "Farside Station," Jack Williamson "Concepts," Thomas M. Disch THE A WARDS ARE COMING!!! "Quiz Ship Loose," R.A. Lafferty "The Wanda Lake Number," Robert Thurston By Orson Scott Card "Parental Guidance Suggested," William Rotsler "A Home Away From Home," Stephen Dixon I've heard that the Hugo and Why? Because even if in any "Not to the Swift,” James Patrick Nebula awards mean nothing. I've particular year the genuine true Kelly even seen it in print. Usually Best Story or Best Novel doesn't "Ker-plop," Ted Reynolds the argument centers on the fact win, a good writer wins. The best "Just in the Niche of Time," Thomas that only a few hundred people vote writers will eventually win at least F. Monteleone on the Nebulas and only a thousand one award. If their stories and "Time Guide," Gregory Benford or so on the Hugoes. And nominat­ books are consistently excellent, "Old Woman by the Road," Gregory ing is done by many fewer than that. they will win several. Occasional­ Benford ly a fine writer goes unawarded for But I disagree. Not because of "A Hiss of Dragon," Gregory Benford an embarrassingly long time (cf. some philosophical difference, but and Mark Laidlaw John Varley), but eventually the because I remember my own reading "The Devil's Hop Yard," Richard awards do come (as this year Varley patterns as I first started into Lupoff will inevitable win both Hugo and science fiction. There were a few "Hand in Glove," Robert Aikman Nebula for "fersistence of Vision"). "One More Song Bofore I Go," of the great names (Asimov, Hein­ And after all, what do we expect Craig Shaw Gardner lein, Clarke, Bradbury) that I read "The Works of His Hand, Made Mani­ because I had actually heard of of the awards? After reading all fest," Karen G. Jollie them. But soon enough I was con­ the stories published for the last "By the Hours in a Day," Kerstin fronted by shelves of paperback sci­ six months, I am keenly aware of Lange ence fiction by people I had never the fact that there are many fine, "The Quiet Sea," Glen Cook heard of. (Yes, it's true; outside award-worthy stories. Some of the "Body Game," Robert Sheckley of fandom the names Niven and Zelaz­ best will not even get on the bal­ "To Race the Wind," Jack C. Haldeman ny are not exactly household words.) lot, because there are only five II I found that the simple words "Hugo- places in each category. Does that "The Man with the Eye," Phyllis award-winning author" were a fairly mean the awards are not any good? Eisenstein reliable guide. I almost never pick­ Of course not. It just means that "Fireship," Joan Vinge ed up a book with those words on the awards only skim the surface, "While-You-Wait," Edward Wellen the cover without finding that the and there are plenty of other good "The Gathering of the Clan," Eric writing was good and the book enjoy­ stories to read. But the awards do Norden able. provide a guide that helps introduce new readers into the mass of authors "Cultural Conflict," David Drake The Nebula was just as reliable "Stand Pat, Ruby Stone," Roger a guide, except that it tended to and stories; and the awards do pro­ Zelazny be given to more "literary" types. vide a welcome sign to authors, ed­ "Come to the Party," Frank Herbert And when a particular author had itors, and artists that their work and F.M. Busby won both Hugoes and Nebulas, I nev­ is noticed. "Old Rocking Chair's Got Me," Suzette er found a clunker. Haden Elgin Whether the awards are good or "The Ways of Love," Poul Anderson 24 not does not depend on the manner of selection so much as on the mat­ There are other fine editors all right --he appeared first in ter selected. If God himself (or who deserve to be noticed. Stanley UNEARTH. But the work that moves Isaac Asimov -- there is some con­ Schmidt will do a good job at ANALOG him to the forefront of new SF/fan- fusion on this point) were to choose Terry Carr and are tasy authors is "One More Song Be­ the award winners, and then consist­ still turning out annual anthologies fore I Go", which appeared in CHRYS­ ently chose second-rate or far-out that are always noteworthy. ALIS 2. He is an excellent writer, books, the award would become mean­ There's a newer editor who also it is an excellent story, ergo: No­ ingless. What makes the awards deserves to be noticed. Despite a tice him, good people! meaningful is that by and large they sometimes problematical publisher And Stephen R. Donaldson is have gone to deserving stories writ­ (Zebra) and shoddy distribution, Roy ten by fine writers. still eligible for the Campbell aw­ Torgeson's anthology, CHRYSALIS, is ard this year -- for the last time. the most exciting thing to hit the Which brings us to this year. One final suggestion. If you anthology market in a long time. I I'm not going to make across-the- haven't read the novelet, "Ghost board recommendations, even though included stories from CHRYSALIS 2 in my short fiction review column this Stalk" by Glen Cook, which appeared I suspect I've read more stories in the May, 1978, FANTASY AND SCI­ this year than anyone but the edit­ issue; CHRYSALIS 3 is already out and CHRYSALIS 4 will be out in Feb­ ENCE FICTION, get a copy and read it. ors of the best-of-the-year anthol­ It will almost knock you dead. (If ogies -- and perhaps more than ev­ ruary. Roy's judgment on stories is excellent. Inevitably, each is­ it did knock you dead, who would en they have read. I just want to read his next story?) point out some places where awards sue contains a few that I absolute­ have been long deserved and not giv­ ly loathe -- but each issue also I had plenty of other favorites en, or places where the award-win­ contains more than a few that I ab­ this year, but they're likely to ners are likely to be obscure and solutely love. While the stories get noticed without any help from hard to notice. by well-known writers are quite good, me. In fact,,you may well have not­ the most exciting thing is Roy Tor­ iced the ones I've mentioned already. I already mentioned John Varley. geson's aptitude for discovering I just wanted, well, to make sure. He has narrowly missed too many aw­ new writers. Because the awards do mean something, ards. Without any boost from me, Which brings me to the Campbell and it's our responsibility to do he is going to get them this year. what's necessary to keep them mean­ award. Let's face it -- the whole There are several fine editors point of the Campbell award is to ing something for a long time to come. around. I have as good a reason as rescue good new writers from obscur­ anyone to know that Ben Bova is an ity. Unfortunately, the very obscur­ ************************************ excellent editor -- his help on my ity of the writers sometimes works stories and his encouragement in my against their receiving the award. career have been the difference be­ After all, the award wasn't given to tween moderate success and miserable George R.R. Martin, John Varley or This failure. Another fine editor is Jim Thomas Monteleone. A pretty impres­ Publication.... Baen. We have never had so good an sive list of people who were over­ opportunity to recognize the talents looked. At the same time, it has of an editor as when GALAXY went to been given to some pretty good writ­ hell after Baen's departure. Now, ers, most of the time. And I have with DESTINIES, he is editing the a vested interst in seeing excel­ most attractive of the magazines. lent writers win it in the future But Ben has had plenty of awards -- it'll make that plaque on my wall and Jim can wait another year, be­ more and more meaningful all the cause the greatest inequity in the time. awards is the fact that Ed Ferman The award has tended to go to has never won an editing Hugo. Per­ novelists or to ANALOG writers be­ haps you haven't ever gone through cause novel-readers and ANALOG read­ every story in every issue of every ers are the two largest groups of magazine for six months as I have, voters. Ergo, let me bring to your is Available in but believe me, Ed Ferman's maga­ attention several writers who deserve zine, FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION, at least to be on the ballot this MICROFORM is the most consistently excellent year, and who haven't appeared in in the fiction it presents. Issue books or in ANALOG. For Complete Information after issue, F(jSF has as good an WRITE : average as any anthology I've read Karen Jollie's first story, "The University -- fine stories are always in the Works of His Hand, Made Manifest", Microfilms overwhelming majority. is, in my estimation, a fully self- international contained masterpiece. It is emo­ Ed has told me that he just tional, it is exciting, the charac­ Depl. F.A. Dept. F.A. buys what the writers send him. But 300 North Zeeb Road 18 Bed lord Row terization is subtle, believable, Ann Arbor .Ml 48106 London, WC1 R 4EJ there has to be a reason writers beautiful. And after that story ap­ U.S.A. England continue to send him some of their peared in CHRYSALIS 2, she upped and best work in spite of FljSF's rela­ tively paltry payment rates. Part wrote herself a sequel, titled "Chrys­ of the reason is because the maga­ alis Three", which appeared (get this) zine is open to fantasy and horror in CHRYSALIS 3. I didn't think she and experimental writing. But most could do it, but she topped her first of the reason is because writers story with her second. Watch her. are proud to appear in such an excel­ Brilliant things are coming from lent magazine, even though it doesn't her comer. pay that much. At least 1^ am. And, Another Roy Torgeson discovery personally, I think it's about time is Craig Shaw Gardner. All right, Ed Ferman received the only recog­ ■ nition the fans can give him. 25 AN INTERVIEW WITH STEPHEN R. DONALDSON

SFR: Your trilogy, THE CHRONICLES SFR: The giant called Saltheart Structurally, COVENANT fell OF THOMAS COVENANT THE UNBELIEVER, Foamfollower, the most likable char­ into trilogy form in my mind almost will inevitably be compared/ con­ acter in LORD FOUL'S BANE is a great from the moment of its first concep­ trasted with J.R.R. Tolkien's LORD talker and laugher whose credo is tion. The "triple-decker", like the OF THE RINGS trilogy. I know you "When comprehension is needed, all sonata, is a very attractive arrange­ have great respect for Tolkien's tales must be told in full". Is ment for people like me. So I wel­ work but isn't it difficult to ex­ this an expression of your own view? comed the possibility of doing COV­ plore the same grounds without los­ Is this why you wrote a trilog}' rath­ ENANT as a trilogy as if there were ing your own originality? Is that er than a single volume? no other choice. (To be fair, how­ why Covenant is such an unsympath­ ever, I probably should say that my etic character -- even an anti-hero? DONALDSON: If I were to use that initial forecast of COVENANT called Are his leprosy and bitterness an quote from Foamfollower to support for a manuscript of 1000 pages. The antidote for Hobittitis? what I've done (not to mention what manuscript eventually reached 2355, I may do in the future), that would before I was forced -- first by my DONALDSON: Ah, where to begin? be rationalization rather than de­ friends, then by my editor --to cut Let me say first that I shudder ev­ fense. As a general rule, when I'm it back to 1940. I suppose that if ery time anybody conpares/contrasts writing I try to express what my that doesn't constitute "in full", COVENANT with LORD OF THE RINGS. Of characters believe, rather than ask nothing does. It turned out to be course, my respect for Tolkien is them to express what I believe. fuller than I had originally intend­ unbounded, so in that sense I sup­ And, from a strictly logical point ed.) pose I should feel flattered. But conparisons/contrasts are often od­ SFR: You were quoted in a local ious to the people being conpared/ (Albuquerque) newspaper as saying contrasted. Writing fiction, after AMP EACH SfiKB /S' the Covenant trilogy was rejected all, is not a conpetition. In fact, Akn/STAPt-E ioTHB CONTOURS by every fiction publisher in the nothing can destroy a writer faster OF- ZoUR. So'b'T country, then revised and resubmit­ than a tendency to compare/contrast ted to Ballantine where it was ac­ himself with some towering predeces­ cepted but was "whipped into shape" sor. under the guidance of fantasy editor Lester del Rey. What kind of evol­ In writing COVENANT, I was ution did you go through during this certainly aware that I was working process? What kind of guidance did in Tolkien's shadow (after all, his del Rey provide? ' shadow covers most of the field). But I took LORD OF THE RINGS as a source of inspiration, rather than DONALDSON: COVENANT was, in fact, as any kind of counter-argument or rejected by every fiction publisher antithesis. I read Tolkien while listed in the 73-74 LITERARY MARKET­ I was planning COVENANT as a way of PLACE, including both my present reminding myself of the value of publishers, Ballantine and Holt. I fantasy (at that time, I had never was unpublished, and had no prospect been published; never written any of ever finding a publisher --in fantasy, and almost never read any view of the fact that COVENANT was worthwhile fantasy; Tolkien, Lewis the best work I'd ever done. If it and Peake were the exceptions). So was unpublishable (as many editors I certainly was not looking for any of view, no tale is ever told "in told me), there was no hope. full". kind of antidote for Hobbittitis. During those years of full- I was looking for Donaldson -- try­ I wrote COVENANT as fully as time writing, all day every day, ing to explore the kinds of things I did for a variety of reasons: in month after month, I learned to that moved/excited/convinced me, part because that's the way my brain appreciate Prothall's great truth: with as little reference as possible works (I think I'm a natural bom "Service enables service". The to anybody else. long-novelist); in part because the only thing that kept me going was As for Covenant himself, I've more fully I wrote, the more complete­ COVENANT itself: The story simply never considered him to be "unsym­ ly the story conuianded my attention; refused to let go of me. Even pathetic". I wouldn't have written and in part because I swore I was then, by the time I finished writ­ him if he had not so fully engaged going to (I had recently read a ing the trilogy, rewriting it, and my sympathies. But, of course, spate of books, the authors of which then rewriting LORD FOUL'S BANE a while I was writing him in LORD did not appear to appreciate the val­ third time (the conclusion of that FOUL'S BANE, I knew what he was go­ ue of their own material; these work coincided very nicely with the ing to become in THE POWER THAT PRE­ skimpy books were full of unrealiz­ end of my alphabetical "mystery SERVES. That -- combined with my ed potential, and I concluded that tour" through American publishing), interest in people whose guilt aris­ the most frustrating writer in the I was a walking textbook case of es from their essential innocence world is one who is too stupid to depression -- a perfect clinical (just as their innocence grows out know it when his imagination is try­ study. of their guilt) -- probably gives me ing to tell him something. I resolv­ ed not to make that mistake myself). Several things happened to my an unusual tolerance for him. writing in the process. I gained

Conducted By Neal Wilgus 26 insights into despair and death that His is an extravagent personality, Lewis, and with frustrated admir­ inproved the quality of my work. for good or ill -- almost literally ation at . But most of And, on a more pragmatic level, I incapable of emotional (or ethical) my roots lie in the mainstream of learned to write leaner prose (COV­ moderation. So he is a mixture of realistic fiction (I was, after all, ENANT may not be absolutely "lean" good and evil insofar as he contains a Ph.D. candidate in English Litera­ as it stands; but in my third rewrit­ within himself the raw materials of ture before I began writing full ing of LORD FOUL'S BANE, I reduced which both Lord Mioram and Lord Foul time). the manuscript from 787 to 622 pages were created: both are aspects of My heroes have always been without shedding a drop of blood. himself. But, within that context, Conrad, James and Faulkner. Some­ COVENANT is certainly "leaner".) I I perceive him as being far more times I believe that everything I learned to trust "story" rather heroic than villainous: Even his have always wanted to know about than "language": I learned to re­ bitterness is just part of his cease­ writing (and most of what I've sist some of my bad habits -- e.g. less and unconpromising attempt to wanted to know about people) can be a pernicious tendency toward ab­ define some kind of integrity for found in those three . Each stract imagery. himself in the face of the impossible of them creates an entire ethos of At that point, I resubmitted contradictions of his situation. language. I aspire to that level, LORD FOUL'S BANE to Ballantine out In fact, I might as well come but I've got a long way to go. of sheer desperation. I had no id­ right out and say that I deeply ad­ But, oddly enough, I don't ea that the former Fantasy Editor mire my heroic characters -- Bannor, trace COVENANT back to any of those had been fired, or that Lester del Foamfollower, Mhoram. If they are three. Rather, I trace it to Blake Rey had taken his place. So, in a indeed "less convincing" than Cov­ and Camus -- strange bedfellows, very real sense, I was saved by hap­ enant (or Atiaran?), that is a symp­ about both of whom at least half my penstance. Lester's enthusiasm for tom of artistic failure rather than the book was almost immediate. authorial intent. As for the other In return for restoring my extreme, Lord Foul is more a con­ ception, a walking definition of psyche, Lester required that I: evil, than a person; and I would 1) cut as much fat out of THE IL- LEARTH WAR and THE POWER THAT PRE­ hate to have him judged solely on the basis of his believability as a SERVES as I had out of LORD FOUL'S character. Within this spectrum, BANE; and 2) correct some truly Covenant is no "golden mean": He horrendous problems of inner consis­ tency that I had half-wittedly creat­ is a "humane instinct" seeking to define himself in opposition to an ed for myself in THE ILLEARTH WAR. So his editorial contribution was "instinct for contempt". In my view, both of those "instincts" are of the best possible kind: He help­ ed me to do a better job of bringing "typically human". my own desires into being. Now (two and a half years later) he and SFR: I occasionally had the feeling I have a relationship which is half in BANE that the evils being fought mutual admiration, half sumo wrest­ were symbols of our real-world problems of pollution-population- ling. war and so on. Is there a message in the Covenant trilogy? SFR: You were also quoted in the news story to the effect that "good DONALDSON: Well, I happen to think vs. evil" is an inportant theme in that there are all kinds of messages your work. BANE certainly has heroes -- all kinds of what we used to and villains, but the more heroic or call "relevance" -- for the "real villainous they are, the less con­ world" in COVENANT. But it ill- knowledge is second-hand. Blake in vincing they seem to be. Is Coven­ behooves the writer to go around his numinous world-view -- like Ca­ ant, who is a typical human mixture pointing them out. I take myself mus in his pragmatic one -- insist­ of good and evil, a demonstration of too seriously as it is. So I'll ed on the affirmation of contradic­ the "golden mean" between heroism content myself by saying that my tions. For Blake, neither God nor and villainousness? conception of "evil" is very much the devil was evil: Evil lay in rooted in the real world. I believe separating God from the devil (Hea­ DONALDSON: This seems to be a good that a contempt for life-- which ven from Hell, soul from body, stas­ time for me to discuss the relation­ manifests itself variously as cyn­ is from energy, black from white) ship between LORD FOUL'S BANE and icism, self-pity, self-hatred, rac­ and trying to choose one over the the rest of the trilogy. Structur­ ial or sexual prejudice, apathy, other. All choices are evil unless ally, of course, each of the three environmental suicide, political the contradiction is made whole, un­ books can stand alone -- i.e. each turpitude, self-righteousness (the less both sides of the paradox are has a beginning, middle and end. list goes on and on) --is the be­ affirmed. For Camus, man is in the But I conceived and designed the setting ill of our civilization. We absurd position of being a question­ trilogy to be a single story: LORD are terribly quick to commit every ing animal in an unanswering uni­ FOUL'S BANE launches issues that I form of murder -- and equally swift verse (no, worse than that --a un­ do not even pretend to resolve un­ to call everyone else murderers. iverse which contains no answers, til THE POWER THAT PRESERVES. It Lord Foul chuckles every time. which is utterly void of purpose or was never my intent that any one meaning); and Camus' response is to of these books should be considered SFR: Wh° beside Tolkien has been affirm both the blankness of the un­ independent of the other two. Hence the major influence on your outlook iverse and the importance of the any attempt to interpret COVENANT and writing? questions --to affirm the absurd, based on LORD FOUL'S BANE alone is the paradox, because it is the vit­ doomed from the beginning. DONALDSON: As a'fantasist", I look al stuff of life. "Sisyphus is hap­ with affection and respect at C.S. Covenant is certainly not a py". "golden mean" in any normal sense. 27 Covenant is torn between the One could easily argue that every­ SFR: Your use of horses and super­ inpossibility of believing the Land thing about me is a result of my horses in BANE --is this just a true, and the inpossibility of be­ unique upbringing. poetic image or are you a horse fan­ lieving it false: It is unreal and cier in real life? irrefusable. He comes into his pow­ But I suppose that the most er when he learns to affirm the par­ obvious effects of my background on my writing were to mike my fiction DONALDSON: Actually, I dislike hors­ adox itself. He is like the proph­ es. They are the stupidest animals romantic, religious, exotic and et who finally had a vision of the known to man, and nothing is worth grim. Romantic because my life was Truth: God is/God is not. That the amount of trouble they bring full of adventure (just to give one revelation answered all his ques­ with them. I know from experience: small example: I remember a day tions. My wife loves horses, and we raised Mien the boarding school I attended one for five and a half years. At was closed because a man-eating SFR: What's the story behind the one time while I was writing COVEN­ tiger was known to be in the area; fantasy language we get glimpses of ANT, that horse of hers convinced in BANE? Is this an elaborately hunters killed the cat that night and displayed the body the next me to kill off all the Ranyhyn. She worked out part of the background? had to resort to emotional violence day), and because my parents were to make me change my mind. people of superior connitment and DONALDSON: I probably shouldn't answer this question: Some people efficacy (how many kids in this (Well, seriously, now -- there are going to be disappointed. But country can literally "believe in" was a time while writing COVENANT I'll go ahead, if for no other rea­ their parents? The power of my when I intended to destroy the Ran­ son than to defend myself against father's skills was visible on ev­ yhyn: I thought that was an approp­ misplaced expectations. riate thing for Lord Foul to do. My wife convinced me that I was in Unlike Tolkien (or C.J. Cher- danger of destroying my story by rhy), I'm not a linguist. In fact, carrying wholesale slaughter too from the point of view of linguis­ far. She was absolutely right.) tics, I can't even master English: I can write granuiatically enough, But as a child (say, eight to as a rule, but I couldn't define a ten years old) I was fairly typical "subordinate clause" to save my in my attitude toward horses. I soul. In other words, my grasp of wanted to be the Lone Ranger and I grammar is visceral rather than in­ couldn't very well do that without tellectual (surely the rhetoric of Silver. (Or was his horse named COVENANT bears this out). And as Kemo Sabe? I forget.) Writing for foreign languages -- well, I fantasy is often a child-like (if nearly flunked college German. not actually a childish) activity. In creating the Ranyhyn, I harked As a consequence, the "fant­ back to the days when I would have asy language" in COVENANT is not wanted one of my own. "elaborate" in any deliberate sense. It is visceral rather than intellec­ SFR: What are you working on now? tual: I created it all by ear. In Science fiction? More fantasy? the process, I "stole" heavily from Non-fiction? whatever resources came to hand. This really should not be a revela­ DONALDSON: After Lester and I ar­ tion to anyone: Many of the names rived at a final manuscript for COV­ I use are clearly not "made up” ENANT, I wrote one fantasy story (for example, the ancient names of ("The Lady in White", F^SF, Feb. the Ravers -- samadhi/Sheol, turi- '78) and two science fiction stor­ ya/Herem, moksha/Jehannum -- were ies ("Animal Lover", STELLAR #4, and words which met two criteria: "Mythological Beast", F$SF, to be (1 Their souncfc matched the use I announced). But then I decided to made of them and 2) their true mean­ ery streetcomer). Religious be­ tackle something different. I wrote ings were emotionally appropriate cause as missionaries we were cons­ a detective novel. It had a lot of to the use I made of them. tantly steeped in religion; it was virtues, but the plot wasn't good the supreme motivator of our lives. My purpose in using "fantasy enough --it bombed. But producing Exotic because India is an exotic language" is simply to try to evoke it did me some good: It reminded country, full of extremes of exper­ the strangeness, mystery and power me of all the reasons why I like ience that make America look like of a "". But don't writing fantasy so much. a remarkably bland place (most misunderstand me: I would gladly children raised in India go through That lesson gave me the cour­ make my fantasy language "an elabor­ a crisis of boredom that threatens age to attempt something of which ately-worked- out part of the back­ to become terminal during their I had been deathly afraid --a seq­ ground" --if only I were capable of first year or two in the USA). And uel to COVENANT. I think the fear so doing. Unfortunately, you can't grim because India teems with pov­ was justified: There's nothing in get blood from a turnip. erty, filth, degradation and pain fiction as bad as a bad sequel, and unparalleled by anything in the Un­ I might never be able to salvage my SFR: The use °f leprosy in the Cov­ ited States. self-respect if I let COVENANT (not enant trilogy stems from your child­ to mention Covenant) down. But fin­ hood in India -- what else would Therefore, I write fantasy. ally I decided that the sequel I you say was a result of your unique I call myself a romantic, and write had in mind was worth the risk. Af­ upbringing? about leprosy. My characters don't ter all, life is a risk. And, as believe in God and I call myself Ntioram once said, "Anything that religious. Not many people spend passes unattenpted is inpossible". DONALDSON: That's not easily answer­ as much time contradicting themsel­ ed. Like anybody else, I am who I ves as I do. So that's what I'm working on am because of where I came from. 28 now -- the Second COVENANT Trilogy (variously known among friends and while his attention is trapped on 1-23-79 I'm getting a few letters sceptics as "II Chronicles", and the surface of his ego. That, in a from subscribers telling of mixed- "Covenant Redux"). It's going very nutshell, is why writers need pri­ up pages, missing sections, in their slowly because I've made a lot of vacy -- and why no writer can af­ copies of SFR #29. mistakes. All I can say to readers ford to think of writing as a comp­ I noticed that a small percent­ who liked COVENANT is, I'm doing my etition. age of the copies I was inserting damnedest to make this story a in envelopes were mis-collated, and worthy companion to the first tril­ SFR: How does it feel to be a hit? went through as many copies as I ogy. And Lester is holding my nose Are you satisfied with the response could to check. I missed some, to the grindstone with an iron hand. to the trilogy? obviously. Someone in the Times Litho SFR: That brings up the age-old DONALDbON: How do you define a printing plant goofed. I'm sorry question of where-do-you-get-your- "hit"? For a $30 set of books by this happened. I've forwarded the ideas? Is inspiration or perspira­ an unknown author, COVENANT has sold info to Times Litho, and they prom­ tion the most important in your fairly well in hardback. The re­ ise it will be guarded against in fiction? views have been good, and I get a future issues. Indeed, it's the certain amount of fan-mail. Thus first time it's happened since I DONALDSON: Where? From the un- or far, I'mmore than satisfied. first employed them to print TAC/ sub-conscious recesses of my own SFR in 1975 (I think it was). But I think that the contemp­ mind (ideas that actually originate If you received such a copy, outside have no value). When I'm orary audience for fantasy is large­ ly a paperback audience. We'll find please let me know and we'll send a receptive, they can be fished to perfect new copy of #29. the surface by almost any kind of out whether or not COVENANT is a external stimuli (one whole sequence serious success when Del Rey Books publishes its edition. in THE POWER THAT PRESERVES was # I'm getting the galloping Guilt- triggered by a can of disinfectant Frankly, I hope that COVENANT ies again regarding all the books in a restaurant washroom). However, does not become what I would call a and magazines I receive and cannot to the extent that ideas do come "hit". Success in large doses ex­ review or even note, given the pres­ from some discrete source, most of erts a great deal of pressure, and ent SFR format. my ideas come from the story itself. most of its effects are negative It's really not fair. "Service enables service": Working (quick, try to think of an intensely So starting next issue—May, generates both the capacity and the successful author whose future books 1979—I"11 go to a continuing "Pub­ material for future work. In short, were not a disappointment). For lications Received" series of en­ I endorse E. Newman's dictum (which one thing, successful writers tend tries in these "Alien Thoughts."- I paraphrase - - he was talking about to lose their privacy: They be­ There will be an almost daily diary­ musicians): "Great writers do not come part of the public domain. For type situation, I think, with books set to work because they are inspir­ another, it is very difficult for a and mags received (with whatever I ed, but rather become inspired be­ writer to have a "hit" behind him may have to say about them) in a cause they are working". without falling into the trap of box. looking at his new work as a form Part of the reason for this Of course, no one can ignore of self-competition. change is that there is a need for what Patricia A. McKillip calls, this info and part a compensation "the tail of the comet": Revela­ However, I'm trying to sup­ for my inability to free much time port my family (and my ego) in this tions which sweep out of nowhere for reading and reviewing. In fact, and change everything. One cannot business. Large success or small, in the following months I'm going to predict or sunuion such intense in­ I'll try to accept it as gracefully be writing more sf and other type sights -- one can only be grateful as I can. After what I've been novels for separate publication by through as a writer, I'm grateful for them. But I do get a lot more myself and other publishers, and for success, period. of them when I' m working than when that means even less time to read/re- I'm not. view. SFR: Thank you, Mr. Donaldson. And where less exalted ideas Yet the demand/obligation of are concerned, I believe that the ******* A** **** **** ********* **** ***** daily entries in this bastard edit­ imagination is like any other muscle: or's diary will inevitably produce exercise makes it stronger. Writ­ ALIEN THOUGHTS CONT. FROM P. 19 more editorial/reviewing words by ers grow by writing, not by waiting me than if I just tootle along as I around .for the comet. When the act have been. I'm naturally lazy, and of writing itself (sitting down at 'One of the reasons Elwood's tend to sluff-off a lot. The re­ the typewriter, putting words on pa­ INSPIRATION folded may have been sult is the readers and publishers per) becomes a habit, that habit because the stores sent it back to get shortchanged by me too often. greatly facilitates the achievement the distributor as soon as it came. I have to structure-in work—I of the receptive state in which id­ That's what B. Dalton did, anyway. have to force myself by various de­ eas appear. Furthermore, the ex­ Religious exploitation bullshit vices— to get work done. A near­ citement of putting previously-ob­ doesn't sell and anyone who buys daily pot-pourri of letters, commen­ tained ideas into practice brings the name/concept/contact lists from tary, and publications-received up new ideas -- which increases the Petersen needs psychiatric help. entry will take a specific time excitement -- which generates more during the morning and will, I 'Whenever SFR seems to drag a ideas. That is where the true mag­ think, be of great interest and value bit, I think back to a couple of is­ ic of writing occurs -- in the imag­ to SFR readers. sues of ALGOL I read. Than I smile inative cyclotron which enables the The problem is—who or what writer to exceed himself. and keep reading. Do people actual­ will get cut to make room for this ly loc that thing?' expanded Geis presence? I'm not The single most crippling ((Of course BEDROOM CITY was not sf, sure. All I can do is ask the obstacle to this process is self­ reviewing crew and columnist crew to consciousness: Self-consciousness or fantasy. A mere sex novel, very be a bit more brief. And I think blocks receptivity. No writer can tame by today 's hard-core porno standards.)) I'll be editing most contributions reach down into his own intuition more close to the bone. # LETTER FROM ALLAN BEATTY 'Is the copyright notice in PK thermo filled me with utter dread POB 1040 ofG a mistake? in my chemistry days. But I had to Ames, IA 50010 review the subject while researching 10 January 1979 'Or is Michael Crichton the one to blame for the Got novels? my Borgo booklet on Poul Anderson, AGAINST TIME'S ARROW, which uses the 'Darrell Schweitzer's article 'Whoever is responsible, I have Laws of Thermodynamics as its organ­ in SFR #29 might as well have been a bone to pick with him over the izing metaphor. I'm not aware of titled "FIAWOL -- A Look Behind Sci- way the series has degenerated. The anyone using science this way in SF Fi Fandom". In talking down to the first Got novels I liked. There criticism before. reader and in the low level of ac­ was an implied sense of proper out­ tual information imparted, it re­ rage at the kidnapping of Earth wo­ 'Surely, Geis, even you must have heard the expression "Holy Moth­ sembled certain books with similar men by Got slavers, and it seemed titles. What was the point of pub­ that the hero realized that the Gor- er Church". In Scripture and icon­ lishing the article in SFR anyway? ian practice of subjugating women ography the Church has always been Schweitzer's cliquish in-group at­ was wrong --he made his lover a personified as female. So for that titude will put off the reader who "free companion". But later on in matter was Synagoga in the Middle is not a hardcore fan, and hardcore the series, the author seems to ap­ Ages. Let's not be coy about the fan will find nothing in the prove of female slavery, and contin­ amount of anti-Christian and partic­ that they didn't already know. Yes, ually eulogizes the Gorian barbarity. ularly anti-Catholic bigotry in fan­ I know fandom often is cliquish and dom, the latter surely a reflection in-groupish, but a better article 'If the recent Got novels ac­ of the high percentage of lapsed would have gone into more detail on curately reflect the author's psy­ Catholics among us. It's a fashion­ this and other aspects of the socio­ chological state, then he is a sick able stance of course, "the anti- logy of fandom, rather than spending man. I would be uneasy to have him Semitism of the intelligensia". No so much space on a mere listing of for a neighbor. At the very least, one would dare sneer ar Neopaganism, slang terms. he would be pitiable for his evi­ would they? dent ignorance of real love. The 'Schweitzer says, "There are lit­ "love" he writes about wouldn't ev­ 'But then, considering SF's ex­ erally thousands of them (fanzines) en satisfy most animals, let alone perience with Roger Elwood ...... I going right now, and all attempts to human beings. If that is the only must admit I read your account of keep track of them inevitably fail". love he knows, then he has not got­ INSPIRATION'S demise with glee. The I attempt to do just that in the ten something that is a basic need wretch got his just deserts for once. FANZINE DIRECTORY, an annual biblio­ of the human psyche, and he could Several years ago, while that maga­ graphy of all fanzines (that I can not avoid being a sickie because of zine was in the planning stage, I find out about) published in the this lack.' was commissioned to write an essay previous year. The 1976 edition for it relating to SF at an appeal­ ing 10 cents a word. The assignment listed 874 different titles (differ­ ((I've heard and read that the Gor was a sop for a previous outrage of ent fanzines, not number of issues novels are written by a college his and since it took so little ef­ published), and that did not include prof. Could be John Lange. Could fort, I gambled and wrote it up. apazines. The FANZINE DIRECTORY is be Michael Crichton is another pen But once Roger moved to California, priced at $1, but I prefer to trade name for John Lange. Could be a co­ nothing was ever heard from him ag­ with other fanzines.' incidence that Crichton chose Lange ain (June, 1977). He never respond­ as a pen-name. Could be we'll have ed to my queries about the fate of ((A problem is staying power, in to wait for someone who really knows keeping track of new and current fan­ the essay, not even returned the MS. for sure to tell us. zines, plus deciding what is and 's efforts as Grievance what isn’t a sf or fantasy fanzine. ((You're making that old mistake of Chairman drew no reaction either. There are so many variations, shad­ assuming that the work of fiction is So I tried to sell the thing else­ ings of content.. .mixtures.... It a reflection/mirror/clue to the ment­ where. Today it goes out for the usually drives collectors and bib­ al state of the writer. In which eighth time. Writing to Roger's ex­ liophiles mad.)) ease all us writers have a lot to act specifications produced something answer to. Actually, in the Gor with a paranoid flavor that appeals novels, I’m sure the author is sim­ to no other editor. The only point ply indulging a small comer of his in telling Elwood stories at this # LETTER FROM RONALD LAMBERT late date is catharsis. Also, we 2350 Virginia id, indulging in fantasies that he would never apply to the real world. who were stung by him need to know Troy, MI 48084 we weren't the only victims. Deo. 12, 1978 And his fantasies strike chords in a lot of readers. 'Glad you liked the cover paint­ ing on the Winter issue of ALGOL. 'Question: Who is It happens to belong to me and, in­ really? I know that Elton T. El­ # LETTER FROM SANDRA MIESEL deed, be modeled on me. A number liott said some time back that the 8744 N. Pennsylvania St. of other Freas illustrations are, author of the Got novels is a New Indianapolis, IN 46240 too, but this is a recognizable like­ York City College instructor who Jan. 8, 1979 ness . is actually named John Norman. That 'Brunner and Covell were just may be -- I don't know how good El­ 'The thermodynamic justification not on the same wavelength, were ton's source was. for the behavior of living organisms they? But Brunner's expressed ad­ was worked out by 1977 Nobel laur­ 'But can someone tell me why miration for Kipling neatly refutes eate Ilya Prigogine. He showed how Volume III of the Chronicles of the widespread assumption that such certain systems far from equilibrium Counter-Earth, PRIEST-KINGS OF GOR taste is merely a rightist (nay, draw organizing energy from their (, 1968) ascribes fascist) aberration in our field. environment but of course at the the copyright to "John Lange?" And notice the resemblance between cost of increasing entropy in the 'John Lange, as most people his literary principles and Gordy total package. I'm not about to try Dickson's theory of the "conscious­ know, is a penname used by Michael to explain it in any more detail -- Crichton for his suspense stories, ly thematic novel".' like BINARY and ZERO . 30 ALIEN THOUGHTS CONT. ON P. 63 AND THEN I READ....

THE NECROMICON—The Book of Dead the oil furnace going I think Feder- Names, edited by George Hay. bush exaggerated by hundreds of Published in UK by Neville Spear­ years the speed of the horrendous man (Jersey) Ltd. E5.50 ice age which is mankind's doom. Not the book detailed by H.P. The story is about a young col­ Lovecraft, but a book that purports lege meteorologist who spotted the to show that there is something signs of doom and could not make real about the CthulKu mythos and himself be believed by the powers- to that end Colin Wilson and L. that-be until too late. In the end Sprague de Camp and others—with he, too, was unable to adapt to the their tongues in cheeks—straight- new, brutal cold equations of sur­ facedly go about this business. vival. Good book. With additional research by Robert Turner and , and esp­ creators, and chock full of back­ ecially with the very effective ground information about the produc­ illustrations by Gavin Stamp and tion of the series, and chock full THE RUINS OF ISIS Robert Turner, the book comes of info about the actors and actress­ By across as a combination of convinc­ es in the series. Starblaze Editions (Donning), $4.95 ing speculation and "fact" married Printed in the increasingly pop­ A beautiful wraparound cover to research into the occult. A ular full-size quality paper, slick by Kelly Freas (who, with his wife handsome hardcover, bound in black, cover stock soft-bound format. Polly edits this series) makes this with a suitably somber and chilling Hype, hype, hooray! trade softcover book a very handsome dust jacket by Reg Boorer. package. I would consider this something THE ANTS WHO TOOK AWAY TIME The novel by NEB is a set-up, a of a collector's item and worth hav­ By contrived situation story in which ing for the aura of truth attained Pictures by Joe Servello she examines sexism by both sexes, and the skill that implies. You Doubleday, $6.95 prejudice and chauvinism by both might call this occult fiction non­ sexes... fiction. Then again you might not. Aimed at the 6 to 10-year-old reader. A bit of fantasy science There is no case being made for fiction about the Great Gold Watch matriarchy—or patriarchy—in this HANDBOOK FOR SPACE PIONEERS---A which keeps time for the universe. story of a man and wife team sent Manual of the Galactic Association Then, while the head timekeeper is to a dogmatic matriarchial world to (Earth Branch) on vacation, giant ants start to examine the society and the ancient Prepared by L. Stephen Wolfe and disassemble and cart away the Clock. ruins said to have been left by the Roy L. Wysack. Time stops everywhere except.... mythical Builders of galactic civili­ Grosset § Dunlap, Inc. $7.95 I suspect this picture-and-big- zation of eons past. Another fictional non-fiction print book will be liked by those The male Master Scholar must pose book, of a kind that Stanislaw Lem children barely old enough to read as a sexual plaything of the woman called for some years ago as alterna­ its words, but to anyone older than Scholar, with resulting problems. tives to pure sf novels. eight I think it will be dumb, Inevitably, the Scholars become in­ This is an as-if handbook for childish, and corny...because kids volved in the politics of the planet colonists who have a choice of eight of eight § up will have watched the Isis. planets to choose from, complete more disciplined and "mature" sf on Marion Zimmer Bradley forces the with maps, geography, weather info, TV. reader to look at his/her own atti­ and samples of life experiences on Hardbound, about 60 pages, il- tudes and preconceptions in re sex­ each. lustrations-on-every-page in color. ism and prejudice while progressing The manual tells how colonists Note: the characters are all through the novel. It's a learning are chosen, the starships used for males of various ages. experience. For some it could be transport (designs, etc) and even traumatic. includes a preliminary application ICE! A good novel, though it clanks for the Gaile Pioneering Program. By Arnold Federbush a bit with Message. The manual is painstakingly de­ Bantam 12151-0, $2.25 tailed, 'convincing, and attractive I read this chiller about an in­ with its high-quality softcover credibly fast-developing ice age binding and letter-size pages. A while huddled in blankets without vast amount of work went into this electricity in the house and an ice TOMORROW AND BEYOND book. storm ravaging the city. The novel Edited by Ian Summers Again, something of a collector's has an aura of -Christ-this- Workman Publishing Co., $9.95 item. I doubt this type of science- could-happen! authenticity, gut­ 1 West 39th St., NY, NY 10018 fictional non-fiction will be very , some sex, and a great cover Ahh, this is THE pure sf popular, if only because it lacks by Lou Feck which shows NY City en­ and fantasy artbook. It is al­ story and fiction dynamics. veloped in fifty feet of snow. most all full-color reproductions But now with the ice melted and of the finest, most enthralling, wonderful paintings in the world. 300 paintings...the best work THE OFFICIAL BATTLESTAR GALACTICA of more than 65 artists... Many, SCRAPBOOK BOOK REVIEWS many paintings you'll recognize By James Neyland from the covers of magazines and Grosset § Dunlap, $6.95 books, here fully shown. Many, Chock full of still photos By The Editor many, many you have never seen be­ from the TV series, chock full of fore. . .beautiful renderings in praise for the TV series and its 31 full 9 x 12 size. The editor, Ian Summers, picked writer I know. He is a master of the paintings, assembled them in dialog. And because he is viewed categories such as Aliens, Astro­ as a 'hack' by most reviewers, his nauts, Barbarians, Spacecraft, Rob­ books' social satire and acid com­ RICHARD ots, Fantasy, Other Worlds... and mentary on humanity and society are then got the hell out of the way. too often overlooked because he mix­ E. There is an Index of painters es the bite with the ever-present at the end, and an Appendix telling drollery, humor, caricature, and GEIS the artist of each painting, its jape. title, its professional appearance. This one is about an agent's A PERSONAL JOURNAL Many of the paintings are as yet desperate attempt to pass off an unused on covers, and are listed intelligent androidal robot copy # A constant litany of doom­ simply 'Untitled, from the artist's of a John Wayne-type movie super saying studio.' star as the real thing because the # A jaundiced eye to current For beauty, quality, variety, star is out of it because of heart events and quantity, this large trade soft- trouble. # Inside/outside/underground cover is the best I've seen. Fun reading. Vinnegar and information and speculation spice. ^Comment on the latest medi­ cal, sociological, psycholog­ VECTOR ANALYSIS ical and economic develop­ By Jack C. Haldeman, II ments. Berkley/Putnam, $8.95 #A Libertarian viewpoint Captured alien animals brought THE PERFECT LOVER ^Personal counter-culture aboard a science space station in By Christopher Priest living notes. orbit over Earth project visions Dell, $1.75 to the human scientists and, as a How Chris must have howled when What REG is mostly about, cur­ result of an environment leak, he learned of Dell's retitling of rently, is my fascination with spread a strange, fatal disease. this novel. It was originally pub­ the signs ofzthe coming depres­ Haldeman has written a good, lished in England as A DREAM OF sion and the squirming and solid suspense story, a race to find WESSEX. wriggling and jumping of poli­ an antidote before everyone is in­ The story is about an experiment ticians and others as they fected and dies. It is a predictable with the Ridpath projector—a mach­ jockey for position to avoid story, too, with stock characters, ine that can link the minds of 30-40 blame, claim credit, get re­ including the evil politician trapp­ people while their bodies—in a gi­ elected. ed on the satellite, the strong, ant filing cabinet—are fed and kept We live in a period of courageous commander, the young male hypnotised. The aim is to create a acute national and interna­ scientist with the inspired, desper­ probable future for England and the tional crises which are being ate, solution. All in the ANALOG world and from that future divine masked and hidden from the tradition. a way to avoid it. public. The future they expect is one Sovietized and drab. HE MAGIC GOES AWAY $3. for five issues. There is a romance that develops $6. for ten issues. By Larry Niven between two of the "dreamers" while Illustrated by Estaban Maroto, cover they are in the "future"—she is REG #1 and #2 are sold out. by Boris Julia, the key character around whom Four copies of #3 are left. Ace, $4.95 the story flows—slowly, by the way REG #8 is the current issue. With a large black and white il­ —and who, in the end, is as confus­ RICHARD E. GEIS is published lustration on almost every page, this ed as the reader as the author does story of a quest to find more of approximately monthly. Mailed a nunfoer on Reality and we all find first class. the mana which makes magic possible, ourselves baffled by which reality in a pre-historic civilization in is the real one—and David, who is Send subscriptions to: which magic is dying out, is enhanc­ immune to the hypnotic triggers ed considerably. Larry Niven writes which are supposed to bring him back Richard E. Geis realistically of a small group of from the "future" for rest and re­ P.O. Box 11408 old, failing magicians on a last, cuperation; he has been in the mach­ Portland, OR 97211 desperate search. He adds a guilt- ine for two years. laden warrior...a powerful rival There is a madman in the dream, magician...a wild and weird journey screwing up the "future"... aboard "solid" clouds.... The novel This book had potential but it CANNED MEA T ...or novela...is an exceptionally fell apart and lies here on my floor fine piece of realistic, disciplined in a catatonic trance, all its loose A SCIENCE FICTION NOVEL fantasy. ends exposed. BY RICHARD E. GEIS Maroto is a fine craftsman. His drawings make the story more inter­ Life in a computer-run domed esting and concrete. city and the failing civiliza­ The format is the increasingly tion of which it is a part. popular trade paperback: hardcover Roi and Eelia, two young citi­ size, with quality book paper and zens of the dome, two children full-color heavy-stock cover. of Great Mother Computer, meet and experiment with forbidden COWBOY HEAVEN sex. By Covers and interior illustra­ Doubleday,$7.95 tions by Bruce Conklin Ron is the master of the dictum, 'Be brief.' He can convey more in­ $5. Order from address above. formation in fewer words than any 32 ------~\ # LETTER FROM LARRY NIVEN 10) Does your companion indulge? litltt's M6- IM (This would require long ex­ November, 1978 planation, given that Louis Wu's Owe Yw companion is a kzin.) 'Enclosed are four cartoons and 11) Yes. We will choose you a com­ a possibly cryptic list, and this panion if you will state your letter. They all relate to the word Mt sex. "rishathra". 12) May my family watch? '"Rishathra" is a word used 13) My family insists on watching, extensively in THE RINGWORLD ENGIN­ 14) We have certain practices to EERS, a sequel to RINGWORLD, now be used as a substitute -- two-thirds finished. It is one of 15) We must eat together first. the few words common to all of the 16) Our form of foreplay may be Ringworld languages. dangerous to you. 'The word means "Sex outside of WMoi/eD one's species, but within the homin­ $0 Mu ids". Sometimes rishathra applies to’ intelligent hominids only, and some­ times not, depending on who (and what) you're talking to. A given species' attitude toward rishathra, whether determined by custom or by biology, can be very important in "'SHALL WE INDULGE IN RISHATHRA?" trading, in treaties, in war. Sure. 'Obviously, what Louis Wu was 1) You're too big/small. doing with Halrloprillalar was "rish­ 2) If that's what it takes to make athra". 3) a trade deal 'I was having lunch with Bill 4) It is not my season. Can you and Charmin a year ago, and I broach­ wait around, or come back in a ed this subject. I had been jotting falen or so? down a list of possible replies to 5) Taboo! the question, "Shall we do risha- thra?" Bill looked it over. Then he started drawing cartoons. He's 17) Can you function underwater? given me permission to send them to 18) No! You have the odor of a you for publication. meat eater. 'Some of what's on the list of 19) May we watch you with your com­ replies will go into the book. Some panion? We will reciprocate — are useless, of course. "You do not (Sorry, Chmeee is male.) have sufficient openings" would sure- 20) You do not have sufficient op­ ly not apply to the hominids!' enings . 21) Negotiate first! Then discuss rishathra. 22) No, but we like to talk about

23) We would like to make tape re­ cordings for our communal archives. 24) Only during our fertile period, as a means of birth control.'

Mr MVlc MH- WflWg, ' 6) Our species cannot. Please do not be angry/insulted. 7) Only during our menstrual per­ iod. Day after tomorrow? 8) Only with sentient beings. Would you mind taking a short intelligence test? 9) Only with nonsentient beings. It lets us avoid becoming in­ volved. 33 SCIENCE FICTION ON FILM ON PAPER

Science Fiction and Fantasy, the most imaginative narrative literary genres, have historically been the most imaginative cinematic genres. From the first dim flickerings of primitive projectors, audiences have been more fascinated by films of pure imagination and fantasy than by films limited to the ordinary possibilities of everyday experience (witness Me­ lies' naive "trick films", the box­ office smashes of 1896 and succeed­ ing years). At times, meager flights of imag­ ination and overenthusiastic hype, touted by super-enthusiastic fans, have given F-SF films a sleazy, juv­ enile connotation to the mainstream audience. Some tiny-minded produc­ ers and directors have created films which would have better been left unmade (e.g. SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS), and some cynical but powerful critics, self-styled members of the current ranks of the "intelligentsia", have turned a sour public away from some excellent films. Nonetheless, the F-SF field continues to provide the richest menu of possibilities for filmmakers and the most engaging offerings for nan's fannish background. His in­ the art and craft of putting to­ an audience desperate for a cinema terest in the cinema seems to lie gether films that seek out an aud­ of possibility in an age of pessim­ along SF/Fantasy/horror lines, and ience's subtlest fears. ism. with his previous book as an entree into professional circles, he has There has long been an informal Book publishers, ever aware of here compiled some fine and unexpect­ (fannish) body of literature deal­ popular trends in other media, have edly new material. Rather than ing with the personalities in the in recent years put forth several lumping all of fantasy film togeth­ field, and this literature has rare­ worthwhile books dealing with fan­ er as his topic, Brosnan makes clear ly been accorded the protection tasy and SF films. Though the books the lines demarking SF from Fantasy that has been given as a matter of themselves are not the usual fare from Horror. In his carefully-con­ course to, say, studies of person­ of SFR readers--dealing as they do sidered introduction, he goes on to alities like Chaplin or D.W. Grif­ with the facts of film production explain the ultimate significance fith. An academic paper on Welles rather than literary creation--sev­ of horror films: or (Heaven forfend!) Friedkin could eral of them may interest the in­ be well acconplished entirely with­ quisitive reader of fantasy and sc­ "The artistic liberation of the in the walls of any college lib­ ience fiction. current Hollywood product grew not rary, but to do a similar study of from the influence of the under- Karloff, director James Whale or Some of the following reviews ground/avant-garde filmmakers but animator , the auth­ were published in the WASHINGTON from the cheapest roots of the com­ or would have to travel, to make AREA FILMMAKERS LEAGUE NEWSLETTER, mercial cinema itself--(from com­ personal contacts, just in order to Box 6475, Washington DC 20009. panies which) in the 1950's and find and leaf through back issues 1960's adapted their films, often of FAMOUS MONSTERS, or to find horror ones, to the changing tastes knowledgeable, in-depth interviews of the teenagers while adult America in THE ALIEN CRITIC (now SFR), or dozed in front of its collective penetrating articles in GORE CREAT­ television set. ...Horror films URES and the like. Where would have also gained a certain amount film scholarship be if Welles was THE HORROR PEOPLE of respect within the industry simp­ By John Brosnan never accorded serious study in his ly because, since the mid-1950's, St. Martin's Press, $11.95 lifetime, or if Griffith research they have consistently made money." could only be done properly amidst Brosnan's recent book MOVIE MAG­ Brosnan wisely passes over the ceiling-high stacks of fading mag­ IC: The Story of Special Effects technical aspects of these effects- azines in someone's garage? (One in the Cinema, was so full of pro­ filled films, a topic done to death hears echoes of "You'll have to fessional detail and yet so fresh in other works. Besides, if you throw all of that silly John Ford and accessible (both to the general want to read about tricks, see his stuff out, Jimmy, I need the space public and to the film pro) that I previous book. Instead, he answers for our new barbecue grill.") We wasn't surprised to learn of Bros- some long-neglected questions about can't pretend that every one of these personalities is worthy of academic veneration, and yet it is hardly sensible to ignore a whole By Wayne Keyser 34 genre altogether when the makers of cheap thrills like THE EXORCIST only cinematic myth which Britain THE FLEISCHER STORY make the pages of FI1M CONWENT ev­ can properly claim as its own and By Leslie Cabarga ery time they sneeze. which relates to it in the same Nostalgia Press, $12.50 way as the Western relates to Am­ Brosnan has highlighted the erica." Certainly, in this well- Max Fleischer's pioneering role careers of a selected handful of illustrated and very affordable the more significant actors, direc­ in the history of American animation work, he makes some good, interest­ (and American fantasy) has been tors and producers, and adds an ex­ ing arguments. tensive appendix capsuling the car­ largely ignored by the American eers of a great many other related The book first examines trad­ film establishment, in favor of the people. The book first deals at itional Gothic literature, which work of Disney and the Warner's car­ length (and without sentimental began in 1746 with Walpole's "Cast­ toon unit (Chuck Jones and friends). bias, for a change) with Lon Chaney le of Otranto", then moves on to However clever the antics of M. (Sr. 5 Jr.), Bela Lugosi, Boris study the rise in popularity of the Mouse and B. Bunny might have been, Karloff, directors Karl Freund (THE Gothic tradition in film. they rarely approached the low- down, self-confident, mature flights MUNMY) and James Whale (THE BRIDE Hammer Studios, founded in OF FRANKENSTEIN). Director-produc­ of fantasy -- even horror --of 1948, carefully focused its corpor­ Fleischer's animated films-noirs. er Vai Lewton (CURSE OF THE CAT ate directorial attention on the PEOPLE, I WALKED WITH A ZCMBIE) traditional Gothic story elements Fleischer invented the rotoscopei gets a chapter. Following chapters opened up by fantasy plots, rather a device for tracing live-action trace divergent sub-genres begin­ than dwelling at length on the films onto animation cels for speed ning in the 50's: the traditional simple Bogieman aspects. The pure and ease of animation. With this SF/ film (Jack Arnold's IN­ suspense and human reactions im­ handy tool, he produced films of CREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN and CREATURE plicit in the genre carry Hammer's striking graphic quality (for in­ FROM THE BLACK LAGOON), the British best films, rather than the flashy stance, the world's second animated Gothic resurgence, the surprisingly possibilities of monsters and mad feature, GULLIVER'S TRAVELS) and inventive low-budget films from scientists. Though often present, hundreds of one-reelers. He also American-International's Roger Cor­ the technological and supernatural invented the "follow the bouncing man (THE TERROR, LITTLE SHOP PF beasties are never permitted to be­ ball" SCREEN SONGS sing-along films HORRORS), and the "gimmick" films come cheap thrills. of William Castle (THE TINGLER). Technical innovations aside, Then, Brosnan deals with three im­ Hammer's brilliant re-interpret- Fleischer's cartoons had a gritty mensely- talented, currently working ation of the Frankenstein story reality underlying their fantasy, a actors (though actors often cast (THE CURSE OF FRANKENSTEIN, Terence seamy view of life that Disney has in sorry roles): Vincent Price Fisher, 1956) sparked a major flur­ never yet dared or cared to convey. (who showed what he could do when ry of production in other British Popeye, as Fleischer produced him, he tried in WITCHFINDER GENERAL, studios. These other producers gen­ definitely surpassed the comic­ titled CONQUEROR WORM in America), erated some very different styles book character he has lately be­ Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing. and sub-genres of their own--witness come -- Fleischer's Popeye was a There are also chapters on writing Amicus Productions' long string of rough-thinking, sex-obsessed sailor horror (Richard and Robert Bloch), anthology films in which a light, who was always muttering under his directing horror (Freddie Francis often ridiculous central story ties breath things that were just around and Roy Baker) and producing hor­ together four or five vignettes, the comer from being foul. Fleis­ ror, with a final nod to those separate film-within-a-film, a dir­ cher creation Betty Boop never let strangely devoted, often shocking ector's delight. One example is you forget that she was a woman who people, the horror fans. TALES FRCM THE CRYPT, Freddie Fran­ knew the score. Picture poor flap­ cis 1971). per Betty, beaten and bound, lying In all, THE HORROR PEOPLE is a helpless before her hulking, slaver­ good introduction to the human side Nonetheless, Hammer's versions ing boss, singing "You can feed me of a fascinating genre, though it of the classic horror/fantasy plots bread and water, or a great big does cost a major fortune for its have left a record that has yet to bale of hay, but please don't take class. be rivaled in Britain. Though Lug­ my boop-oop-a-doop away!" osi still comes to mind as the arche­ typical vampire, Hammer favorite Fleischer put his characters Christopher Lee's interpretations into a gray, mysterious, magical world. There, as in all good fairy have just about replaced Lugosi's A HERITAGE OF HORROR: The English as the definitive Dracula. tales (se Bruno Bettelheim's master­ Gothic Cinema 1946-1972 ful book THE USES OF ENCHANTMENT By David Pirie Pirie's detailed analyses of for some insights), magic was as Equinox (1974), 192pp, $2.95 inportant films and directors are menacing as it was fun, and as un­ accurate and complete, and represent controllable as a nightmare. It A HERITAGE OF HORROR breaks some a significant insight into an ad­ was a world that had happy, talking new ground in its detailed examina­ venturous and colorful cinema which flowers, but under the surface were tion of the British Gothic film has long deserved a collective deep, slimy, haunted caves where tradition, ranking with the best of study. Future books dealing with you might meet the rabid Old Man of the very few serious studies of the SF/horror/fantasy film genre(s) the Mountain or a ghost walrus (rot- the horror/SF/Fantasy film. will have to be almost scholarly to oscoped from bandleader Cab Callo­ better this book for insight, in­ way's supple form) doing the Slow Just as, in America, Universal's terpretation and value. Drag and singing of Minnie the horror films had their own house Moocher's cocaine-fiend lovers. It style, British production companies was the real world as seen through have developed distinctive approaches a child's eyes -- not entirely to the type of film designed to sweet, a magical, terrible place leave audiences well-chilled. (remember?) where Louis Armstrong's Pirie, a regular contributor gigantic, bald head could appear in the clouds singing the frankly to SIGHT AND SOUND Magazine, claims sexual, back-alley lyrics to "I'll that the horror genre "remains the 35 Be Glad When You're Dead". I re­ cently saw the cartoon of that tit­ of writers, but OZ had ten, includ­ of the hundreds of photos here have le, and sure enough there was Louis ing Ogden Nash and Herman Mankiewicz. been printed before). It is well singing "You gave my wife a Coca- The studio was noted for being a written but never public-pandering. Cola so you could play in her vag- factory, a movie mill rather than It is well researched, but not ob­ ola". Yup. a creative cradle, and the stars sessive. Buy it if you want the Author Cabarga seems more an were treated like cattle -- Buddy definitive look at studio fantasy encyclopedist than a theoretician. Ebsen, for instance, got deathly film production on a personal lev­ True, the text may not have the ill from his aluminum Tin Man make­ el. skilled psychological analysis that up, so Jack Haley was drafted at was so well done in the animation the last moment (Ebsen says that issue of FILM COMENT a few years some of the long shots in the fin­ ago. However, THE FLEISCHER STORY al cut may be him rather than Hal­ has the sort of detail that no mag­ ey) . The films produced by such FANTASTIC TELEVISION azine could offer -- Cabarga's com­ methods were often forgettable, ev­ By Gary Gerani and plete Fleischer filmography has en execrable, but were surely no Paul H. Schulman long been needed. worse than the bulk of today's pro­ Harmony, 192 pp, $5.95 duct. They were occasionally in­ There's plenty of room on my spired, and it is those films that Television has long been the shelf for this sort of book. One ought to be studied as closely as "black sheep" of the filmmaking might wish that Cabarga had author­ Harmetz has studied OZ. world -- disreputable, but unavoid­ ed THE ART OF WALT DISNEY -- his able. Sometimes it has been the perceptive style could have done She has done her homework and spares no feelings in this tale. wretched mess it has always been much for that colorful but super­ accused of being, but sometimes it ficial book. Though THE FLEISCHER She indicts MOI with a passion -- Wicked Witch Margaret Hamilton, for has been the medium of some of the STORY lacks color (except for the cinema's finest artists and brilliantly evocative dust jacket instance, fell victim to lazy direc­ tion and was severely burned in one craftspeople, and this artistic side illo), it does have over 300 never- is by no means limited to public before-collected illustrations and of her firey disappearances. But, as she tells for the first time, television's "artsy" offerings. adds to the reputation of Nostalgia Perhaps some look down upon TV sinp- Press as a publisher of well-printed, she dared not press for compensa­ tion. "I knew very well that if I ly because there are so many nega­ reasonably-priced and brilliantly tive influences that a few flashes conceived books. sued, I would never work again in any studio". Later, she recalls, of excellence can't stand out. Suf­ "The studio never mentioned my ac­ fice it to say that, given the con­ cident, never. But when Billie straints imposed by contemporary Burke (Glinda, the Good Witch) commercial television, the fantasy series allows the creative film­ THE MAKING OF "THE WIZARD OF OZ" sprained her ankle, they had an am­ By Aljean Harmetz bulance come out and ... pictures maker freest reign. In such a ser­ ies, more of the filnuiaker's creat­ Knopf, 329 pp, $13.00 of her being carried out. And I was very much amused." ivity has a chance to reach the screen when many of the restrict­ Regular NY TIMES writer Aljean Harmetz wastes no time on the ing dramatic and commercial con­ Harmetz has come up with a fine new all-too-usual Special Effects chap­ ventions have gone by the board. film book, fully titled THE MAKING ter, though she gives enough de­ OF "THE WIZARD OF OZ"; MOVIE MAGIC tails to satisfy. Instead, she Gerani and Schulman, in FANTAS­ AND STUDIO POWER IN THE PRIME OF concentrates on the people involved, TIC TELEVISON, have come up with a MGM AND THE MIRACLE OF PRODUCTION because OZ is definitely a "people" wealth of information from the #1060. Some years ago there was a picture from start to finish. The world of commercial fantasy TV: rash of GONE WITH THE WIND books, temperaments, the pettiness, the over 350 photos grace the book, but overly glittery and mass-pitched, occasional nobility, the inspired this big paperback is never turned and last season THE MAKING OF KING concepts, the callous excisions, into an oversized picturebook, as KONG was unfortunately ignored. and the public's long-lasting af­ has been the failing of so many For a change, however, THE MAKING fection are all here in what amounts similar works. Instead, solid text OF "THE WIZARD OF OZ" is as valuable to a textbook on the personal angles backs up every chapter. This is to the filnuiaker as it is to the of the film business. And, make definitely a text-oriented book, film buff. no mistake, though the film was well illustrated, and that text is a fine work indeed. The American Film Institute made 40 years ago, people are still funded the research for this book the same. The authors divide the book in­ through the Louis B. Mayer Founda­ Harmetz' professionalism never to separate chapters for each of 13 tion, and MCW may be credited for fails to ensure that the right de­ major fantasy-SF series, with col­ helping to unearth never-before-pub­ tails are recorded, but never in­ lective chapters for lesser efforts lished records and photos (not all trudes on a healthy sentimentalism (the remainder of American and al­ of them entirely complimentary to for a film that has drawn record­ most all of British telefantasy, the studio). breaking audiences both in theatres kidvid and made-for-Tv movies). Within the coverage of major series, Perhaps the book's greatest and on TV, a film that is, unfor­ well-researched introductions pre­ value lies in its presentation of tunately, ignored in favor of les­ the making of a hit by committee, ser works in most histories of the cede conplete illustrated listings of each episode with title, author, one of the many movie masterpieces musical cinema. director, stars and capsule plot. (CASABLANCA comes to mind) that The book is a gem, one of the were worked over by many hands. There is a gold mine of data in this season's few sensible film books. type of listing. I never realized, GWTW had 3 directors, but OZ had It is profusely illustrated, yet for instance, that the anthology four: George Thorpe (TARZAN), Geo­ never overwhelmed by photos (all rge Cukor (GWTW, DINNER AT EIGHT), series NIGHT GALLERY often let writ­ of which, by the way, are well cho­ ers direct their own material, or Victor Fleming (GWTW), and King sen; I doubt that more than five Vidor (THE BIG PARADE, OUR DAILY that they sometimes let actors cross BREAD). CASABLANCA had three teams over into directing as well. Nor 36 did I know that much of the claus­ trophobic ambience of the OUTER LIM­ What can we compare this type carefully-matched live action shots, ITS series came from the acclaimed of book with, to get an idea of the miniature sets and a master editor's camera artistry of Conrad Hall. best and worst that can be had? eye for dramatic flow, all coming together into sequences of unaparal- Of course, you're never going leled realism in fantasy. to get ahead in either filmmaking or literary appreciation with any Rovin writes from a longtime of this data -- it's no help at all fan's viewpoint, and some questions to the strictly pragmatic. But it Jeff Rovin, a terribly prolific are left unanswered that filmmakers reads well, it brings back a lot of might have liked to ask. But the and often sloppy nonfiction author, comprehensive text, -chosen memories, and with so many success­ has written a real eye-opener: ful plots compiled in one book, illustrations and the author's en­ it's a good spur to the writer's FRCM THE LAND BEYOND BEYOND, The thusiastic dramatic analyses leave imagination. I haven't seen quite Films of Willis O'Brien and Ray little to be desired. Lovers of so much value-per-dollar in a fan­ Harryhausen fantasy films really ought to have tasy film book in years. By Jeff Rovin this book on their shelves. Of course, as in any field, 277 pp, (paperback), Berkley, $5.95 there are bound to be a number of average and poor books among the I hate Jeff Rovin. He's young­ outstanding ones. Mindless consumer er than I am, he doesn't seem to picture books or unoriginal rehashes know any more about writing nonfic­ of things already covered better tion than I do, but he sells almost THE OUTER LIMITS, flood the market, and wind up on every word he writes! In this case, An Illustrated Review the "reduced to 994" tables before he has created a masterpiece --a Planned for publication in several too long. But in their pass through meaty, accurate treatment of a won­ volumes, Vol. I $2.50, 62 pp., pa­ the market, these forgettable books derfully interesting subject, pro­ perback, from Scorpio 13, 11100 Gov­ often turn the potential reader off fusely illustrated and very nicely ernor Avenue, Cleveland OH 44111. to other, better books in the field. priced. Ted C. Rypel is the editor One example of the nothing-new-to- FROM THE LAND BEYOND BEYOND say SF/Fantasy film book is: and, I assume, chief writer for Vol­ deals with the Fantasy film's most ume I of this absorbing study of a THINGS TO COME, An Illustrated delightful heights -- the stop-mot­ neglected SF teleseries. Episodes History of the Science Fiction Filnv ion animation films of Ray Harry- are covered at length, in the order By Douglas Menville and R. Reginald, hausen and his mentor, Willis O'­ of their appearance on TV, with in­ Times, 212pp., $15.00. Brien -- films like KING KONG, telligent plot sumnaries and cred­ EARTH Vs THE FLYING SAUCERS, SEV­ its followed by thoughtful dramatic The authors of THINGS TO COME ENTH VOYAGE OF SINBAD, and many have managed to put SF as a film analyses. Rypel is not afraid to more. None of these films has any damn a sloppy episode for poor prod­ genre (or theme, it might be bet­ special dramatic pretentions, but ter to say) in a good perspective, uction or writing, or to give ef­ each (almost without exception) fusive praise where it is genuinely showing the place of SF within the is an entertaining presentation of universe of narrative film. That's due. Though other books have cov­ an exciting story centered around ered a wider variety of televised what makes THINGS TO COME interest­ masterful special effects. Some of ing. F/SF, none has done as much as this them transcend their roots to become to bring to light the real cinemat­ The authors have, however, man­ respectable artistic successes, ic, dramatic and literary virtues aged to write a fairly diffuse and it's a sad comment on the film of such an ephemeral medium as the treatment -- evident when one com­ establishment that many of the teleseries. Though the price tag pares the detail and care evident field's more worthy entries are ig­ may seem high for 62 pages, the in this effort with that shown by nored because they lack the self- amount of information and insight some more careful and readable auth­ conscious "artiness" of the more us­ in this first volume more than jus­ ors. The well-illustrated volume ual "critic's darlings". KING KONG tifies- the expenditure. contains some real insights, but only lately coming into some estab­ not many. There is little here lishment respect because of its that has not been written before, perpetual audience appeal, is a and better. That's what makes classic fantasy that is also a text­ THINGS TO COME a less-than-outstand- book example of the perfect action ing volume. It costs fifteen dol­ film: strong, empathetic charac­ CONCLUSION: lars, and there's just not enough ters; careful but entertaining ex­ meat in it to warrant that kind of position (Kong does not appear un­ Reading about films can be as price. This is the sort of mater­ til the fifth reel); a basic res­ boring as reading about sex (if ial that might be worth reading in pect for its audience and a climax you're serious, why are you sitting a smaller, less-expensive paper­ of breathless excitement. around reading?), but readers who back edition. As it is, however, Early, jerky stop-motion tech­ also love films can relive their THINGS TO COME is just another niques have been refined by Harry- favorite films in print, gleaning book that won't make a very big hausen until, in the latest opus splash. new, deeper meanings from the print­ SINBAD AND THE EYE OF THE TIGER the ed comments of the films' creators. There's nothing wrong with live action and the animation join Even those who prefer print may THINGS TO COME that a little more perfectly in every shot; there ap­ wish to study the many ways in time, care and attention on the pears to be no difference between which important works of genre fic­ part of the authors and publishers the twelve inch rubber-and-steel tion can be re-approached (for bet­ wouldn't have straightened out. model of the "troglodyte" and the ter or worse) either by the origin­ But it is, as it stands, a good live actors standing beside him in al authors or by others assigned to lightweight book with a tremendous the same frame. Harryhausen's tech­ translate the printed story onto price tag, rather than an entry of nique, perfected over years of ex­ celluloid. any lasting significance. Really, perience, uses travelling mattes, there had to have been a better way. 37 ************************************ Novelette THE HUMAN HOTLINE "A Glow of Candles"-Charles L. Grant (GRAVEN IMAGES) "Devil You Don't Know"------Dean Ing S-F NEWS (ANALOG, Jan) "Mikal's Songbird"--Orson Scott Card BY ELTON T. ELLIOTT (ANALOG, May) Short Story "Stone ------Edward Bryant start a new magazine entitled DRAGO- (F8SF, Feb) NARD. Named after a character in "A Quiet Revolution for Death" ------several of John Jakes' books, the ------Jack Dann first issue will be out in March. (NEW DIMENSIONS #8) Chet describes the new magazine as "Cassandra" ------C.J. Cherryh a "cross between ALGOL and SF RE­ (Ff)SF, Oct) VIEW, with a few things neither con­ The deadline for SFWA voting Remember the address for this tain". I will be doing a book re­ members is March 20. The winners column is: Elton T. Elliott, SFR, view column and Chet is also looking will be announced April 21. 1899 Wiessner Dr. N.E., Salem, OR, for other regular columnists, art­ 97303. Phone: (503) 393-6389 icles, interviews and movie and book # Because participation in the reviews. Nebula nomination process has drop­ ped so low (5 recommendations were Mr. Clingan has also done a short sufficient to get a story on the It and Lloyd Biggie story, "Goldenlight and Fleetwood", ballot this year as opposed to 30 have filed a lawsuit against Harper which will be published in ALIEN a decade ago, despite the fact that 5 Row. The suit was filed against WORLDS, edited by Paul Collins, ed­ the SFWA has grown greatly over the the paperback division of H6R, not itor of VOID magazine in Australia. same period of time) Jack William­ the trade division. Chet is also marketing two reprint son, president of the SFWA, has form­ The suit, filed in Michigan Fed­ anthologies, FANTASY MASTERS and ed a committee to look into ways of eral Court, charges that H£R reneged GALACTIC HEROES AND OTHERS. He will increasing participation. Our source on a contract signed in 1975. The also be U.S. agent for Cosmos Lit­ also mentioned that the entire award contract covered a proposed 8 vol­ erary in England and will be policy would be looked into. Our ume anthology series, SF UNIVERSE, agenting some U.S. authors. source went on to say that there has which was to be edited by both Dam­ Mr. Clingan's address: been well-known ballot stuffing in on Knight and Lloyd Biggie. C.C. Clingan the past, and that whole categories POB 1836 (or at least one) on the current bal­ The date for the trial has not Oroville, CA 95965 lot are the result of ballot stuff­ been set, but they are taking pre­ ing. trial depositions. The lawyer for Lloyd Biggie and # NOMINEES: Damon Knight, is Alex Berman of the Novel # Clifford D. Simak has sold a Southfield Michigan firm of Kozlow, novel, THE VISITORS, to Del Rey Woll, Crowley and Berman. He said ------Vonda N. McIntyre books. It will be serialized in they will be asking 820,000 dollars (Houghton Mifflin/Dell) ANALOG. STRANGERS ------Gardner Dozois in damages with 750,000 of that be­ # According to a source, Stanis­ (Berkley) ing for lost royalties. He also law Lem has been paid very little of mentioned that Harper 6 Row have THE FADED SUN: KESRITH--C.J. Cherryh (SF Book Club/DAW) the money due him from Seabury and filed a counterclaim for 8,000 in Avon. advances. This is a fairly common KALKI ------Gore Vidal legal maneuver. Mr. Berman said of (Random House/Ballantine) # Gregory Benford has sold stor­ the counterclaim. BLIND VOICES------ ies to NEW DIMENSIONS and UNIVERSE. Novella He has sold another story to OMNI, Mr. Berman went on to say that the earlier story in OMNI, "A Hiss the treatment by HSR in this case, "The Persistence of Vision" —John of Dragon", written in collaboration was so shoddy that his clients had (F8SF, Mar.) Varley with Mark Laidlaw, (Mr. Benford broach­ no alternative but to take "drastic "Seven American Nights" -- ed the idea first, not Mr. Laidlaw, action" and "fight back". He said (ORBIT #20) as earlier reported) has been select­ the case "could be precedent set­ ting" and that it's "an indication some authors are fed up" with the shoddy practices prevalent in the publishing industry. He enlarged upon that point by saying about law­ suits, "It's going to happen more of­ ten" and that there are more and "more inequities. SF is coming in­ to big money, but the authors are still getting messed over". He went on to say that this case is very inportant and that the out­ come could be of great import to ev­ ery writer in the field. # Chet C. Clingan has resigned as editor of THE DIVERSIFIER and will ed by Terry Carr for inclusion in # In LOCUS #216, Ted White in a Vincent DiFate cover. The subject his BEST SCIENCE FICTION STORIES OF letter, protested ' handling matter of the other two books are THE YEAR anthology. of Alexei and Cory Panshin's novel not set yet. EARTH MAGIC. Particularly the fact # Frederik Pohl's new work, COOL I talked to John Silbersack, that Ace didn't give credit to the WAR, is a novel, not a movie as re­ novel's serialization in the April, who (along with Victoria Schochet) ported in the last column. The grem­ July and September, 1973 issues of is co-editor of Berkley-Putnam's lins strike again. SF line. FANTASTIC. And in the letter's # Lou Fisher reports that SCHOLAS­ last sentence, intimated that these He mentioned that Mr. Farmer TIC VOICE, a magazine for High School facts were well known to James Baen, has "basically no other obligations" teachers and students, is featuring SF editor at Ace, and that he could and that Berkley intends to "treat his SF story, "Bloodline" in the "only deplore Ace Books' unwilling­ Phil as a major author". current (Mar.) issue. The story or­ ness to admit the prior publication All three books will be very iginally appeared in EPOCH, an anth­ of the novel". I contacted Mr. Baen large novels of over 150,000 words. ology edited by Robert Silverberg who mentioned that he came in on I asked Mr. Silbersack about this: and Roger "SF is a ghodless field" the middle of negotiations on EARTH "Phil is one of the very few authors Elwood. MAGIC. In answer to Ted White's who appears completely in control of comments, Mr. Baen had this to say, # Stephen E. McDonald will have a long novel. We encourage that; "I was under the impression that a story, "The Duppy Tree" in NIGHT­ the Riverworld series needs scope". MARES^ edited by Charles L. Grant. substantial revisions had been made in the text". He went on to mention He also mentioned that they will He also wants it known that he that the change in the title was the be bringing a lot of Farmer's back- is not Stephen R. Donaldson, no mat­ authors'. As for the omission "this list into print. ter what Del Rey tells him. He re­ is the first comment I've received; ceived a letter from Judy-Lynn Del all during the galleys nobody, in­ OTHER BERKLEY/PLTNAM NEWS: Rey addressed to a mysterious Steve cluding the authors, noticed the McDonaldson. * The sequel to TITAN by John omission. It was an unfortunate om­ Varley will tentatively be titled # Norman Spinrad's novel, A WORLD ission; we failed to note publica­ WIZARD. Mr. Varley is working on tion in the other form and for that BETWEEN, will not be published by it right now. Jove because of a contract dispute; Ace apologizes. What should've been Mr. Spinrad reports that it will be said was 'First Book Publication'". * They have bought reprint published by Pocket Books in October. Mr. Baen also mentioned that Ace rights to SOUL CATCHER by Frank Her­ does about 175 titles a year and bert . # Orson Scott Card, in addition that there will be inevitable accid­ * They have purchased two books to short fiction upcoming in OMNI, ental omissions. DESTINIES, F5SF, will have a novella from Grant Carrington. One is based in ANALOG, which will make up the # Pocket Books, in an auction for on the story "Down Among the Ipsies". first 100 pages of his novel, MIK­ the rights for the STAR TREK books, * A new trilogy from Kevin O'Don­ AL'S SONGBIRD. was the highest bidder and now has nell has been purchased. conplete rights to all the titles. # Jack L. Chalker reports that Bantam, Ballantine and Signet will * They have procured Damon Knight's Berkley has rescheduled THE IDENTITY quit publishing STAR TREK titles, first novel in ten years. Its title MATRIX for August. It will be a pa­ with the exception of books already is, THE WORLD AND THORRINN. perback original. Del Rey will do in inventory. AND THE DEVIL WILL DRAG YOU UNDER, * Mr. Silbersack and Ms. Schochet a fantasy/satire. The final Well # Like to own a mass-market pap­ (the correct spelling for both their World book, NATHAN BRAZIL, has been erback house? Three houses are up names, to correct my botch in last contracted for by Del Rey and will for sale, Popular Library, Jove and issue's column) will be editing a probably be brought out in two vol­ Pinnacle. thrice-yearly anthology series en­ umes. He also will be doing a main­ Popular Library, owned by CBS, titled THE SCIENCE FICTION BOOK. stream novel for Doubleday, more on is up for sale because CBS, which Payment will be 5

BY TFE EDITOR ft The DIRECTORY OF MULTILINGUAL FANS strikes me as a valuable item, with its 40-odd listings of people from , mostly. 204 will bring you a copy from Allan Beatty, POB 1040, ISU Sta., Ames, IA 50010.

# JoeD Siclari has moved, recover­ ed his energy and is now publishing his valuable fan magazine FAN HISTOR- ICA. The latest issue is #8. He is also resuming publication of Harry write good professional sf. ft Two highly informative, interest­ Warner's fan history of the 50's, Price is $1.25 from Aesir Press, ing, revealing interviews—Ian Bal­ A WEALTH OF FABLE...in several volum­ 2461 Telegraph Av., Berkeley, CA lantine, Marta Randall—highlight es. 94707. Recommended. SF8F36 #8. [No, I don't know why FANHISTORICA #8 is available for that '36' is in the title. It's confusing and therefore dumb!] contributions of art, written mater­ # THE THIRD BOOK OF VIRGIL FINLAY is ial, old fanzines, trades, letters 754 from Jim Purviance, 13 West another of Gerry de la Ree's finely Summit Dr., Redwood City, CA 94062. of comment, or $1. crafted, quality publications devoted #8 has material by F. Towner to the works of the late famous sf and Laney (Part 1 of his Ah, Sweet Idio­ fantasy artist, full-page size, gloss ft KELLY FREAS sent along prints of cy! ), "Up the Garden Pathology" by stock, hardcover, 128 pages, with dust his latest series of cover reproduc­ Walt Willis, and "What Was That Fan­ jacket. $15.50. You can observe tions which he markets himself. dom I Saw You With" by Ted White. Finlay's subtle development from These five are the wraparound covers Present-day fan rich brown contends these selections from his b/w work that make the new Donning Starblaze with Ted on fandom and its eras and from 1938 to 1956. The man possessed Editions so beautiful. The paintings where we might be today in historic­ marvelous skills, talent and patience. are on white textured museum quali­ al perspective...and Bob Tucker is Order from Gerry de la Ree, ty paper, without text, with borders, here with "Beard Mumblings." 7 Cedarwood Lake and are 20" x 26". Eminently suit­ For those fans of s-f and s-f Saddle River, NJ 07458 able for framing. All, of course, fandom, this look at the past greats in full color. The prints are : might be brain-opening. ft Rip Off Press, refusing to learn #26 WHAT HAPPENED TO EMILY GOODE JoeD's present address is: 2201 from experience, sent me THE CARTOON AFTER THE GREAT EXHIBITION N.E. 45th St., Lighthouse Point, HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE---Volume Two #27 APOSTLE FL 33064. —"Sticks and Stones—The Descent #28 ANOTHER FINE MYTH Ah, yes, I remember sixth and of People." #29 CONFEDERATION MATADOR seventh fandom well.... Written and drawn by . #30 THE RUINS OF ISIS It's a clever, well-done visual his­ These prints cost $7.50 signed, # FANTARAMA is a professionally tory of what science thinks is the $5. unsigned. Add $1.50 to each produced newsstand-type fanzine de­ way mankind developed and spread and order for postage and shipping. voted to sf, fantasy 5 comic art. got civilized...up to Sumeria. Next Each order of prints is shipped in Has a cover and some interiors by 6 volume will be titled RIVER REALMS-- heavy duty mailing tubes. Damaged an interview with Bill Warren [the The First Civilizations. prints will be replaced. artist, not the SFR film columnist], Ambitious project, trying to make Kelly has other prints for sale, and other things-----a comic strip history palatable to kids (and some too, mostly ANALOG covers. Ask for or two, book reviews... adults, I imagine). Rip Off is doing his full-color catalog. Offset printing on newsprint with a fine job with this series. I com­ Order from Polly 6 Kelly Freas a two-color cover. 754 plus 254 for mend them. 4216 Blackwater Road postage, eta will likely get you a Send $1.25 to Rip Off Press, Virginia Beach, VA copy from Pubbug Publications, POB 14158, , CA 94114. 23457 11220 Bird Road, Richmond, BC Tell them SFR sent you. V6X 1N8 CANADA. ft Titles are deceptive. Thus the The same group publish LULU RE­ ft Jonathan Bacon's FANTASY CROSS­ ROCKET'S BLAST COMICOLLECTOR (RBCC VIEW, a 6-weekly rating of recently- ROADS continues to improve markedly for short) sounds like a comball received fanzines of every stripe. in visuals and the professionalism amateur zine put out by a 12-year- They do a good job, obviously, of its layouts and "look". old. since they give SFR a 9 rating (out I thought the interview with Nope. It's a handsome, pro­ of a possible 10). Stephen R. Donaldson excellent, a quality, excellently edited maga­ complement to the interview with him zine with fine art and writing, ft SPACING DUTCHMAN is a short novel in this issue of SFR. , published by James Van Hise, an by Eric Vinicoff and Marcia Martin... A superb front cover by Steve adult. Circulation: 2200 per issue. Well, make that a novelette. It is Fabian, beautifully printed with a It is also long-lived, since published in booklet format and has light blue tint. this November, 1978 issue is #146. a fine wraparound cover by Frank FC costs $3.00 from Stygian Isle And it isn't strictly a comiczine, Brunner, and several very good action Press, 7613 Flint #A, Shawnee, KS with articles and features on mo­ illustrations by . 66214. vies (YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN) and TV's It's a story of intrigue, save- THE AVENGERS--a complete index of the-space-city, and heavy action. episodes. I liked it. Vinicoff and Martin 43 RBCC is the finest comic fandom page occult ink drawing. Thomas Burnett Swann, Charles Saund­ fanzine (semi-prozine?) I've seen. There's a striking cover by Mah­ ers and others, plus poetry by M.Z. Costs $1.95 per copy from James Van lon Blaine titled "Alraune." Bradley, Joy Chant, plus articles on Hise, 10885 Parkdale Av., San Diego, Roland wants $1.50 for a copy of William Morris and Dunsany... And CA 92126. his issue. He lurks at: 2409 23rd the artwork, or which there is a lot, Av. S., Minneapolis, NN 55404. is all good, with some excellent it­ # SPEAKING OF SCIENCE FICTION by Seems overpriced, and of very ems. The wrap-around elf § fairy cov­ Paul Walker (Luna, $6.95 + 50

Real Issues doesn't make it a good VAMPYRO BLAST, FANGS, THE FISH MEN, Bill Warren movie.) BOG, DRACULA ROCKS, HUMAN EXPERI­ 2150 N. Beachwood Dr.,#4 MENTS, ISLAND OF THE LIVING DEAD, Horror films still loom large. Hollywood, CA 90068 ODYSEA and RESURRECTION; but REVENGE There are several Dracula-based films shooting or ready for release, OF THE SCREAMING DEAD is a retitling of MESSIAH OF EVIL. (This info from including LOVE AT FIRST BITE with Things are hanging fire in the George Hamilton as a lovelorn Drac­ Famous Monsters #152.) fantastic film "industry" right ula in modem New York. (Sure-fire Other horror titles include now. And I've been having a little turkey time, folks.) Werner Herzog's CARNIVORE, BENEATH THE DARKNESS and difficulty getting some film news: remake of NOSFERATU, with Klaus Kin­ SCREAMS OF A WINTER NIGHT. SANCTU­ I scout HOLLYWOOD REPORTER and other ski in the lead, should be out around ARY FOR EVIL, written by Linwood Case trade publications, but any news or the time you read this; it has re­ is about "a terrible evil that lurks comments readers might want to pass ceived rave reviews in France. And in Griffith Park", a phrase subject along to me would be appreciated. John Badham's production of DRACULA, to varying interpretations. OMEN 3, Geis has forwarded a couple of items with Frank Langella in the title role the wrap-up, is being scripted by to me, and I really love getting and Laurence Olivier as Dr. Van Hel- Harvey Bernhard, creator of the con­ feedback. sing, is just about finished and will cept, and British mystery writer SUPERMAN is apparently heading open in mid-summer. It's from a Andrew Birkin, who was assistant for big boxoffice returns; with script by W.D. Richter, and consider­ director on 2001. ing his wonderful job on INVASION OF STAR WARS and CLOSE ENCOUNTERS hav­ AIP announced GORP, written and ing done so well, few studios would THE BODY SNATCHERS 78, I'm really produced by Jeffrey Konvitz. THE still claim that big-budget fantasy looking forward to this. It's not GREAT LOS ANGELES FIRE is in the of­ features that make tons of money are a version of the stage play, and is instead based somewhat loosely on fing. ALTERED STATES will not be just flukes. Unfortunately, some directed by Arthur Penn, but rather the novel itself. For instance, the people have perceived all three films by (good lord) Ken Russell. That's as being "mindless” (which STAR WARS, two female leads have been changed like replacing with at least, certainly is not), and the somewhat; I assume Mina is still H.P. Lovecraft. has large grosses being racked up by Mrs. Harker, but Lucy has been re­ announced SUPERHUMAN, about a super­ LORD OF THE RINGS as being due to written to be Van Helsing's grand­ powered woman. SUPERSONIC MAN, with its being a cartoon. daughter. Van Helsing is also ap­ Cameron Mitchell, is about to be re­ As a result, far too rnaryof the parently not an expert on vampires. leased in Europe. Max Keller is announced films are mishmashes whose Two Saturday-morning Dracula TV ser­ producing SPACE PORT, and the long- creators failed to realize that the ies have been announced, one live- delayed FLASH GORDON feature will be three big hits have a grasp of scien­ action and one cartoon. directed by Michael Hodges. THE FUR­ ce fiction and show some respect for NICHTWING will be out soon, as THER ADVENTURES OF FLESH GORDON has it. Or they are grimly preachy "sci­ will THE BROOD. That stars Oliver been threatened, as has DEATHSPORT ence fact" thingies. One can only Reed, and is directed and written by II. And there's a new Bigfoot film, hope that Harlan Ellison's script of David Cronenberg, a talented direc­ THE CAPTURE OF BIGFOOT, under way in I, ROBOT will be filmed, for it re­ tor of revolting films such as THEY Wisconsin. portedly combines some of the spect­ CAME FROM WITHIN and RABID. John acle audiences loved in STAR WARS, Carpenter's THE FOG is almost cer­ CE3K and SUPERMAN, with humanity and tainly a horror film, and The Wo1fen an adult-oriented plot, derived from has been purchased. Geoffrey Holder CITIZEN KANE as well as Asimov. will direct VOODOO TRAGEDY. THE UN­ (Personally, I wish Ellison would SEEN is being made by The Unseen Film SCHLOCK TREATMENT quit pointing to the inadequate CHAR­ Company. THE DARK is Bud Cardos' A young boy discovers that alien LY as a model of a good SF film. I latest film; he made KINGDOM OF THE beings are on Earth and are using watched it again recently, and found SPIDERS so my hopes are up. human beings as their slaves. He Cliff Robertson's performance to be can get virtually no one to believe inaccurate and somewhat insulting, We also have been warned about DRACULIN, and other films announced him. And off we go with another the direction ham-fisted and insens­ rip-off/hommage film, this time insp­ itive, and the script -- of Keyes' include INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE, THE DAY THE SUN DIED, SPACE VAMPIRES, ired by INVADERS FROM MARS. Set in fine novel -- to be obvious and trite. Oregon but filmed in California, Just because it tries to grapple with 45 PHANTASM is a nifty if trashy and confusing thriller dealing with un­ Avco is trying to sneak the film out film ever made, was in part due to specified aliens who have taken over as if they are unsure of just what very bad luck and poor planning, but a mortuary. The fact that they turn it is. I can't blame them, because the cost must also be amortized over corpses into unkillable, obedient it's a very unusual film. Most peop the sequel, much of which was shot zombies is a side issue; the le I've spoken to did not like it at at the same time as SUPERMAN I. I film mainly deals with the nightmar­ all, but I rather did. can't justify Marlon Brando's uncons­ ish adventures of the young hero in cionably high salary. Clearly, the trying to first prove the aliens ex­ CIRCLE OF IRON is the closest Salkinds were trying to legitimize ist, and then to get rid of them. thing yet to an American-made sword and sorcery film. It's set in what a comic-book movie by hiring the The director-scenarist was Don seems to be the pre-historical past most famous actor in the world for Coscarelli, special effects were (not prehistoric), although there is a key (though not large) role. The by Paul Pepperman, and the leads are a reference to Buddha. Jeff Cooper casting does have the desired effect Michael Baldwin, Bill Thombury and plays Cord, a young martial arts ex­ -- Jor-El is made to be a figure of Angus Scrinui. pert who wants to battle Zetan, the dignity, but other actors would have sufficed. Cheaper actors. PHANTASM has too many plot twists, almost mythical martial arts master too many characters and the film keep- :who, somewhere far distant, guards There's much that's wrong with galloping off in all kinds of direc­ the Book of Enlightenment. Although the film. The opening scenes are tions. But there are lots of almost Cord does not win the contest grant- too solemn, and the white sets make stunning shock scenes. The best take: zing him the right to seek Zetan, he Krypt'n look like a huge modern art place in the crypt, as the boy is eventually does become the official museum, rather than a place anyone pursued by an orange-sized silver seeker, and the story deals with would live. Some of the Kryptonian globe which zooms through the air. his quest and the trials that con­ sequences are awesome, particularly He dodges it and it slams into the front him. those dealing with the three vill­ head of the bystanding caretaker. In plays four ains (who'll turn up in SUPERMAN II) a scene so grotesque as to be comic roles in the film, a blind flautist, and with the destruction of the plan­ and scary at once, the globe swiftly the leader of the monkey-men, an ef­ et. But the dialog' scenes are some­ drills a hole in the victim's head, fusive but enigmatic and magical what ponderous and slightly dull. and he expires as a fountain of blood Turk, and Death, personified as a The plot is attenuated and weak. shoots out the back of the hole. I pantherman. All are also experts in It's okay that half of it is taken don't know why the aliens need such martial arts. Eli Wallach and Roddy up with establishing Superman on a fancy gadget, but it's a shocker. McDowall appear in cameo roles, and Earth, getting Clark Kent settled There are car chases, unexplained Christopher Lee plays Zetan, whom down with the Daily Planet, introduc­ ties to the past, unresolved bits of Cord finally meets at the end. ing Lois to Superman, etc. But it's fantasy (what's the fuzzy worm?), and The film is remarkably good-nat­ really a costly error to spend so a very unsatisfactory, dramatically ured and unforced; there's plenty much time on Luthor and his cohorts; incorrect ending. PHANTASM is ama­ of laughs along Cord's way, most pro­ he's a scientific genuis, so we'd teurish, cheap and sloppy, but, wow, vided by Carradine who's excellent accept his pushing buttons to set does it deliver the goods. The pre­ in each of his roles, especially as the control devices on the rockets. view for this is one of the most the blind musician. Most of the .The long, tiresome scenes in which dizzying things ever seen; it looks philosophical aspects are presented he and his two buddies mess around like the last panels from a flock in a loose, easily-grasped fashion, with the Army and the Navy (designed of EC horror comics. And the film though some are pompous, and the to use up Gene Hackman's expensive has every one of the scenes. It's thick-eared audience I saw CIRCLE OF time) is running time that should worth seeing. IRON with seemed to like the film a have been devoted to more Super­ good deal. It's a little tedious stuff. around the edges, and Cooper is a But the biggest mistake is in very unlikable hero, but the picture the characterizations of the vil­ is worth seeing, as more than just ZEN AND THE ART OF KICKING SOMEONE'S lains. The other deviations from the a curiosity item. I wish the dis­ Superman story as established in the HEAD OFF tributors had had more faith in it. comic books are acceptable; the Buck Rogers-type "future" society that When he was living in Los Angeles was Krypton's in the comics isn't and working as an instructor in Mart­ essential; having Ma and Pa Kent re­ ial Arts (one of his pupils was Har­ main on their farm and Clark's not lan Ellison, HE turns up all kinds NEW STAR FROM KRYPTON becoming Superboy are okay changes. of places), became close But changing Luthor from an implac­ friends with actor , And another fantastic film be­ able, humorless, single-minded and and between them they worked out a comes An Event, the current Movie to monstrous mastermind into a land- script embodying and combining mart­ See. Hyped like few films have hungry dandy who surrounds himself ial arts action and Lee's Zen-orient­ been -- contrary to revised history, with comic bunglers is strictly from ed philosophy. STAR WARS received scant promotion the TV show, though it isn't was brought in to spruce things up a until its hit status was apparent -- campy. It throws the film out of bit, and around 1971, Coburn announc­ SUPERMAN has been soaring at the kilter every time the story returns ed plans to film the project -- then boxoffice beyond expectations. It's to them; the contrast with the zesty called THE SILENT FLUTE -- in India. not surprising. For a film that was but straight Clark Kent/Superman This did not come to pass. compromised almost out of existence, scenes is jarring. In 1976, Sandy Howard picked up SUPERMAN is remarkably likeable. the rights to the film, and it was Despite the beliefs of some, I understand that during produc­ shot in Israel in 1977. Avco-Embas- SUPERMAN was not conceived as a rip- tion, Richard Donner, who only direct­ sy bought the distribution rights, off of STAR WARS, and was in fact ed one previous theatrical film, and it was recently released under well along in preproduction when STAR THE OMEN, so irritated the producers the title CIRCLE OF IRON. In Los WARS began. The mammoth cost of SUP­ that they called in Richard Lester Angeles at least, they had virtually ERMAN, reportedly the most expensive to be a sort of back-up director. no press screenings, indicating that 46 (In addition to his Beatles films, he'd handled THE THREE/FOUR MUSKET­ even the slightest hint of a send- the money it's making, and I liked EERS for the Salkinds in beautiful up. He is Superman, a warmer, sexi­ it a lot. fashion.) I've encountered claims, er, more believable Superman than ranging from that Lester directed al­ I thought possible. I've seen the most the entire film to that he was film three times now, the second merely present on the set. As usual, two almost entirely for him. It's the truth probably lies somewhere the best job by a new actor in an between. If Donner directed any American leading role since I don't scenes all on his own, as he certain­ know when. Reeve is in the same GLACIER WORLD ly did, I wouldn't be surprised to league as Robert DeNiro, Al Pacino, I suppose that one of these days, learn if they were the weak scenes Jill Clayburgh -- he's that good. Robert Altman will repeat himself with Luthor and the henchmen. And he's that good in SUPERMAN. His and then the world can safely come only weak scenes are, appropriately, However, the virtues of the film to an end, its purpose fulfilled. when he's affected by Kryptonite. far outweigh the defects. The spec­ He's made MASH, IMAGES, THIEVES LIKE ial effects are largely excellent; The focus of the scene is on Luthor, US, NASHVILLE and A WEDDING, among not on Superman's helplessness, it's a mark of their excellence (and others; none of them resemble each which isn't convincing anyway. also a testament to their limita­ other in any strong way. His films tions) that you soon accept the fly­ Some people resent so much money can be superb, like McCABE AND MRS. ing scenes almost as reality. There being spent on a charac­ MILLER, or pretentious, self-defeat­ are few glaring indications that you ter, but Superman has transcended ing flops like BUFFALO BILL AND THE are watching a sophisticated wedding that over the years. He's not just INDIANS. Now he's made QUINTET. He of many exposures of film. Superman a comic book character, he's the com­ wants very little plot information flies, and that's the reality. It's ic book character. He established released on it, but because of the also the limitation, since although comic books as we know them today, nature of this magazine, I think extremely difficult to depict real­ and is probably the most recognizable I'll reveal some. istically, after a while a man fly­ human figure in the entire world. The cast is international; Paul ing is not very spectacular in and Along with Tarzan and Newman, Vittorio Gassman, Fernando of itself. His climactic pursuit and even more than those two, he's Rey, Bibi Andersson -- they're the of the missile is, however, excel­ one of the most famous fictional char­ leads, each from a different country lent, as are most of the scenes in acters of all time. Michael Fleisher in reality. Altman says this is to that section. has pointed out that comic books con­ give a timelessness and placeless- The script is only okay; it sure stitute the largest body of children's ness to the film, but it seemed to literature in the world. That's true sounds like it was written by sever­ me to be set in the unimaginably dis­ and serious stuff, friends. If a mov­ al different people. Four people tant future. The Earth is freezing ie about Superman should be made are directly credited with it, which over; animals seem to be dying out. (and I think it should), this is the was rewritten by "creative consult­ The end is near. Maybe once tech­ proper scale on which to make it. ant" Tom Mankiewicz, and Norman En­ nology could have held back the I have quarrels with how it was made field, too. I understand other peo­ frigid destruction, but that time, but not that it was. I'd rather ple may also have worked on it. like everything else, is in the have seen it the result of a dedicat­ There aren't any brilliant lines, past. Essex (Newman) returns from ed young director with a personal but it's a solid script in terms of the south, the seals all gone, to vision, like Lucas or Spielberg; dialog; it's the structure that's the huge city he came from; he brings they would have made their fantasy screwed up. with him an innocent, Vivia (Brig­ epics even if they weren't sure of itte Fossey), who is pregnant. In The main virtue of the film, un­ making money. SUPERMAN, on the oth­ the ice-locked city, he looks up usual for a spectacle of any type, er hand, was made by a committee who his brother, and as the family, de­ is in the acting of the leads. I've hoped to make a bundle. Still, there lighted to discover Vivia's pregnan­ liked Margot Kidder for some time; is no guarantee that personal com­ cy, sits down to play the obsessive she has a certain brittle quality mitment to a project makes the result­ game of Quintet, they are all killed which puts some people off but which ing film better. But to quarrel with by a mysterious assassin. All ex­ I find appealing. She's limited in how or why a film was made is futile; cept Essex, who apparently loves life some ways -- I can't imagine her the film exists. We must deal with so much that the thought of anyone playing a society wife or Juliet -- its reality. killing another, especially under but she's just right for Lois Lane. And in that way, as something al­ the conditions the world has come She's all that Lois should be -- ready done and here, SUPERMAN will to, is an abhorrent mystery. So he bright, enthusiastic, egocentric and more than just do. It's an enter­ begins to track down the reasons be­ appealing. Everything, at least, taining adventure, and establishes hind the killing, and discovers more that I always loved about Lois in some new stars. It largely deserves killings as he goes. the comics. And then we come to what was, for me, the biggest surprise and greatest glory of SUPERMAN: Super­ man. Christopher Reeve. He's only been in one other movie (GRAY LADY DCWN), appeared for two years on a soap opera, but has been on the stage since his early teens. (He's about 25 now.) You wouldn't ordinarily think it necessary to have the role of Superman/Clark Kent played by an excellent actor; a strong chin and a good build would seem to suffice. But Reeve goes way beyond that. He's witty and relaxed, yet extremely sympathetic to the role; there's not Which way to the box seats? Most of you are going to hate pelts. The acting comes from deep the first and almost certainly worse. this film. I guarantee it. It's within and is very expressive, work­ What remained to be said on pods? very, very, v-e-r-y slow-paced, and ing with the bulky clothing. New­ But as the production went along, I much of it is so solemn as to get man is especially interesting; his learned that Kevin McCarthy, star laughs where none were intended. character isn't particularly bright, of the first one, had agreed to do The style of the film and Newman's nor is he very determined, or even a cameo role in the new version, and loose, relaxed acting style occasion­ very heroic. He's just puzzled; he that Don Siegel, director of the old ally cause laughs, too. The audience; left the city 10 or 12 years before, one, was to appear in the new one what there was of it, hissed it at and things have changed a lot. The as a taxi driver. This boded well. the end. I cannot recommend the film changes are all evil, and since he Also, I'd liked the other two films to most people; I can understand why doesn't feel the despair-beyond-des- I'd seen by Philip Kaufman, chosen virtually everyone who sees it (and pair that all the characters (except to direct the remake; these were not many will; it's going to bomb) those in the big Quintet tournament) THE GREAT NORTHFIELD MINNESOTA RAID will hate it. What I can't under­ are experiencing, he's driven as and THE WHITE DAWN. I knew little stand is why I liked it. But I did. much by curiosity as anything else. about W.D. Richter, the new scenar­ ist, but my hopes were up. The slow pace didn't bother me The superb photography is by a great deal; I'm only annoyed by a Jean Boffety, and the production Still, I didn't expect what I slow pace when there's nothing much design, unique, complex and convinc­ saw: A film that's better than the going on. QUINTET, on the contrary, ing, was by Leon Ericksen. But the original. It's got a bigger budget, is a fascinating film. Like STAR film is mostly Altman's; it's the so things that could only be implied WARS (and this is the only way it's only original American science fic­ in the first version can be dealt like STAR WARS), it creates a fully- tion film (and it is, it is) that I've with more thoroughly here, The cast realized world totally unlike ours; seen with the richness and density is better. The dialog is better. however, in the case of STAR WARS, of a novel. There's a background be- The effects are more convincing. Un­ that world was the standardized fu­ hind all this; we aren't informed til it slightly falters about 3/4 of ture of space ships, alien worlds, of what it is, because why the world the way through, the film is dynamic etc. QUINTET creates a unique world, got this way is not inportant. What in excitement and tension. I knew a dying iced world in which all is, is that it is this way. The the plot thoroughly, yet I was in thought of hope) except in the mind world has wound~abwn to ice, death, a constant delicious agony of sus­ of Essex) has been so long forgotten the dogs and Quintet. Essex tries pense . that there isn't even any despair to set right his own small section The premise is balderdash. It's any more. The world is winding of the world; against his will, he been said many times that no one down, and that's just the way of is made a player in the larger game ever made a good movie from a bad things. Scavenger dogs roam in --he even wins. But he must win on script. But bad concepts sometimes quiet, well-behaved packs; as soon his own terms. He's a brave man. make good films. The concept here as someone dies, which is frequent­ So is Robert Altman. is silly, doesn't hang together, and ly, they are there to eat the corp­ The film is glacial; it moves as one major question goes unanswered. ses. This is so much a part of the fast as a glacier, and it's as frig­ But it's a great metaphor, and it's world that there's even a statue to id as one. But I've always liked convincing, and the high quality of these dogs. Explosions and myster­ glaciers. Let me close on a note of the film generates that good old ious creaking sounds are heard con- warning: Not one in 25 people will willing suspension of disbelief. tinously; I had the impression that like this film. To like it is no they were the sounds of people being The basic storyline in this ver­ special virtue, to dislike it is not blown up. It's a little like that sion is about the same as in the or­ a failing. But it's very unusual, most distant future visited in the iginal, except that it's set in a a brave and startling attempt at novel THE TIME MACHINE; it's a world city -- not incidentally, San Fran­ something really different by the quietly waiting to end. cisco -- and the characters are man who's always different. It's treated differently. Donald Suth­ There are a few signs of hope, slow, it's ponderous, it's preten­ erland plays Matthew Bennell, work­ though: the pregnancy; the goose tious -- but I liked QUINTET. I lik­ ing for the City Health Dept.; his Essex sees flying north, of all dir­ ed it quite a bit. associate, Elizabeth (Brooke Adams) ections, at the beginning; and at reports that her lover (Art Hindle) the end, there are subtle hints that is just not himself, and Bennell things may be beginning to thaw out. later hears similar claims elsewhere. The script is by Frank Barhydt, Gradually, these two plus two friends, Robert Altman and Patricia Resnick, THE PODS ARE BACK a screwily intense poet (Jeff Gold­ from a story by Altman, Resnick and blum) and his slightly crackpot wife First things first. In my opin­ Lionel Chetwynd. Altman produced (Veronica Cartwright), realize that and directed it, and the film was ion, INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS strange parasitic plants from outer made under extremely arduous condi­ was the best new film of 1978. Pow­ space grow pods which, left near a tions in Montreal. No heated sets erful, haunting, witty, imaginative sleeping person, duplicate that per­ were used for any scene; the foggy -- it's more than just a remake of son in almost every detail including breath the actors emit is real. an old classic, it's a new classic memory -- but not including love, in itself. Don't get me wrong, how­ hate, humanity, all that makes us I was engrossed throughout most ever; I like the old film very much. people and not plants or machines. of the film; it's too long, espec­ No one connected with the first ver­ The story does not conclude the way ially for the pacing; if it had sion has anything to be ashamed of, the old one does, but instead ends been paced that way but been short­ and those are wrong who think that on the bleakest possible note. er, it would have been better. Long­ to make anything less than an invid­ er and faster would have also been ious comparison is to be disloyal The difference between this new okay. to Don Siegel's film. and the old film are very inportant. The old picture suffered from low The actors are all excellent, When the remake was first announc­ budgetitis. The actors, with the really remarkable, especially New­ ed, I wasn't too thrilled. I figur­ exception of McCarthy, were indif­ man, Rey and Gassman. The bulky, ed it wouldn't be any better than ferent and uninteresting. In terms medieval-looking costumes most of of dialog, the script was lackluster them wear seem more like their own 48 with many clunker lines. Because of for the pods. humanity, in our own natures are to the budget, the film had a slightly be encouraged. Or we're next. Inventive use is made of back­ hangdog air to it, which Don Siegel's ground noises throughout the film. extremely efficient and fast-paced The track is Dolby and stereophonic, direction tried successfully to ov­ and the street noises of San Fran­ ercome. The new film has a much cisco, often subtly distorted, pop healthier budget, and so many of the up from different speakers all around flaws of the original were wiped out SHORT NOTICES other kinds of mov­ the theatre. The sounds are almost ies : by money. all naturalistic, but are fitted in­ THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY is a The additional virtues of the to the texture of the film in the pleasant little diversion with Sean Kaufman version are so plentiful most imaginative way. Ben Burtt, Connery and Donald Sutherland (thank­ it's hard to describe them all in who did the bizarre (and Oscar-win- fully away from those pods) as an this space. Richter has carefully ing) sound effects for STAR WARS, elegant Victorian bandit and his co­ designed the characters so that they did the same here. The jazz score hort, out to rob 25,000 pounds in are more vivid, more "real" than in by Denny Zeitlin is unobtrusive and gold from a moving train -- in 1855. the earlier film. For instance, Ver­ excellent. It's a caper film; it's never quite onica Cartwright, in the latest of as clever as director-writer Michael a recent series of superb perform­ To choose San Francisco as a Crichton was hoping, but it's beau­ ances, is a crackpot; when she real­ location for the story was a very tifully produced, well-acted and a izes basically what's going on, she good idea, very much in keeping with lot of fun. the theme. More than any other Amer­ begins enthusiastically ascribing it IN PRAISE OF OLDER WOMEN is an to pollution and Von Daneiken aliens. ican city, Frisco is the last bastion of the eccentric. The street per­ interesting, sexy little film about To allow a hero to be wrong while a rake's progress. There's a great remaining basically right and in formers, the nut cults, the common and everyday weirdos seen everywhere deal of semi-nudity. It begins in character is a luxury few writers Czechoslovakia and ends in Canada; will engage in. The character played in the city, are very much a part of it. For the inhabitants of San the earlier scenes are by far the by Leonard Nimoy is a trendy, pom­ best. pous psychiatrist who's given to Francisco to lose their individual­ mouthing platitudes both before and ity almost literally overnight is a THE BRINK'S JOB, with Peter Falk, after being snatched; he's so much bigger, more obvious tragedy than it Peter Boyle and Warren Oates, is ab­ a surface person that it's almost would be for those of other cities out the famous stickup of 1950, and inpossible to tell when he's been -- simply because there's so much like TRAIN ROBBERY, though reasonab­ snatched. Which is very clever, and more individuality in San Francisco. ly good, never quite rises to the one of the things for which I admire After the sequence in Suther­ level it might have. The cast is both Richter and Nimoy, who's never land's garden, the film's very rapid good, especially Oates at the end, been better. pace slows down somewhat. The leads and it's overall a much better pic­ ture than director William Friedkin's The new film's structure allows are then chased by pod people for the rest of the film. There's only previous two (THE EXORCIST and SOR­ Richter and Kaufman to do two things CERER). missing altogether from the earlier so many things that can be done with film. We are shown the fate of the a chase scene, only so many varia­ THE GLACIER FOX is a moderately bodies of the duplicated people: tions on it. The director seems to interesting animal film from Japan. They become grey fluff, and this is lose interest and the picture be­ The title tells all -- it's a year a constant, subdued feature. With­ comes slightly stretched out. Much in the life of a glacier fox, mostly out anything ever being made of it, of the energy goes away, and I felt well-photographed but edited clumsily. in the backgrounds of many shots, myself physically relaxing, sitting An amazingly insipid narration and garbage trucks loaded with the grey back in the seat, the tight feeling banal songs drag the film down, and fluff can be seen going about their in my chest diminishing. it becomes rather tedious. business. Also, we're given a hint The film is scary. I'm not eas­ In no particular order, the best of what the world will be like when ily scared by movies, but this one films of 1978 that I saw included everyone has become a pod. It's did it to me. The characters are COMING HOME, AUTUMN SONATA, INVAS­ ghastly. real enough that you experience a ION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, DAYS OF Absolutely everything is omin­ sense of genuine loss when they go, HEAVEN, SUPERMAN, AN UNMARRIED WOM­ ous, almost comically so; Kaufman one by one. The idea of sleeping AN, HEAVEN CAN WAIT, WHO'LL STOP THE and Richter acknowledge that the aud­ becomes a source of apprehension. RAIN, WATERSHIP DOWN, PICNIC AT HANG­ ience knows they are there to see a More even than the first one, this ING ROCK, THE LAST WAVE, THE BOYS scary movie right away. The title should have been called SLEEP NO FROM BRAZIL, THE BIG FIX, DEATH ON certainly gives a real hint. We're MORE. THE NILE, MOVIE MOVIE, SAME TIME NEXT way ahead of Sutherland and Adams The message of INVASION OF THE YEAR and THE DEER HUNTER. in figuring out the story, so Kauf­ BODY SNATCHERS is as true today as *********************************** man gets us into territory im­ it was 20 years ago, maybe more, mediately. The camera movement so; that came along in the middle throughout is used for maximum un­ of the 1950s, when the freaky, indiv­ ease. The sense of dislocation this idualism-worshipping 60s were soon gives to the story is tremendously coming up. The pendulum is now swing­ effective. So is the use of a wind­ ing backwards, and we are probably shield cracked by disgruntled res­ heading for an era of repression of taurant employees; Sutherland sees individual differences. Pods are much of the first portion of the all around us, telling us to join film through this distorting window. them, that it's better, more peace­ Virtually every shot has a plant ful, to be a pod. The menace is somewhere in it. Not pods, just real, even if not science fictional. regular plants. This is not emphas­ Both INVASIONS OF THE BODY SNATCHERS ized, but it's still as if philoden­ tell us that the eccentricities, the drons and their brethren are spying 49 OTHER VOICES, OTHER VOICES, OTHER VOICES, OTHER

WCMAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME timeline of showed By LeGuin's protagonist moving against Fawcett Crest, $2.25 Lord Foul's the decadent capitalistic world of Reviewed by George R.R. Martin Bane was Urras, but every other chapter flash­ ed back to earlier years on utopian Marge Piercy's byline is not anarchistic Annares. Piercy sand­ likely to be familiar to science guess, but wiched each of Connie Ramos' trips fiction readers, unless they hap­ to the future between powerful glimp­ pened to pick up a copy of the orig­ Stephen R. g ses of her life in the mental instit­ inal anthology AURORA: BEYOND EQUAL­ Donaldson’s \ utions of present-day America. ITY, a 1976 Fawcett/Gold Medal re­ translation Interestingly, despite using lease that included a chunk of WO­ such similar methods, the two auth­ MAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME. of Beowulf ors got strikingly dissimilar results Those who did sample Piercy's was the The strengths and weaknesses of THE work in AURORA would have discover­ DISPOSSESSED and WOMAN ON THE EDGE OF ed a writer of passion, power, and real howler. 1 TIME are not at all the same. In fact, they are almost polar. skill, and an intriguing imaginary f/MWA society. Hopefully they would have LeGuin succeeded brilliantly in gone on to WOMAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME her depiction of Annares. Perhaps in its full, novel length. Those in comparison to another recent uto­ because it was "ambiguous" -- read, who were deterred by the price of pia, Ursula K. LeGuin's DISPOSSESSED. real -- Annares came alive as no oth­ the hardcover, and those who have The two books are utterly different, er utopia ever has. The Annaresti never heard of WOMAN or its author, yet strangely similar. were people, striving and sweating now have another chance: The Piercy and sometimes failing, complete with novel has been released as a Fawcett The utopian form has always had warts and bad habits and nastiness, Crest paperback. its problems. Chief among them is heirs to all the failings of the hu­ It is not being marketed as sci­ boredom. From St. Thomas More man race. Their society was attrac­ ence fiction, and that decision is through WALDEN TWO, most utopian nov­ tive in many ways, a human kind of not entirely a commercial one in els have been bloody damned boring. society, a place the reader could this particular case. It is a moot While the ideas contained therein believe in, and dream of living in. point whether WOMAN is SF or not. have sometimes been arresting, uto­ pias traditionally suffer from a But LeGuin failed in her alter­ The novel is the story of Connie nate chapters, when she tried to Ramos, a Chicano woman confined to lack of conflict, and conflict is the driving force behind good fic­ sketch in Urras, the contrast. Here a mental institution, where she is her subtlety suddenly deserted her, ultimately used -- unwillingly -- tion. A perfect society, of course, would have none of the conflicts and we got a straw man of a world, as a subject for experimental brain erected solely for the purpose of de­ surgery. But Connie is also a time that fester in less perfect societ­ ies. How then to drive the plot? molition. The straw man was built traveler, and fully half of the nov­ around the skeleton of Earth, and it el is about her visits to the fut­ Where to get the emotional content, the laughter and rage and tears? In­ had neither personality nor presence ure, to the utopian society ofMouth- of its own. The bones kept peeking of-Mattapoisett. tellectual exercises make bad fic­ tion. through, and the parallels were all That plot, of course, gives the too heavy-handed. reader two possible interpretations. Piercy and LeGuin, both writers SF readers will probably decide that of no mean skill, tried to solve In WOMAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME, the the time travel element is real. In this problem in oddly similar ways. situation is neatly reversed. that case; WCMAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME Each included in her book a second The episodes in the barrio and is science fiction, no matter how setting, a bad society to be contrast­ the mental institution crackle with it is marketed. Mainstream readers ed with the good utopia, and each tri­ tension and vitality. Piercy has will probably view Connie's jaunts ed to make tensions and conflict grow done her homework superlatively, and into tomorrow simply as hallucina­ out of that contrast (LeGuin hedged she makes the protagonist's night­ tions, as her visions of a better her bets a little by making her uto­ mare situation come vividly alive. world, symbolically but not literal­ pia somewhat flawed -- hence the sub­ The reader cares passionately about ly true. title, an "ambiguous utopia" -- with Connie Ramos, her fears and her hum­ its own internal problems). Both el­ iliations, her attempts to escape, Myself, I incline to the SF side. ected to tell their tales in alter­ A defect of my upbringing, perhaps. her involvements with the people ar­ nating segments, flashing back and ound her. Even the secondary charac­ But I do think the bulk of the inter­ forth between settings. The main nal evidence in the novel leads us ters in these sections come across to believe that Connie is really vis­ powerfully -- Alice Bluebottom and Sybil the Witch and Skip the homo­ iting the future (or, more correctly, "Our American professors like their a future -- she does glimpse an alt­ sexual, who share Connie's prison, literature clear and cold and pure and the men who have earlier shared ernate track at one point). Besides, and very dead." it is a better and more powerful her life, and Dolly her niece, a book if Connie is not hallucinating. — Sinclair Lewis, Dec. 12, strung-out prostitute -- and even 1938 in Stockholm upon re­ the villains, the doctors, are rec­ All of this is, in a sense, be­ ceipt of the Nobel Prize ognizable, human, individual. side the point. The thematic heart for Literature. of WOMAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME is nei­ When Connie Ramos slips into the ther mainstream novel nor science future, though, something happens. fiction: It is a utopia. As such, In Mattapoisett we are given love it is interesting to view the book 50 and death and sex and even a war. None of it quite works. Here the tension acters the reader can care for, prose that people who don't dig ecstasy are drains away, the narrative meanders that is frequently exact and electric killjoys like the mad scientist? Too and the book drifts into periodic and a strong, suspenseful plotline. little direct information on what the lectures of the sort so often found SF readers who are more interested in scientist is attacking to give much in the classic utopias. Piercy de­ good stories than in labels would do sense of that. So has Effinger done votes a lot of effort to characteriz­ themselves a favor by wandering down anything beyond writing a cute lit­ ation here, but never quite brings it one of those other aisles in the book­ tle skit that's fun to read? Once? store, and picking up a copy of WO­ off. None of the residents of Matta- This is not to say that all fic­ MAN ON THE EDGE OF TIME. poisett take on the depth of the hos­ tion must be Serious, let alone Opt­ pital inmates. They are too inter­ AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA imistic. It's altogether possible changable, too forgettable, too bland to argue that despair is a plausible and nice and wonderful. Nothing reaction to the human condition, and brings this home so strikingly as it may be that life is such a mix­ death. In the asylum, one of the min­ DIRTY TRICKS ture of comedy and tragedy that no or characters is turned into a smil­ By George Alec Effinger consistent viewpoint is possible. ing vegetable, a second is driven to Doubleday, 179 pp., $7.95 Still, Effinger's blend of hilarity suicide. The reader feels both trag­ Reviewed by Joe Sanders and horror, human passions in cart­ edies as a wrench in the guts. In oon pastiches, doesn't seem to point the future, one of the major charac­ Effinger is widely and frequent­ toward much more than a bemused inab­ ters --on whom far more wordage has ility to figure anything out. For been expended than on either of the ly published, talented and acclaimed. The jacket blurb says so. And to exajqple, sometimes characters in poor damned inmates --is killed at different stories have the same names; war, and it is difficult to feel any­ scan the list of his publications and observe that this is his third sometimes, in that case, it is the thing. He was just not real enough, same person, but sometimes they're a problem he shared with his world. collection of short stories in four years, you would think that Effinger different. Everything is question­ Piercy's Mattapoisett is fully must truly have a lot going for him. able, tentative. This all may be as interesting as LeGuin's Annares, part of an effort to shake readers in the realm of ideas. As fiction, Well, so he does. He has, for up: You've got to be alert -- can't though, as a setting in a story, it one thing, a sharp eye for details, take anything at face value. Unfor­ is markedly less successful. It is the bits of action and appearance tunately, this can lead to the feel­ not ambiguous in the least, and that that most people barely notice but ing that the only safe attitude to is precisely the difficulty. People that can bring a character or scene hold is a general amused disdain, a there are all nice. There is no dis­ to life. Effinger writes well, too, so-what attitude. And unfortunately, sent; everyone loves the system and and he can mimic several prose styles Effinger's fiction is one of the haid- seems perfectly happy under it. They effectively, thanks to that same eye iest and easiest things to say "So are at war against another society, for detail. He can use these abil­ what?" to. but the enemy is totally evil; right ities to achieve variety in his wr­ iting; he is able to shift unpredict- A couple of stories in DIRTY is entirely on one side. And so on. TRICKS do more than I've suggested. And so forth. ably from humorous to serious, mat­ ter- of- fact to surreal many times "B.K.A. The Master" shows a slum So Marge Piercy's WOMAN ON THE within the same story. A reader nev­ kid making his choice between ult­ EDGE OF TIME is a flawed book, this er can settle comfortably into an Ef­ imate Good and Evil, and the story is not to be taken to mean that it finger story; the action whips off is gently, damningly convincing that is a failure. Far from it. It shares into ugly brutality or slapstick it was an unfair choice. "Strange with THE DISPOSSESSED the distinction farce without warning. Ragged Saintliness" seems to have of being awesomely ambitious, and if wanted to say something about the All this could be very useful to it does not fulfill all the dreams futility of general social reform a writer who wanted to unsettle his and the need for more love; however, to which it aspires, it still suc­ readers, to make them think -- and ceeds on a much grander scale than it settled for being a plot summary feel -- more profoundly about things of that story. Overall, despite Ef­ most novels I have read recently, they either take for granted or de­ SF or otherwise. Piercy offers us finger's talent and the momentary en­ terminedly ignore. There are hints joyment of reading these stories, some intriguing social speculation, throughout Effinger's work that he an attractive vision worth thinking this collection is unsatisfying. Ef­ has something of the sort in mind. finger probably is more than a Goul­ and arguing about, and -- in the But most of the time, and especially scenes in the mental asylum - - char­ in these pieces, he doesn't accom­ art with pretentions. I'm not sure plish that or much of anything else. though, how iruch more and what more. Each piece starts brightly, plays Until he figures out a way to show around with an idea or a situation, me, I too am left with the feeling -- then stops. "Hie Mothers' March on "So what?" Ecstasy", for example, shows an out­ ***********a************************ break of mob euphoria that apparently leads to the collapse of civiliza­ tion; all this is described by a mad scientist straight out of a 1940s GLORIANA comic book -- literally; Effinger By Michael Moorcock carefully exaggerates the narrator's Fontana Paperbacks, 378 pp., $2.50 stereotyped nuttiness. The story is fun to read. But if you think Reviewed by William Gibson about it for half a second after­ wards, you wonder: So what? Is Ef­ This is easily the year's best finger trying to show that comicbook fantasy. That, as they say, is the mad scientists don't appreciate fun? good news, the bad being that the Pretty trivial. Is he suggesting book may not yet be available in the United States. My copy is a Canadian edition of the British pa­ 51 perback, and I suspect that if an American edition were on the stands, Like Nabokov's ADA and Carlos ed from the service. In his own I would have heard about the book Fuentes' TERRA NOSTRA, GLORIANA re­ words he becomes "a refugee from the before I'd had a chance to read it. sists easy pigeonholing. Like ADA, outcasts of the exiles". But he's As it happens, I can't remenber it's an ; I would no traitor. He's become the unwill­ when I last had as pleasant a lit­ guess that the Legions never left ing pawn of unknown forces who want erary surprise. Britain, and that Rome fell at a from him a secret he doesn't possess. later date. In any case, Christian­ What makes this different from This is Michael Moorcock, the ity seems to have never gotten going Laumer's usual work is how slowly very sane, author of the endless and Gloriana and her court swear by adventures of , and the plot begins to thicken, to yield various pagan deities but seem to some meaning, if you will. Little perhaps more popularly, of that worship none. And like Fuentes, whole raft of Elric-Hawkmoon-Corum by little the conditions ripening to Moorcock has ransacked the totality open rebellion to the Star Lords are books which I have never been able of his nation's culture to meet his revealed, until a spark of under­ to work up much enthusiasm for. own symbolic ends. There's no liter­ standing and a fantastic discovery GLORIANA stands in roughly the same al magic in Gloriana's Albion, but combine to burst into a bright flare relation to the average "adult fan­ madmen from alternate time-tracks of cosmic significance. Laumer tasy" as the novels of John Le Carre have been known to pop in via the writes rough, perhaps even crude do to the imitators of Ian Fleming: roaring constructions of the court prose, but he's beautifully effec­ superior creations that resemble artificer. And Moorcock's charming tive in convincing the reader that their genre counterparts but are and ubiquitous Una-person has a maj­ vastly more entertaining, and which Tarleton is not only a survivor, or role, linking the book to the but that he's sure to succeed on a turn out, in spite of all the fun, author's other fantasies. to have been fairly serious novels. quest that he doesn't even know he And GLORIANA is vastly entertaining, Prior to GLORIANA, I primarily is on. make no mistake. admired Moorcock as the furious pol­ It's still space opera, but, yes, emicist of NEW WORLDS. While I there's social significance too, ev­ Gloriana rules an Albion whose wouldn't have gone so far as to call en though it may be pertinent only enpire includes a continent-wide his highly polished saga-mongering to a single struggling bug trying to Virginia and a good deal of Asia. hack work -- the least of his fan­ avoid being caught underfoot. As the novel opens, her reign is a tasies are too finely wrought for Golden Age, although peace and pros­ that -- I did assume that the Corum ************************************ perity are more often than not main­ and Hawkmoon stories were bread-and- tained by Chancellor Montfallcon's butter propositions, and that he was Machiavellian intrigues. These are such an expert technician that he executed by Captain Quire, a fright­ could virtually write these things eningly complex villain whose char­ with one hand. And, in a way, GLOR­ DYING OF THE LIGHT acterization might owe something to IANA convinces me that I was right. By George R.R. Martin Fritz Leiber's Mouser, but who lacks This novel is a labor of love, and Reviewed by Michael X. Maida the Mouser's easy hedonism. The a triumphant one. Queen is unaware of this night side of her rule, and is tortured by her *** *** ** ************** ***** *** *** *** Here's hoping that George R.R. sense of duty, which requires her Martin continues writing novels for to be both soul and symbol of Albion, a long, long time. His DYING OF and by her own terrible and fruit­ THE LICHT (Pocket Books) is a damned less search for sexual fulfillment. good read. I had neglected to buy THE STAR TREASURE it for several months because it MontfalIcon, one of the few surviv­ By Keith Laumer ors of the hideous reign of King sounded like the type of thing I Berkley, 1971, 176 pp., #23196 don't normally go for: a struggle Hem, Gloriana's father, will stop (Berk Edn, Aug 1976) at nothing to maintain the rule of of a civilized man against members the Queen of Virtue. When Montfal­ Reviewed by Stephen Lewis of a harsh, primitive society from lcon makes the drastic mistake of some back-water planet, with a few insulting Quire's "art" of savage Perhaps it's no longer true, spaceships and decaying cities and covert manipulation, Quire leag­ but several years ago Laumer's re­ thrown in to make it science fic­ ues himself with a hostile Arabia putation as an author was that he tion. There's even a heroine in and sets out to destroy the Enpire. was very fine on first halves and distress and a chase scene with air­ not so fine on finishes. Very in­ cars. Despite all this it remains triguing premises were established a very moving story, for Martin is Most of this takes place within only to be dissipated in a surfeit no simplistic hack. Many times I a single structure, a gargantuan lab­ of outlandish action with Laumer no was sure I knew what would happen yrinth of palaces within palaces, longer in control. next and was wrong, since the auth­ which must rank with the world's or never took the easy way out. strangest dreams of architecture. While this one has been around Reality would always intrude upon The castle of the Gn ans -- GLORIANA for a while, it doesn't fit the pat­ the most romantic situations. is dedicated to Mervyn Peake -- could tern. It's so different of what I be tucked away in a sub-basement think Laumer is capable of doing that The novel is set on the rogue without anyone being the wiser. I thought I must have been thinking planet Worlom, whose lonely course Whole tribes of disgraced nobles of another writer entirely. Ben will soon take it into inter-galac­ haimt the forgotten corridors be­ Tarleton is a career officer in the tic space. Most of the inhabitable hind the walls, at night peculiar Space Navy who accidentally stumbles planets in the galaxy have already scavengers creep out from vents and across some plotters deeply involved been settled, there had been an ent­ grates, and no one is particularly in subversive activities like mutiny ire and a collapse already, and now anxious to learn just how deep the and revolution. He doesn't know things were getting rolling again. foundations run... what's going on, nor does the reader As luck would have it, Worlom had for that matter, but he's quickly recently passed close enough to a And Quire's London, beyond the tarred with the same brush. He es­ star system to sustain life, so the outermost walls, is a superbly grit­ capes, he's captured, he's cashier- planets at the edge of the galaxy ty evocation of the Elizabethan un­ sent in their terra-formers and had derworld. 52 a big party. The action takes place about plans change after he realizes how mans on their world must go. Anoth­ ten years after the festival. Gwen idealized his image of Gwen was and er part of the puzzle is what it is Delvano is on Worlom studying its he starts to see her as she really that some humans have that makes ecology, which is rather unusual is. Dirk also grows from his assoc­ them resistant to the mind-control­ since the world had been seeded with iation with the Kavalaars, Jaan and ling telepathic powers of the myster­ lifeforms from 14 different worlds Garse, as he leams how deep love ious Vesci. and loyalty can be. When Gwen re­ with no thought given to their inter­ As in any good detective story, alizes how much of the Kavalaar eth­ action. Living with her in the fort­ there are plenty of hints to the ics she has assimilated she turns ress city Larteyn, erected by the answer ahead of time. However, it again to Jaan. Jaan is thrown into planet High Kavalaan, are two men, still bothers me inmensely when fic­ great mental turmoil by his rejec­ both Kavalaars. Gwen is beteyn to tional characters like Knave have a tion from his society. His aliena­ Jaantony Riv Wolf high-Ironjade Vik- half-formulated solution floating ar­ tion is so great that it eventually ary (Jaan Vikary to his non-Kava- ound somewhere in the backs of their destroys him. laar friends.) Betheyn is Kavalaar minds for most of a book without for heldwife, a woman bonded to a Hie title is somewhat mislead­ their ever being able to get a grip man who is owned and protected by ing; Worlom is dying from lack of on it. Taking a look at it from the him. She is co-betheyn to Garse light as it drifts further and furth- lazy author's point of view, the Ironjade Janacek, Jaan's teyn or er into the darkness of the inter­ less you put down in print, the less sworn friend and mutual ally. The galactic void. This image of dark­ likely the reader is going to be teyn relationship is the most honor­ ness and death sets the tone of the able to come up with your answer too ed in Kavalaar culture. novel. We see the bright hopes for quickly. The vaguer you are, the At the start of the novel, Dirk the future of Martin's characters easier it is to keep a secret. t'Larien, Gwen's former lover, re­ end in chaos and despair. Finally, Still, while no prize winner, ceives a summons from Gwen in the death claims its inevitable victory the solution is a good one, one worth in the end. form of a whisperjewel, which had hunting this book up and reading ab­ been psychically tuned to their Although there's some heavy stuff out a lot of' boring warfare to get minds. Dirk immediately leaves for here, DYING OF THE LIGHT remains pow­ to. Worlom, expecting to find his Jen­ erful and conpelling reading. Some ************************************ ny ready to rush to his arms upon spots of it, in fact, are real cliff­ his arrival. Instead, he leams of hangers. On top of that it's got her strange relationship with the realistic characterization and an Kavalaars, and is unsure why he excellent depiction of an alien soc­ was called. Arkin Ruark, an ecolo­ IVAN EFREMOV'S THEORY OF SOVIET iety. What more could you ask of a SCIENCE FICTION gist colleague of Gwen's, assures science fiction novel? Or any novel? Dirk that Gwen really wants to be By G.V. Grebens rescued from the Kavalaar's evil ************************************ Ulus, by Candice Kensing clutches and will let him know when NY, Vantage, 1978, 135 pp. $8.50 she is ready. Order from: Vantage Press, 516 West 34th St, New York, NY 10001 Dirk soon makes his rescue, luck­ SBN: 533-03611-2 ily avoiding a duel with a Kavalaar SURVIVOR from another holdfast which would By Laurence Janifer Reviewed by mean certain death for him. A hair- Ace 79111, 1977, 172 pp.+ xvi Ivan Efremov (usually translit­ raising chase ensues. Dirk and Gwen Reviewed by Stephen Lewis are captured but are rescued by erated Yefremov) was probably the best-known Soviet SF author of the the Ironjades, who are the most prog­ A lot of science fiction is pub­ ressive of the Kavalaar factions. 1950s and 1960s. In Russia he was lished with little more than a pray­ the dean of a new generation of SF In the process, Jaan violates the er of being noticed. There's just honor code of the Kavalaar, branding writers, replacing those who still too much of it. If something falls followed Jules Verne as their mod­ him an outlaw to be shot on sight. short of being top notch without be­ Jaan flees with Gwen and Dirk. el. Efremov (born 1907) was train­ ing out-and-out space opera (for ed as a paleontologist and scienti­ The rest of the novel concerns which there's another level of ac­ fic philosopher. He began writing the conflict of these three, both with clamation), chances are that it'll fiction about scientific research the other Kavalaars and with their quietly and quickly disappear with in 1942 and began specializing in own ethical codes. All of the char­ few people ever aware of its very works of and about SF in the 1950s. acters are presented as human beings existence. He died in 1972. Grebens is ident­ with conflicting motivations. Jaan Here's one you might have mis­ ified as a faculty member of a Tex­ is tom between his love for Gwen sed. It's dedicated to Remo and as university, with a PH.D in Soviet and his loyalty to Kavalaar honor Chiun, and to a Mr. Simon Templar, literature, who has "taught Soviet and his teyn. Gwen is both angered which might not mean a great deal to science fiction for a decade". by her treatment as property of the SF fans as a whole, but it will to Kavalaar's yet at the same time is Grebens appears to have research­ most segments of mystery fandom. In ed his work thoroughly. There are attracted by their sense of honor fact, Gerald Knave, occupation: sur­ and commitment. Dirk is initially approximately 100 footnotes in each vivor, is molded in pretty much the of the five chapters, referring both repelled by the Kavalaar's brutal, same image as these other characters, violent behavior but becomes synpa- to Efremov's fiction and to essays and as a result, not unexpectedly, about SF by Efremov and others in thetic to the Ironjades as he begins this is a carefree adventure novel, to understand them. Soviet literary journals and mono­ but with a plus. graphs. (A sample title: A.F. Brit- The development of these chara­ The mystery here is what motiv­ ikov's RUSSKIJ SOVETSKIJ NAUCHNO- cters is one of the novel's strong ates the original inhabitants of FANTASTICHESKIJ ROMAN; Leningrad, points. All their relationships the idyllic colony planet Cub IV, 1970.) Grebens quotes Efremov's are dynamic. Dirk attenpts to free who after fifteen years of cohabita­ own words extensively. Therefore himself from a cynical outlook on tion, suddenly decide that the hu- there seems no reason to doubt that life by reuniting with Gwen and liv­ Efremov is being interpreted accur­ ing happily ever after. But his 53 ately. There are actually two closely- them for their "haphazard imagina­ related theories here. Efremov's tion". theory of biological evolution is The writing styles of both Ef­ that life began in a primitive chaos remov and Grebens are consistent and has been progressing in an ev­ with that of Marxist social philos­ er-tightening spiral toward an in­ ophy. That is, everything is ex­ telligent, egalitarian oneness -- pounded at great length, in the dul­ a Communist social system. This is lest manner imaginable. A sample: consistent with the doctrinaire Marxist view of history, which is 'Efremov writes that continuous that events are caused by vast so­ growth and development of the mind cial forces, not individuals. (The can only be achieved in a social Russian Revolution would have hap­ environment. But the social sphere pened whether Lenin had been pres­ must depend on laws of ent or not; the Fascist interlude natural selection.14 Man can de­ in Germany would have occurred even velop properly when he and his soc­ if Hitler had never been bom. This iety are in control of their dest­ makes the coming triumph of Conuiun- iny, for "a society is such as the ism inevitable, no matter how many development of the moral fiber of reactionaries may drag their heels.) its members, which depends on the MASTODCMA "And Efremov believes that to fore­ new economy".15 This is possible By Clifford D. Simak see all this and represent it in lit­ only under a Communist social sys­ Ballantine/Del Rey, 1978, 233 pp. erature is the task of science fic­ tem. (P. 8)' 1st Edn, ppbk format, Oct., 1978 tion". (P. 12) I am not in favor of encourag­ Reviewed by Stephen Lewis Efremov postulates two perspec­ ing literary pedantry. Nonetheless, tives to SF: the long range and the I do recognize that this study has Simak is the acknowledged master short range. The long range should value in providing to Westerners a of home-town, back-country science depict a utopian Conmunist paradise sample of the Soviet philosophy to­ fiction. This story of time-tunnels with all humanity living in enlight­ ward SF. Since fiction cannot be to the past which are constructed by ened scientific brotherhood. The published in the Soviet Union un­ an alien stranded in the wilds of rural Wisconsin may prove to be one short range should show the present less it can be justified as social­ human qualities which are evolving ly useful, Efremov's rationale has of his best selling novels yet, thanks to the shrewd salesmanship toward this goal, in conflict with more significance than if it were of the Del Reys. Nevertheless, I the degenerating remnants of the merely one author's opinion of the meaningfulness of his work. Univ­ found it too obviously derivative of old order of "individualism, imper­ too much SF already having passed ialism, petit bourgeois competition ersity libraries will probably find this book useful. through the woods this way before. in wealth, and the possession of It succeeds admirably well as enter­ things". (P. 12) # COMMENT BY GEORGE GREBENS tainment, but veteran readers will This theory has several inter­ see plot turnings where there are esting ramifications. Efremov holds September 19, 1978 none, will look for substance where this view of evolution to be a univ­ Simak is waving his hands, and will ersal constant. In his novel COR 'Mr. Patten was kind enough to ask questions where there are no SERPENTIS, Efremov specifically re­ send me a xeroxed copy of the review answers. sent to you. I should like you to pudiates Murray Leinster's "First Academic archaeologist Asa Contact", in which the crew of the make a correction if it is not too late. Steele's casual acceptance of what first human spaceship to meet an he and his dog Bowser find in his alien spaceshi; fears the aliens 'On the second page of Mr. Pat­ back yard is the ultimate in cool. may be warlike monsters. According ten's review he writes "The writing His lady friend Rila's quick instinct to Efremov, any species intelligent styles of both Efremov and Grebens for the commercial possibilities is enough to have space travel will are consistent with that of Marxist nothing short of staggering. Safaris have evolved to a parallel humanoid social philosophy". If Mr. Patten into the Age of Dinosaurs? Sure en­ physique and a Communistic social would have emphasized a bit more the ough. order. The concept of intelligent whole content of the book, he would bloodthirsty BEMs is an unscientif­ have noticed that my style in the There is a surprising amount of ic fairy tale, ("...it is impossib­ Introduction and in Chapter five violence, but there is a happy end­ le to create an animal more compl­ of the book show evidence of Western ing. Simak does a smooth, profes­ ete than man.") (P. 15) Socialist philosophical methodology and style. sional job of story telling. I'd mankind will also develop intelli­ This style is of course apparent have been even more impressed if at gent control of planetary conditions, throughout the book except where I any point I'd felt as though I had thus relegating all plots of world­ deal directly with Efremov's phil­ not read it once or twice before. wide disasters, natural or man-made, osophy. ***************** *************** *Jt** to the literary dustheap. 'I regret that Mr. Patten's re­ Efremov makes a fine distinc­ view did not cover the content of the whole book -- Efremov's other tion between "phantasizing" (cons­ SF novels, as well as my conclusions GORDON R. DICKSON'S BEST tructing realistic predictions bas­ Edited by James Frankel ed upon sound scientific principles) and parallels. This at the same time might indicate to the reason Dell, NY, 1978, $1.75, 236 pp. and "fantasizing" (writing whatever IBSN: 0-440-13181-2 silly stuff comes into your head: why Mr. Patten wrote "I am not in fa­ "mystics, demons, werewolves, cos­ vor of encouraging literary pedan­ Reviewed by Clifford R. McMurray mic gangsters, and frightening mur­ try," since apparently contemporary ders".) (P. 11) As you might philosophical thought both in the Gordon Dickson is one of the guess, he considers most Western SF West and the East begin more and neglected giants of science fiction. writers to be fantasists rather more to resemble each other.' He doesn't have the name recogni­ than phantasists, and he chides 54 tion of Asimov or Heinlein or Brad­ bury with the man on the street, forts to communicate with dolphins, and even in fandom he is known more are both popular and have been fre­ as a convention personality than quently reprinted. They must have as a writer. His shelf boasts only something going for them. "Idiot a single Hugo and Nebula. He de­ Solvant", an exploration of the sub­ serves far more attention than he ject of genius, is of acceptable has received. So if this collection quality. So is "Brother Charlie", of his short fiction lived up to its a tale of humans acting as mediators title, it would be a publishing ev­ in a quarrel between two intelli­ ent. Unfortunately, far from being gent species, although I could see the cream of his work, this book re­ the punchline a mile away. But "Ti­ presents his talent even less than ger Green" is just another tired va­ some other collections which are riant of the story where a member still in print. of a scouting party saves his com­ Before I even saw the book I panions from an alien menace none drew up my own list of what I con­ of them is able to understand, then sidered Dickson's best short stori­ leaves them awestruck by his bril­ es. When I finally got my copy, I liant explanation of how he managed turned first to the table of con­ it. Pardon me while I yawn. tents to compare my judgment with "Of the People" is about the Frankel's. Only two of the sixteen only Dickson story I actively dis­ on my list were included. Of course like. tastes differ, but for the most What each of these stories has part, the stories selected by Frank­ in common with the best ones is el are not standouts. that consummate craftsmanship of a There are exceptions, such as man who earns his daily bread by "" which won a much his pen. Someone, referring to an­ deserved Nebula for best novelette other artist, once called it "the in 1966. The crown prince of the necessary doing for the necessary Terran Empire pays a visit to earth, living". Even average work from now a rustic backwater of human civ­ this man makes you sit up and take ilization. He is escorted about notice. the countryside by a hereditary What else have we? A nice test­ bodyguard, who comes to see that imonial dinner type introduction by the young man has many character flaws. Only one of these flaws is Spider Robinson, a series of mostly unforgiveable, and around this the awful illustrations by Rick Bryant NIGHT SHIFT story revolves. The narrative is (best not to scream too loudly a- By in that easy, unaffected style of bout these, though; Dickson has wag­ Doubleday, $8.95 ed a one-man crusade with the pub­ the bom storyteller that makes Reviewed by Mark Mansell Dickson's stories seem much simpler lishers for many years to get illus­ than they actually are. Silent but trations into sf paperbacks, and The purpose of a horror story is deadly, like a curare-tipped blow­ this is one of his first success­ to attempt to frighten the reader. dart. Cold and clear. It is not es) , and a bibliography of Dickson's To that extent, Stephen King's col­ for nothing that the man's writing novels and short stories. If this lection of horror stories, NIGHT has so frequently been compared to last item were adequate, it would SHIFT, is successful. However, he mountain spring water. alone be worth the price of the uses the fear of the physical, rath­ book for confirmed Dickson fans. er than mental terror, for most of "In the Bone" is about the sur­ But the short stories are only list­ his frights. Rather than Lovecraft's vival of a man stripped of all his ed alphabetically, with no cross­ terrors of cosmic abysses, King's sophisticated technology, swatted reference by date of publication, terrors are those of gruesomeness, down from the sky by an incompre- and several stories are not listed blood and gore. They are quite hensively vast alien power and left at all -- including one in the book! spine-tingling, and the reader will to run naked through the forest of find him or herself avoiding dark a distant world. It is a story So, instead of the fantastic buy places. that has to do, as Dickson says, GORDON R. DICKSON'S SF BEST claims with "the relative importance of to be, the end product is only a The most memorable stories of lukewarm "pretty fair". But not to the made thing and its maker". the volume are the most gruesome. worry. In a few years, when this "Graveyard Shift" is about men "Act of Creation" is one of the collection is forgotten, another cleaning out a rat-infested base­ very few stories Dickson has writ­ one will come along with a similar ment of a mill, only to discover ten with a robot in it, and it is title that is all we could want and a sub-basement forgotten for over far from the typical robot story. more. It will demonstrate Dickson's a hundred years in which live Dickson has always been, as he is range, from humor to deepest trag­ strange mutated rats. "The Mang­ here, an intensely human writer. edy. It will include a story or ier" makes it difficult to tell While this tale may strain the de­ two about man at war, the subject of whether you are shuddering from finition of "best" a bit, it is a much of Dickson's writing, but not fright or from revulsion. It is quietly excellent story, with the so many that the reader will be left about a demon-possessed launderette added attraction of being one of with the false impression that that's steam ironer and folder which dev­ the less widely known Dorsai stor­ all the man can write about. "Black elops a taste for human blood. ies -- from that series by which Charlie" will be there, as will "The "Grey Matter" is the story of a man most readers identify him. Immortal" and "The Man From Earth" who turns into a squamous thing The rest of the lot are only and "An Honorable Death" and "In after drinking polluted beer. average. "Hilifter", about a space Iron Years". And won't that be a "Strawberry Spring" is about a Jack hijacker (a privateer, not a terror­ day. the Ripper-type killer who only ist), and "Dolphin's Way", about ef­ **************** 55 **************** strikes during an Indian Summer- like season, with a not-so-surpris­ This is an interesting book, who could cure Bob. Doc's daughter ing surprise ending. though not for the squeamish. The Jenny, has a boat --an odd kayak Introduction by John D. MacDonald -- and she agrees to help Bob look There are several stories in (author of the Travis McGee Myster­ for the spaceship. So Jenny must the book which work for psychologic­ ies) is interesting, and the author's be let "in". Comes the time when al fright, rather than gore. "I foreword is fascinating and inform­ they need a bigger boat, so Maeta am the Doorway" describes an astro­ ative in what it says about himself must be told too, and the reader naut of the first manned Venus and his views on horror. Most of begins to wonder why the whole pop­ flight who returns to discover ali­ these stories originally appeared ulation of that tiny island doesn't en eyes growing out of his hands. in CAVALIER and PENTHOUSE, so most catch on. But Hunter and Bob have "The Boogeyman" is about a man who of them will probably be new to hor- confused ethics that allow Bob to has three children who fear clos­ or fans who pay more attention to ets, for good reasons. "Sometimes get killed, but which won't permit WHISPERS and WEIRDBOOK. They Come Back" is a very chilling contact with anyone who could real­ tale about a teacher who discovers ************************************ ly help. his childhood tormentors are still OK, like its predecessor, this high school students, and are in novel is juvenile SF, so what's his class. This started out real­ wrong with that? Well, even if an THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE ly great, and it had my own worst adult doesn't care for a juvenile, fear of sadistic gang menbers, but By Hal Clement a kid should enjoy it. Would a it ended with a plop when the teach­ Del Rey/Ballantine, 1978 contemporary kid understand those er summons a demon to get rid of 195 pp., $1.75 references to "Korean troubles", the punks. "I Know What You Need" Reviewed by Dean R. Lambe and talk about the newly-invented is about a boy who can make people SCUBA equipment (which never shows love him through black magic. "Chil­ What does one say about a novel up, despite the cover picture)? dren of the Corn" is a very well that appears to have been written How about the interminable discus­ done tale about a Nebraska town iso­ in the early '50s, yet has a 1978 sions of morality in terms of white lated from the rest of the world by copyright? Not that a contenporary lies vs. black lies, and big lies miles and miles of corn, where the novel with the manners and mores of vs. small ones? And finally, would inhabitants live only to the age of the past is forbidden -- writers in any normal child spend five minutes 19 and worship He Who Walks Behind other genres do that often. But a with a novel that has absolutely the Rows. science fiction story that is dated no romance (sure, Jenny and Maeta There are two stories which by 28 years has all the appeal of are wearing Fifties-style bathing seem to form a mythos (for lack of last week's fish. The juvenile suits, but can Bob be that sick)? a better term). They are "Jerusal­ characters are scarcely electrify­ No, your average nine-year-old em's Lot" and "One for the Road". ing either, for the story seems to would be really tumed-off. be "Ozzie § Harriet's son, Ricky, They are about the same deserted, Ch, and about that title, And­ gets an auto-immune hickey from haunted Maine town which was the rew Whyte (in GALILEO) noted that playing with his friendly symbiotic subject of his book SALEM'S LOT. Harry "Hal Clement" Stubbs wanted Green Blob"! Alone, neither is very memorable, a terse, appropriate title like but together in context with SAL­ If memory serves, the original "Thread" or "Hook". In the hands EM'S LOT, they are quite interest­ NEEDLE --to which this is the "long of the Del Reys, THROUGH THE EYE OF ing. awaited sequel" -- was a good read. A NEEDLE emerged (camels ... what "Night Surf" is a depressing Granted, I was younger than Bobby camels?). Proof -- were more re­ story about the last remnant of Kinnaird when I first read about quired -- that editors who mess with mankind after a plague of the flu. Bobby and his friends on a Pacific a writer's words, like thieves in "Battleground" is about a man who atoll, but that story worked. The Bagdad, should have a hand amputated receives a box of G.I. Joes in the mystery was there: Where is the ************************************ mail which commence to attack him; elusive Quarry for whom the jelly- he doesn't tell why or how. "Trucks" like symbiont Hunter must search, is about a group of people in a search while inside teenager Bobby? truckstop besieged by various trucks Why, nasty Quarry is inside dear- and cars which have mysteriously old-dad, Ozzi ... eh, Arthur, and THE EMPEROR OF THE LAST DAYS come to life (and know Morse Code it's no easy task to get Quarry By Ron Goulart yet!), again without telling why out to do him in. And now it's 7 Popular Lib., 1977, 189 pp.,#03201 or how. "The Lawnmower Man” is years later ... uh, well, it's 28 PL Edn, Apr. 1977 about a man who hires someone to years, but it seems like 7 ... and Reviewed by Stephen Lewis cut his lawn, but who turns out to young Bob has a fresh degree in be a satyr working for Pan. chemical engineering. Unfortunate­ What would you do if, as Chief ly, in 7 (times 4?) years, first- There are several non-supernat­ of the Personal Data Wing of the en­ class-detective Hunter has learned tire United States Fact System, i.e., ural stories. "The Ledge" is about little about human biochemistry, a man who bets his wife's lover guardian flunkey in charge of a per­ and has screwed up Bob's immune sonable, fun-loving computer named his life against crawling safely al­ system. So THROUGH THE EYE is Bob's ong a narrow building ledge. "Quit­ Barney, gained inside-inside inform­ search for a cure for his terminal ation indicating the existence of ters, Inc." tells of the ultimate condition, and -- rather than a trip in diet and smoking-control clinics. an internal conspiracy to overthrow to the Mayo Clinic -- Bob returns the present inane administration "The Last Rung on the Ladder" is a home, back to that isolated island semi-nostalgic look at a brother's (this is the year 2029) and to rule where Doc Seever talks a good bit all of Earth after the domino-like and sister's trust in each other. of medical nonsense, since Doc is In the book's introduction, John D. collapse of all the other governments "in on the secret" of Bob's green of the world? MacDonald calls it "A gem". "The in-habitant. Also, Hunter hopes Man who Loved Flowers" is a short to find Quarry's spaceship, which Create a gang of wild, erratic vignette about love and a psycho­ crashed in the ocean, and use the Mission Impossible agents, that's pathic killer. "The Woman in the ship to contact others of his race what. Bring together a psychic cy­ Room" is a sad tale about euthanasia 56 borg, a hypnotist specializing in machines, and the best damned tele­ clouds, dark and licked with light­ THE BEST OF JACK WILLIAMSON kinetic thief in the world, and the ning, never dripping enough moisture By Jack Williamson Millenarian Brotherhood stands not to settle the dust." A Ballantine/Del Rey Book, $1.95 a chance. This is a great book to FIRESHIP is a first person nar­ Reviewed by Mark Mansell read, or so I found out, while wait­ rative by a being called Ethan Ring: ing for students not to show up to A synthesis of an extremely sophis­ THE BEST OF JACK WILLIAMSON is be advised what courses not to take ticated conputer and an extremely ord­ the latest of Del Rey Books' "Best next semester. Goulart's consistent­ inary human. A wanted man on Earth of ... " series. More than just a ly kinky view of a future that I for thieving the compact electronic collection of Jack Williamson's sincerely hope's not mine still tick­ half of himself, exiled in a Martian best stories, this volume shows Wil­ les me perversely, but I don't real­ pleasure resort: Ring awakes with liamson's development from a talent­ ly think there's a lot here that he a hangover and a fortune in gambling ed beginner to his much-deserved hasn't said before. chips all over the floor. Nothing status as one of SF's Grand Masters. ************************************ goes right from then on. Blackmail­ The stories reflect much about the ed by an attractive corporate spy, different "eras" of SF in which Hana T., into breaking the computer they were written. FIRESHIP net of the solar system's richest The first stories show the in­ By Joan D. Vinge business potentate, Ring (ETHANAC/ fluence of the Gemsback Zines, al­ Yarrow) struggles to curb his gamb­ Dell, 1978, 191 pp., $1.75 though only the first one -- "The ling itch, keep his pants straight, Reviewed by Robert Frazier Metal Man" -- was published by Gems­ and remain witty to the end, which back in AMAZING in 1928. It is al­ in his case seems to be the bitter so Williamson's first published Two comprise FIRESHIP end. Most everything comes easily story, although Williamson has re­ ("Mother and Child", ORBIT 16, '75; for such a talented brain, except "Fireship", ANALOG, Dec., 1978). vised it a bit to eliminate some the bit about surviving: There the of the purple prose of the times. Vinge writes first draft in longhand, readout progresses from worse to These stories creak a bit, but still comfortable only with the longer absurdly bad. forms of fiction (exception: "View hold up surprisingly well. The prose in FIRESHIP is swift, From a Height", ANALOG, June, 1978), The next group of tales are energetic, incredibly concentrated. and this may account for the sparse­ from the Golden Age of Campbell's Example of background description: ness of her output. She certainly ASTOUNDING. These stories all show has no trouble selling to the high "And sitting placidly in the mid­ the touch of Campbell's editorial paying markets. dle of all this potential horror, taste. Science is shown to be "Mother and Child" (100 pp.) con­ behind a perfectly ordinary black good for mankind, but having its cerns a unique woman, the priestess metal desk, was Salad. On the desk own inherent dangers. The best of Etaa. Humanity, thrown backward by was a set of thumbscrews, temporar­ these (also the best in the book) a plague that blinds and deafens, ily in use as paper-weight. I found is the classic "With Folded Hands". clinging to a lone colony world, has myself staring at them with a kind This tale of too helpful robots is broken into two castes. The Neaane of quivering fascination, the way a one of the best things Williamson king, Meron, kidnaps Etaa for a mate: cat might look at a string quartet. (or any other SF writer, for that Her metalsmith husband thought dead, Somewhere in the back of my mind I matter) has ever written and was already impregnated, she struggles could hear Yarrow. Please God, the basis for his best novel, THE with the bondage as a hated mistress please God, get me outa this and I'll HUMANOIDS. If Hugos had been award­ and the fatherless bearing of her never gamble again...I controlled my­ ed then, "With Folded Hands" would child. An anthropologist (from the self with an effort". have won it hands down. Colonial Service, who are aliens I am definitely schizoid in my The advent of F8SF and GALAXY posing as gods to the Neaane while opinion. One says, "If it's that in 1949 added a new dimension to SF actually supressing the regrowth of damned entertaining, who cares about in both form and content. Nearly humanity) kidnaps Etaa from Meron. subtle moods, characterizations, and every SF zine, including ASTOUNDING, The strategy is: Let the Kotaane, that stuff?" The other retorts, "But reflected this change. Science be­ headed by the mysterious Smith, and if she can be that rich and deep a came less of a savior to mankind, the Neaane resolve in war the confl­ craftswoman, why settle for finely more satirical styles could be us­ ict brewing over Etaa's original ab­ tooled jewelry; why not sculpture?" ed, and motivations were explored duction. On the neighboring moon, The argument is familiar. more in depth. Included in this Etaa and the very alien "man" are I look for more works combining section of Williamson's stories is drawn into seeking a solution for "Operation Gravity" about an encoun­ this whole, tampered-with mess by the talent evident in early works like "Tin Soldier" and "Mother and ter with a collapsed star at the their mutual love for each other's edge of the solar system (a theme children. Child" with the maturity evident in "THE OUTCASTS OF HEAVEN BELT and later used by Larry Niven) and "Mother and Child" is constructed FIRESHIP. "" may be "Guinevere for Everybody" which is in three narrative sections, one by an example; I hope to see others. one of the first stories about clon­ Etaa's husband, one by Meron, one ing. by the alien -- all of whom fall in The period of 1954-1969 is by­ love with her. The prose is.smooth, passed completely. This is some­ evenly paced, comfortable to read what of a shame, since I would have and often poetic. liked to see how the New Wave-Old Example of background description: Wave controversy of that time was affecting Williamson's style. How­ "Etaa spent long hours alone in ever, the story "Jamboree" shows a the days that followed, gazing out little of the New Wave influence in across the sighing, broken world its pessimistic tone. The last from the doorway of the shelter or story, "The Highest Dive" (1976) walking the rim of cliffs with her shows a rfetum to the Campbell istic baby at her back. The clouds that style of hard science, which marks filled the sky now were only wind a recent trend in science fiction. None of Williamson's WEIRDTALES the Second Century AD of the Foun­ little digs at organized religion, writings are included, and there is tains of the title, at the time a deliciously succinct, wonderfully only one fantasy, "The Cold Green similarly state-of-the-art engineer­ devastating -- but you can find Eye", which is from a 1953 FANTAS­ ing achievement, with a picture of those yourself. TIC. But since Williamson's great­ 22nd Century life on Clarke's home Then the book ends in a short est work is in science fiction, par­ island of Sri Lanka (Taprobane in burst of far-future extrapolation ticularly "hard" science fiction, the book). The obsessive monomania that will suck the breath from your this can be excused. of Kalidasa, the Second Century lungs. king, makes a perfect counterpoint To ice the cake, there is an to the heated discussions and poli­ I am sure, though this is but informative foreword by Frederick tical maneuvering surrounding the the first major book of 1979, that Pohl about Jack Williamson and his intitial vision of the Tower. Just it will gather awards to itself with work, and an Afterword by William­ as the Tower begins to move from no contest (I am very glad that it's son himself about the stories cho­ the talking stage, Clarke symbolic­ coming out in January -- Tiptree's sen for the volume. As a topper, ally joins the two halves of his novel still has a chance). But, as Ralph McQuarrie has done a delight­ story with the arrival on-stage of good as THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE ful cover illustration showing one a three thousand year old Buddhist is, the immense and panoramic poten­ of Williamson's humanoids carrying monastery esconced squarely on top tial novel that lies between the a bag of groceries down a true-to- of the only suitable peak that the lines of this slim volume remains life scene of Los Angeles' Redondo Tower can be tethered to. At this stillborn. Boulevard. This volume is recom­ point I settled back for a good, mended for anyone who likes William­ satisfying read. I can't imagine a An ironic footnote: son's work, and as an introduction more Clarkian adversary for the to those who've never read him. Clarke states (twice) that the Tower's chief engineer than a Bud­ ************************ ************ Tower is an idea whose time has dhist monk with a desk terminal. come, and backs it up with several Unfortunately, at this point the references to existing treatises story undergoes a drastic shift in on the subject in scientific jour­ focus. Clarke arbitrarily disposes nals. Freeman Dyson has said: "For of the monks, the monastery, and THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE any speculation which does not at the conflict. After an interlude first glance look crazy, there is By Arthur C. Clarke consisting mostly of engineering, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich no hope". Clarke's Tower is not on­ tension is reinstated with that hoar­ ly one of the craziest ideas I've Probable Price: $10.00 iest of TV adventure cliches -- the Probable Pub. Date: Jan. 29, 1979 heard in a long time, but he proves, accident that strands a group part to my satisfaction, that it is not Reviewed by Steve Brown way up the Tower, and the one man only inevitable, given the will and who can save them. The accident is the development of some necessary Dawn. A rich tropical jungle exciting, and the rescue attenpt is new materials (he uses an extruded washes part way up the side of a gripping and masterfully told, but carbon fiber, which gives his con­ mountain. As the eye follows the what a work of fiction could have struction the lovely nick-name of crags up to the peak...there is no been created if the promise of the the "Bi11ion-Ton Diamond"), but peak. The top of the mountain ex­ beginning had been allowed to mat­ necessary. A lot of reputable think­ tends upward in a smooth column that ure. ers are seriously considering the vanishes at zenith. Suddenly, at But that is my only major com­ idea right now. the top of the column, in the mid­ plaint. Clarke's prose hasn't been dle of the sky, a streak of light So perhaps it is inevitable this good in years, effortless, that someone else would soon try to appears moving swiftly downward. stripped to the bone, and clear as As it approaches the mountain, the fictionalize it. , mylar. Gone is the monotonous ted­ almost finished with his second nov­ light resolves into a powerful head­ ium of IMPERIAL EARTH, gone is the light on a vertically plunging train el, (due from Ace next year), the ''gosh-Joe-look-at-that!'' comic-book one that should be his break-through Arthur C. Clarke, in this, what marvelling of . book, is writing the same idea, but In its place is a mature apprecia­ he has said is to be his last nov­ from a much different angle. This el, has fictionalized one of the tion of a wonder that relegates Rama is one of those literary coincidenc­ grandest and most poetic artificial to the status of a toy. The Tower es that can wreak havoc with car­ creations in science fiction: a is much more impressive than Rama, eers. The Tower is a grand enough (or Niven's Ringworld, for that mat­ direct link from the surface of the idea, and as inevitable as the steam ter) because it seems so real, some­ earth to a geosynchronous satellite engine, for a whole shelf of books, 40,000 kilometers overhead. A ver­ thing that could, and should, actu­ and I hope that Sheffield's novel tical subway travels up and down ally be done. Clarke grows his con­ will be received on its own merits. the sides of the column, hauling cepts in the most austere of techni­ Unfortunately, I fear that a cer­ cally speculative soil, and strikes people and equipment into orbit at tain element of the reading public directly to the awestricken teenag­ a cost of twenty dollars a ton. will look upon Sheffield's book, and er that lies just beneath the sur­ his subsequent work, through a haze THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE is face of us all. His total control of scepticism. the story of the genesis, construc­ of his material illuminates every tion, and ultimate fate of what corner of the landscape, in deft ************************************ Clarke rather prosaicly terms eith­ little brushstrokes. er the Orbital Tower, or the . The novel is a conceptual I particularly liked the indig­ cornucopia containing scene after nant protests of the "industrial scene of real beauty (the slow as­ archeologists" over the proposed SIGHT OF PROTEUS cent through an ultimate auroral dismantling of the outmoded Antarc­ By Charles Sheffield display begs for paint, canvas and tic Pipeline, and the brief appear­ Ace, Sept. 1978, $1.75 the hands of a master). ance of the reactor-driven Graf Zep­ Reviewed by Steve Brown pelin II, complete with swimming The first third of the story pool -- not to mention the powerful is told in alternating sections Back in the fermenting sixties, that contrast the construction in 58 when everyone was writing inconpre- hensible word patterns and stories ligence is just one of many reasons even more remarkably, he comes equip­ exploring variations of angst, Lar­ to enjoy life. I, for one, would ped with a few answers as well. The ry Niven earned his reputation with rather run through the woods or bask intelligent amphibians living in cur­ little competition. Now the pendul­ on a beach than be Einstein and ious isolation on the planet are al­ um is swinging in all directions at have the rest of life denied to me. so part of the ecological jigsaw once, and there are a small crop of pieces not yet fully assembled. One Another important failure, on new writers creating fiction from working definition of politics is explorations of technology. John a mechanical level, was the avoid­ that it's the art of achieving the Varley is certainly the stand-out ance of showing an actual, on-stage attainable. Here the slickly maneuv­ example. form-change. Sheffield states ered result is an upbeat ending for that the change is purposive, inply­ Now we have a new one. Charles the inhabitants of a world about to ing an aware volition during the decay into ashes. Sheffield's first novel has the process, but we never see or feel problems and inconsistencies of all it. In what was the central plot­ ************************************ first novels (including that of Var­ pivot, a radical and strange form- ley Himself), but he has given us change, it all happens between chap­ a breathtakingly rich societal tap­ ters. We don't see the person fear ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE FICTION estry based on a myriad of brand- the changes happening to him, or new speculations. Consultant Editor - Robert Holdstocl feel their gradual effect, nor do 8 3/4 x 12", $16.95 (U.S.) HC, 1978 SIGHT OF PROTEUS concerns Bey we see him shortly thereafter strug­ Octopus Books, 59 Grosvenor Street Wolf (a clumsy nod to Niven), head gling to cope with a tripled IQ, London Wl, United Kingdom of the Office of Form-Control --an which must be disorienting, to say Foreword by Isaac Asimov organization that supplies those the least. Articles by: Robert Holdstock, who can afford it with the ability There are many other, lesser, Brian Stableford, Douglas Hill, to willfully change their bodies in­ cavils, but the book deserves to Michael Ashley, Alan Frank, to any reasonable variation. The be read for its vast and detailed Chris Morgan, Patrick Moore, old shapeshifting idea given a rig­ scope with more great new marvels Christopher Priest, Malcolm Ed­ orous modern treatment. As we fol­ per page than anyone since the hey­ wards, Harry Harrison. low Wolf in his search for the an­ day of Alfred Bester. Reviewed by James J.J. Wilson swers to his questions, we move through a highly realized society. Sheffield will soon mature as Sheffield doesn't just produce an a writer, and begin to populate his This 8 3/4" x 12" book is Brit­ idea, he places it carefully in a canvases with real people and gen­ ish Fandom's answer to the rash of logical milieu, and makes us believe uine problems. When that happens, expensive coffee table SF books ov­ that an entire civilization has everyone will wake up and look ab­ er the past few years. It is very grown around the concept. Every out them in amazement, wondering similar to David Kyle's books, A page has a new marvel to equal the where he came from. In the mean­ PICTORIAL HISTORY OF SCIENCE FIC­ treatment of a Hogan, culminating time, the apprenticeship Sheffield TION and SCIENCE FICTION IDEAS AND (for me) with the Pearl, surely one shows in this novel (and in the doz­ DREAMS (Hamlyn, 1975 6 1977 respec­ of the loveliest natural artifacts en or so short stories scattered ar­ tively) . in SF. ound) is worthy of the career-peak of most of the other toilers in the If you're looking for an in­ Unfortunately, at this stage vineyards. depth study of SF in this format Sheffield is too entranced with his ************************************ you would be far better off to con­ bag of wonders, and both plot and sult the Kyle books or James Gunn's character suffer. Oddly enough, ALTERNATE WORLDS, but if it's SF the most vivid people in the book art you're interested in, this is are either mostly off-stage (Dol­ one of the two best general books metsch) or are spear-carriers. Shef­ WILDEBLOOD'S EMPIRE I've seen. The other is Ian Wat­ field can adequately sketch a person By Brian M. Stableford son's TOMORROW AND BEYOND, which in a paragraph or two, but when Daw, 1977, 192 pp., #263/UW1331 is also a must. they begin to interact at any leng­ First printing, Oct. 1977 th, they flatten into an anonymous The articles, although general­ sameness. Plot also suffers, as Reviewed by Stephen Lewis ly competent, are very vague and Sheffield makes the mistake of build­ serve only to show the British view­ ing his story with the same vast The mission of the Daedalus is point on fandom. The art, on the cleverness with which he builds his to re-establish contact with Earth's other hand, is virtually unsurpass­ settings -- the book is plotted to lost colonies and to offer what lim­ ed. There are many reproductions death, with a bewildering number of ited assistance one ship can bring. from American SF magazines, but most mysteries to keep track of, and a On this, their third landing, it of the art is by many British paint­ climax that is so clever that it is appears that for the first time the ers whose magnificent craftsmanship merely implied. It took me two read­ problems of surviving on a new world is virtually unavailable in the U.S. ings to figure out what happened. have been solved. It takes only a As for the reproduction, this book few days for questions to arise. How was superbly printed in Italy, and There is a scene midway through long should they allow a despotic of the 189 pages in the main sec­ the book that seems to illustrate rule to keep its power by benevolent­ tion of the book, only one does not Sheffield's central theme. A char­ ly drugging its citizenry? An under­ display a full-color illustration. acter has been changed to a form ground revolution is brewing, and that requires a life-support system, the crew of the Daedalus is about to This book is not recommended and also triples his IQ. When he be caught in the middle. There is for anyone in search of an SF ref­ is given the choice of reverting to one hope, and that is to successful­ erence book, but is highly recommend­ human, and enjoying the infinite ly decipher the coded message left ed for admirers of SF art because of range of human experience, or re­ to the colony by someone in its past. the high-quality reproduction and maining as he is and spending the the inclusion of many wonderful pieces Stableford continues to ask a rest of his life in a tank thinking, which most Americans would not other­ lot of interesting questions, but he unhesitatingly chose the latter. wise get the chance to see. I lost belief at that point. Intel­ 59 ************************************ AN INTERVIEW WITH NORMAN SPINRAD By Charles Platt

bullshit macho wheeler-dealer schem­ ing to manipulate his world? #### Certainly he lives more modestly than his fictional characters. His apartment is a "railroad flat", a string of four tiny inter­ connecting rooms on the fourth floor of an old walk-up apartment build­ ing in the West Village. It is the kind of 1880s house that was once full of poor immigrant families, before the Village became fashion­ able. Spinrad's apartment has been partially renovated by some previ­ ous tenant (a shower installed, a loft-bed built). He took it over three years ago; there are few signs of his having made it his own since then. The furniture is sinple and basic: yellow plastic chairs in the kitchen; a rather grubby pillow­ couch in the living room; discount- store bookshelves. I have the im­ pression that he lives there as he would live in a hotel room, and as "Whenever he comes up here he and condemring him, as an influence, looks as if he wants to bite some­ as a writer and as a person. we begin to talk it becomes clear that, indeed, he has always tended one." That's how an editor I know Other miscellaneous incidents not to conuiit himself inextricably described Norman Spinrad, after a followed (such as Spinrad's telling to any one place --or any one field. visit in which Spinrad ordered his science fiction fan, Bruce Peltz, name larger on the cover of a forth­ that he was a "fat fascist prick" "I'm from original­ coming book. at the Los Angeles science fiction ly. I grew up part of the time in Certainly Spinrad has built a convention that Peltz had helped to the real hard-core Bronx, and part reputation for being "difficult". organize). To some people Spinrad of the time in a backwoods section His first major novel, BUG JACK BAR­ seemed to be contemptuous of the of the Bronx, a countrified part. RON, was abrasively radical, chal­ science fiction world. Certainly I lived other places as well; I do lenging the science fiction estab­ it was a radical stance, coinciding not want to have to go down the whole lishment at a time when the so-cal­ with the anti-establishment mood long list." led new wave had already roused ang­ of the late 1960s generally. His curriculum at City College er and suspicion. Editor Donald Most radicals of that decade was just as varied --or indecisive. Wollheim called the book "depraved, have long since sold out or subsided. "I took courses in short-story writ­ cynical, utterly repulsive, and Norman Spinrad himself did go through ing, constitutional law, Japanese thoroughly degenerate". Serialized a period of reduced visibility; his civilization, oriental art. I got in NEW WORLDS, the novel's explicit last new science fiction novel was out with a pre-law major by lumping sex scenes and crude language caused piiilished back in 1972. But 1979 everything together and getting ac­ the magazine to be banned in Austral­ will see two new novels from him cepted by some law schools, though I ia and South Africa. Published in and one of them, A WORLD BETWEEN, never went to any of them. I went the U.S.A, by Avon Books, it offend­ (due from Jove in April), is science straight into writing short stories, ed some people and antagonized hard­ fiction at least as controversial which I started selling after about core science fiction fans who saw as BUG JACK BARREN. Spinrad's vac­ a year. Ip themeartime I worked it as an attack on the values of ation from the field is over, and in a sandal shop, a carpentry shop their literature -- as, in a sense, there is every indication that he and at the Scott Meredith Literary it was. is just as ready to bite someone now Agency." Spinrad went further with "Fia- as he ever was. A colleague at the agency sold wol", a notorious magazine article Spinrad's portion-and-outline of which (as he now describes it) "De­ The obvious question is, why? his first novel, THE SOLARIANS. "I fined as a Does he relish conflict for its own was collecting unemployment insur­ warped that was fucking sake? Or does he harbor sincere ance, writing the novel under con­ up the publishing of science fictiorf'. dissatisfactions with the status- tract and being paid under the tab­ This diatribe offended amateurs and quo? Either way, is he, like the le, so I saved enough to travel. I'd professionals alike, to the extent heroes of his novels, really the no- always wanted to see California so that one magazine editor spent an I loaded all my shit into my car entire editorial attacking Spinrad 60 and drove out there. I found my­ self an apartment in Culver City, a BETWEEN and THE MIND GAME. The lat­ Spirrad's Femocrats are caricatures pismire-dull place. Lived there for ter book is not science fiction. typifying the most extreme male half a year, then San Francisco, "It deals with my own made-up cult fears of feminism. They are lesbians, then back in L.A. because I liked it and takes aspects of Scientology they are unattractive, they spout better." and est and Synanon. I think my dogma, and of course many of them cult is better than their cults. secretly crave to be fucked. Their He wrote pieces of film criti­ The book is about a guy whose wife leader soon forgets her ideological cism. He wrote THE MEN IN TOE JUNG­ gets sucked into one of these things, hatred of all men when she spends LE and AGENT OF CHAOS. He was of­ and his subsequent odyssey through some time alone with an arrogant, fered a lucrative scriptwriting as­ it trying to find her and get her hulking male cop. Just the sight of signment on STAR TREK. And he wrote out. He had to be processed in ord­ his "long, throbbing piercer" (the BUG JACK BARRON, which drew on the er to get into the cult, to find book uses an odd amalgam of science interest he had already developed her; so they're playing games with fictional sex terms and 1950s euph­ in the movie/TV scene. However, him and he's playing games with emisms) is enough to rouse deep, "The visual stuff I'm interested in them." instinctual desires in her, making is secondary to novels, and always her want to ... suck it. has been. You go too crazy chasing A WORLD BETWEEN, on the other after screenplay deals. It drives hand, is set on an alien world that I asked Spinrad if he would ag­ you nuts". has been colonized by Earth people ree to being biased against feminism and made into a Californian-style, "Only to the extent that feminism Still based in Los Angeles, Spin­ media-conscious utopia, featuring a becomes an 'ism'. I distrust all id­ rad wrote numerous articles on con­ Jeffersonian democratic system and eology, any 'ism'. When any move­ temporary social and political themes almost total equality of the sexes. ment becomes an ideological mind­ for KNIGHT men's magazine; he con­ The idyllic status-quo is threaten­ set it becomes just another form of tributed regularly to the LOS ANGEL­ ed, however, first by a deputation fascism. Any philosophy that be­ ES FREE PRESS; and he followed BUG of "Transcendental Scientists" and comes a prescription for-the way the JACK BARRON with THE CHILDREN OF then by a faction of "Femocrats". world should be ... that's a fascist HAMLIN, a novel that was serialized Both are extremist groups attempt­ trip and I don't like any of them, in the FREE PRESS but has never been ing to impose their philosophies on including feminism. published anywhere else. "It's all all colonized worlds in the galaxy. about the East Village and drug deal­ The Scientists appeal to what Spin­ "Men and women both have their ing, and a literary agency that op­ rad sees as male traits, abstract techniques for getting their own erated in a certain manner", he says. dreams of power, ambition, discovery way. Where I particularly object The Scott Meredith agency? "I re­ and destiny. The movement is auto­ to feminists is their attempt to fuse to answer that question on cratic and subtly male-supremacist. get rid of this dialectic. There grounds that it might tend to incar­ The Femocrats, conversely, are ult­ are psycholpogical differences be­ cerate me". The novel has been re­ ra-radical feminists aiming to fo­ tween men and women; trying to create jected by all the major New York pub­ ment revolution, instate a matri­ a unisex 'personhood' will not work, lishers; it was bought by MacDonald, archy, and use men for breeding pur­ for psychological reasons if not in Britain, but they subsequently poses only. for physical or biochemical reasons. decided not to print it, even though We're different -- and, that's not they had paid Spinrad for it. "I A three-way battle ensues be­ bad. don't know why it never made it in­ tween the male-supremacists, femin­ "We're in a period where all to print as a book anywhere, though ists, and the moderate utopian gov­ the old values aren't valid any more, I have a lot of paranoid theories. ernment. The democratic freedoms and nothing that really works has Maybe there are political reasons of speech allowed by the government coalesced to replace them. That's or people afraid of being sued by are taken advantage of by the ex­ part of the thing with feminism now: the Literary agency, I don't know. tremists, and the battle of ideolo­ they're trying to find something I've thought of self-publishing it, gies is mainly fought via political that works, but actually it doesn't which I might end up doing. The TV commercials, which Spinrad des­ seem to work for them very well. I theme of the book is the correspond­ cribes almost in script form, at think most women who are really into ence between dope-dealing, gurus, some length. it are not all that happy." cults, and the way that the busin­ The book does not pretend to be ess world operates. It's set in "objective"; there is no doubt that And is there an overall message of the book? 1965, so there's stuff about the it would offend a Gloria Steinem birth of the counter-culture, as far more than an Archie Bunker, and "Part of what it's about is the well. In the end the hero throws it all up and goes to work for a pomo publisher in California". His next novel was THE IRON DREAM ( written as if by Adolf Hitler, recently reissued by Jove). And then came the ill-fated PASSING THROUGH THE FLAME, a Holly­ wood novel that reaped poor reviews and was the cause of a violent dis­ pute with Putnam/Berkley who, Spin­ rad felt, almost went out of their way not to sell the book. The dis­ pute was so acrimonious that Spinrad is sure he'll never again be publish­ ed by Berkley, whether he wants to be or not --at least, so long as Walter Minton is running things there Finally, the two novels that are forthcoming from Jove: A WORLD paradox that faces all democratic dom and gotten sucked into that pock­ for other books, including: "A book systems when confronted by totali­ et universe and had their subsequent about Cortez's conquest of Mexico, tarian systems trying to subvert work judged by fannish standards. written from a modem sensibility, them: How do you preserve your lib­ They think of science fiction as and not entirely realistic. Some­ erties while fending off a system their own genre, and it isn't, it's thing on the order of GRAVITY'S RAIN­ that isn't playing by your rules? a field of literature. I don't BOW in a funny kind of way. And an­ How do you destroy the enemies of think science fiction fans as a other vague plan that I have is to democracy without losing what it is group are competent to control the do a kind of Arabian Nights novel." you're fighting for?" evolution of a field of literature. That's a ridiculous notion. It's as Behind this work, I sense a re­ I point out that the book shares if all the rock groupies got togeth­ newed ambition. Certainly Norman interests and themes with other nov­ er to decide the future of rock mu­ Spinrad is producing more fiction els that Spinrad has written. There sic." now than during the middle years of seems to be a recurring obsession the 1970s, selling it for much larg­ with power-games, cults, scheming, This attitude was relevant in er advances, and planning his writ­ ambition, fascism. Spinrad's running for office in the ing career. He maintains a close Science Fiction Writers of America concern with the publishing process: "Well, I believe there are only (he was Vice-President for two the sales of his work, the reviews four things, basically, that you years). "The organization was real­ it receives, the inpact he is mak­ can write about," he replies. "Sex, ly fucked up -- it was being run in ing, and yes, the size of his name love, power and money. To that you an amateur fashion and there was ex­ on the covers. A WORLD BETWEEN seems can add transcendence -- higher cons­ cessive fannish influence. It was to have been written with talk-show ciousness, psychology. That's all a question of either resigning, like appearances in mind (he agrees he'd there is." other people who were resigning, or enjoy debating someone like Joanna Certainly his male characters trying to do something about it. Russ), and he tries to ferret out seem to be motivated only by this Actually, I think despite its shit- the hard figures involved in book assortment of basic qualities. Their headedness, despite squabbling about promotion and publicity --an area dreams are bold; their style is macho. membership requirements and Nebulas, that many authors feel they have And yet they all have another level it's done an awful lot. The SFWA neither the stomach nor the time to too --an almost self-conscious, got a quarter-million dollars out investigate. apologetic gentleness, as if Spin­ To this extent, perhaps, it is rad, though attracted by the idea of fair to portray Norman Spinrad as ruthless men of power seducing the a would-be media-manipulator. Cer­ inevitable glamorous women, isn't tainly he is at his meanest and ang­ happy to present the type in its pur­ riest when he feels the media have est form. manipulated him, as in the Putnam/ Is this a reflection of his own -5'*^ rwcjF nows Mue 6arnM Berkley mishandling of PASSING THROUGH personality? Are his heroes model­ io bour THE FLAME. It comes down to a ques­ led on himself in any way? "Only eoofi/WCH. " tion of who is going to push who ar­ insofar as I identify with all my ound. If Spinrad suspects he may be characters, because I write from var­ of Ace Books, it got Tolkien the the one who gets pushed, whether by ious viewpoints. I don't think any money he was entitled to ... when it a careless art director, an unen­ of my characters are me, but on the has functioned as a quasi-union it lightened editor, or a convention other hand nothing in any of them has worked well, and when it has organizer who wakes him unnecessari­ comes from anywhere else. The major functioned like an amateur jack-off ly early in the morning -- the not­ characters are never based on people society it's worked ... like an ama- orious ire and abuse are at once I know. They're theoretical. Yes, teur jack-off society." drawn forth. At other times, when I have been obsessed with powerful Spinrad is now, once again, in- he feels fairly treated, he can be and charismatic figures, and how volved with the SFWA, this time as more than reasonable. love and sex fits in with this. But its East Coast Publicity Director. The power fantasies of his nov­ only because, as I say, I don't see But his main preoccupation these days els do not translate accurately into much else to write about, outside is his work. He has started on an­ his own life. I ask about his priv­ of the sex-love-power-money-trans- other science fiction novel, whose ate ambitions; he says "I have a cendence framework". outline was recently bought by Pock­ dream about making movies over which et Books. "It's called SONGS FROM I feel he isn't happy with my I have conplete creative control, as THE STARS, and it's a post-catas­ both producer and director, or writ­ question, in that it demands self­ trophe novel of a kind, postulating analysis of a kind that he is reluc­ er and director -- you have to occupy a world in which science is divided at least two of the major positions tant to indulge in -- in an inter­ into black and white sciences, and view, anyway. I ask instead about to have any assurance that things there are remnants of the O'Neill are going to be done your way." To his love-hate relationship with sci­ space people __ instead of the us­ ence fiction fandom. This question me this sounds more like a fantasy ual sword-and-sorcery set-up of sci- about freedom from interference -- puts him inwediately back on easy ence-versus-magic, here, because territory; he launches into what freedom from getting screwed -- than the world has been destroyed by the a fantasy about power. is obviously a familiar polemic. evils of certain kinds of sciences, "I think fans are okay in their those are the sciences, especially And: "I also have a fantasy place, which is to be fans -- go to physics, atomic physics in particu­ lifestyle of being able to hold onto conventions, read the stuff and pro­ lar -- the people who practice those a house in L.A. and my apartment duce amateur publications. I don't sciences are regarded as sorcerers. here and bouncing back and forth in like it when it goes beyond this -- It's taboo to make artificial mole­ airplanes as much as possible. I when science fiction fans influence cules, to use power other than nat­ like fluidity. I like mobility. professional publishing. So many of ural power derived from sun, wind, One main reason for being a writer the editors and writers started as water and human muscle, and so on." is not having to be in any particu­ fans and still think of themselves lar place when someone tells you to.” secretly as fans. Writers who didn't Beyond this novel, he has ideas Again: Freedom from interference. start as fans have discovered fan­ 62 ************************************ ALIEN THOUGHTS CONT. FROM P. 30 Where They Live

2-7-79 This may be the last entry this THE CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS ISSUE STEPHEN LEWIS issue. Yesterday the 'New Directions' OF SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW 62 Chestnut Road issue of FANTASTIC arrived with a new Newington, CT 06111 look I approve of. STEVE BROWN The cover has a "hand-made" logo MICHAEL MAIDA ((Not available at this 505 Cypress Point Dr., #35 now, and reads FANTASTIC Science Fiction. time.)) Price is $1.50. Quarterly schedule. Mountain View, CA 94040 ORSON SCOTT CARD MARK MANSELL Inside is a revamped two-page contents 117 "J" St. page, very visual. The cover, by the way, 15120 Ragus St. Salt Lake City, UT 84103 is blah, but it probably will grab a few La Puente, CA 91744 eyes. MARK COFTA TAD MARKHAM The new policy at FANTASTIC and AMAZ­ Box 101 Schoelkopf Hall 2919 NE 13th Dr. ING is to reprint stories from the past SUNY at Buffalo, Gainesville, FL 32601 and buy one or two new stories per issue. Buffalo, NY 14214 GEORGE R.R. MARTIN Paymment is 14 per work on publication. STEPHEN FABIAN 2266 Jackson Editorial address is: Box 642, Scottsdale, Dubuque, IA 52001 AZ 85252. 4 Sussex Road The new editor,listed as Omar Gohagen, Wayne, NJ 07470 PAUL MCGUIRE is a fiction,! suspect. I think Associate ROBERT FRAZIER 214 Rosalia St. Oshkosh, WI 54901 Publisher Alan P. Bernhard is the real Box 491 editor. Nantucket, MA 02554 CLIFFORD R. MCMURRAY The new look involves lots of large ((Not available at this black and white illustrations by Elinor WILLIAM GIBSON time.)) and Scott Mavor. Most are quite good. 3180 W. 3rd Av. CLIFF MOSER The text is printed in larger type Vancouver, B.C. 181 Fourth Av., #1 and in a single column, like a book page. V6K 1N3 Canada Salt Lake City, UT 84103 The magazine now has heavy impact, MICHAEL GILBERT LARRY NIVEN 203 Gatzmere a strong plus. 3961 Vanalden Av. Gone are all the features: reviews, Jamesburg, NJ 08831 Tarzana, CA 91356 editorials, letters. We'll see how these changes fly. WADE GILBREATH FRED PATTEN The required statement of ownership and 4206 Balboa Av. 11863 West Jefferson Blvd. circulation printed in this issue shows Pinson, AL 35126 Culver City, CA 90230 65,000 copies printed (most recent issue ALEXIS GILLILAND CHARLES PLATT to filing date of Oct. 1, 1978), and total 4030 8th St. South, POB 556, Old Chelsea Sta. sales of 18,370. This is a slight improve­ Arlington, VA 22204 New York, NY 10011 ment for the year, on average. The figures next year at this time KEN HAHN L. CRAIG RICKMAN should be interesting. R.D. 5 R.R. #2 I suppose SFWA will again be up in Auburn, NY 13021 West Paducah, KY 42086 arms over the reprinting of stories by TEDDY HARVIA BILL ROTSLER such as Tom Disch, Edmond Hamilton, POB 5402 POB 3126 David H. Keller, and Rog Phillips without Ft. Worth, TX 76108 Los Angeles, CA 90028 some payments to the authors—or their heirs. CATHY HILL RANDY RUSTIN One of the new stories this issue is 619 N. Holliston #2 1806 Joplin St. a 'First Sale' by Jennifer H. Orr. It's Pasadena, CA 91106 Joplin, M3 64801 a pain in the ass to read; her style is RICK JANSEN JOE SANDERS Clumsy Amateur. 7118 Wiser Shore Lane ((Not available at this Lynden, WA 98264 time.)) # BOTH Elton Elliott's news column, and Bill Warren's film column were late, and JASON KEEHN DARRELL SCHWEITZER both ran a page or two longer than I ex­ 38 Hannum Dr., #1B 113 Deepdale Rd., pected. So I had to cut an article and Ardmore, PA 19003 Strafford, PA 19087 reschedule it for next issue; that one is WAYNE KEYSER "On The Edge of Futuria" by Ray Nelson. 1111 Army-Navy Dr., #A-710 POB 42292 I also have a carryover of good letters Arlington, VA 22202 Portland, OR 97242 to next issue: those by Charles R. Saund­ ers, Luke McGuff, Harry Andruschak, Glen TIM KIRK LEE SMITH T. Wilson, and Diane E. Duane. ((I need his new address 528 Golden, #21 **************************************** Somebody help!)) Long Beach, CA 90802 STEPHEN WALKER JAMES J.J. WILSON VIC KOSTRIKIN KEITH SOLTYS 701 N. Hamner 1215 30th St. 12236 Checkerboard Rd., NE Suite 115, Block 1 Marshall, MO 65340 Des Moines, IA 50311 Gervais, OR 97026 Regency Court Grand Prairie, Alta., LEE WEINSTEIN ALLEN KOSZOWSKI T8V 3R6 Canada 2108 Magee Ave. 217 Barrington Road Philadelphia, PA 19149 Upper Darby, PA 19082 DONN VICHA 6444 North Glenwood Av. NEAL WILGUS DEAN R. LAMBE Chicago, IL 60626 Box 25771 10 Northlake, Route 1, Albuquerque, NM 87125 Vincent, OH 45784 63 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. 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