Vol. 12 No. 5 October 2013 ALEXIAD (!7+=3!G) $2.00 Today Joe and I are at the library with our various devices. Joe has his big laptop, iPad and phone. I have my small netbook and phone. The netbook has a sizable music collection, several thousand books and a collection of my writings. The phone , which is Frederik Pohl considerably bigger than my previous one, can access the internet almost anywhere. I remember the day I bought my first big stereo. It was state of the art. It sported a record November 26, 1919 — September 2, 2013 player and two cassette decks so that I could make my own cassettes. Later I acquired a CD player I could actually lug around with me. It was still awkward finding the music I wanted to listen to. With the netbook I can pick out just those songs I want to listen to. Several days ago a local thrift store was offering cassettes for ten cents apiece. I looked The 59th Running of the Yonkers Trot (1st leg of the Trotting Triple Crown) was July 27, over them and saw several titles that once I would have eagerly grabbed for that price. I 2013 at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York. Dewycolorintheline won by two no longer have a working cassette player. The new devices are not an unmixed blessing. lengths in a wire-to-wire victory. A physical book does not require an electric outlet nor does it have to be periodically The 88th Running of the Hambletonian (2nd leg of theTrotting Triple Crown) was August charged. On the other hand it is not possible to take several thousand of them on a trip. 3, 2013 at Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Royalty for Life I also like the fact that it is no longer necessary to buy the whole album in order to enjoy won a record $1.2 million purse. the one or two songs I really want. The 121st Running of the Kentucky Futurity (3rd leg of the Trotting Triple Crown) was — Lisa October 6, 2013 at the Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky. Creatine won in a blazingly close finish. Table of Contents The 59th Running of the Cane Pace (1st leg of the Pacing Triple Crown) was September Editorial...... 1 3, 2013 at Tioga Downs in Nichols, New York. Captaintreacherous won by a neck Reviewer’s Notes...... 1 after a hard-run race. Coffee...... 8 The 68th Running of the Little Brown Jug (2nd leg of the Pacing Triple Crown) was The Economy of Abundance...... 3 September 19, 2013 at the Delaware County Fair in Delaware, Ohio. Vegas Vacation Hugo Results and Commentary...... 10 won over his stablemate Lucan Hanover, while Captaintreacherous was absent, On Not Going to Worldcon...... 9 heading for the Red Mile. Worldcon Results...... 13 The 58th Running of the Messenger Stakes (3rd leg of the Pacing Triple Crown) will be Book Reviews November 2, 2013 at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York. JTM Andersen, The Boleyn King...... 4 The Breeders’ Cup World Championships will be November 1-2, 2013 at Santa Anita SB Bueso, Cenital...... 8 Park. JTM Fox, The Riddle of the Labyrinth...... 6 Trivia:...... 28 JTM Haynes, Bully!...... 4 Art: JTM Jones, The Fireflies of Port Stanley...... 5 Sheryl L. Birkhead...... 15 SB Marin, Lagrimas de Luz...... 8 Paul Gadzikowski...... 28 JTM Zabel, Surrounded by Enemies...... 5 Alexis A. Gilliland...... 4, 5, 9, 13, 19, 26 Con Reports Trinlay Khadro...... 2, 20 SB Celsius 232 2013...... 12 Marc Schirmeister...... 5, 6, 16, 18 LK LoneStarCon III...... 10 Printed on October 15, 2013 Fanzines Received...... 13 Deadline is December 1, 2013 Random Jottings...... 2 Letters...... 15 Reviewer’s Notes Sheryl L. Birkhead, Dainis Biesnieks, Cuyler Brooks, Sue Burke, Jason Burnett, Richard A. Dengrove, Alexis A. Gilliland, Jerry Kaufman, Robert S. Kennedy, Trinlay Khadro, The year turns on. Now, I go to work before the sun rises. Traffic is sctive, but not Patrick McCray, Murray Moore, William H. Patterson, Lloyd Penney, George W. Price, packed; but it’s only two blocks to work, so I walk. The morning is quiet. The moon may be John Purcell, Darrell Schweitzer, Joy V. Smith, Rod E. Smith, Milt Stevens, Jim Stumm, out, or I can see a morning star. John Thiel, Taras Wolansky When daylight savings time ends, there will be a shift, but that is the time I start taking Fridays off. As seems to be the case, my time off requires more effort than my time at work, Comments are by JTM, LTM, or Grant. what with doctor’s appointments, mantenance work, and the various demands of life. Page 2 October 2013 Alexiad

DO YOU WANT A TIME-OUT acceptable human enemies (except for A good writer and tireless worker in RANDOM JOTTINGS racists and businessmen) in our supporting newbie writers. by Joe Or the ever-popular response to the ever enlightened times, can be blown apart popular brass bra outfit: without any risk of engaging the MONARCHIST NEWS audience’s sympathies or making the YOU ARE NOT GOING OUT heroes look like conscienceless killers. It’s a little late, but . . . on January 20, DRESSED LIKE THAT The zombies in Shaun of the Dead 2013, Princess Sophie Johanna Maria von fulfilled the same function. Isenburg, Princess of Prussia, gave birth to And remember, Father Knows Best! two sons, Prinz Carl Friedrich Franz The World’s End Alexander von Preussen and Prinz Louis A brave, bold leaker released classified http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1213663/ Ferdinand Christian Albrecht von information that deeply embarrased the Preussen. Carl Friedrich, as the elder, is next Administration and showed the progress of the James Bowman on The World’s End in line for the claim to the thrones of Germany nation to war. However, for some reason, http://spectator.org/archives/2013/09/17/the-worlds-end and Prussia, after his father Georg Friedrich Daniel Ellsberg doesn’t embrace him, and Prinz von Preussen. Edward Snowden doesn’t honor his menory. There’s no longer any room for this: The story of Tyler Kent, the out of place State And as year follows year, Now that Fred Pohl has passed on, who is Department official who passed classified Elaine came to him, while he was More old men disappear, the Senior Science Fiction Author? This has messages between Roosevelt and Churchill to resting. She looked at him in horror, Someday no one will march there to be 1) someone who has regularly published the Italians (who passed them on to the and he tried to hide his face from her, at all. in the field (as opposed to someone who did Germans) , makes the theme of Conspiracy of and then realized that he was trying to Report by Joseph T Major one speculative book, once), 2) there is no one One: Tyler Kent’s Secret Plot against FDR, hide it from himself. living who published a story before this person Churchill, and the Allied War Effort (Lyons — H. Beam Piper, Space Viking, Chapter Remaining is: did. Press; 2013; ISBN 978-0-7627-8696-1; XII Poland And it seems to be . . . David A. Kyle! $26.95) by Peter Rand. Józef Kowalski* (113) 22 Pulk U³anów The author describes Kent’s less than The bicentennial of the Battle of Waterloo http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?2916 stellar career in diplomacy, which seems to will not feature a reeenactment of the clash * “WWI-era” veteran, enlisted between the have included selling confiscated Czarist between the Red Fleet and the Blue Fleet. Armistice and the Treaty of Versailles First story: “Golden Nemesis” (Stirring treasures while in the new U.S. embassy in (Having the “Red Army” participate might Science Stories, February 1941). Born Moscow (he was there because he spoke cause confusion.) However, the Duke of There are eight surviving veterans of the February 14, 1919, one of the last two Russian). Then, they had to put him Wellington, the Fürst Blücher von Wallstadt, International Brigades (including three surviving Futurians (with Jack Robins), one of somewhere, so he was sent to London and put and Prince Charles Napoléon will be present Spaniards who, like Juan Pujol Garcia, filled the last four surviving attendees of the NyCon in the Cipher Room, thus proving that and will shake hands. (And not Count out the ranks, and two survivors of the (with Erle Korshak, Bob Madle, and Art personnel qualifications in the State Alexandre Colonna Walewski, the direct male- Abraham Lincoln Battalion), two Red Army Widner), and a recipient of Alexiad. Department are done at random. He fell in line descendant of Boney?) People do have veterans (both women) who served there, and As they say at the Howard Families with some anti-Bolshevik Russian emigres, descendants, after all. one survivor of the Republican Army. meetings, “Is there anyone here who is older?” with connections . . . Charles Napoléon is descended from There are five survivors of the Nationalist He was stripped of his diplomatic Prince Jérome Bonaparte, who commanded a armed forces, and one survivor of the Condor William H. Patterson’s Robert A. immunity (by order of Joe Kennedy, no less!), division in the battle. The current Duke of Legion. Heinlein: In Dialogue With His Century tried, sent to prison, and returned to the U.S. Wellington, Arthur Valerian Wellesley, will be Volume II: The Man Who Learned Better after the war. His most notable achievement two weeks short of being 100 years old, so will be released on June 1, 2014. afterwards was publishing an anti-Kennedy likely will be represented, one way or another, newapaper (of course) and speaking at by his son and heir, Charles Wellesley, who is I have a couple of books by Jeffrey Brown Holocaust Denier conferences. married to Princess Antonia of Prussia. on the problems of single fatherhood: Darth One does wonder if Anni-Frid Prinzessin Vader and Son (2012; Chronicle Books; ISBN James Bowman, reviewing the oaf lads Reuss von Plauen and her associates will be 978-1-4521-0655-7; $14.95) and Vader’s versus pod people movie The World’s End for invited. You know — ABBA. The history Little Princess (2013; Chronicle Books; ISBN The American Spectator on line, all too book on the shelf is always repeating itself. 978-1-4521-1869-7; $14.95). Where else can unfortunately got something down all too well: you find such heartwarming parental OBITS interactions as: . . . The point of much if not most science fiction is to provide the now Frederik Pohl LUKE PICK UP YOUR TOYS politically incorrect warrior heroes of On September 2 we lost one of our greats. RIGHT THIS INSTANT old with suitably inhuman cannon LUKE I AM YOUR FATHER fodder which, in the absence of any Ann Crispin Alexiad October 2013 Page 3

economy of abundance”, based on the idea to march on London and put the posh clubmen island with a giant play-military. OOMPHEL IN THE SKY that some technological or scientific advance at the points of their bayonets. Stupid boy.) Resemblances to the Kim dynasty of Korea are Commentary by Joseph T Major will solve the problems of production, and Not quite in this elevated company, but in an example of SF’s predictive ability, albeit then the concept of a price for goods will some ways more inquiring about the human without the production. The Second World War led to social cease to exist, since all goods will be so condition, is Philip K. Dick’s Solar Lottery Pohl listened to futurist Robert Theobald changes throughout the world. In the New abundant that their sale will not be feasible. It (1955). There, the surplus production was describe the world of the Triple Revolution Hebrides, the change was in the understanding seems that the economy of abundance is just initially destroyed, which understandably and noted that he had done that. Theobald’s of economics. over the horizon. produced resentment. Since that was the era theory was that the world was facing three Americans came there, bringing with them The question that writers therefore deal of the quiz shows (SF is so often so of its society-changing events; the human rights unimaginable quantities of goods, not only for with is what to do with this? Since conflict is time), this shifted to quiz shows giving away revolution, the weaponry revolution, and the fighting, but for living; manufactured housing, the basis of a story, having everybody with all goods. Then the only really valuable good, cybernetics revolution. He proposed a strange foods, transport on a vastly superior they need would seem to end most conflict. the absolute domination of the Solar System, massive program of government intervention scale . . . . the list was endless. Then they left. It seems odd to say that the two defining became the prize of a random drawing. to speed the transaction to a post-economic The locals thought they had got the short British dystopias of the middle of the twentieth By this time, a different factor had arisen society of abundance, in 1964 wrote up a end of the stick. Particularly when the rumor century are “economy of abundance” novels, as the power that would bring oomphel to the pompous manifesto, got several progressives went around that a tall white man named Jon but a case can be made that such is a Earth. Cybernetization, the power of to sign it, and sent it to Lyndon Johnson, who Frum (or John Frum, or John From, or maybe substantial plot element of those works. In computing, would solve the problems of promptly ignored it, if he was even told about he was black) had met someone and passed on that period, the advancement that would bring production and distribution. it. the word that he was going to go off to get about abundance was industrialization; once The contrasts in technology are sometimes Four years later, Theobald produced a cargo for the locals and would be back with the last trick or two was worked out, the cargo amusing. Kurt Vonnegut’s Player Piano book manuscript, sent it around for comments, that infinite abundance on February 15. would come rolling off assembly lines and the (1952) describes the wonderful world of and after including them with the text, had the He forgot to specify a year, which was a era of universal prosperity would begin. Or automation, run by punch cards. (As you manuscript published: Teg’s 1994 (1970). The bit of an advantage to the locals. Thereafter, something would have to be done.with it. know, Bob, this was a primitive form of data book is laden with jargon, which is offputting the locals built airstrips, put out plane- Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World (1932) storage, where powerful electromechanical to the reader. It is supposedly the diary of the scarecrows to indicate that this was where Jon is rather strongly based on the Dearborn devices interpreted arrangements of holes narratrix as she tours the world and sees how Frum’s transport planes should land, and Model T plant. Really. Huxley read about punched into flexible rectangles of cardboard.) it is acting, and what with the headnotes for performed other rituals to ensure they would Ford’s production and was rather taken aback. With production solved, the question becomes each chapter reads like a set of LiveJournal get cargo when February 15 came around. Thus, because of assembly lines, the One State what to do with the populace, all of whom entries. The cybernetization revolution, it And again next year. has so much that they don’t know what to do seem to have become government employees, seems, created a world of abundance where There were earlier movements of similar with it. There are increasingly elaborate whether in a large and disarmed army [for the the principal problem is ensuring that the import in, for example, New Guinea going all playground games and so on up. (One army geek, the army in this era seems to have developing areas are not surfeited with the way back to 1885. Some might also wonders how he reacted to the popularity of reverted to the organization of World War I], produced goods. consider the millenarian aspects to have “Fordism” in the Soviet Union. Or how Henry a ma i nte na nc e d e p a r t me nt, t he (One of those comments compared Teg to similarities to the Ghost Dance of 1890, the Ford reacted to the book.) “Reconstruction and Reclamation Corps”, or a Teutonic Knight from The Sound of His Xhosa Cattle-Killing of 1856-1857, or the The other dystopia, George Orwell’s “Reeks and Wrecks”, and a small Horn (1952) for her elitist tour of the world Millerites of 1840-44. By way of contrast, Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), figured out what technological elite reporting to the actual head and attitude towards it; Theobald didn’t seem there are scholars who opine that there is no to do with all the surplus production. The of the country, the National Industrial, to quite get the point, as the Teutonic Knights such thing as a cargo cult. never-ending never-victorious wars of Oceania Commercial, Communications, Foodstuffs, of that book were Nazis in a world where they H. Beam Piper pulled this into his Terro- against and with Eurasia and Eastasia consume and Resources Director, the economic planner had won WWII.) Human Future History. Otto Harkman, in a all that production, leaving little enough for who directed the automation of war In one chapter of that book, Teg visits an later work of the series, opines that the Outer Party members like Winston Smith, production and kept the job after peace. artist’s colony with the original and innovative “practically everything that’s happened on any never mind the proles.. A more peaceful coming-about of this name of Artisia. She has to barricade her door of the inhabited planets happened on Terra (A study of contemporary life in the Soviet situation appears in Frederik Pohl’s “The to keep the inhabitants from inviting her to before the first spaceship.” (Space Viking Union, especially now that there are so many Midas Plague” (Galaxy, April 1954). Instead join their sexual sprees, and the place seems to (1963, Analog Dec 1962-Feb 1963), Chapter more memoirs and histories of the time of technical unemployment, what Pohl’s world be a nonstop debauched revel. Another reader II). Piper’s story “Oomphel in the Sky” available, should make it clear that Orwell has is forced consumption; the lower someone of Theobald’s manifesto was Philip José (Analog, November 1960) deals with such a based life in Airstrip One, Oceania, on the life is in social standing, the more he or she has to Farmer, and his contribution to Dangerous dissent, an alien race wanting their share of there, with a touch of British rationing and consume. Until a proletarian sick of gagging Visions (1967) was “Riders of the Purple cargo, or “oomphel” as they call it, and the other social restraints. As was common then, down more than he can eat discovers a way to Wage”, later expanded into The Purple Book solution to the dissent. (SPOILER: The he maintained that traditional British society combine consumption with production . . . (1982) [which also contains other stories]. resolution is that humans got no soul.) could not win or even survive the fighting, and Pohl seems to have rethought the situation and The “Artisia” in that work comes from the Other writers have discussed oomphel on the only choice was between a Fascist coup in its sequel, “The Man Who Ate the World” circle of friends of the protagonist, painter the Earth, and what to do with it. and a Socialist revolution. He had hoped that (Galaxy, November 1956) he has someone Chibabos Elgreco “Chib” Winnegan; a group the latter would be spearheaded by the Home who seems to have read Nineteen Eighty-Four of poets, singers, and the like, including a The concept has been referred to as “the Guard. That’s right, he expected Dad’s Army and tried to do what he could, creating an writer who has taken the name of Huga Wells- Page 4 October 2013 Alexiad

Erb Heinsturbury, more proof of Farmer’s question, that of distribution. How do the World-Myth, and asks one of her advisors Big War. prediction of future trends in the field. They goods get to the consumers? Most of this (make that “facilitators”) to be on the And the Colombians figure they should favor expressionist works, including seems to be taken for granted. But if there is committee to discuss the formation of the have something back . . . impromptu street brawls. (And, in a no need to work, who will be the distributors? committee. If this makes you think of the prediction of a future trend that would (Distribution seems to be a lacking management methods of the Pointy-Haired Haynes has stayed the course, beyond his dominate Farmer’s work, they are all the concept. In one scene of a Mack Reynolds Boss of Dilbert, you may be on to something. miraculous survival of TR. (He refers to children of a mysterious passer-by who went story, the Clueless Protagonist is led by the More complex services seem to be being hunting in the Amazon, which presumably by the name of “Raleigh Renaissance”.) Wise Tutor step by step through the costs of taken for granted. One can’t get a broken leg was less stressful and infectious than On the other hand, Theobald’s work may distribution of his electric razor. The Wise mended that way no matter how many descending the River of Doubt.) More or less. not have crossed the Big Pond, although the Tutor also states that the additional price assembly lines or cybernetic controls are I can understand Colombia being willing to influence of the New Wave did. One of added at each step is pure exploitative profit to making products. The Drexler types might get their own back, and for Japan, furious over Farmer’s fellow contributors to Dangerous the intermediaries — thus completely ignoring make the case for nanobots, but the 1921 Naval Limitations Treaty, willing to Visions was John Sladek, author of “The the costs borne by the intermediaries; nanotechnology seems to be another of those covertly aid anyone wishing to harm the Happy Breed”, a horrifying portrayal of the transport, distribution, damaged goods, and so wonders always just over the horizon. country. (Small error here; the American results of a truly affordable and universal on. And Reynolds had the reputation of being Black Chamber was a code-breaking center, it health care system. informed on such matters.) Unsound science is more obvious. Die didn’t do radio intercepts, and in any case the Later on, he wrote a book about the next This leads to the greater question of Frau Im Mond (1929) could have a livable Japanese negotiators sent their enciphered step past cybernetization for the Economy of services. Presumably, if a Centrifugal lunar climate on the far side of the moon messages by telegram.) Abundance: The Reproductive System (1974; Bumble-Puppy broke down, the Beta in charge because little was known about it then. By the Though I do feel a little odd about the alternative title Mechasm). In spite of the of playgrounds would inform a Gamma clerk, time moviemakers got to Amazon Women on Colombian President ordering all this being sexual references, there is very little sexuality who would tell the Delta in charge of the Moon (1987) that setting was a highlight of Victoriano Hugo Chavez. The man is a in the book, and more about his von Neumann maintenance to take a team of Epsilons out to the satire. In other fields, the lack of Venezuelan. The President then was Pedro machines producing more and more goods fix it. But they were all conditioned to want to understanding of the basics leads to stories that Nel Ospina Vázquez, who took office August while destroying the land to make them. do that. If a steamer crashed into a building, fail to work out. 7, 1922. Consider it a kind of macro nanotechnology. which collapsed as a result, the Inner Party This is an old-fashioned pulp-type At first, the portrayal of an ignorant chief of that region would have some Proles adventure, with derring-do, fierce combat, and procurement system granting a huge research make a stab at picking up the rubble. Huxley a dramatic climax. Without, fortunately, the grant to a toymaker (and a single-product and Orwell had totalitarianism as an stereotyping of the “greasers”, “slant-eyes”, toymaker at that) seemed implausible. Now accompaniment of their abundance. and other lesser breeds. Indeed, Haynes it’s only implausible in that such a grant would Vonnegut had the Reeks and Wrecks. But shows the Colombians as having ingenuity, only go to someone with huge political pull. then, he was the only one who had actually bravery, devotion — but still out of luck. Not that they would actually produce anything worked in industry, for General Electric in At least Dwight Eisenhower gets some at all, much less von Neumann machines that Troy, New York (which became “Illium” in combat duty . . . made oomphel. Player Piano). The Reeks and Wrecks are however a government agency, which seems THE TWO WIVES OF HENRY VIII Farmer addresses, sometimes in quite to have some compulsion involved. Review by Joseph T Major of grotesque images, one of the questions that is This seems to be a institutional problem. THE BOLEYN KING only half-heartedly looked into by others. The supposed freedom engendered by the LIVING LONG AND PROSPERING by Laura Andersen With there no longer being a need to work for creation of the Economy of Abundance turns Review by Joseph T Major of (Ballantine; 2013; sustenance, what are people going to do with out to require one sort or another of coercion. BULLY! ISBN 978-0-345-53409-5; $15.00; their lives? Chib’s mother and her friends At least Robert Theobald recognized that there by Felix Haynes Random House LLC (Kindle); 2013; $7.99) show one reaction; they are all gross in several might be such problems, though his solution (Amazon Digital Services; 2013; $5.99) “Anne Boleyn Trilogy” senses of the term; not only grotesquely seemed to be to have endless aggregations of overweight but crude and low of speech and facilitators playing world games. As was Someone seems to have given T.R. a boost On January 29, 1536, Queen Anne had a thought. (This is not that far from the pointed out earlier, he had his own version of to his health. Maybe someday he’ll grow up, miscarriage, her second. On May 19 of that principal character of “The Man Who Ate the Newspeak. too. year, found guilty of treason, adultery, World”, a bloated child-man, but he was Indeed, for all that one of the political What if Theodore Roosevelt had lived past witchcraft, and incest, she was beheaded. presented as an anomaly.) Chib’s circle isn’t movements that created this world was the 1919? He was supposed to have had the If someone — say Master Tortha of Milan, much better, they seem to revel in violence. “Anti-Bureaucratic Coalition”, the society has Republican nomination in 1920 for the asking. someone with a very suspicious resemblance This is a society that longs for a Dr. Anthony a bizarre form of bureaucracy. Teg’s tour of Instead, somehow, he lets it pass. to Tortha Karf of the Paratime Police — were “Theodore Dalrymple” Daniels to chronicle the world was as an Orwell Fellow for 1994. Meanwhile, a profoundly disappointed and to tell William, the protagonist of this work, and expose its progress of the underclass view. One of the things she will do is to nominate grieved army officer from Kansas gets an the tale of these events, he might well turn to Somewhat contrawise, there is the question someone who will nominate an Orwell Fellow appointment to the Canal Zone. It is an his sister and say, “God’s death, t’would be ill of what is to be done? The concept of for 1996. At the end of the book, she indicates opportunity to get in some command of troops tidings for this land and our mother alike were abundant production seems to leave aside one a need for a committee to draw up a new on the ground, somethng he didn’t get in the such to come to pass.” Alexiad October 2013 Page 5

But in this timeline, in this story, Anne did of William, and became his trusted confidante. behind a daughter by his first marriage who follow from Kennedy’s not being killed in not miscarry, and was brought to birth of a While the Princess Elizabeth had as a lady- married Louis VI’s youngest son, founding the Dallas. Even if one doesn’t completely agree strong son. I presume he is named “William in-waiting the orphan daughter of a sometime French de Courtenay line. with the thesis in Piereson’s Camelot and the Henry”, since he reigns as Henry IX and is lady-in-waiting of Queen Anne. In the game Renaud’s great-great-grandson Hugh de Cultural Revolution (2007; reviewed in known as William, to distinguish him from his of nicknames, although the lady is named Courtenay married Eleanor le Despencer, Alexiad V. 6 #5) it is still obvious that father. Jane Seymour, Anna von Kleve-Jülich- Geneveve Wyatt, Elizabeth, and perforce daughter of Hugh le Despencer. As part of the November 1963 marked a turning point in the Berg, Catherine Howard, and Catherine Parr everyone else, calls her Minuette. Minuette rewards le Despencer got as advisor to Edward alienation of the progressive movement. are all on other assignments, obviously, and was born on the same day as William. II, Hugh de Courtenay was granted the Beyond that, there was much to be Philip of Spain is not burdened with Mary. Dominic and William both are in love with succession to the Earldom of Devon, which considered in the future from that point. There her. had been held by his ancestors the de Reviers were military entanglements in the name of There are distractions both home and family. “bear any burden, pay any price”. There was abroad. The conflict finally comes down to The title passed through the heirs male a stirring civil rights movement, poised being against France. William and his until the death of Edward Courtenay (see between requesting and demanding rights. commanders campaign well against a above about Henry Courtenay, Marquess of There were conflicts within the government. somewhat distracted France, ending with a Exeter), except for a brief period during the Beyond that, there was the president’s tangled peace treaty signed in Rouen (!). Whatever Wars of the Roses when it was held by love life and his treacherous health. would the Maid say!? Humphrey Stafford, a supporter of Edward IV. Zabel, however, buys into one of the items But the serpent is in Blighty. It seems that When the Cavendishes were granted the title, tangentally identified by Piereson. Yes, he Lady Mary (you know, Henry’s older in spite of having the same designation in believes that there was a conspiracy to kill the daughter) and her patron the Duke of Norfolk Latin, in English it became Earl of Devonshire President. And at that point I gave up. I don’t have a signed confession by someone that (and later Duke of Devonshire). care which group of the Usual Suspects he William is indeed the son of Anne . . . and her In 1831, William “Kitty” Courtenay, fingers, which fragments of evidence he brother George. (Signed by Minuette’s Viscount Courtenay of Powderham, a distant selects and arranges. mother, no less. That’s not the sort of thing relative of Edward Courtenay, petitioned to It’s a pity, because there is potential for a one witnesses unless one gets into some really have the title taken out of abeyance for him real story of a real Kennedy struggling with kinky scenes.) And Minuette gets sent into the and his heirs. Hugh Rupert Courtenay, the his real problems. See Gregory Benford’s Howard stronghold to find the secret. current Earl of Devon, is descended from Timescape (1980; Nebula and Campbell When all is resolved, it seems that there are Kitty’s second cousin. Kitty had to flee Memorial Award winner), for example. yet more depths of conspiracy and complexity Britain after reports of a homosexual affair to be resolved when this tale is . . . To Be with the wacky William Beckford (the author Continued. of Vathek). Hugh is also in trouble over that, In spite of which, William has the same having refused to host a civil partnership problems. There is a treacherous balance to be celebration at Powderham Castle. And you made between Protestantism and Catholicism. thought cakes were bad enough. Abroad, the conflict between France and Spain WARNING The heir, Charles Peregrine Courtenay, can cause great loss. And there is always the styled Lord Courtenay, is a lawyer in Los problem of Scotland and its monarch. At least Angeles. His wife, A. J. Langer (Allison Joy Calais is in William’s parliament, not on his Langer), played Rayanne Graff on My So- heart. (Yes, Calais returned members to the HISTORY GEEK SECTION Called Life. She is a fibromyalga activist (and English Parliament.) sufferer). They have a son, the Hon. Jack Some of the players are different. Thus, Some will note that there are families Haydon Langer Courtenay, and a daughter, the the royal uncle who is chief regent is George named Courtenay in both France and England. Hon. Joscelyn Skye Courtenay. Boleyn, Duke of Rochford, and the Seymours Yes, they are connected. (Where does Craye are just provincial gentry. Their connection D’Courtney from The Demolished Man come A. J. Langer Thomas Howard, Duke of Norfolk, seems to in? Probably not.) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0486277/ have kept himself out of trouble, though his Athon, Seigneur de Courtenay, was an eldest son seems to have fallen afoul of eleventh-century French nobleman from the FAILURE MODE something or other, probably sharp. Orléanais. The town of Courtenay, from Review by Joseph T Major of THINGS FORGOTTEN Speaking of falling afoul . . . William is in which his title derives, is now part of the SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES: Review by Joseph T Major of a love triangle. Apparently, Henry Courtenay, Département de Loiret. One of his grandsons What If Kennedy Survived Dallas? THE FIREFLIES OF PORT STANLEY the Marquess of Exeter, had a second son was Joscelin de Courtenay, Count of Edessa, by Bryce Zabel by Marc Jones named Dominic before he died of natural the Crusader lord. A great-grandson by (Publish Green/Amazon Digital Services; (Amazon Digital Services; 2013; $3.99) causes (beheaded, which in those days were Joscelin’s older brother Miles, Renaud de 2013; $7.99) natural causes; in our time-line, he only had Courtenay, moved to England where he This is one of those novels previewe on the one son, Edward). The lad grew up as a friend married the heiress Hawise de Courci, leaving There is an interesting speculation to alternatehistory.com board. And, like so many Page 6 October 2013 Alexiad

Kindle books, it could use a little The Quest to Crack an Ancient Code homes in Britain and in Greece.) All the same, The Japanese plain language proofreading. Also some editorial querying, by Margalit Fox seeing how big the place is should give the telegrams gave me in all about 10.000 basically whether Argentinians should sound (Ecco; 2013; visitor the realization that this was a complex kana. After the typists had recopied all quite so British. ISBN 978-0-06-222883-3; $27.99; civilization. But all there were to go on were the telegrams, I instructed them to The point of departure is, while unusual, HarperCollins (Kindle); $13.59) the pictures and the relics. index each and every kana on a all too plausible. An error of bureaucratic The travails of a later war drove Sir Arthur separate three-by-five card. The procedure in the fifties gets three obsolete “Yes, cryptanalysis,” von (he had been recognized for his work) away information on each card contained the Sherman tanks sent from Britain to the Ohlmhorst pounced. “The reading of a from his two southern homes, and he died in particular kana under study in capital Falkland Islands. And there they sit, being known language in an unknown form Britain in 1941, discoverer of a civilization, letters, the page and line reference, and maintained against a nonexistent threat. of writing. Ventris’ lists were in the but not quite sure of its nature. the 4 preceeding and the 4 following Then, the threat becomes all too real. And known language, Greek. Neither he nor kana. the Falklands defenders, Royal Marines and anybody else ever read a word of the He did careful work. One of those things — The American Black Chamber, Chapter the local milita (Falkland Islands Defence Cretan language until the finding of the found in the excavation was ancient tablets XIV Force) discover they have an unexpected asset. Greek-Cretan bilingual in 1963, with regular markings; writing, presumably, Shortly thereafter the Argentinians, thinking because only with a bilingual text, one and not art. Kober did all that all by herself. they have an easy target, discover they have an language already known, can an The writings seemed to fall into two unexpected level of opposition. unknown ancient language be learned. groups, one a little less regular, the other more They are waist-deep in el Grande Barroso, And what hope, I ask you, have we of so, and because the markings were done in and have to reinforce failure. The next few finding anything like that here? lines, as opposed to say the wedges of days are a desperate race between the two Martha, you’ve been working on these cuneiform, they were designated “Linear A” opponents to send reinforcements ot the place. Martian texts ever since we landed and “Linear B”. (When Frederik Pohl’s secret Meanwhile, there is political division and here—for the last six months. Tell me, agent in “Under Two Moons” (Worlds of If, struggle in Britain, in Argentina (though the have you found a single word to which September 1965) said he spoke Cretan Linear portrayal of Galtieri descending into the you can positively assign a meaning?” B, that comes across as a part of the satire depths of drunkness seems a little much) and — H. Beam Piper, “Omnilingual”, about the super talents of the secret agent.) also the United States. Astounding Science Fiction, February The job isn’t finished until the paperwork Some deadly blows are dealt out at the last 1957 is done, and in this case the job of preparing minute, as the final hours of the conflict the listing of paperwork fell on others. One of portend a grand triumph or disaster, and then Ironies can occur between the composition whom, a professor at Brooklyn College, felt . . . of a story and its publication. the need to try to make sense of this. Jones seems to have a handle on the nature This book is the story of three people who Alice Kober is the unrecognized transition of conflict and the politics of the time. Some raised the dead; in this case, a dead in all this. As Fox describes it, she came out might find matters turning out too pat for the civilization, a civilization that laid the grounds of nowhere; saying nothing of her past, her British, but then, autocratic systems have a for our own, yet was nothing but a legend family, her origins. She seems to have been a Now Evans had decided that Linear B was bias of loyalty over ability. The Falklands totally bland and indifferent-looking person, a syllabary. What’s that? campaign was launched as a way of rallying Arthur Evans was a typical British yet with an extraordinary facility for languages In Murder in Canton (1966) Robert van support for the Argentine junta. (A little later, Imperialist, someone with money and the (learning ancient Egyptian on a six-day Gulik plays a joke on the reader. Following though, he may go off the rails. The Liberal leisure to investigate his particular fixations. crossing of the Atlantic, for example). up the case, Judge Dee’s investigator Chiao and Social Democratic Alliance beating His happened to be ancient Greece. She was the one who set out first to make Tai goes to an Arab merchant’s house and victoriously triumphant Tories in 1987?) That wealth gave him the ability to pursue sense of the inscriptions. Now the available makes an observation: a particular archaelogical obsession without corpus of Linear B inscriptions was limited; Tank geek note: The tanks are the British having to get a myriad myriad permits and pay Sir Arthur hadn’t disseminated pictures of the To break the awkward silence, upgrade of the Sherman tank that replaced the fees, give presents, endow local authorities, tablets, much less made them available for Chiao Tai pointed at the band of original 75-mm main gun with the British 17- and the like. He found his site and simply inspection by others. intricate design that ran all along the pounder 76.2-mm gun. The Firefly was the bought it. Kober’s methodology was interesting. She top of the wall and asked: first Allied tank that was capable of matching That was Knossos, in Crete. Having began compiling a set of cards showing all ‘What do those curlicues mean?’ the German tanks. Argentina got a few after possession of the land, he proceeded to pairings of characters; which ones were ‘It’s Arab writing,’ Yau explained the war. You will recall that in the lost scenes excavate. Unlike his distinguished associated. There is a parallel which Fox does hastily. ‘It’s a holy text.’ of Duck Soup (1933) it was explained that predecessor Heinrich Schliemann, he didn’t not seem to be aware of; The American Black ‘How many letters do you have?’ Rufus T. Firefly was an arms dealer. Imagine, happen to destroy what he was looking for in Chamber (1931) had a description of Chiao Tai asked Mansur. Firefly selling Fireflies. the process of looking for it. Evans did Yardley’s methodology for decryptng ‘Twenty-eight.’ produce a survey of the area even as he Japanese cipher messages, which included ‘Holy heaven!’ Chiao Tai THE DANCER FROM ATLANTIS rebuilt. (Which latter is itself controversial. preparing an index of combinations of exclaimed. ‘Is that all? We have more Review by Joseph T Major of Fox describes the Palace at Knossos as the Japanese characters. than twenty thousand, you know!’ THE RIDDLE OF THE LABRYINTH: third house he built, in conjunction with his — Murder in Canton, Pages 47-48 Alexiad October 2013 Page 7

Chiao Tai perhaps ought to be saying Evans’s work. One didn’t think he was worth nineteen(!) and was conscripted into the Royal of syllabaries. For a modern example try “character” instead of “letter”. He associates her time. She had to transcribe the Linear B Air Force. writing Classical Greek in katakana. Or “letter” with “word”. In Chinese, a word is a inscriptions, and seems to have done a valued Not the Government Code & Cypher consider Herbert O. Yardley’s comment: “For character, one symbol (for the moment, we’ll task. School? No, Ventris was a navigator on a example, Ireland in Japanese kana is spelled a pass over thtat Chiao Tai’s native language But her health declined, and her attitude bomber. Flying on a night raid, after laying i ru ra n do — the ru ra being their closest was likely Putonghua [“Mandarin”] and in also took a drop. She had been becoming out the course, Ventris would sit at his post sound to the letters rela in Ireland.” [The Canton [Guangzhou] they would speak Yue dissatisfied with the work she was reviewing, and work with Linear B. He was retained for American Black Chamber, Chapter XIV]. [“Cantonese”]). In Arabic, a word may have the other researchers were becoming sloppy. a time after the war doing translation work for 12YW]D^, that is. (All I have in one or many symbols. Arabic is an alphabetic In a crucial discovery, she had finally found a the occupation forces. WordPerfect is katakana.) For the record, in language. single character to which she could positively All those languages seem to have been Linear B it would be qeXNVF. And then, there is a syllabary, in which assign a meaning, a character that meant only one of his talents. He started playing the It is generally assumed that Linear A is the each symbol represents a syllable. Japanese “and”: U, called “button”. stock market, and amazingly enough made script for the indigenous Cretan tongue, the so- writing uses both Chinese word-characters and Frustrated, on the verge of discovery and enough money there to be comfortably well- called “Minoan Language”. In The Dancer Japanese syllabic symbols, what Yardley the brink of nowhere, she passed away at off. And do Linear B. from Atlantis (1971), Poul Anderson has a refers to as kana. (It also goes into romaji, home in Brooklyn on May 16, 1950, balked Ventris was handicapped by his belief that scene where Theseus complains to the time- Latin characters, just fine. Douglas from fame at the last moment. Strangely Linear B was a form for writing Etruscan (or traveller that the Greek scribes have taken up MacArthur once gave a speech suggesting that enough, the New York open records rules more likely another language from the same using the Cretan script, with adaptations. to facilitate education, Japanese should write require that death certificates so released have family). He had speculated on the sounds of Trying to use the Linear B values for Linear A in hiragana, their own syllabary, and drop the cause of death redacted, so we don’t know the letters, which caused other problems. characters produces gibberish. The “Greek- characters. The newspapers printed the speech what Alice Kober died of. Fox discusses the various problems of Cretan bilinguual” from “Omnilingual” would using characters. The General-san was too reading unknowns. There are known likely be a Rosetta Stone style text with distinguished to not use them.) Academe used to be less demanding of languages in unknown scripts. Her example is inscriptions in both Linear A and Linear B. From a count of the different types of credentials. Consider, for example, Robert rongorongo, the script of the Easter Island Ventris became immediately famous. He characters, Evans concluded that Linear B, Heinlein’s example of P. A. M. Dirac’s first tablets. (Mayan would seem to be more spoke on the BBC explaining his discovery. like Japanese kana, hiragana and katakana, publications in the Proceedings of the Royal appropriate.) Contrawise, there are unknown He was awarded the Officer of the Order of was a syllabary. So what then? Society. His credentials then consisted of a languages in known scripts, such as Etruscan. the British Empire honor in 1955. The reader will find amusing that Fox uses degree from the University of Bristol in And then there is the matter of an unknown But he was seemingly feeling more and as an example of reading an unfamiliar script electrical engineering. (See “Paul Dirac, language in an unknown script, which was more the impostor. He withdrew from the Cipher of the Dancing Men, and discusses Antimatter, and You” (1975; NHOL G.175).) what Linear B and whatever it was used to academic pursuits; taking up a project to Holmes’s particular insights and problems in A few years after Dirac’s first publication, write was at that time. The passage from develop a computerized architectural database, decrypting it. But the Cipher of the Dancing the American Journal of Archaelogy published “Omnilingual” quoted above might be only to drop out of that through a feeling of Men is a monoalphabetic substitution, the in 1940 a paper on “Introducng the Minoan considered. being not quite fit for the project. His principal strength of it being a similarity to Languages”. The author had been somewhat Ventris continued his work. He met Kober marriage was dissapating; he never quite could graffiti. Another system she uses as an vague on his institutional association, which during her visit to Britain, but left abruptly. make emotional contact with people. example is Blissymbolics, also discussed in was the Architectural Association School of They do not seem to have given each other So, he went out for a drive late atnight on Arika Okrent’s In the Land of Invented Architecture in London. Oh yes, he was much credit. Also, Fox points out a September 5, 1956. Just after midnight he hit Languages (2009; reviewed in Alexiad V. 8 eighteen. (One thinks of the self-obscuring problematic issue; Ventris felt his standing a truck and was instantly killed. His death #6); at least no one here was as obnoxious and Timothy Paul of Wilmar Shiras’s “In Hiding” was not deserved. It could be said he suffered seems not to have been reported in American possessive as Charles Bliss, its inventor. (Astounding, November 1948).) The author from “impostor syndrome”. newspapers; he was too obscure here. (Fox is Kober persevered. She had to improvise, had made a few errors, including conceptual His method involved creating an obituary writer for the New York Times; using all kinds of scrap paper to make her ones, like assigning sound values to the Linear checkerboard tables of characters. Somehow there might be an element of atonement here.) cards. The time she had to devote to this work B symbols. (Having done this might have got this seems rather like the straddling was limited. This may be hard to credit these Martha Dane of “Omniligual” in trouble if she checkerboard cipher, such as in the “Hollow The Linear B tablets were thought to be, days, but she had to teach five classes a hadn’t found her referent.) Nickel” Cipher that the NSA found and proved to be, no more than clerical semester. Imagine, a university professor If Alice Kober had come from a impregnable, yet waa used by the sloppy records. The great literature, the rituals, the actually teaching! conventional and even unknown background, Reino Hayhanen. poems, the songs, the history of the Cretans Her efforts were not ignored; she received Michael Ventris had come from a diverse one. And then . . . Ventris had published his was too important to note down in clay; they a Guggenheim Fellowship to continue her His father was an Indian Army officer, his work on decipherments individually. He had were written on papyrus, and perished with investigation. But she only published three mother a Polish landowner with artistic created a Linear B fanzine, so to speak. And their makers. What we have is inventories of papers, and some of her speculations proved associates. Michael seems to have found it in his twentieth issue, he described how it had armories, listings of temple offerings, tax wrong. profoundly easy to learn new languages. all become clear. Linear B was a acript for records, descriptions of storehouses. Kober traveled to Britain (learning ancient How he got into Linear B is another Early Classical Greek! Instead of their art, we have their lives. Egyptian on the voyage, remember) to meet matter, and perhaps could be discussed in It wasn’t perhaps the best choice. The Somehow, we know them yet, and perhaps with the various academics involved in more detail. His distractions were of a form of Greek, with clusters of consonants, better, for this is the commonplace, the things describing, recording, and disseminating different sort; he got married at the age of goes poorly with the consonant-vowel format everybody knows and which are not recorded. Page 8 October 2013 Alexiad

ISBN 978-84-15065-26-5; €18) run tractors and petroleum-based fertilizers, COFFEE which were brought by ships and trucks that THE NOVEL THAT CHANGED by Lisa I bought this book after hearing it praised needed fuel to move. Cities starved, violence SPANISH SCIENCE FICTION during the Celsius 232 horror book festival in broke out, Teo lost his parish and nearly his Review by Sue Burke of On one of the times I visited Dad he August in northern Spain. In fact, I bought one life, and “when the last dog in the municipal LÁGRIMAS DE LUZ mentioned that a doctor in a Parkinson’s of the last remaining copies from a bookseller dog pound had been devoured and every can [Tears ofLight] support group had pushed the health benefits at the festival, and Emilio (we were all friends of food had been emptied,” he remembered by Rafael Marín of coffee. I grimaced at this, for I loathed the there, even if we had never met before) something he had once read on the Internet. (Sportula; ebook re-edition 2012, stuff. It was my firm belief that if God wanted autographed it for me. He stumbled out of the city and its piles of IBSN 9788494046049; €3.50) caffeine to be hot it would come out of hot Cenital had already won the Celsius corpses, and arrived at the eco-village, where bubbling springs such as Old Faithful. Award at the Semana Negra Festival. (The he was accepted, and while he had no luck This book is often called the “before and Nevertheless I resolved to try to learn to like coincidence in the “celsius” names involves a converting its members to Jesus, he was able after” novel in Spanish science fiction. the stuff. For two weeks I made myself drink long story that doesn’t matter here.) Bueso’s to organize a school. Published in 1984, and written a few years a cup of the stuff every day. I also made a lot previous novel, Diástole [Diastole], a horror Except for Teo, though, the inhabitants earlier when Marín was only 22 years old, it of grimaces and scorched my tongue no few novel about a vampire with a different twist, seem to be good for little more than smoking proved that a Spanish author could write an times. It was not long, though, before I began also won the Celsius Award last year. Since weed, having sex, and growing dreadlocks. ambitious literary work of science fiction. liking the caffeine buzz I got from the nasty then, Cenital has been nominated for a 2013 But crises loom: by mistake, there’s no seed This might sound odd. Of course Spanish stuff. Ignotus Award, the Spanish equivalent to the for the wheat fields, and worse yet, they’re authors could – but they had to believe that Had it not been for the caffeine buzz I Hugos, which will be awarded in December. running low on condoms. themselves, and they had reason to doubt it. might not have persevered, that and the fact In a newspaper interview, Bueso said he Perhaps because I’ve spent too much time For the previous two centuries, realism and that I discovered if you put a sugar free candy wanted to write an unconventional dystopia, on the internet, Destral’s rants seemed a little naturalism had reigned supreme in Spanish into it the stuff is not too bad. It took two one that didn’t involve an autocratic, evil tedious, although they were more compelling literature. Despite “futurist” authors like Nilo weeks of struggle before I became an addict government. Instead, he was drawn to the than the average angry blog. Still, they’re María Fabra, Spanish science fiction (and and needed my fix every day. Along this little consequences of energy use in modern society, flashbacks, and the chapters that introduce fantasy and horror) didn’t exist and wasn’t journey I have discovered that two particularly to the idea that petroleum won’t characters are also flashbacks, so the actual possible. convenience stores, Thornton’s and Speedway, last forever. You could call the resulting novel time moving the plot forward is limited. The In the English-speaking world, science offer more things than a fullscale coffeehouse. science fiction, or you could call it an alternate novel resembles a mosaic more than a fiction set down its roots in the early 20th These fast stores actually offer sugar free history. You can’t call it pretty. conventional story-driven narrative, although century, first as pulp and then as more serious cappucinos. I really like these. These sugar The novel opens in 2008 when a young each little part is told well enough to keep the works. Spain had its pulp too, starting from the free cappucinos are cheaper than the cups man called Destral gets a job managing spy book interesting. And, slowly, something ugly 1950s, although its authors usually wrote from full scale coffeehouses. satellites for an espionage agency, which alerts starts to loom in the distance. under Anglo-Saxon pseudonyms like Louis G. I have developed a fondnesss for him to the fact that petroleum production has Destral notices that the roads, which had Milk or George H. White at the behest of something called Mexican Organic from local reached its peak: oil companies, especially been clogged to uselessness by abandoned publishers, who did not think openly Spanish coffeehouse Highland Coffee but since it is government-run ones, which are the lion’s cars, have been cleared to the point of being authors, pulp or serious, would sell. Top more than two dollars a cup I restrict my share, have found it strategic to lie about how passable in one lane. Someone wants to go English-language authors like Alfred Bester indulgence in this stuff to pay days. When I much reserves exist, while in fact the reserves somewhere and has the sustained manpower to and Roger Zelazny were available in was sure I was addicted to coffee I took an idle are close to zero. push aside all those hulks. The flashbacks also translation, though, and they made their mark. look around WalMart coffeemakers. They This inspires Destral to act. He starts to grow increasingly brutal, a hint of what’s to From 1968 to 1982, a fanzine with a ranged from a Rival going for nine dollars to blog(!), ranting about the coming energy crisis come. It’s no secret that the anarchy following professional attitude, Nueva Dimension, edited a Keurig selling for $169. There were also and inviting people to join him in creating a the collapse of civilization has left most people by Domingo Santos, provided budding authors many more brands of coffee than I had self-sustaining hippy eco-village. In the next dead and too many of the survivors reduced to with a chance to grow, and some solid works expected. I was surprised at some of the exotic chapter, set in 2014, the little settlement is savagery and cannibalism. began to appear. But nothing caught readers’ brands being offered. It became clear to me running successfully, almost idyllically. Or so I had suspected from the beginning that the attention like Lágrimas de luz. that coffee was a much bigger business than I it seems. eco-village’s inhabitants would be put to a The novel is set in the far future, the Third had thought. I will have to do more research Short chapters interweave the past, the test. And they are. Bueso’s earlier works have Middle Ages, and the protagonist is a young before deciding on a coffeemaker. I would present, the blog, and citations from real life been horror, and this book returns to horror at man named Hamlet Evans. He lives in a small also have to find a place for one, not easy in a by Thomas Friedman, Mad Max, H.G. Wells, the end. town that manufactures food and aspires to house stuffed full of books. and Richard Heinberg, among others. In The odd structure works well enough, more in life than toiling in a factory, numbed flashbacks, we’re introduced one by one to giving it an air a bit more like a documentary by drugs and sex. He wants to be a poet, A DYSTOPIA MADE IN SPAIN some of the members of the eco-village and than a novel. At times the dialog sounds false, specifically one of the bards whose songs Review by Sue Burke of learn how they came to be there. especially in the final conflict. But that final celebrate the Corporation that expands the CENITAL For example, Teo had been a priest who conflict makes all the parts in the book fall human empire and protects it from its enemies. [At Zenith] lost his parish to the disaster when cheap oil suddenly and satisfactorily into place. Cenital He is accepted, trains at the bards’ monastery, by Emilio Bueso ran out in 2012, which meant the end to trade faces tough competition for the Ignotus, but and is assigned his first military ship. (Salto de Página; 2012; and even farming, since farms needed fuel to it’s a worthy contender. Soon he learns that the glorious triumphs Alexiad October 2013 Page 9 of the empire are anything but: indigenous life crisis, and I have witnessed that too many By way of contrast, not only were there trip of three years ago when we went out there forms are cruelly wiped out and the planets’ Spanish science fiction fans do not yet believe donut burgers for sale, but the makers had a three times and never did get to the place. resources are stripped as the Corporation that Spanish authors can write as well as new way to shorten human lives; donut sloppy Checked into the hotel and went downtown expands its iron grasp. Disillusioned, Hamlet English-language authors. (I try to convince joes. They should have a cardiac bypass booth to have dinner with my ninety-four-year-old can no longer compose acceptable epic poems. them otherwise.) The road still heads uphill, at the fair. relative, her son and daughter-in-law, and the He resigns and is set down on the first but the problems are economic now, not I couldn’t upgrade the phones until the grandson and his wife of the relative who gave available planet, which turns out to be under artistic. twentieth. Which was when we went back. It me a big leg-up in the family history business. punishment for a rebellion against the Rafael Marín, by the way, has continued to was old people’s day, and I only had to pay a It was quite fun, especially when Jack (the old Corporation. He barely survives, eventually write and now has a long list of outstanding dollar to get in. Now we have telephones that cousin’s son) told about how he had been escaping to join a small theater group and then works to his name. Lágrimas de Luz is still in run Windows 8™K®© Bill Gates is GOD!, more talking to another man at an Episcopal a circus. The Corporation, meanwhile, decides print after all these years. advanced (for some values of advanced) than conference and discovered, to their mutual that no entertainment that fails to extol its any computer we have. amazement, that they were related. greatness can continue to exist, and sends ON NOT GOING TO WORLDCON There were other preparations to make. Monday morning we set out for Little troops to wipe them out. Non-Trip Report by Joseph T Major Hotel reservations, now much easier thanks to Rock. Part of which involved going by Hamlet escapes again, and he decides to the Internet. The last time we went to Jackson, Tennessee. Everything in Jackson is continue an outlaw artistic existence to defy Arkansas, there was the Corvette convention “Casey Jones” the way everything in the Corporation. in Bowling Green, the which led to some Louisville is “Derby” (except when it’s “Falls Marín himself has called the novel an amusing (in retrospect, nerve-wracking in of the Ohio”) and everything in San Antonio is “ambitious space opera,” which it is, offering performance) events with hotels. Also the “Alamo”. But John Luther “Casey” Jones careful characterization and thematic setting up of meetings with family members. came from Cayce, Kentucky, a place I’ve development. Hamlet matures as a man and an Friday morning was interesting. I thought been through. It has a stop light. The two artist in a fully-imagined universe. Like most I had one more bottle of Pentasa (for my names are pronounced the same, which makes first novels, it’s not perfect, especially some of Crohn’s Disease) than I did. So I had to call some interesting consequences should my the wooden and long-winded dialogue, but the the insurance, the doctor, and the pharmacy. cousin Cayce Jones ever meet an antiquarian action scenes are riveting and the prose is The doctor’s was interesting, as they only or railroad buff. (No, he’s not named after polished, at times even soaring. switched off the answering service about an John Luther Jones. There’s a identity matter As critic Mariela González pointed out in hour after they said the office opened. involved.) her analysis, Lágrimas de Luz: However, the pharmacy did have a fill in order Looking at us before the move to Postmodernidad y estilo en la ciencia ficción of Pentasa and it was only $$, about two-thirds Frankfort, you would have thought we three española [Tears of Light: Postmodernism and of what a full order is by mail brothers had a sister. Close enough, my Style in Spanish Science Fiction], the novel There were so many plans and preparations And this would be my last day at work for mother looked after her niece, Cheryl, enough makes a clean break from pulp. It features to make. Our Saturdays were taken. On two weeks. So, before leaving, I put my Yoda to the point that she started considering protagonist who is hardly a hero, and its August 3, we went to get our eyes examined, figurine (“Give you wisdom, I will.” Go have Cheryl’s children as her grandchildren. I themes include the search for beauty, and the it being that time of year. The optometrist it out with Kermit, dude,) in front of the hadn’t seen Cheryl in a few years (she and her crisis and alienation of youth. Rather than save charged $$$ for two pair of free glasses. keyboard and closed the door to the office. husband hadn’t been able to get to my niece’s the universe, Hamlet can barely save himself, On the tenth, I took the car in and got the Grant had gone to the wound healing wedding, for example), and we stopped off in and the universe might not even merit saving: oil changed. After having to spend $$$ for clinic, where they rewrapped his foot. It’s Memphis to reconnect. After talking for way no lightweight escapism here. two new tires the last time I had them look at been healing for 36 weeks. That exacerbated too long about the old days, we had to set off, The story also draws on Spain’s own the car, I was pleasantly surprised to find that his leg cramps, so he took the day off. He had but Cheryl may join us for Our Birthday. medieval past and brings it into the future. The nothing was all that wrong and the car was up dinner with us and Tim and Elizabeth. That afternoon was when it happened. The bards’ songs echo works like El Cid that had to driving there and back again. You never Lisa had to work Saturday. We took Grant engine died on I-40, about thirty miles out of once been popularly sung throughout the land can tell, can you? to get his TARC3 bus tickets and had Little Rock. I called AAA and my cousin – a past oral culture updated for the novel’s On the twelfth, I went to see my doctor. breakfast, then Grant went to drop off his George. AAA sent a quite cheerful towing present. The novel also responds in its own He listened to my heart and lungs, reviewed week’s supplies at work. Laundry is always a guy who was going to take his first vacation in way to Robert Heinlein’s Space Troopers and my blood sugar tests, and ordered some more great burden, since Lisa’s socks need special years next week, riding his motorcycle down openly draws on themes from Moby Dick and tests at the lab. If he were not to call the next care. to Biloxi. We wished him well, or better at other classics. day everything would be satisfactory, and he After work, we went and picked up Lisa’s least than the squashed armadillo we had The surprise of Lágrimas de luz didn’t didn’t call. glasses, ate dinner, and did some final book stopped just short of. Omen, anyone? usher in a sudden boom in Spanish science On the seventeenth, we went to the NOTA shopping for Grant, who wanted some more My cousin George met us at the Pep Boys. fiction. That waited until the 1990s with works meeting and the Kentucky State Fair. The books for his bus ride. We got home around He took us to the meeting we had been by authors like Juan Miguel Aguilera, Elia birds and the beasts were there — Raptor sunset, and proceeded to load the car. Then intending to go to, where 20 relatives were Barceló, Javier Negrete, and Rodolfo Rehabilitation had an owl and a bald eagle, Lisa cleaned out the litter boxes. waiting to hear the news from out east. Martínez, among many others, but the door and it was dairy cow day in the animal barn. Sunday was an easy drive down to Afterwards, he took us to the hotel and we had been opened. The genre continues to Big baboons, drunk monkeys, and elephants Nashville. We found McKay’s Bookstore out checked in. struggle, especially in the current economic with allergies were absent. on Old Hickory Boulevard, finally — see our Tuesday morning, George showed up Page 10 October 2013 Alexiad again and took me back to the Pep Boys. The was named Nathan. Another piquancy for us Saga, Volume 1 written by Brian K. Tansy Rayner Roberts, Jim C. Hines, and John new alternator cost $400+. I was beginning to and The Guns of the South, where Turtledove Vaughn, illustrated by Fiona Staples Scalzi have in common is that they don’t have concerns. But we went back to the hotel had him running for President of the CSA. (Image Comics) understand “The mad dogs have kneed us in and then George took Lisa and me to pick up Everyone at the reunion asked after Delta and the groin.”? his wife, Anita, after which we went to the Mildred. Best Dramatic Presentation (Long Form): The changes in the fan Hugos made last nearby nursing home to see our cousin the Just as everyone in San Antonio asked The Avengers Screenplay & Directed by year were supposed to end bloggers getting Rev. James E. Major, and his wife, Lillie. after us, I hear. I understand it was a good Joss Whedon (Marvel Studios, Disney, awards in a field that didn’t pertain to them, They have been married for 71 years. Worldcon, except for the “fan” Hugos. And Paramount) but did give them a credit. Instead, one person In 1930. the First Baptist Church of we would have loved to see San Antonio on the Hugo Committee seems to have ignored Conway, Arkansas received a new pastor, the again. Best Dramatic Presentation (Short Form): the rules. As long as this goes on, the mad Reverend E. P. J. Garrott. This is the Back to Detroit next year. Game of Thrones: “Blackwater” Written dogs will knee us in the groin over and over grandfather of Elizabeth, her siblings Alice, by George R.R. Martin, Directed by again. Jack, and Bill, and their first cousin Max The attendance was in the average range Neil Marshall. Created by David Bahner of Chattanooga, who you will for a WorldCon these days. I had heard Benioff and D.B. Weiss (HBO) LONESTARCON III remember from our trip to ReConstruction in concerns that the con might be too Con Report by Leigh Kimmel 2009. So we had to go there. Rev. Jim underattended, because of the competition. Best Editor — Short Form: remembered Faddy Garrott, very well, and In the month after, I ran across a blog by Stanley Schmidt LoneStarCon III was the 71st World very positively. someone feeling all put out about those old- Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), held We also saw the old Major graves in timey written skiffy types who didn’t get it Best Editor — Long Form: in San Antonio, Texas over the weekend of Conway — George’s and Jim’s ancestor had and how they would all soon fade away. The Patrick Nielsen Hayden August 29 to September 2, 2013. Because the settled there, after all. All thanks to my cousin Worldcon didn’t offer cosplay and Worldcon is intended as an annual gathering George, who performed prodigies of kindness spontaneous fan fiction readouts. Best Professional Artist: of science fiction fans from around the world, and thoughtfulness. And no one — not one of the commenters John Picacio it is held in a different city each year so that Went out to dinner that night. The Check — suggested putting on a bid that would everyone has a chance to have one nearby Engine light went on. Oh dear. feature these things. Or even volunteering for Best Semiprozine: some year. Wednesday morning we checked out and a program item of them. Clarkesworld edited by Neil Clarke, Jason Because of the distance, we had to leave on went back to Pep Boys. This time it was the That is to say, we have consumers, not Heller, Sean Wallace, and Kate Baker Sunday in order to get there in time for load-in O2 sensors. Guess what? Another $400+. So participants. on Wednesday. We would usually leave in the much for hotel bills. I called and canceled, “Best Fanzine”: early afternoon, but we were supposed to get and canceled and called again, being HUGO RESULTS SF Signal edited by John DeNardo, JP some consignment merchandise from a immensely glad I at least had unlimited cell Frantz, and Patrick Hester business associate, and he was at a show that phone minutes. Then we drove back to Best Novel: weekend and wouldn’t be out until early Henderson. It was 460 miles. Redshirts: A Novel with Three Codas by Best Fancast: evening. So we couldn’t leave until he’d John Scalzi (Tor) SF Squeecast, Elizabeth Bear, Paul dropped his stuff off, which meant we didn’t We stayed with Lisa’s father and his wife Cornell, Seanan McGuire, Lynne M. get to my folks’ place until almost bedtime. for a couple of days, went back and had the Best Novella: Thomas, Catherynne M. Valente However, I was able to get some critical normal weekend and then . . . since the car “The Emperor’s Soul” by Brandon ( P r e s e n t e r s ) , a n d D a v i d laundry done, so it wasn’t a disaster. seemed to be working and cousin-in-law Lucy Sanderson (Tachyon Publications) McHone-Chase (Technical Producer) On Monday we drove over to some friends Alves had been sooo disappointed, we went in Springfield, Missouri. At least we were able down to the lovely town of Guntersville, Best Novelette: “Best Fan Writer”: to get there in time to visit, because we had to Alabama and saw a set of relatives from “The Girl-Thing Who Went Out for Tansy Rayner Roberts leave very early on Tuesday morning to get to different parts of the family. And more Sushi” by Pat Cadigan (Edge of San Antonio in a reasonable amount of time. relatives the next day, in Nashville, including Infinity, Solaris) “Best Fan Artist”: And that was allowing for delays, which we cousin Jim who had met cousin Jack at the Galen Dara had in abundance. Just outside of Joplin, Episcopal conference. After which we went to Best Short Story: Missouri, the police had completely closed McKay’s Bookstore, again. “Mono no aware” by Ken Liu (The The mad dogs have kneed us in down I-44, and we sat there trying to find out Then, just for variety, we stayed a couple Future is Japanese, VIZ Media LLC) the groin, again. on our iPad whether there’d been a bad of nights with Lisa’s Aunt Delta, went to the accident. As it turned out, they were just Forrester Reunion, and saw Delta’s sister Best Related Work: The John W. Campbell Award for the best installing a huge sign and didn’t want to risk Mildred again (we had seen her during that Writing Excuses, Season 7 by Brandon new professional science fiction or fantasy any trouble. Then we had heavy traffic around long drive the week before). Lisa’s maternal Sanderson, Dan Wells, Mary Robinette writer of 2011 or 2012, sponsored by Dell Dallas and Austin, both of which slowed us grandmother (Delta’s and Mildred’s mother) Kowal, Howard Tayler, and Jordan Magazines (not a Hugo Award): down. was Azzie Forrester. One of the Forrester Sanderson Mur Lafferty By the time we rolled into San Antonio, it ancestors dropped the last two letters of the was getting dark. We were staying at a less name. Supposedly, one of his descendants Best Graphic Story: Would it be fair to say that something else expensive hotel on the outskirts of town for Alexiad October 2013 Page 11 the first night, and we had a little trouble “the general condition of the house” and we there were simply too many people wanting card went astray, and then we get to the finding it. Worse, they didn’t have any bell should look for a local agent to write us a Robert Silverberg’s signature to get though the parking lot only to discover that the cost of carts, and our merchant cart was behind a policy with another company. line more than once, and I only got Elizabeth parking had doubled for the weekend. bunch of merchandise, so we ended up Getting dropped was upsetting, but not Moon to sign anything because a friend took Once we got in and got set up, sales did carrying everything in by hand. nearly as annoying as being lied to about it. If those books through the line. However, Tanya seem to be coming faster than on the first two After a reasonable night’s sleep, we got up they had no intention of renewing us, why did Huff’s line was much more manageable, and days. However, we did make the unhappy and had the hotel’s complimentary breakfast. they act as if they’d keep us if we just fixed she was extremely gracious about signing for discovery that one of our products from a new Then we got our stuff back in the van and their laundry list of stuff? And then why did the full time in spite of having recently broken wholesaler had hidden damage. It looks like headed in to the convention center. It was they try to tell me that their decision to not an arm in an accident while loading bales of their supplier on that item has quality control already getting hot when we arrived, and due renew was based on a failure to make a repair hay. issues, so I don’t know if we’ll continue to a miscommunication, we thought that that wasn’t even on their list? However, it soon became obvious that the ordering that item. having our merchandise loaded in on pallets So I was pretty upset when we finally got next signing session would be more difficult to I had some more signings to get through. would be a separate charge. As a result, we to the hotel where we’d be staying during the get through. Ben Bova’s line was already Our biggest concern was Harry Turtledove, carried two loads in by hand on our own cart con. I set up my laptop and wrote a blog post forming when I got through Tanya Huff’s line since we had several boxes of his books. before the situation was clarified. detailing my experience. I don’t know if it’ll the last time, and I really wanted to see him However, he signed them while he was going It was really interesting to watch the union make any difference, but at least I got it out because he was co-editor of an anthology that through the dealers’ room, so what had looked guys handling the palletized merchandise. One there. I’d been invited to contribute to. Although I like a non-doable task got a whole lot more of the forklifts was equipped with a scales, so The next morning we got up and headed wasn’t going to bring it up because I didn’t manageable. I had been ready to write off the that the guy operating it just had to lift each back to the convention center to get ready to want him to feel any pressure (they were Charlaine Harris signing when I heard it was pallet a few inches to get its weight, which do business. We had some last-minute setup to running late on editorial decisions), I wanted limited to only a hundred people, but when wasadded to the list. Then another forklift complete, and I was getting annoyed with the to see whether he’d recognize my name and they didn’t get the anticipated turnout, I was operator would come with a regular forklift continual assumptions that Of Course my connect it with my story. able to get everything of hers signed after all. and take the pallet to the appropriate tables. capacity to deal with stuff was infinitely As it turned out, the line was moving By the time the dealers’ room closed for Once we got everything in, I had to move elastic and I could contort myself to handle quickly enough that he didn’t have time to the night, we were tired enough we decided to the van to a nearby lot before we could start any task that was put to me. So I got a little really look at my badge and see my name, just knock off early for the night, rather than setting up. We hadn’t gotten very far before sharp with some people, and got called on it. since the books I was having him sign were try to go to parties. I did get a little writing we discovered that the tables for our booth When the dealers’ room finally opened for merchandise and didn’t need to be done before bedtime. were only six-foot instead of eight-foot. So we business, things got off to a very slow start. personalized. But I figure it doesn’t matter, Sunday morning I woke up with a nasty asked the dealers’ room coordinator what had Maybe we’ve just had our expectations shifted since it wouldn’t be fair to slow the line while headache, which was not a good way to start happened. Turned out the decorator thought by our experiences at anime conventions, but we chatted when so many other people were an important sales day. A good hot shower that six-foot tables looked nicer in the booths, it felt almost dead for such a big convention. I waiting. So I got in the line for Greg Benford loosened it up a little, but it lingered with me never mind that we’d paid for eight-foot even had some writing time when I wasn’t and got a few books done before we ran out of all day long. tables. standing in line helping a friend get stuff time. We had some more signings to get to, and Some of the people who’d gotten booths signed. By then it was time to get our dealer tables some, such as David Brin’s, attracted long just let it slide. However, our setup depended After the dealers’ room closed for the closed for the night. We headed over to the lines. I didn’t find out that Lois McMaster on our having all the table surface we’d paid evening, we connected with some FOSFA con suite to hang out for a while, then went Bujold was signing until it was too late and the for, so we got them swapped out before we friends and headed over to the con suite, back to the convention center to check out the line far too long, but there was almost no line started setting out the t-shrts. It made a huge where we connected with some more friends artists’ reception. They had a bunch of fancy at all for John Maddox Roberts. difference, and I could see we’d have a lot from Louisville. We also got the news that Joe food, but far too much of it was spicy. Worse, However, we also had some unwelcome more merchandise out. Even then, we had and Lisa Major had bigtime car problems and they didn’t have a proper bag check set up, so excitement when someone spilled a big cup of some trouble with the tables we’d brought weren’t going to be attending after all. I was we had to suffer through having our bags pop right behind our booth and it started from home not being as wide as we’d planned. disapppointed, since I’d been looking forward inspected on the way out. spreading in an area where we’d piled boxes When we were just about finished, I took to talking to them. Then we went back over to the Marriott of backstock. We had to quickly move those a break and checked my e-mail. This was Then we headed back to the hotel for the Rivercenter to see some of the parties. We boxes to keep them from getting soaked, and when I discovered a missive from our evening. I did some catching up on my e-mail checked out the Sime~Gen party, where they then we had to wait for the convention center homeowners’ insurance company, informing and other computer stuff, and we decided to were showing a video to promote the new to get someone in to mop up the mess. us that they wouldn’t be renewing our policy. turn in a little early. game Ambrov X. Then we visited the Helsinki We also had some hard decisions to make. Since I had been under the impression that if Friday morning we got up fairly early to bid party. We were going to look into some of Detroit had won the 2014 NASFiC, but they we did all the repairs they’d listed in the letter get breakfast. Then we headed over to the the other parties, but they were on another had a really iffy table setup, so we had to they’d sent in June, we’d be kept, I quick got convention center to get into the dealers’ room floor and it was getting late, so we decided to decide how many tables to buy. Also, Spokane on the phone to ask what was going on. First and get our tables ready. We also needed to call it quits and head back to the hotel to get had won the 2015 Worldcon bid (apparently they try to claim that we were supposed to get our votes in for the site selection for both some sleep. the organizer of the Orlando bid had alienated replace the entire roof and had failed to, and the 2015 Worldcon and next year’s NASFiC. Saturday morning came way too early, and a lot of people), so we started the process of when I called them on that, they said that they In the afternoon the process of getting we had to struggle to get to the dealers’ room considering the probable costs of a trip out weren’t going to renew the policy based on autographs began in earnest. As it turned out, on time. It didn’t help that my hotel room key there in relation to what we could anticipate Page 12 October 2013 Alexiad making. welcome after all that work. baking under the 100ºF afternoon sunshine in historic sights of Avilés, mostly churches and After the dealers’ room closed for the Then we headed back to the hotel room to Castilla-Leon, then snaked for an hour through colonnaded streets, and not many of them. In night, we headed over to the con suite to grab rest and recover after the load-out process. We the breathtaking valleys and peaks of the medieval days, the town had four streets, each some munchies. Then we went up to the knew that we wouldn’t be able to get very far Cantabria Mountains. In the city of Oriense in only a few blocks long; the city walls were SFWA suite for our one and only visit of the if we tried to take off right after load-out, so the Asturias foothills, where it was only 68ºF taken down in the early modern era as the city con (having been too busy with our business staying one last night would enable us to start degrees, I caught a commuter train to Avilés, grew. I had time to buy a newspaper and eat concern the rest of the weekend). While we the journey home rested and refreshed. located on the Atlantic coast, and walked breakfast, a tortilla española, which is a were there, we got into a conversation about On Tuesday morning we had one last several blocks to my hotel, El Magistral. Spanish potato omelet. why New York City never gets the Worldcon. breakfast at the hotel before carrying our My room in the 19th-century building was In the morning, authors were being I pointed out that it was the location of several belongings out and checking out. Then we hit tucked under the eaves and my windows were interviewed in the large tent, which also early Worldcons, but that was when NYC the road for the very long trip to our friends in mere skylights – but that was just as well. I got housed book sellers, alongside the Cultural prices were much lower, and now it’s pretty Springfield, Missouri. We had some trouble on a chair to look out and caught a view of the Center. Alejo Cuervo, whom I had dined with much priced itself out of reach for a getting on and off the roads when we needed docks and an oil refinery with hellish flames the previous night, interviewed Emilio Bueso Worldcon. to get gas and some food for the trip, and by on two smokestacks bright enough to serve as and many in attendance, including me, were Then we headed back to the hotel for some the time we arrived in Springfield, I was nightlights from over a mile away. Other than convinced to buy Bueso’s award-winning sleep before tackling the final day of the struggling to stay awake enough to drive. that, the room was clean and almost spacious. book, Cenital [At Zenith], about a fortified convention. The walk back to the van was After a good night’s sleep, we helped our Avilés (population 83,000) had been a community in a societal collapse. He happily through some very crowded streets in terrible friend run an errand, and then continued small but important port town in the Middle autographed copies afterward. Star Wars heat, so we decided to take a different road across Missouri and Illinois to my folks’ place. Ages; 20th century industrialization made the troopers had begun to wander through the back to the hotel to avoid the worst traffic We arrived right as they were sitting down to city boom. But when factories began to close streets, availing themselves to photo problems. supper, so we joined them for supper before in the 1980s, Avilés overcame the crisis by opportunities. Monday morning we got breakfast before getting some laundry done and taking care of reviving its medieval center and catering to The publisher of Terra Nova: An heading back over to the convention center for other essentials. tourism and shopping. That’s what created Anthology of Contemporary Spanish Science our final day of the convention. When we got Wednesday morning, we took off from my Celsius 232 (which equals Fahrenheit 451): Fiction caught up with me to give me my to the parking lot, we were happily surprised folks’ place and headed back home. We got ambitious fans convinced the city to sponsor a contributor’s copy as a translator. I took a little to get the weekday rate in spite of it being a there in good time to pick up the cat at the literary festival similar to one about noir in walk in a formal garden next to the Cultural holiday, which saved a little money. vet’s and get her home. After supper, I nearby Gijón, this one focusing on science Center and returned in time to catch that We got our tables open and settled in to get unloaded the merchandise back into the fiction, fantasy, and horror. publisher, Rodolfo Martínez, presenting some final sales in before time to pack up and storage unit to prepare for getting the van to By the time I had unpacked, it was past 9 Eduardo Vaquerizo and Steve Redwood and load out. However, sales continued to be slow the shop for a much-needed oil change. And p.m., and I didn’t know exactly where the their latest books. and disappointing. We ended up starting to thus we completed our Worldcon trip. festival was, but I set out uphill through I had lunch with Lola Robles, an author pack early, but we were still packing when the pedestrian streets toward downtown a few with a story in Terra Nova, and had fabada dealers’ room closed and they started bring UNCONVENTIONAL blocks away, and found it alongside the main asturiana, a bean soup made with smoked pallets around. We had so much stuff left that CONVENTION square: tents and book stands next to the meats and sausages, a local culinary treasure. it took nine pallets to load it all. Celsius 232, the second annual science Cultural Center. A friend led me to the activity We returned to the auditorium to catch the Once we were ready, I went over and fiction, fantasy, and horror festival in Avilés, underway in the Cultural Center auditorium, announcement of some new books, including retrieved the van from the parking lot. Then Spain, July 31 to July 3, 2013 dramatic presentations of short stories by a Terra Nova II, which was accepting stories, the forklift drivers started bringing stuff out to Report by Sue Burke group called the Children of Mary Shelley. I and a new publishing line: Fantascy, a branch us. Not having to haul the unsold merchandise had missed talks earlier in the day by Ian of Random House Mondadori, which would out did reduce the misery of the hideous heat, Wednesday, July 31 Watson, Joe Abercrombie, Marc Pastor, Joe publish 15 to 20 books a year, both Spanish but we still had to load everything into the Madrid – Avilés Courtenay Grimwood, and Paul McAuley, writers and foreign writers in translation, such van, which had become a sweatbox. I had to After a short walk in the early afternoon to along with a number of Spanish authors. After as Paolo Bacigalupi and China Miéville. stop and take a break in the middle of the the neighborhood train station, then a quick the presentation, I found some more friends More authors were interviewed: Lauren process because I was getting sick, but once I crosstown commute to big Chamartín station, and we went out for dinner in the medieval Beukes, Nina Allan, Javier Negrete, and José went inside to get some chilled water and a bit I got on the high-speed train headed north and heart of Avilés. I enjoyed a local favorite, Carlos Somoza. I sneaked out to watch the of time in air conditioning, I felt better enough surprise! someone was in my seat. “I’d like to fresh grilled sardines. Asturian School of Antique Fencing present that I could resume. With some help from our sit next to my boyfriend,” she explained, “so Movies were being shown each night in classes and demonstrations, including the use friends, we were able to get done in a would you mind changing tickets? Mine’s first the main square – Brave on Wednesday – but of medieval armor. Although the Children of reasonable time. class.” No problem. So I spent the five-hour by then I’d missed most of the film, so I went Mary Shelley were performing again and the As we headed back to take one last look trip in a big comfortable seat, and even got a to my hotel and to bed. movie Willow was showing in the main around our booth and make sure we hadn’t left free meal: gazpacho, salt cod and white bean square, by then it was my bedtime. anything behind, somebody came by with the salad, and chicken curry, with beer or wine if Thursday, August 1 announcement that there was pizza in the art I had wanted. Avilés Friday, August 2 show area. So we headed over and got We barreled at 155mph through fields of Activities didn’t start until after 11 a.m., so Avilés ourselves a few slices, which were quite harvested wheat and ripening sunflowers I spent an hour in the morning touring the I bought a newspaper, which had an article Alexiad October 2013 Page 13 about Celsius 232, had another tortilla for Saturday, August 3 breakfast, then visited the Avilés History Avilés – Madrid Dewachen August 2013 Museum, with exhibits in Spanish and I had to leave for home Saturday morning, Trinlay Khadro, 6918 N. 41st Street, Asturianu, the local language. I learned, which was too bad because Saturday was a Milwaukee, WI 53209 among other things, that in medieval times the great day at Celsius 232. Robert Sawyer, city had cornered the salt trade, and that it had Christopher Priest, and David Moody The Drink Tank #347, #348, #349, #350, been home to Pedro Menéndez de Avilés, discussed “I Saw My Work on the Screen,” #351, #352, #353, #354, #355, #356 founder of Saint Augustine, Florida. and David Simon spoke about The Wire. In Christopher J. Garcia Back at the festival tent, Cristina Macía addition to writers, there were presentations by [email protected] was interviewing Ismael Martínez Biurrun and visual artists, makeup artists, and chefs. A free http://www.efanzines.com Clara Peñalver. Macía is married to British lunch of fabada was served to 250 people. The author Ian Watson and is translating the Song night’s festivities included an espicha, an Fadeaway #37 of Fire and Ice novels into Spanish, which Asturian stand-up dinner featuring hard cider, Robert Jennings, 29 Whiting Road, have been selling proportionately even better conversation, and in this case, a costume Oxford, MA 01540-2035 USA in Spain than the US. Then Victor Conde, contest. [email protected] whose story I translated for Terra Nova, Instead I caught a train for an uneventful http://www.efanzines.com presented his latest book; and Ana Campoy ride back to hot, bustling Madrid. and Sofía Rhei presented their new children’s In all, the four-day festival had a lot in Fish Out of Water #546, #547, #548, #549, books and had fun comparing ideas. A boy common with a standard convention, with #550, #551, #552, #553 sitting next to me held a stack of Campoy’s writers presenting books and many literature- Marty Helgesen, 11 Lawrence Avenue, novels on his lap, eagerly awaiting the related activities. On the other hand, it was Malverne, New York 11565-1406 USA autograph session. meant to attract tourists, too, so all the events The audience grew to standing room only were open to the public and costs were Lofgeornost #112 August 2013 for the next panel, which presented the underwritten by the city. By Saturday a lot of Fred Lerner, 81 Worcester Avenue, White anthology Más Alla de Némesis [Beyond people had come, and the whole thing might River Junction, VT 05001-8011 USA Nemesis]. It’s based on the novel Mundos en be repeated next year. [email protected] la Eternidad [Worlds in Eternity] by Juan Miguel Aguilera and Javier Redal, a space Distance traveled: 800km/500 miles as the MT Void V. 32 #5 August 2, 2013 — V. 32 opera that has reached classic status in Spain – crow flies. #13 September 27, 2013 I believe it would win a Hugo if it were in Books read on the train: Historias del Crazy Mark and Evelyn Leeper, 80 Lakeridge English. Aguilera, Sofía Rhei, Eduardo Bar y otros relatos de lo imposible, by María Drive, Matawan, NJ 07747-3839 USA Vaquerizo, Rodolfo Martínez, and José Concepción Regueiro and Lola Robles. [email protected] Manuel Uría spoke about the excitement of Purchases: several books; a fabada kit of [email protected] revisiting those worlds. dried beans and smoked meats as a gift for my http://leepers.us/mtvoid A group of us including a few of those husband, which we can make when the WORLDCON BIDS authors went for lunch at a restaurant on a weather cools down, maybe in autumn; and a Opuntia #266. #267 historic colonnaded street that served hiking staff, a common souvenir because Dale Speirs, Box 6830, Calgary, Alberta 2016 outstanding personal pizzas. Asturias is famous for its mountain hiking, but T2P 2E7 CANADA Kansas City When we regrouped in the afternoon in the Madrid has mountain trails, too, so I plan to http://kansascityin2016.org/ Cultural Center auditorium, successive talks put it to use. The Reluctant Famulus #95 by David Moody, Robert J. Sawyer, David Thomas D. Sadler, 305 Gill Branch Road, Proposed Dates: August 18-22. Simon, Steven Erickson, and Christopher FANZINES Owenton, KY 40359- USA Priest entertained the audience with the help of [email protected] 2017 interpreter Diego García Cruz, one of the Beyond Bree August 2013, September 2013 http://www.efanzines.com Helsinki Celsius organizers and such a good interpreter Nancy Martsch, Post Office Box 55372, http://helsinkiin2017.org/ that he got rounds of applause and has his own Sherman Oaks, CA 91413-5372 USA Facebook fan page. [email protected] Japan I gravitated toward a nearby sidewalk café http://www.cep.unt.edu/bree.html http://nippon2017.org/ to have a couple of beers with friends, and Not available for The Usual; $15/year, $20 then to bed, although The Prestige, based on foreign, $10/year electronic. Montréal Christopher Priest’s book, was showing in the plaza. And after midnight, in a nearby Broken Toys #20, #21 New York cemetery, the Children of Mary Shelley hosted Taral Wayne a night of spooky poetry and music, which I [email protected] 2018 heard was tremendous fun. http://www.efanzines.com New Orleans Page 14 October 2013 Alexiad

http://neworleansin2018.org 2019 Dublin http://dublin2019.com/ Paris https://sites.google.com/site/parisin2019/ 2020 New Zealand http://nzin2020.org/ The 2014 NASFiC is Detcon 1, in Detroit. Dates: July 17-20, 2014 Guests of Honor: Steven Barnes John Picacio Bernadette Bosky, Arthur D. Hlavaty, and Kevin J. Maroney Helen Greiner Bill and Brenda Sutton ConChairs Emeritus Roger Sims and Fred Prophet (Co-Chairs of Detention, the 1959 Detroit Worldcon) http://detcon1.org Congratulations to Bernadette, Arthur, and Kevin, and Roger, on their recognition. The 2015 WorldCon is Sasquan, in Spokane, Washington: Dates: August 19-23, 2015. Guests of Honor: Brad W. Foster David Gerrold Vonda N. McIntyre Tom Smith Leslie Turek http://sasquan.org The race was a close one, with the Orlando bid being eliminated before Spokane passed Helsinki. Congratulations to Brad. Tragically, Sasquan co-chair Bobbie DuFault died on September 14. Our condolences to her family and to the committee. Alexiad October 2013 Page 15

speed and multi-lanes), I figure it is going to cannot use pennies. Still wishing you luck on bullet and buy some software — ignoring that Letters, we get letters be something along the line of nuclear and I the job search. it is nothing like what I have used over the don’t think trying to drive a little faster (or just Alexis — at least Lee could tell the driver years. For now I am using the separate but sit in traffic and. . . ) is going to get me out of was a woman. Glad that things were no worse. equal set up with an external hard drive to use the ground zero area (or at least not faster than The discussion of taxes is depressing. The two different Mac systems since the last few the damage can occur). most recent information I heard for the versions won’t work with the drawing softer I Sherlock Holmes — it took a bit of metropolitan D.C. area is that a family of 4 have used all these years. So, all I am doing is scrounging, but I found a free online site to needs at least $88,000 to just get by. Granted, postponing the inevitable. Just wish I had watch In Search of Sherlock Holmes. I had it I don’t know if getting by now includes cell gotten more accomplished. on my Netflix list and there did not seem to be phones, cable, and an annual vacation, but if it Yes, Andy Offutt will be missed. any progress over a year or two about its ever does, I must be doing something wrong. True, C’mell catnip fields and butterflies to you, becoming available. I watched it and enjoyed you can’t simply divide by 4 to get the gone on ahead. it greatly. It only goes to show me that I am requisite income for one person, but I have no Irony — just was looking at Foyle’s War not a true devotee since almost everything in idea how you make that calculation. information to see the timing of the the video was news to me. It also means I Depressing, since I have no cable, no vacation production. Just as I had Murdoch’s Mysteries From: Patrick McCray August 10, 2013 could appreciate it all as my first exposure. in well over 20 years, and my emergency cell pegged at much older— the same it true for [email protected] Hope Brad Foster is all healed after the phone in the car costs me $10 every three Foyle’s War. I had heard the new season was detached retina surgery, (okay — laptop acting months (no bells or whistles, it is just a simple up and running, but Netflix is quite a bit In the world of fandomish writings, feel up — need to stop and let it get over its snit). old phone), I would expect to be living better behind — the last season was out in 2010 and free to check out my typo-ridden (and slowly Luckily I have the originally saved one in than I am if I “only” need $22k a year. Ah season 8 is a 2013 production. Sigh, that proofread), 99,000-word episode companion another folder. True, I have lost all those well, as long as the bills eventually get paid. usually means I’ll see the episodes in a few for Dark Shadows, The Collins Chronicles, pearls of wisdom and I am not going to try to (Just one point of clarification — does the years unless I have the time to do research and written in sixty days. recreate. Man this didn’t last long — it has comment about those making over $100,000 see if I can locate any site that has free already started moving text etc — so I will should not get Social Security or Medicare — viewing of episodes. Yeah, that goes on the http://collinschronicles.com quit yet again for a while. I am guessing it has does that release them from the necessity of list of things to do RSN. something to do with the palm rests I put on it paying into it too?) No comment on the Triple Crown since we From: Sheryl L. Birkhead August 3, 2013 before I ever started to use it. Somewhere I all know how that went. 22509 Jonnie Court, Gaithersburg, MD have the mouse that came with it — means I Of course not. I am still irritated about all the text I have 20882-3422 USA cannot use it as a true laptop since I need a lost and effort that went in and then down the mouse pad, but almost anything helpful is Ah, seeing the mention about the recent drain. So, I will put this out of my misery now I am slowly (as in at a snail’s pace) making better than this. Three Stooges movie reminds me I ought to and try to get it mailed tomorrow . . . fingers inroads into the stacks of zines needing Okay, gave it time to “cool down” and consider putting it on the Netflix list . . . after crossed that I can actually print it! attention. While I was not paying attention a hauled out the mouse. Now let’s see how far I I do a little more research. I enjoyed Abbott satellite stack suddenly appeared in the can get before it starts hiccuping again. and Costello but only mildly enjoyed the From: Milt Stevens August 14, 2013 kitchen. I refuse to take a detailed look at this Visioncon is a new one to me. Three Stooges — so is it worth it now? 6325 Keystone Street, Simi Valley, CA new interloper until I have the original batch Contrary to Taral’s take on Brave, I Sue Burke — the hardest part of the written 93063-3834 USA cared for! enjoyed it . . . not great, but . . . I also admit driving exam might well be the vocabulary. [email protected] No excuses — just noting I have three that I enjoyed the horse she rode. A very While knowing what you should do, it might issues that have been sitting here patiently different movie might have been made if its be very difficult (it was for me when reading In Alexiad V12 #4, Joseph mentions waiting for some attention. Their time has primary focus was a adult audience. As it was, the questions!) to understand what is being organizing dinners. For several years, I had come. I did enjoy it. asked. That would make it highly frustrating the job of organizing dinners for the LASFS. Yes, I knew Frankfort was the Kentucky Lloyd — it will be interesting to see what — knowing the correct answer if you could The club thought they might attract members capitol — never knew why and it appears the Brad has to say after he reads your comment only figure out that was the question! who were no longer attending regular real story is misted in lore. So, we’ll never about the cataract surgery as a consequence of (okay-acting up again-be back “later”) meetings to attend occasional dinners or other know for sure why it is spelled the way it is. I the detached retina surgery, (oh yeah, all my Right — let’s try again (man this is getting gatherings. Initially, there were four dinners actually have several books on emergency previous comments about Brad and . . . got complicated!). a year. For each dinner, I had to arrange for a preparedness — all of which include the wiped out by the laptop — sorry) Question With any luck this might actually get restaurant and a speaker. Then I had to sweat 72-hour issue. Of course I have not followed about pennies — if they can no longer be mailed in the near future. I took off part of one until the very last minute when people would any of the directions. What I have done is to given in change, then the prices must now be day last week and actually devoted it totally to finally buy tickets. I gradually worked my give a lot of thought to it, so I know where to the nearest (5¢?) coin — right? How is sales working on getting some sketches closer to way out of a job. I reduced the number of most of the things I’d need to grab are located. tax now assessed Since it usually, depending, complete. Sigh — made me just want to spend dinners from four to two to one to zero. Years That won’t get me out of the house any faster, on location, makes the final price one that more time that way — but there is no later, someone explained that LASFS no but at least I’ll know where to look for what. would, often, make pennies necessary. Just question, that has to be done at the desktop longer had dinners because I got tired of If there is a true emergency around here (with curious since this seems to make prices go up and restricts anything else at the same time. organizing them. Nobody was interested only one or two roads out — that are all high a bit and the tax similarly — at least if you Eventually I am just going to have to bite the enough to organize dinners themselves. Page 16 October 2013 Alexiad

Guy Lillian told me that there submarine training but wound up captaining a would have missed in this timeline? Their to know as DragonCon, which is no more wasn’t a Faneds Feast — because destroyer in WWII, where he became “top desks were next to each other at NAES, which unless Ed Kramer decides to get up a I wasn’t there to organize it. man in CIC” and wound up in Washington, naturally threw them together sometimes, and committee and put on the show as before. If There are several ways to look at D.C. working on various aspects of Ginny said the first time he really looked at there are no buy-out provisions in the that. computerization of the Navy into the 50's. her was when she remarked that she had been founding documents, then option (b) is all that And then got a tombstone bump to Rear a precinct worker. Without that is available — until and unless Kramer does I noticed that bit about Dragoncon getting Admiral. “clubbability,” they might have passed — oh, something that allows the organization to rid of Kramer. Before that, I had seen a I had forgotten about the late, much go ahead with the cliche — like ships in the terminate the relationship for cause which mention that Kramer received $150,000 a year lamented Charles Sheffield’s speculation. It’s night. would, again, be according to the founding from Dragoncon. It occurred to me that I not particularly unlikely Heinlein might have documents. might have gone into doing the wrong type of risen to ship command by the time of WWII, Insightful, very well argued, Although I do not follow the DragonCon cons. For that sort of money, I could easily though why he would be commanding a and I tend to agree with your news closely, I am not aware that anyone has give up philosophical purity. If there were PT-boat is a head-scratcher in the first place, points. Heinlein examined is more suggested Kramer has breached fiduciary duty, seven people drawing that sort of money from and it’s even harder to figure out how he interesting than Heinlein idolized. which would be the gateway condition for the organization, Dragoncon has one huge might be in the Atlantic at all. Almost all his —JTM state law to intervene (i.e., legal forces outside overhead. At some point, the attendees might service after leaving the Academy was in the the founding documents). notice they weren’t getting a very good deal Pacific. Also true, he was rather expensively for their money. trained in operating the most advanced From: Cuyler “Ned” Brooks Aug. 17, 2013 mechanical ballistic computer afloat and 4817 Dean Lane, Lilburn GA 30047- They’ll be too busy counting stationed in 1933 on a destroyer that did not 4720 USA the numbers of each Doctor in have that computer. Perhaps that would have [email protected] the Doctor Who parade to care. provided a billet for him out of the Pacific. — JTM True, one can appeal to Ian Hays and to At least if this is August, it must be v.12#4. what appears to be an innate perversity in The actual data is missing from the header I noticed Richard Matheson had died. I BuPers and BuNav — but the appeal to line. And I see that you put the title in Greek never encountered the man even though we perversity is poor storytelling, and I have the with a “capital sigma” for the D - shouldn’t it had lived in the same area for the entire time I strong intuition that Heinlein would prefer any be a Delta? I might make these symbols here, have been in fandom. Matheson was guest of story made up about him be better told than but whether you would see them is a honor at the 1958 worldcon in Los Angeles. It that. crapshoot. only had an attendance of around 300, so it The speculation that appeals to me is a The Atlanta paper said that Dragon*Con wasn’t a very impressive event. I’ve heard he 50/50 possibility that he might have decided to did carry through the corporate flumdiggle to attended a World Fantasy Convention some go back to his first love, aviation — not as a divest itself of any connection with Ed Kramer years later. Other than that, he never attended pilot, but as an engineer. The 50% downside and that he accepted the payoff — whether he another convention. I’ve never heard any is that when he was retired he got as far away can still sue, who knows. Apparently anyone comments on Matheson based on the 1958 from day-to-day dealings with the Navy as he can sue over anything — but not necessarily convention. Nobody got mad at him, but could, so there’s a possibility that might be the with any success. The curious part is that after nobody seemed to notice him either. one area he would try to stay away from . . . all these years, no details of the alleged The royal baby is a cute little tyke. He but he did wind up in Philadelphia as a civilian August 28, 2013 offense have emerged, and he has never been probably won’t be king until he’s 80, but engineer working in aircraft materials convicted of anything. being a prince probably isn’t too bad. engineering, so who knows how to evaluate “The Kramer Problem” Well, I suggest that For your monarchist news, I see that that? the strategy you have reported in schematic is Princess Irina, the third daughter of ex-king From: Bill Patterson August 15, 2013 The intriguing possibility is that, from fraudulent on its face — exactly the sort of Michael I of Romania, has been charged in 1934 to 1944 is a period in which the character machinations the law is designed to prevent. It Oregon with running cock-fighting derbies. I’m always deeply skeptical about of military aviation changed radically. In seems to me the desire to separate themselves She is married to the mere commoner John anyone’s speculations about what Admiral 1934 craft design was still driven by from Ed Kramer is understandable — but the Walker. Heinlein or Captain Heinlein in this case might developments in commercial aviation; by impulse to do it by outright fraud is less so. I had a long debate in Slanapa over laws have done. They never seem to take into 1941, government military orders started to Realistically, the only legitimate options against cock-fighting, saying that I didn’t see account that most important of all drivers of drive aircraft design. If he had stayed in, the the DragonCon committee has for separating that the offense to the sensibilities of people history, the Awful Blinkin’ Cussedness of might have stuck in aircraft design — and he itself from its founder are (a) buy him out including me) who don’t attend them really Things in General. Heinlein was medically might have been at BuAer in DC when a according to whatever terms are in the original justified the police and court expense to retired at just the point (well, actually, just off certain redheaded Lieutenant came to founding documents, if any; or (b) abandon suppress the sport. Dog-fighting produces the point) in a naval officer’s career of BuAer.directly from Mt. Holyoke. the DragonCon name and/or any obvious dangerous dogs, but as far as I know, maximum opportunity for career plans to veer Convergence of historical developments. variations on the name and do their own event bystanders or passersby are never attacked by into radically different territory. Look at But would they have connected without the and hope that people understand this new these roosters. Heinlein’s friend Barrett Laning, who took political activity Commander/Captain Heinlein name is the equivalent of the event they used Alexiad October 2013 Page 17

My great-uncle John liked work, but when at one point the prosecutor, trying to use this to extort even more money is nothing more than a throwback to such cock-fighting. Once, two of the pointing to one of the boys, asked, “Would out of the Jews. You could imagine a lively warrior-prophets as Joshua, or to Samuel, who participants decided to cut out you want to have sex with that boy?” and amount of bribery would have gone on over comes across in the Bible as a genocidal the middle chicken, and went at Wilde, making one more joke, said something this. lunatic. (Samuel is the one who rebuked Saul each other. He broke up the to the effect of “Oh not, not that one. He is because Saul had spared an enemy king. fight by picking them up, one in much too ugly.” There was an intake of breath So you’re arguing that the Samuel chopped the king to pieces before the each hand. from the jury. He had lost their sympathy. It Spanish took up the devshirme altar of the Lord, but this still did not redeem — JTM was the beginning of the end. from the Moors, too. Saul, who lost God’s favor from then on.) I By today’s standards, what is offensive point out that most Jews do not follow this To my mind, Verne’s moon cannon is about Wilde’s behavior is that he broke his As for the French Canadian version of the example. Likewise, in the modern world many closer to fantasy that Wells’ Cavorite gravity marriage vows. He cheated on his wife. He American invasion, the fact remains that the Muslims do not go in for violent jihad. shield, in terms of what was known by lied about it. However, she stuck with him, French Canadians remained loyal to the Religions do evolve. And of course the engineers at the time. Then as now I think a and did not choose divorce, which would not British even after the French came in on the behavior of religionists sometimes has nothing mechanical engineer would have known that have been denied her. She could well have side of the rebels. They were at that point whatever to do with doctrine, as is evident the cannon could not be built, much less used. painted him as a monster and herself as a fighting against their own king and country, if from the sorry spectacle of violent Buddhists But that the gravitational force field was so victim, and that would have gained much they still regarded themselves as Frenchman. in parts of Asia today. much less amenable to interference than he sympathy. But she didn’t. Today we would (But as the French Canadian explained to me, In any case, I do not think the real conflict magnetic and electrostatic fields was not yet say that is a private matter and respect her they did not. They had a feudal mentality and today is between Islam and Christianity. It is known at all. decision. It is alleged that Oscar had felt King Louis had signed them over to King between Islam and Secularism. The reason I hear that the Johnny Depp “Lone contracted syphilis (usually fatal in those days, George, and therefore they owned loyalty to reactionary Muslims have become so violent Ranger” movie is thought to be bad — with gruesome treatments the only recourse) in King George.) At the time of the American of late is that their countries tend to be apparently by people who remember the old the course of his adventures and wanted to Revolution, Catholicism was only legal in backward, ignorance, and poor precisely books and movies with some fondness. I never spare his wife possible infection, although he Maryland and more or less tolerated in Rhode because they are Muslim (of a reactionary read any of the books, and I thought the older obviously had no qualms about infecting his Island and Pennsylvania. There was a law sort). What is becoming increasingly clear is movie and TV efforts were lame, so the new male partners. This isn’t honorable by today’s passed in 1700 in New York and still on the that a country (like Taliban-ruled Afghanistan) movie may suit me well enough as spectacle. standards either. But if this had occurred in the books that any Popish priest caught on the which refuses to educate its women and I might see it at my sister’s house on the 5-foot 21st century, it would have been seen as a case colony should be imprisoned for life. If he certainly prevents any intellectual progress is TV screen, or I might see it here from a DVD. of a celebrity acknowledging his bisexual escaped and was recaptured, he should be not going to be able to compete with the more nature and being true to himself. This is why hanged. I seriously doubt Massachusetts was advanced, civilized world. Osama bin Laden From: Darrell Schweitzer August 19, 2013 Wilde is usually depicted sympathetically, as more tolerant. This obviously was not a good used to proclaim, “Islam is the answer!” No, 6644 Rutland Street, Philadelphia, PA a hero or a martyr, in plays and films, such as way to lure the French Canadians over to the Islam is the problem. The Muslim countries 19149-2128 Wilde starring Stephen Fry. My point is that American cause, and, as we have seen, it failed which succeed are probably going to be the [email protected] by today’s standards, his homosexuality itself abjectly. Religious freedom in the United ones ruled by rich, cynical people who can would not be seen as a crime. States after the Revolution was a radical idea wear their religion lightly when they need to, I am not really sure what Taras means The basic legal principle illustrated here is that took a while to catch on. There was still however useful it may be for controlling the about sympathy for Oscar Wilde. I know that you should never sue for libel when the anti-Catholic violence in the 1840s. My alma masses. Muslims have never had a problem perfectly well how Wilde got in trouble with charges are actually true and the accuser can mater, Villanova University, was built where with pious, church-going Christian peasants. the law. His affair with Lord Alfred Douglas prove it. it is because this was more than a day’s walk They have a problem with wealthy, became increasingly open. (Douglas, who As for the story about Spanish Jews being from Philadelphia. The idea was that any mob adventurous, internet-using Secularists who seems to be the really despicable character in forced to give up their children, this is in many of anti-Catholic rioters would get tired and go spread new ideas. Of course Fundamentalist all this, later lied about it, but at the time he history books. Taras is right to question if it is home before they ever got that far. Christians have precisely the same problem, flaunted it.) Douglas’s father, the Marquis of really true. It could well be a factoid that has George Price gets to the heart of the matter for the same reasons. Their world is dying, and Queensberry, left a card in Wilde’s club crept in over the years. However, his main about Islam, which is that Jesus was a pacifist it is going to die hard. addressed to “Oscar Wilde, Somdomite.” objection does not hold up. The Spanish and Mohammed was a warrior. An intolerant, (Spelling was never Queensberry’s strong Church or the Crown would have been fully warrior Christian, who converts people at Secularism seems to me more point.) Wilde, against the advice of his friends, capable of taking those Jewish kids and swordpoint (like Charlemagne, for instance, unable to resist Islam, for sued Queensberry for libel. Queensberry supporting them while they were raised as who reinforced his conversions with political reasons. As for defended himself by proving that the charge Christians. They could be cared for in mass-beheadings of rebellious Saxons) departs tolerance of “pious, church-going was true. The libel case was dropped and monasteries. The reverse of this practice was from the teachings of Jesus, as so many Christian peasants”, Bat Ye’or has Wilde was arrested, charged with homosexual utterly routine in the Turkish Empire, where, Christians have done down the ages when they something about that. offenses. In the course of the trial, various as a “tax” some of the sons of Christian proved inconvenient. A warrior Muslim is rent-boys were produced as witnesses. Wilde subjects were taken away to be supported and obeying the dictates of the Prophet and As for climate change, what Taras apparently thought he could just go on being raised as Muslims. Some became the famous following his example. Islam does have conveniently fails to report about all those a brilliant wit and charm his way through the Janissaries. Others became court officials. My violence inherent in its teachings. However, news stories about climate change not fitting ordeal. For a while this almost seemed to own guess is that the Spanish government was you could argue, so does Judaism. Mohammed some of the predictive models, is that these Page 18 October 2013 Alexiad stories always make a point of giving the the way they do into the bayous now. but “Why is this book popular?” travelling to the World Convention there on deniers no cause for comfort. The models have There was a news story the other day about the net at Facebook. Well, George is pretty often proven too conservative. The climate is the first US climate refugees. It was about a It has zombies. tight about what he discusses but I thought I changing faster and more radically than village in Alaska which is located on a small — JTM would break the ice on that matter if my LoC predicted. The news media are full of stories peninsula, little more than a sandbar. As sea It reminds me strongly of old time is printed. I don’t see him anywhere else but like this every day. Yesterday, on the BBC, it levels rise, the town will be uninhabitable in sword and sorcery. I am not sure that Alexiad. was one about how the forests of Europe are no more than twenty years. Actually the old time sword and sorcery really reaching their limit of carbon-absorption geography of it reminded me of some of the qualifies for a Hugo but I did enjoy From: Murray Moore August 20, 2013 capacity, and so a tipping point may soon be low-lying areas along the New Jersey shore. Crescent Moon. And while I enjoyed 1065 Henley Road, Mississauga reached with catastrophic consequences. There Will Atlantic City and Wildwood still be there Redshirts I’m inclined to think old Ontario L4Y 1C8 CANADA is also a story about how Scottish red deer are in 2050? fashioned sword and sorcery [email protected] now breeding earlier in the season, because of deserved the Hugo more than a climate change. The big story is that the parody of a TV show. Lisa, I am determined to use my camera, leaked parts of the Intergovernmental Panel on — LTM too, during LoneStarCon. My interest in Climate Change report to be released in photography was revived when I discovered a Stockholm are premature and that the final P. 25. It must be the same C.D. Carson cicada emerging from its cocoon on the trunk draft will differ from them. The key points who sent me a copy of that Numismatics of our old apple tree. I might not see you, here are that scientists (195 governments, 100 International Bulletin with the article about though, if you are at the viewing end of your non-governmental agencies) are more My Lord Derwin’s coinage. I would like to 40x zoom lens. prepared than ever to blame climate change on thank Mr. Carson, whose name I could not Joe, for the Tucker bio, the Science Fiction human activity. However, there are some make out from his handwriting. This is the Oral History Association might be a source of questions about the apparent slowdown of the first time I have ever been mentioned in a recordings by Tucker and/or others talking process. Not that it is stopping, but that it is, numismatics journal. By the way, I am about Tucker. for a time, slowing down, and there is no thinking of issuing a coin of my own, in my consensus on the cause. There is a sidebar capacity of Patrician of Thxois. On one side Yes. And it will lose the Hugo about how the warming of Greenland enables will be my monogram. On the other will be a for Best Related Work to Chicks farmers to extend their crop production. portrait of fellow fantasy writer Lucius Dig Elf Warrior Princesses: A What it comes down to is the conclusion of Apuleius, with a device of an ass. More details Celebration of Tauriel By the the John Grant book I mentioned a few issues when I have them. Women Who Love Her. back. If your house in on fire, you do not stop — JTM to argue with people who deny the possibility From: John Thiel August 20, 2013 of combustion. It is too late for that. The only Breyerfest in Ontario would be about ice issues left are how to deal with the actual Well, what’s happening here? Suddenly I cream, not model horses. We have craft beer problem and how to defeat the obstructionists. take the email route to LoC Alexiad. And I’ll and wine of all types in Canada and the United (Grant’s book is more about who they are, Taras’s comment about Saladin Ahmed are tell you how it came to pass, I’m down to four States. I am hoping for a wave of craft ice what motivates them, and who finances them.) likely to cause offense. As we get more people stamps and they must be used on bills, and I cream makers. More small producers of The world is slowly coming together on this, in American society with Islamic backgrounds only get to the post office once or at the most chocolate, too, please. although I think it is going to take more and even Arabic names, yes, inevitably some twice a month, now that developments in the “The Gun Debate is Over.” Good for you, catastrophic superstorms and floods before of them are going to write science fiction or auto industry have forced me to give up my Joe and Lisa. Usually it is the sex that is much is done. See New Orleans and Venice fantasy. It is offensive to suggest that Ahmed car. But I haven’t lost my belief in paper censored and the violence that is promoted. while you can. They may not be there by only got nominated for an award because of fandom. mid-century. Nor will the north polar cap. his name and ethnicity. It’s rather like I notice in your fanzine mentions there are From: Alexis A. Gilliland August 22, 2013 Actually I suspect the French Quarter of New suggesting that Samuel Delany or Octavia three zines that don’t have the editorial 4030 8th Street South, Arlington, VA Orleans can be saved with a strong enough Butler only got nominated for things because address listed, Askew, Broken Toys and Pablo 22204-1552 USA levee built around it, since it is on higher they were black. Yes, Saladin Ahmed is a real Lennis. Can you tell me why these zines don’t http://www.alexisgilliland.org ground than the rest of the city or the person. I don’t know him, but I may have met have their addresses listed? surrounding countryside. That was why the him briefly at a World Fantasy Con, and I I’ve always wanted to ask George Price original city was built there. But it may know I corresponded with him briefly about what he thinks of the Chicago of today, as I become an island in the middle of a wide his panel assignments for the WFC in had some correspondence with him back when swamp, surrounded by the half-submerged Columbus in 2010, because I was chair of he was spokesperson for the University of ruins of the modern city, which could become programming. I haven’t read Throne of the Chicago Science Fiction Club and I saw from an apocalyptic tourist attraction of their own, Crescent Moon. But before anyone jumps to your zine that he was still living in Chicago. albeit a dangerous one. But I could easily see conclusions about tokenism, maybe they This wish to discuss the shape of today’s how boat tours could set out from the island of should. The real question is not, “Did they Chicago with someone, anyone, was New Orleans, into the surrounding districts, give him a nomination because of his name?” augmented by descriptions last year of Alexiad October 2013 Page 19

scientific uncertainty (which the article times rolling. After the 2007 property bubble behavior for the participants, but also explores in some detail) for the projected burst, the banks were pressured to make safer regulating the property rights of their range of sea level rise by 2100. That rise loans. Well, they did, and the commentariat if offspring, by disinheriting those born out of ranges from a low of 0.6 feet to a high of 6.6 not the government is now complainign that wedlock, which may be its main function feet, with an intermediate low of 1.7 feet and they are slowing down the recovery by being among the rich and powerful (Charles II had an intermediate high of 4.0 feet. Just because so tight-fisted. sons, but none were legitimate, so the throne the future is uncertain doesn’t mean it won’t As for being an apologist for went to his fool brother). bite you. “corporatism” I note that the rich and powerful Indeed, the unprecedented and rapid nature have always had the government take their The Duke of Monmouth of the changes currently taking place suggests side to the extent that it was possible. SPQR thought he was legitimate. The that something unexpected might be expected stood for Senatus Populusque Romanus, the Duke of Buccleuch is descended to happen. Science fiction gave us Godzilla Senate (the rich) and the People (everybody from him. rising from the depths of the sea to destroy else) of Rome. Through greed and stupidity — JTM Thank you for Alexiad #70, an Tokyo, but climate change is leisurely the rich sometimes overreach, however. In an impressively high number for any fanzine, compared to nuclear explosions, so maybe effort to limit the size of the Roman Senate, a Taras also disputes the notion of a “failing” whose arrival probably had no connection something more leisurely would be more law was passed requiring a senator to own a Gulf Stream. He should check the Internet with my right front tire going flat that very plausible for our impending catastrophe. The certain amount of land in Italy. Those large about the Gulf Stream’s changes, which have same day. When Joe told Sue Burke that his Siberian shelf of the Arctic Ocean, an area of holdings were assembled at the expense of the been closely observed (it has been moving aunt married a Burke, it reminded me my about 4000 square miles, is under about 50 small holders who had been conscripted into north), and which have already affected grandmother Gilliland’s maiden name was meters of water and contains permafrost from the Roman army, leading to the end of the Europe’s weather, if not yet its climate. As I Burke, and in my letter where I spoke of the the last ice age. One candidate for our Roman Republic, and eventually to an empire mentioned earlier, the northward movement of Sunni and Shiite sectarian conflict in Syria, Godzilla substitute is that newly warm ocean with a professional army loyal to their all that warm water ha the potential to trigger Joe mentioned the Alawites, which is a Shiite currents will find their way into the Arctic paymaster (the emperor or an emperor the release of methane on the Siberian shelf of sect. Condolences are offered to George Price Ocean and thaw that under water permafrost to wannabe) rather than a state in which they no the Arctic Ocean. on the death of his wife. Finally, since I drew release maybe 2 or 3 percent of the methane longer held a stake. What else? Jim Stumm, properly skeptical my cartoon about priding cats in 2010, I have hydrate stored there — about 50 gigatons of In France, bankrupted by numerous wars of global warming, thinks that Al Gore’s learned that while lions live in prides, the CH4, in a “sudden” burp over a few short (including the American Revolution) the tax- prediction of a 20-foot rise in sea level is pure collective noun for domestic cats is clowder. years. Since CH4 is about 20 times as potent a exempt nobles thought they would be better goofiness. Alarmist yes, premature maybe, On the subject of global warming, The greenhouse gas as CO2, such a burp could off without King Louis XVI and his but Gore’s 20-foot rise is definitely in the Economist (p. 18, August 10-26, 2013) has an potentially produce more global warming than extravagant court rather than paying the taxes ballpark. Melting the Greenland ice sheet article on China, the world’s worst polluter, all the CO2 so far releaaed by the industrial necessary tokeep the state up and running. In would raise sea levels 25 feet, while if all the which notes that China uses 390 tons of coal revolution. England, after the conquest of French Canada world’s ice were to melt that would be 216 equivalent to produce one million dollars That alarmist scenario is rejected as either in 1759, the rich and powerful were unable or feet. otuput, compare dto the world average of 300 impossible (methane hydrate only forms at a unwilling to make any sort of accomodation tons of coal equivalent. The article also ntoed depth of 150 meters) or possible only if the with their counterparts in the colonies, the From: Joy V. Smith August 26, 2013 the world’s CO2 level is not only increasing timescale is increased to centuries and/or colonies being regarded as a cow to be milked. 8925 Selph Road, Lakeland, FL but accelerating and is on course to reach 450 millennia. So say scientific experts well For example, John Hancock was the richest 33810-0341 USA ppm by 2037. By 2100 the CO2 level could versed in the theory of their subject. Howver, merchant in Boston. On June 10, 1768, one of [email protected] easily reach or pass 500 ppm. At which time, the suppoters of the idea are those few his sloops smuggled in 100,000 gallons of China will be the chief emitter of CO2, and ceientists who have decades of practical wine and was seized by the British, provoking I’m glad you’re having fun with your The Economist concludes that the Chinese experience measuring the release of CH4 in the a riot. As a result British troops occupied camera, Lisa. And thanks, Joe, for the political system is no better at solveing Arctic Ocean. They could be mistaken, but Boston that October, seeking to suppress the background on the lunar mission movies. environmental problems than anyone else’s. they shouldn’t be ignored. Yankees as the Irish and the Scots had been Ties, huh. I wonder if scientists were wearing “The top is ambivalent, the middle skeptical I may have expressed myself badly to Bill suppressed. Hancock, who could hire the best lab coats yet? and the grass-roots weak and divided.” Patterson. I thought he was opposed to the lawyers, was acquitted of smuggling, but his The Cats of Tanglewood Forest sounds The cover of the September 2013 issue of government keeping big business safe by sloop was impressed into the Royal Navy as intriguing. The Lost Fleet novel(s) sounded National Geographic shows the Statue of being their insurer of last resort. That is, the HMS Liberty. familiar so I looked in the drawer full of books Liberty hip-deep in water, illustrating the bailing the greedy bastards out when their Again I seem to have expressed myself headed for recycling (usually at the Oasis article “Rising Seas”, which describes what risky profit seeking resulted in catastrophic badly. Taras Wolansky wonders at my con). Aha. I have The Lost Fleet: Dauntless, will happen in the unlikely event (scary sells) losses. The moral hazard is that big business meaning, which was that a marriage between which is apparently the first book. I vaguely that ALL the world’s ice should melt. will take more risks in the expectation fo a a homo- and heterosexual was likely to be less recall that I planned to skip all the sequels and However, it also includes a graph of sea level government bail out, just like the one last time. happy than either kind of matched pairing. get the last book: The Last Fleet: Victorious. rise from 1 AD to 2100 AD, showing a Moral hazard also affects the government, There may also be some confusion about Hmm. So, after that, there’s a new series: The marked changed in slope from about 1850 to which enjoys the popularity (and higher taxes) marriage itself, since marriage does two Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier . . . the present. The graph reflects the profound of boom times and fiddles to keep the good different thing, proposing a standard of sexual I also enjoyed the other reviews, the article Page 20 October 2013 Alexiad on lighting (I’m prepared for the next Comics. I bought my copy when it first came Welcome to Night Vale. I describe it as Prairie hurricane with hurricane lamps and candles out because I heard that Seanan McGuire (who Home Companion from a world where and sconces), and the Perception review; I I’ve been friends with on Livejournal for Cthulhuian Horrors and other mysteries may thought that a hero subject to hallucinations several years) had an essay in it. It then got not be fictional. I am particularly enjoying the would not be trustworthy — and we’d be buried in the constant stream of incoming Cecil/Carlos “ship” and Koshek the Station’s confused too. books (despite my best efforts, I still buy more Cat. Lots of interesting tidbits and discussions books than I can read) until I felt compelled to in the LOCs, and I enjoy Sue’s reports from dig it out and start reading it because of the “Welcome to Lake R’lyeh, Spain. I also liked the illos, including the way the “Chicks Dig ______” books have where all the women are cthonian, Alexiad one: . . .a light in the fannish dark. become a shorthand in Alexiad for the “wrong all the men are mephitic, and all sort” of fandom. And after reading it (I just the children are blasphemously From: Jason Burnett September 2, 2013 finished it on my lunch break today), I wonder squamous.” how many of the people disparaging these Congratulations on reaching #70 of books have read any of them, because the I think I have figurred out my garb for Alexiad, and thank you for carrying me on book I read didn’t match up at all with the WeddingCon. I’ve found a reasonably priced your rolls during my recent extended silence. descriptions I’d encountered. This wasn’t a sky blue sari with a matching blouse and Look for a new zine from me this fall, though, ball of mindless squee-ing. These were petticoat. I’d already got jewelry and hair as I’m feeling a surge of fannishness in thoughtful essays by people (primarily duds that will go well with it. Friend of mine conjunction with my upcoming 40th birthday women) who’d put in their time not only in also found a Gorgeou Shalimar kameez set in (October 15). fandom but also often in the industry. I Periwinkle and yellow but it’s also way I’m finally reading Patterson’s biography strongly urge people who haven’t read the beyond my budget. of Heinlein. I’m learning/remembering (a “Chicks Dig ______” books to consider giving While you note it is difficult to cite sources little bit of each) that Heinlein has a much one a try. And if you still don’t like them, I’m in conversation, more and more people are greater depth and breadth of ideas than a lot of not going to try to convince you you’re wrong. running around with comptuers/smart phones his libertarian supporters give him credit for. And if they’re in an award competition against in pocket and could pull up Google. This morning, I reached page 218, where another book that you think is better, well, that Sorry to hear about C’Mell. Megumi and Heinlein blazed the trail that libertarian SF has happens sometimes. And sometimes the book Seimi continue to be fine. Megumi has trained relentlessly followed ever since: “A cheap you like wins, and sometimes it loses. But as me to give treats in response to a meaningful source of power might provide the necessary Sarah Kuhn said in her essay in this volume look at the treat cabinet and a meow. I am a shake-up to get from here to there . . .” “championing one thing by denigrating the good human (. Whenever I find an SF book that the solutions other is almost always harmful — and a bad All my current “drawing” is the 3-D sort being presented depend on the introduction of argument to boot.” Again I am happy to report in as “Not done with yarn or rabric, but I’m still snapping free (or at least exceedingly cheap) energy, it’s I’m sorry to hear that you had to miss out Dead”. KT & Theo are busily and happily lots of photos. a pretty good sign that I’m reading a Heinlein on Worldcon this year; hopefully you’ll be planning their wedding (aka WeddingCon This is more of a quickie LoC. I’m sure knock-off and I immediately downgrade my able to find someone to write up an account 2013) and doing it ALL themselvesvand with Dainis is aware that going back a long ways, estimate of the chance the author will for Alexiad (if you haven’t already). Since the aid and services of their many many the Japanese even had a social coonvention of introduce new and worthwhile ideas. (I’ll I’ve never been to a Worldcon (and doubt I’ll fannish and reenactor froends . . . Much to the adult adoptions when a family had need of an likely still enjoy the book, but it’s unlikely to get to one in the foreseeable future), blog posts dismay of my mother who tends to completely heir. Estate sales are difficult enough, when change my world.) and con reports fill that hole for me. take over such events. My Dad is much more there is family to handle it — especially if Hope you’re doing well. Take care. relaxed about it all, but Mom keeps on being there is a rush to settle the estate. I sometimes Reading “‘Let There Be Light’” told “Don’t worry, you will get an invitation in have some regrets for some of the items my (NHOL G.007; 1940, 1950, 1963) From: Trinlay Khadro September 5, 2013 the mail.” mother simply threw away as “junk’ preparing m i g h t p r o v i d e a n o t h e r 6918 N. 41st Street, Milwaukee, WI My 80+ year old paternal aunt is working for the estate sale following the deaths of my perspective. The developers of 53209 on her costume as the Tin Woodsman, though Grandma and uncle . . . and afterward what the “cheap source of power” have I’m not sure if my Uncle will also be was sent to Goodwill and St. Vincent de Paul to worry about being eliminiated costumed. Auntie may not let him back out of and Purple Heart . . . by the Power Powers That Be. it! (And then the beginning, where Tell me about it. Or my cousin the one scientist sees a beautiful Ah, Nicole Chopper. the computer games designer woman, assumes she’s dumb, and . Christopher Natsuume, né . .) I am busy crafting monsters for upcoming Christopher Cayce. His wife —JTM conventions and very much enjoying this Shizuka’s family had no male pastime. heirs. As for the things thrown I’m also reading another book that ties in I have also discovered and become out, I think of the letters to my the recent discussions in Alexiad: Chicks Dig addicted to a clever little podcast show called cousin Alex H. Major II, Alexiad October 2013 Page 21

thousands and thousands of 1034 USA different eras often wind up lying on the bare reading. I suspect that liberals did not object letters on family history from [email protected] ground together, but the only damage is from to the separate but equal prccedent of Plessy v. distant and lost cousins . . . all freezing and weathering. They’re considered Ferguson being overturned by Brown v. Board hauled away to the dump after I was on pain medication at LoneStarCon, in situ. The article mentions that in some areas of Education. his death. due to hurting my back the week before. As a of the world glaciers and ice fields are As for British law, they rely on precedent result I slept through more of the con than I growing, because the warming climate is more than the US should because they don’t On the other tentacle at 74-75 years old my wanted to. (Of course, without the Tramadol I bringing increased precipitation. Something have a written constitution. But we do. And dad has made contact with relatives all over likely would not have been there at all.) I also which most climate models predicted. our Constitution says, in Article VI, that the the US. He’s positivively struck up on-line seem to have returned with a mild case of con Constitution shall be the supreme law of the friendships with cousins in California. crud, so will keep further comments general Ötzi the Iceman was found land. Justices of the Supreme Court swear an Robert Kennedy: Has anyone tried these and brief. because of a warming spell. Let oath to uphold the Constitution, not judicial new-fangled LED bulbs? The facilities were good and well arranged. me see; increased glaciers are precedent. I’ve got a couple of them (in areas where I heard some people complaining about the proof of global warming, as are George W. Price: You refer to an editorial I spend many evening/night hours) and like long walk between the Marriott RiverCenter shrinking ones. that says we should have laws that promote the them very much. One of them I’ve had about (the party hotel, where I was staying though — JTM flourishing of children. That ship sailed 50 two years now and it’s still going strong, on a non-party floor) and the convention years ago when LBJ’s War on Poverty began though the expense means it will take awhile center. However, even with my back (and left Part of the lack of warming the past few subsidizing bastardy. Since then we’ve had a for me to put them in all the lighting in my hip, thigh and occasionally calf) still hurting I years is due to extremely low recent solar couple generations of single mothers, most active rooms. I do want more, found the Riverwalk route quick and easy. activity. We just left a near-record low sunspot supported by the Govt., often turning their particularly for the light on the basement The convention hall was so large the number trough, and the coming peak isn’t promising to children out on the streets, sometimes without stairs, as turning on the light while carrying a of dealers seemed small, but apparently this be very impressive. feeding them, with little attempt at discipline. laundry-basket AND keeping cats from was an illusion. Many dealers reported sales to I have a feeling I’m missing something Marriage laws have no effect on them since heading into the basement is a juggling act. be up this year, but others said things were from this issue I meant to comment on, but these women are not married anyway. LED bulbs use so little electricity and give off about the same as the past few. There were can’t find it. Oh, well; I’ll attribute the feeling There’s a dispute currently in Buffalo so little heat it’s not unreasonable to leave that some nice exhibits, though the Enterprise (or missing it, if I remember what later) to lack Public Schools abotu whether to continue to stairway light turned on. bridge segment recreation was both worn and of sleep. :-) feed children breakfast in schools as well as George Price: Online there are several never attended. In contrast, the Dr. Who school lunches. Proponents say, we have to examples of modern cargo containers being exhibit nearby was a delight. There was a From: Jim Stumm September 8, 2013 feed them because children are coming to turned into homes. Two to four containers radio-controlled K-9, some Daleks (one of Post Office Box 29, Buffalo, NY school hungry. But no one asks, why aren’t that have come from overseas and not headed them also RC) plus the compound creature 14223-0029 USA their mothers feeding them? I suspect they anywhere else are purchased, and cleaned up. from Brain of Morbius. would answer that their mothers are too poor. Detailing and decorating turns them into I kept missing the few panels I wanted to Robert S. Kennedy: I agree with your But these women qualify for food stamps, relatively nice housing for much less than the attend, mostly due to falling asleep, as well as favorable view of Foyle’s War rather than WIC, earned income credit based on how costs of new traditional construction. one being overfull when I got there. Wolansky’s. I also think that Samantha is a many children they have, and a flat out tax I saw many people I know, and met many main attraction. I read that 3 more episodes of subsidy of $1000 per child per year, and many If you ever go to the Henry folks new to me. There were numerous Foyle’s War have been made and will be aired more welfare programs besides these. And Ford Museum, be sure to get a interesting conversations, good food in the soon. After WW2 Foyle investigates Russian with all this they still can’t feed their children look at the Dymaxion House. consuite (plus some nice restaurants and a spies. breakfast? — JTM food court nearby) and free WiFi in the Inspector Morse rated not only a sequel, If the flourishing of children is really our lobbies of the hotels and convention center. (It Inspector Lewis, but also a prequel, Endeavor, concern, it isn’t marriage laws we need. What In my own neighborhood, there are four or was pay everywhere else, though.) depicting quite a believable young Morse. we need is take-care-of-your-children laws, five houses that were foreclosed on a few My con photos may be found at: Taras Wolansky: “Sanctimonious liberal aimed at criminally negligent mothers. years ago and they are still empty and often prig” is not my impression of Foyle at all. As I have often read about a child battered to apparently ignored by the banks. (Overgrown http://www.rodsmith.onthisnet.com/images/LoneStarCon3/ for him being right while his superiors are death by a single-mother’s boyfriend. Now lawns; one recently had windows broken.) wrong, this is a common trope which we see often have I read about a child battered by a One on my street recently seemed to have In the letters section, Jim Stumm mentions very often. Do you dislike all dramas where same-sex couple? Never. Let’s fix what’s a realtor and a clean-up/repair crew there. It’s growing glaciers. The September/October the hero is at odds with his superiors, or is it broken, not what isn’t. be good if someone could buy that house and 2013 issue of Archeology magazine has an just Foykle who particularly annoys you? I agree with Ron Paul’s view that Govt LIVE there. It’s less than a block from the article on the salvage archeology of shrinking Richard A. Dengrove: Yes, judicial should have nothing to do with marriage. grade school . . . how could it be left empty for ice fields. These are not glaciers, but similar decisions should be based on precedent (case Why should people need a govt license to so long? patches of ice trapped in depressions. Glaciers law) provided those precedents do reflect marry? I don’t see what harm there would be OK gotta get this in the mail. aren’t good for archeology, ‘cause they grind verbatim the original meaning of the words of in cohabitation contracts involving multiple stuff to bits. Ice fields — which may be the Constitution and Amendments. And marriage partners. The huge social problem From: Rod E. Smith September 8, 2013 offshoots of glaciers or form independently — conversely, judicial decisions should overturn we see today is with single motehrs who have 730 Cline Street, Frankfort, KY 40601- just sit there. When the ice melts, items from precedents that depart from a verbatim no cohabiting partners. It seems strange to me Page 22 October 2013 Alexiad that there should be so much concern about is a great-grandmother. The cats I listed were writing, is now a professor/instructor in the Some of the panels were interesting and what marriage laws should perm it when today all owned by friends, and who gave to us some history of illustration, comics, and science others not so much. There were a number of ever increasing numbers of peopel are time for attention, purrs and cuddles. I miss fiction. panels relating to Robert E. Howard and they dispensing with marriage entirely and simply them all, especially MomCat, who we almost were interesting. On Friday The Romance of living together. brought home. I think Corflu has got to be Train Travel was very much enjoyed. I have SYRIA: Why is it supposed to be more To Taras Wolansky: I’m partial to like that; people who had been not been on a train since the early 70s. But, shocking to kill a couple 100 people with redheads, too. I married one. And my there and done that a long time next year I plan to take the train to the U.S. poison gas than it is to kill 100,000 people candidate for the most unlikely actor to play ago, and those who are going to Navy Cruiser Sailors Association reunion in with bullets and bombs? Sherlock Holmes is Matt Frewer. But yes, he pub their ish RealSoonNow. Portland, Oregon and am looking forward to it did, four times. For me and my generation, — JTM with great anticipation. On Saturday Lois From: Lloyd Penney September 13, 2013 Jeremy Brett was the best, but then, he was McMaster Bujold’s Vorkosigan Universe was 1706-24 Eva Road, Etobicoke, ON also in the best productions. Bill Patterson is harsh but fair in assessing excellent. There are fans that see the M9C 2B2 CANADA I have had two interviews this week for the legal flaws in that episode of Perception. I characters in her novels as living, breathing [email protected] interesting positions. If you’re sick to death of had a misgiving or two about it, myself, but persons. Well, they do grow and develop so http://lloydpenney.livejournal.com/ hearing about my never-ending job hunt, the general charm of the principal actors and maybe those fans are right. That day I was imagine how I feel! I’d be happy to take a the intriguing psychomedical conditions the wearing my 2.8% Neanderthal DNA T-shirt Not far to the deadline, but there’s never lottery win, never having to darken the door of show highlights keep me watching. I do from 23andMe. As I was leaving the room a enough time to write everything I’d like. And a potential employer ever again. But until that wonder what the writers will do when they voice said: “I see that you have tested with now, on to Alexiad, whole number 70, and happens . . . have run through all of Oliver Sacks’ books, 23andMe too” and there was Lois. She had comments on the contents. however. been hiding in the back of the room so as not I didn’t go to San Antonio, but heard so From 1976 to 1988 was my Now that we’re well past Worldcon and to disrupt the meeting. She indicated her much about it, good and bad. Was a Faned hard time. Talk about your visits from foreigners (we took Bill Wright to Neanderthal DNA percent but I did not hear Feast held? I don’t think it was. And, I don’t “never-endng job hunt” all you the Museum of Flight while he was here last her clearly. It seemed to be something a little think you and Lisa got to the Worldcon, if I like. You have my sympathy. weekend, with Andy Hooper as resident expert over three percent, but I’m not sure. On recall correctly. — JTM — he does miniature war-gaming there twice Sunday at 11:00 a.m. there was a panel on A Lunar National Park? IIRC, no one owns a year), we intend to enjoy the rest of the Fiction about Real Politics and How Writers the moon, so the United States cannot set up a It is a Friday, Yvonne will be home from month. This will include mailing copies of the Get it Wrong. Sadly it was not enjoyable Lunar National Park, according to a United work soon, and we have things to do like have finally-completed issue of Littlebrook — #9. because they were not on subject and were all Nations document. Maintaining the landing dinner and do the groceries. This weekend, Keep watching /ht/e/ s/k/i/e/s/ your mailbox. on the Left politically so there was not any sites of the various Apollo missions would be there’s a fannish garage sale and a fannish balance. I should have gone to lunch and then one thing, but there’s lots of infrastructure that pool party, so there’s lots to look forward to, From: Robert S. Kennedy Sept. 17, 2013 Firearms in the Victorian Era at Noon. The needs the maintenance in the US itself. And, and lots to forget about for a couple of days, 1779 Ciprian Avenue, Camarillo, CA Masquerade and the HUGO Ceremonies were it’s a lot easier and cheaper to get to. anyway. I hope your weekend is as inviting as 93010-2451 USA quite enjoyable. It apparently took his retiring We are still hoping for London, but if we mine is, and many thanks for this issue. We [email protected] for Stanley Schmidt to receive his long well cannot, there is now the temptation of the will see you with the next one. deserved HUGO. Oh, by the way Taras, Detroit NASFiC, Detcon 1, just down the Thank you for Vol. 12, No. 4 (August Martin, David, and I went out to dinner. I had highway. As if there aren’t enough high-cost From: Jerry Kaufman September 14, 2013 2013), Whole Number 70. Have you decided carried The Unincorporated Future by Dani & conventions for me to go to . . . that includes [email protected] to do away with the Vol. and No. and just use Eytan Kollin with me in the hope that they Costume-Con in Toronto next year. Given our the Month, Year, and Whole Number? would be at WorldCon (since they were not at finances, the Spokane Worldcon is out of the We received this Alexiad before Worldcon, Joe and Lisa: I am truly sorry that because Loscon) and would autograph it. No such question, and I suspect just about any and I read it afterward. I heard you couldn’t of car trouble you were not able to make luck. The Kollin brothers seem to have Worldcon after that is the same. (Except for make it to San Antonio because of car WorldCon in San Antonio. I was very much disappesared. Big spender me purchased two Montréal, should they win 2017.) problems. Too bad — so far as I know , looking forward to seeing you both. Since you T-shirts, picked up four free paperbacks, and The letter column . . . Montréal has been because you weren’t there, the Faned Feast were not there I did not attempt the Faneds a free T-shirt. invaded by people who don’t speak the didn’t take place. Feast. It was good to see Milt Stevens, Taras Lisa Major: Your mentioning culling language? Montréal, like many large cities, is Or it did happen, but Guy Lillian didn’t tell Wolansky, Martin Morse Wooster, and to books reminded me to finally start culling my fairly cosmopolitan, with a variety of residents us about it. meet David Harrington. It may very well be large pile of U.S. Navy Cruiser Sailors from all over the world. I daresay that upsets My impression is that there were not a lot my last WorldCon. Well, I may make it to Association magazines. It’s such an the current separatist government in Québec, of fanzine people at the con, unless you also Spokane in 2015. We’ll see. I’ve been sick outstanding magazine that I have not been able especially with their new Charter of Québec add people that used to be fan publishers like since returning from San Antonio so if to throw any of them away. I started glancing Values, which can easily be interpreted as Chris Couch or the Nielsen Haydens who WorldCon makes me sick…J through them to see if there were still any I extremely racist and xenophobic. attended because they are professionally wanted to keep. The first one I looked at was My loc . . . nope, Will and Kate got a little involved in one way or another. Chris, whose See above at Milt Stevens’s Fall 2007. What a surprise when I saw that it George. The future king is assured, and I think fanzines in the late 1960s and early 1970s letter. was the issue with Rodford Edmiston Smith’s Elizabeth will rest a little easier, now that she carried some of my earliest attempts at article on “Battleship vs. Battlecruiser” and Alexiad October 2013 Page 23

Joe’s “Historical Note” regarding Charles Sheffield projected ‘Shore Job’ Texas. absolutely against any persecution or abuse of battlecruisers. It’s an issue that will be kept. wouldn’t have fit the bill unless he did some —JTM homosexuals. What they do behind closed Rodford Edmiston: Another excellent fancy footwork in the actual story. doors is none of my business, and I feel no column, Lighting. As has been mentioned You have discussed Sheffield’s alternate With my comment on an Ancient Jew with need to punish or suppress it. What does previously, I have several something’s. Heinlein, and alternate tales written many names, I end this letter. My final bother me is the insistent redefining of it as Jim Stumm: Thanks for more books. beforehand speculating on the Moon shots. So comment is “See. Richard without politics.” normal rather than as a behavioral deformity. Joe Major: I’m aware that you do I feel entitled to tell you an idea for a novel I Poor Richard? No. Though I always write my I still have huge difficulty in accepting as colonoscopy wide awake. I don’t know how stashed away for some future never. Germany letters for Alexiad with gusto, I am a little normal a trait that seriously discourages you do it. I would be in such incredible pain wins World War I; and, because of the happier with this de-politicized letter than I reproduction. that they would not be able to perform the humiliation and reparations, France becomes have been with the normal run. However, that applies only to those whose procedure. Fascist under the Croix de Fer. On the other desires are primarily fixated on their own sex hand, the Kaiser is overthrown during the From: George W. Price Sept. 23, 2013 to the exclusion of the opposite sex. I have had worse cramps. Like Depression, and a Social Democratic P.O. Box A3228, Chicago, IL Bisexuality, now, is another matter — if you just recently, where I had to government rules in Germany. With blitzkrieg, 60690-3228 USA do your duty by the opposite sex, it hardly leave work early and spend most they easily defeat the French. [email protected] matters that you also play around with your of the afternoon and early No excitement here, I admit. For some own sex. I do not consider as “deformed” the evening in bed with a heating pad. suspense, I could hide the ending until the end. August Alexiad: old-time sailors who buggered each other on — JTM However, more likely, I will place any Rodford Edmiston’s “Joy of High Tech” long voyages, but when they reached port excitement in a plot occurring in that world. piece on “Lighting” says, “One type of headed joyously home to their wives, or to the George W. Price: My condolence on the Maybe ordinary people, maybe big wigs. non-electric lighting not often seen today is nearest whorehouse. Or both. And I suspect passing of your wife, Virginia. Anyway, I hope that is what I would do. the gas mantle wall fixture.” The apartment they would have been horrified at the idea of Taras Wolansky: It was good seeing you If my writing was not up to this, it would building I grew up in was built around 1880. marrying their ship”mates”. in San Antonio. By the way, my middle initial still improve many TV shows. When I have It originally had gas lighting, not electricity, as is “S”. happened to view TV shows recently, I’ve you could tell by the stub end of a gas fixture The Royal Navy had the death cringed. TNT’s Perception would be par. In still jutting out of the wall of our front room, penalty for “sodomy”. Court- From: Richard A. Dengrove Sept. 19, 2013 fact, cop procedurals especially have about seven feet up. It was no longer martials for that were few. 2651 Arlington Drive, #302, descended into hackland. The plot appears to connected to the gas, and the burner and Alexandria, VA 22306-3626 USA take place in Cloud Cuckoo Land. . mantle were long gone, but that brass pipe [email protected] Some things bad can be controlled like TV remained. * * * * * scripts; other things bad can’t be. I wish That’s why Chicago’s gas utility was Not many comments in this August 2013 George Price many condolences on the death “Peoples Gas Light & Coke Co.” with no Jerry Kaufman says, “I still don’t issue of Alexiad, since I have sworn off of his wife. It must be tough to lose a beloved comma after “Gas.” It started out as the understand the case for the Gold Standard, as political remarks, unless they are addressed to wife, as his obviously was. Strange as it seems gas-light company; gas was not yet used for it seems to me that the value of gold is as me. If I have given a reasoned rationale for given our disagreements, let me add myself to heating and cooking. The coke was a arbitrary as the value of money itself.” that policy, forget it: my antipathy has resulted the list of those who can’t help feeling sad. byproduct of passing steam and air over The value of gold is not arbitrary. It is set from politics getting on my nerves. Some things, like our reaction to death, are red-hot coal to make “illuminating gas” (a by the impersonal interplay of supply and What used to get on my nerves as well are obvious; other things require a little thought. mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide). demand in the market, not by any one people like Jenny McCarthy, who go on talk At the end of that thought, I can’t help but After World War II a pipeline from Texas individual or small group. It is the value of fiat shows and spew forth ridiculous doctrines. think the convention Leigh Kimmel is reached Chicago and natural gas replaced the paper money — which is what we’ve got now That is until I had this revelation. I know the referring to is Dragoncon. And the alleged (?) manufactured gas. — that is arbitrary, because it is set by the will host always pretends to take them seriously. miscreant who made him wary of selling at (some might say “whim”) of the monetary You’re not supposed to laugh at anyone’s folly Dragoncon is Ed Kramer. Dragoncon’s * * * * * authorities. Gold is more objective, in that it these days, no matter how absurd. However, it problem has been pasted all over the web as if exists entirely independently of politicians, struck me like lightning since talk shows only it was a wanted poster. Bill Patterson finds my comments on and is also valued as jewelry and as an interview clowns these days, the less pixilated A slightly more puzzling conundrum than homosexuality “completely rebarbative.” That industrial commodity. When a government portion of the audience got the message a long the convention Leigh is referring to occurs in one I had to look up (it means “repellent”). He collapses and its paper money is no longer time ago – they’re nuts. a letter by Rodney Leighton. He says he is quotes extensively from the Heinlein good for anything but wallpaper and asswipes, Whatever the audience really thinks, it’s reading The History Of The Jews. Is it a correspondence to show that RAH had no any gold coins it may have issued will still very easy to advocate crazy doctrines. It’s translation of a work by Josephus, AKA Titus animus toward homosexual activity, and under have full value. harder to write alternate history. I doubt any Flavius Josephus AKA Joseph ben Matityahu? the right circumstances might have been The function of a gold standard is to stop human can pen one without inconsistencies He wrote a book by that title in Ancient times. willing to try it. Most interesting — and a very politicians from inflating the currency by and illogic. More than other genres, you need long way from my feelings. As I have made issuing new money that they can spend to use all the literary tricks you can muster so I prefer to refer to him as clear, “gay sex” is a complete turn-off for me without having to raise taxes. Such an increase the reader will ignore the inconsistencies and General Two-Gun Joe Cohen from — I might even say “rebarbative.” in the quantity of money is the primary cause illogic, and accept the alternate history as fact. Galilee, the biggest l’il county in I hope I have also made clear that I am of the wage-price spiral. (It was a great boon Page 24 October 2013 Alexiad to irresponsible politicians when the term as both a specific weight of gold and a specific that the feds would bail them out at need. Stories, October 1949). “inflation” came to mean the wage-price spiral weight of silver, with the ratio between them Dengrove says, “As far as I can see, no itself instead of meaning the excessive set by law. (This was a big issue after the Civil such cushion existed. The infrastructure for Joe Kennedy was a fan and letterhack in issuance of money which causes the spiral. War, and was what Bryan’s famous “cross of the bailout was not created until the meltdown the 1940s — before my time, but I had That severs cause from effect and conceals gold” speech was about.) Bimetallism has neared the bottom.” True, but incomplete. collected all those pulps. When I was political guilt for rising prices.) serious problems — what happens when the What created the expectation of a bailout was introduced to him in Ann Arbor in 1958, I Gold money deters inflation because when legal ratio between gold and silver prices the very existence of Fannie Mae and Freddie asked if he were that Kennedy, and he was too politicians want to spend more they can’t just varies significantly from the market ratio? — Mac as “Government Sponsored Enterprises.” surprised to evade the question. His past, turn on a printing press and grind out a flood but Friedman thought it might still be Lenders understood that to mean that Uncle unknown to his fellow graduate students, had of gold. Because gold is scarce and expensive workable. Sam stood solidly behind them. In fact, that’s caught up with him. to produce, it is physically almost impossible The essence of a commodity standard, the real (if unstated) reason for them to be I recently found Scottish Military Dress by for the quantity in circulation to increase by whether gold or silver or you name it, is that it “Government Sponsored” — so they can tap Peter Cochrane worth acquiring — very nice more than about two percent a year. must have a reasonably stable market value into the Treasury in their hour of need. artwork by Jeffrey Burn. A few days later I When a big discovery of gold does independently of the fiat of politicians. Since To be sure, hardly anybody — and became aware that the color art I had admired significantly increase the quantity in gold (or silver) is too cumbersome for large especially not the regulators — believed that in Warfare in the Classical World by John circulation, prices and wages then rise to a transactions, paper money is a practical the boom was really a bubble, so they felt no Warry was by this same man. There is life in new level that fully absorbs the new gold. This necessity, but it must always be fully need to prepare for a bailout. I have yet to hear his figures, even when they are portrayed just happens infrequently and relatively slowly. redeemable in gold (or silver) upon demand. of any regulator who said, “This housing standing. (In the latter book, there is greater That is vastly preferable to the inflation that And there must be no way the government can boom is really an unsustainable bubble, but we variety of posture.) fiat paper money allows, where there is no make us honor unredeemable currency; there regulators can’t stop it because Congress Warfare . . . was a library discard; recently limit to how much can be issued, nor how fast. must be no “legal tender” which we are forced won’t let us. So get ready for a bust.” Only a I have been pleased to get more of the same: See Germany after World War I, or Zimbabwe to use. few observers (notably the Wall Street “21" by Patrick O’Brian and The Sun’s Bride more recently. Nor is the U.S. exempt, though Irresponsible politicians hate any kind of Journal) warned of a bust, and they were by Gillian Bradshawl my favorite living so far we have been lucky: our worst inflation gold (or silver) standard because it subjects howled down as racists who didn’t want poor historical novelist. In this, as in one or two of modern times was in the 1970s, when the their spending to a discipline which they people to get decent housing. And even the others, the female lead can deal with price level more than doubled. loathe. And of course that is why they damned WSJ didn’t anticipate how bad the bust would adversaries with extreme prejudice. There is no perfect money, but with all its well should be subjected to it. be. Among donated books cheaply sold at a faults the gold standard has worked It might be wisest to take the production of If we don’t want to go through this again, library branch, I found a batch of war books enormously better than any fiat-money money completely away from government. we should abolish all GSEs — for housing and and chose a few that looked especially scheme. Leave it to private mints to coin gold and anything else — and let all lenders know that readable and informative. I especially Richard Dengrove doubts that I would silver and issue fully-redeemable paper they are strictly on their own. As it is, Fannie recommend To War in a Stringbag by accept as “a true gold standard” the system the certificates (with small seigniorage fees to and Freddie are still in business, the CRA has Commander Charles Lamb; I got it in a book U.S. had “between the Civil War and the cover costs and a decent profit, or even an not been amended, and so you can start club edition which in turn goes back to Depression.” Well, it wasn’t the purest of gold indecent profit). Since a private mint wouldn’t looking for the next boom — and the next another publisher’s hardcover. My copy of standards, but it was much better than what have the advantage of legal-tender laws bust. Popski’s Private Army is ditto; it must have we’ve had since, and going back to it would forcing us to use its money, it could stay in been in the Bantam editions that these got be an advance. business only by earning and maintaining a From: Dainis Bisenieks Sept. 24, 2013 drawings by Greg Beecham, showing weapons The purest gold standard allows no money reputation for supplying coins of full weight 921 S. St. Bernard Street, Philadelphia, and aircraft on the pages where they are except gold, or certificates for the gold and true alloy and not over-issuing paper PA 19143-3310 USA mentioned. Anyway, Lamb flew the actually in the Treasury’s vaults. I doubt if certificates. Swordfish, a biplane with a radial engine anyone anywhere has fully lived up to that. It With the passing of Fred Pohl, who is now nicknamed ofr the variety of ordnance it could is almost irresistibly tempting to issue more Read Chapter 32 of Henry the Senior? Ursula K. Le Guin and X. J. carry — including, notably, a torpedo. It was certificates than can be redeemed, in the Hazlitt’s Time Will Run Back Kennedy were both born in 1929, on dates I one of these that crippled the Bismarck’s expectation (as Mr. Dengrove notes) that only (1951, 1966) for more on this. have not troubled myself to research. steering gear. a small fraction will have to be redeemed at — JTM Kennedy (as Joquel Kennedy) had a couple of It’s not all combat experiences; a major any given time. As said, the politicians are magazine stories in 1951, but that was then all; part of the book recounts experiences in a always looking for ways to get more money to * * * * * Julian May’s “Dune Roller” came a year or Vichy French prison camp. “I realized that I spend than they can raise by honest taxation. two later, and I know of nobody living whose had grown up in that camp, and ever The gold standard has many possible Turning to another subject, Mr. Dengrove first professional publication of SF/F was also afterwards would have to guard against a variations. The standard doesn’t even have to disputes my thesis that the financial meltdown in those years. tendency to try to measure people with an be gold — silver will work almost as well. was largely caused by the Community unfair yardstick: ‘How would he behave in Milton Friedman’s Money Mischief (1992) Reinvestment Act which punished lenders if See above about Dave Kyle. If Leghoust?’” discusses at length the possibilities of they didn’t issue large numbers of “subprime” you think him undeserving, there’s There was a coin show here, meaning a bimetallism, in which both gold and silver mortgages, and that the lenders happily went James Gunn, born 1923, first hall full of dealers — in large measure with standards coexist. That is, the dollar is defined along with this because they were confident story “Paradox” (Thrilling Wonder U.S. silver and gold, totally boring to look at. Alexiad October 2013 Page 25

I looked for those who had, for instance, From: Sue Burke September 28, 2013 means “lightning” and referred to the lighting- Lounge, but that’s when the WOOF collation ancient coins, and used the opportunity to calle Agustín Querol 6 bis - 6D 28014 fast military tactics of his family. was scheduled. So he was properly corrected shoot the breeze with some of them, Madrid, SPAIN We also went to an exhibition on Salvador — politely, too; only took a few lashes with recounting some experiences and airing some [email protected] Dalí, “All of the Poetic Suggestions and All of wet noodles this time — but Chris Garcia opinions. Among the very few coins I desired mount-oregano.livejournal.com the Plastic Possibilities” at the Reina Sofía thought we were all meeting Saturday noon at to have was a Flying Eagle cent; one had a amadisofgaul.blogspot.com Museum in Madrid in September, and I a different location — and a different batch of low-grade specimens for $5. I did not learned he was a polyglot as well as an artist. restaurant, too — so he and the Lovely Linda want to spend folding money, but I offered to Not in 1972, 2012, 2016, or 2020: Madrid My condolences to George W. Price at his Wenzelberger (hope I spelled that correctly) pay with wartime nickels (an alloy with silver put in yet another bid to host the summer enormous loss. had a nice lunch while nobody else did but no nickel) and brought them around the Olympics, and the city lost. Again. The bid In the last issue, he said he doubts that any because we had no freaking idea what was next day, eight of the fifteen I had. I have committee, including Prince Felipe, who had major Christian denomination espouses going on! Man, we sure could have used your long had specimens of the 2¢ and the (cupro- been an athlete at the 1992 games, did its best, anything like the concept of jihad. Well, planning expertise, Joe. It was a mess. nickel) 3¢, pierced specimens got for a song at yet the vote on September 7 went to Tokyo for there’s the Christian crusade. There have been rummage sales . . . I have read somwehere that 2020. Apparently the state of the Spanish a number of them. The Spanish Civil War was I posted the name of the the sum of money and th count of coins named economy weighed heavily against the bid. officially declared a crusade by the Spanish restaurant and the day and time in “The Gift of the Magi” requires a 2¢ coin. So Redshirts won the Hugo for best novel. Catholic Church, which supported the Fascists, we were supposed to be meeting. This same dealer had a little box with low- I read it and 2012 by Kim Stanley Robinson. and 100,000 people still lay in unmarked mass As the cat said when he was grade cents and another with nickels from a I enjoyed Redshirts, which I got as a birthday graves across the country, killed by the found in the bag of kitty litter, century or so ago. One of the Indian Head present last year and then had John Scalzi Christians. “That’s what it’s for!” cents was worn flat and barely recognizable. autograph at ChiCon 7 for my mother-in-law And he asks “Would those reckless private We just don’t see coins like that any more. so I could re-gift the book, but I think 2012 borrowers have dared to take such risks if they Speaking of disasters, my plans for the Once in a blue moon I see a nickel of 1939 or was more ambitious. Still, Redshirts had its hadn’t known the government would bail Fanzine Lounge did not work well at all. I had 1940, and it’s good for another seventy years, strengths, like making my in-laws laugh out them out?” History give us a resounding hoped to demonstrate the hectograph process if we do not by then have a New Dollar. loud (they passed it around avidly). All the answer: Yes, they would. Again and again. on Friday, but when the manual typewriter I Fans, as is well known, scarcely ever talk contenders sounded worthy. With and without bailouts. Bubbles and panics schlepped to the con — an 80 year old, 20 about science fiction. In my everyday life, I While there’s been a lot of excitement abound in history, including recent history. pound, gray steel Remington — revealed its almost never find anyone with whom I can about the next Doctor in Doctor Who, here in In legal news, Spain’s government plans to aging flaws (namely, a jammed advance talk abotu SF or books in general, or about Spain there’s been more anticipation for the raise the age of consent for sexual relations to mechanism), all hopes of producing carbon coins, or about the Napoleonic wars, or . . . next season of Isabel, which started in 16 years old. It is currently 13 years old, the zines and hecto masters were dashed. We did Who is there that recognizes the names of September. The season opened in 1472 and second-youngest in Europe. The country with have mimeo stencils, so Warren Buff and a Gobrecht or Longacre, or of Ney, Soult, features Boabdil, Cristobal Colón (Chris the youngest age of consent is Vatican City, at couple other fans hand-drew some stencil art Davout, Junot, and Berthier? (I cannot Columbus to you), Torquemada, Juana la 12. and attempted to crank out product on the Rex offhand match the latter group to the titles and Beltraneja, and some ill-fated Jews, among I’m sorry to report that my sister’s cancer Rotary mimeograph set up, but I don’t know honors they were awarded — quick, which many other historic personages. Some scenes has come back and is incurable. I’ll return to how well that went. So the Lounge became was the Prince of Eckmühl? — but I can look were even filmed in the Alhambra, where the Texas sooner than I had expected. Tobacco more or less just a place to rendezvouz or them up . . . as I can, for that matter, the Patio of the Lions has just been restored. killed my mother when she was three years relax with a drink since there was a bar right capitals of the 50 states.) Speaking of television, my husband has older than I am now. It is now killing my little next to the lounge. That helped out, but didn’t been watching The Walking Dead. He’s sister. If you smoke, please quit. Your loved fix the typewriter. Mary Robinette Kowal Unless you’ve read E. F. thought of a sure-fire method to deal with a ones want you to spend your old age with tried, as did Pat Virzi, Warren, myself and Delderfield’s The March of the zombie apocalypse in Spain: just rush to a them. others, but unless we had proper tools, there Twenty-Six (1962, 1966). walled city like Ávila or Lugo, shut the gates, was no way. *sigh* Such went my Fanzine Ney — Prince de la Moskowa, and wait it out. For that matter, the site of the From: John Purcell September 28, 2013 Lounge trials and tribulations during duc d’Elchingen castle in Alcalá de Henares near Madrid still 3744 Marilene Circle, College Station, LoneStarCon 3. Soult — Duc de Dalmatie has its curtain wall intact, although the castle TX 77845-3926 USA My sincerest condolences to Lisa on the Davout — Prince d’Eckm+hl, where Isabel lived right after her marriage to [email protected] loss of her friend. That is always so hard, and duc d’Auerstaedt Fernando is no longer standing. Bring on los this year sure seems to be a tough one in this Junot — Duc d’Abrantés zombis! Well, we certainly missed you two in San regard. Way too many good people going to Berthier — Prince de In September, my husband and I went to Antonio, Joe and Lisa. As it turned out, there that big con suite in the sky. The one that hurts Neuchâtel, prince de Alcalá de Henares to a 17th-century convent was no Faned’s Feast on Saturday of me quite a bit was the recent news of the death Wagram, duc de Valangin next to the medieval walls. The building now WorldCon as it was sort of planned. Such a of Delphyne-Hanke Woods (a.k.a., Soult was called “The Duke of houses the Madrid Regional Archeological disaster! Turns out that the original plan of Joan-Hanke Woods). Back in the late 1970s Damnation” by the British Museum. We saw the exhibition “Fragor meeting at noon in the Fanzine Lounge so to Joan always gave me such wonderful artwork fighting him in Spain. Hannibalis” about the Carthaginian general walk from there to lunch did not pan out. Then for my early fanzines (notably This House) — JTM with the elephants and what he did in Spain. Guy Lillian misinterpreted the Feast info as whenever I asked. She was a delightful person We learned that his family name, Barca, being on Sunday at noon in the Fanzine and I miss her. Many of us do. Page 26 October 2013 Alexiad

You know, I have been really enjoying a Even the three “Dr. Who” episodes Iowa caucuses is a crime, and when authorities “obligate” pedophiles. Most of us would tell lot of Alternate History books lately, so the (probable Yugo winners if the Committee had started asking questions, Savage quickly them to practice celibacy, no matter how book reviews in your fanzine are a constant ever seen them) lost, to an outstanding episode changed his tune and claimed the story he filed strong their sex drive. source of new titles to get. Case in point, this of “Game of Thrones”. At Paul Cornell’s was a lie. issue your review of Gray Tide in the East literary beer, he told us how he doesn’t like Years later, I would sometimes read the sounds very interesting. Once that book goes being identified as a Dr. Who writer, New York Times op-ed page, and see articles on the bedside reading shelf I fully expect a especially since the producers started rejecting on gay topics bylined “Dan Savage”. This chunk of the wall to fall out. Maybe I should all his script ideas. He laughed when I pointed must be a different Dan Savage, I speculated. put all of those Turtledove books on a out that they stopped buying his scripts – and Surely the Times won’t publish a self- different bookshelf. That might help. promptly lost the Hugo! confessed journalistic fraud. (I was younger I also signed up for a kaffeeklatsch with then and still naive about mainstream Since I read a Kindle edition, I Michael Swanwick. He told of visiting a journalism.) But then he published a column wouldn’t have that problem. former Soviet closed city. “And this building that – tendentiously, dishonestly, but — JTM was built by Russian slaves ... and this one by recognizably – discussed that very scandal. German slaves in the Fifties ...” his hosts told The reason I mention this is, Savage Well, I think it’s time to wrap up this loc. him. He had a sudden epiphany, he said: recently came to my attention again, when I Or LOC, LoC, or however that acronym is everything your parents told you about the happened to learn about his proposal to use the formed. Steve Fahnestalk wrote a blog entry Soviet Union was true! (File that story under name of a certain former Pennsylvania “The Koran does not require on the Amazing Stories website recently along “Liberals always admit conservatives were Senator, passionately hated by gays, as the intolerance”. I’m not sure you’re right. The those lines — “To LOC or not to LOC” — so right all along, when it no longer matters.”) term for something gay men routinely most I would say is that the Koran does not I fully expect another Fannish War to engulf Review of Jack Campbell/John Hemry’s encounter in their sexual activity. And the absolutely forbid tolerance (within the context, us all. Saints, preserve us! It will be a mess. latest “Lost Fleet” book: If I may venture a scales fell from my eyes: for decades I’d had always, of Muslim dominance). What we Carcasses of fanzines stripped clean of mild criticism of a series I like very much, an unrealistically sanitized image of those very think of as relatively tolerant Islam is perhaps substance strewn across the wasteland . . . Hemry has his heroes win too much. It might activities (to the limited extent I thought about more accurately described as relatively lax Time to stock up my fannish underground be usefully compared to Patrick O’Brian’s them at all). Remember Heinlein’s wisecrack, Islam. This view helps explain the bunker with zines, beer and munchies. It’s “Aubrey-Maturin” series: the protagonists that God shouldn’t have put the playground so phenomenon of the second- or third- gonna be a long one, it looks like. survive but they don’t always win. In the long close to the sewer. Gay men are playing, to generation Muslim immigrant who turns run, this may make Hemry’s side-series about extend Heinlein’s metaphor, in the sewer, with radical or even terrorist. He’s going back to From: Taras Wolansky October 1, 2013 the losers of the war more interesting and open wounds. I guess this is what they really the roots of his religion. 100 Montgomery Street., #24-H, unpredictable. meant by the vague term, “unsafe sex”, all Blaming the rising Islamic fundamentalist Jersey City, NJ 07302-3787 USA Bill Patterson: So now we find out that, in along. And, perhaps, why Michael Fumento’s tide on Saudi money has cause and effect [email protected] addition to being a wild-eyed feminist by the 1990 book, The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS, reversed, I think. Rather, the Saudis are standards of his time, Heinlein was also ahead turned out to be right, even if it cost Fumento buying off the fundies so they’ll leave them August 2013: of his time on homosexuality. If they didn’t his job and his career. alone (for now) while they go on living the Joe: I’m a survivor of whooping cough consider attacking him an imperative, I don’t know if he ever read Fumento’s good life. It’s kind of like Campus Crusade myself, from the days when the treatment was progressives would have much to admire. book, but I remember Samuel R. Delany for Cthulhu: you get eaten last! mostly prayer. (At least it sounded like that Funny thing. All the negative information giving a talk at a New England con a few when my mother told me about it: she about homosexuality I have comes from gay years later. He was grimly amused by claims Actually, I thought the point promised me to the Church. And I think I was sources (not that I’ve ever bothered to look for of heterosexual AIDS: closeted gays on the of it was to get eaten first, so on track, until I started reading Jack Vance it). For example, it was in Andrew Sullivan’s down low, in his opinion. (Aside from you didn’t have to suffer. I still and H. Beam Piper.) Hope we’re not going blog that I read of a researcher who claimed Muslims, perhaps, the black community is the have that parody of a Jack Chick back to those days. being a sexually active gay male, on average, most hostile to homosexuality.) cartoon book (yes, it is possible) Sorry you couldn’t make Worldcon. I took thirty years off your life. Sullivan pooh- Joy V. Smith: Looks like everybody is Who Will Be Eaten First? don’t know if I was ever so pleased with the poohed this, but claimed the real number was getting tired of the Red John storyline in TV’s results of the Hugo voting before. Not one of “unknowable”. Then there’s Dan Savage. The Mentalist. The producers promise to George W. Price: “We should call out the Yugo winners – the most inappropriate Some years ago he filed stories from the reveal his identity this season. (Or maybe any serious discrepancies between what is nominees – won the Hugo. Maybe the worst Republican Iowa Presidential caucuses, they’ll copy a page from last season’s finale of printed and preached in Arabic and the winner was the Pat Cadigan story, “The Girl- claiming: a) that he tried to give his flu to the Elementary!) moderate and tolerant Islam presented in Thing Who Went Out for Sushi”. Not really volunteers for a social conservative candidate Alexis Gilliland: Were you ever able to English to the unbelievers.” The Middle bad, but narrow-minded, intolerant and he especially hated, by licking coffee cups and figure out what Philip Jose Farmer was trying East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) tries politically correct. putting them with the clean ones; and b) that to achieve with his “interminable” Baycon to do this. he illegally voted in the caucuses. (Another speech? Did he ever say anything about it There are several rational positions on The worst winners were Tansy gay writer commented bitterly at the time that afterward? It might be interesting to read. Or marriage, I think. 1. Leave the institution as Rayner Roberts, John DeNardo, Savage had played into the worst stereotypes skim. it has been for thousands of years. 2. Let and Galen Dara. about gays.) Now, non-Iowans voting in the If it comes to that, there are people who are anybody marry anybody. 3. Get the Alexiad October 2013 Page 27 government out of the marriage business. The direction we’re moving — a special carve-out for gays only – is the product of political clout and cultural intimidation, not reason. Once, I actually heard a gay activist admit what I think is the real story: it’s about government and corporate benefits. That recent Supreme Court decision – evidently state law trumps Federal law, if it promotes liberalism – gave married gays access to 1100 Federal benefits, according to new reports. Jim Stumm: You will note that global warmists talk a lot about the Arctic, but are strangely taciturn about the icecap at the other end of the world. Robert S. Kennedy: Under the Dome just got stupider and stupider as the season progressed; and now that it’s renewed for a second season we know the story isn’t going anywhere, any time soon. I found myself watching one of the new episodes of Foyle’s War after all. I was curious to see how they would handle the Cold War. Not as bad as I feared: at this late date, at least, they’re willing to admit the Soviet Union under Stalin was a nasty place, and that the Soviets were worse than our side. On the other hand, a Communist character refers to Stalin as “our faithful ally”, and no one points out Stalin was Hitler’s “faithful ally” until Hitler attacked him and made him our reluctant ally. Considering how riddled with Soviet spies the British intelligence services were at the time, and for years afterward, Foyle can’t have done a very good job! Philby and Blake. Philby was eased out of SIS after Burgess and Maclean defected. Blake was exposed by Mikhail Golenewski (SNIPER, “Tsarevich Alexei”). The Foreign Office didn’t discipline Burgess because it would have looked intolerant, I guess. — JTM

WAHF: Lloyd Daub, with various items of interest. Martin Morse Wooster, with the same Page 28 October 2013 Alexiad

“John, you are not to record any of this,” I wasn’t surprised to find Sherlock there THE ADVENTURE OF THE he had said. but he certainly was. “Get out or I’ll call the Co-Editors: Lisa & Joseph Major TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY Mycroft doesn’t pay me enough for this, I police!” Co-Publishers: Joseph & Lisa Major thought. I was being paid to be Sherlock’s “Ask for Inspector Lestrade, C.I.D. He can Writers, Staff: Major, Joseph, Major, Lisa, Percy Alleline said, “Very well. Let us minder, and keep him from going off the rails, vouch for me. You’re a very hard man to find, & McCormick, Grant begin. in the hope that I wouldn’t do so either, not Smiley.” Tech Staff: Grant C. McCormick “Mr Holmes from *harumph* higher after what had happened in Afghanistan. Smiley sat down. “How did you get authority is here to be brought up to date on There had been a little more in my pay here?” This is issue Whole Number Seventy-One what all we have been doing since the recent packet after the time Sherlock had shot up the “I followed you.” (71). unfortunate incident.” flat, howling “I’m bored!” over and over “I took precautions to break a tail. There’s The large man sitting at the far end of the again. He might have hit me with a stray no way you could have done that. I didn’t see Art: What we are mainly looking for is table listened, attentively, but said nothing as round. you, or anyone follow me.” small fillos. Your fillo will probably be the directors of Secret Intelligence explained This time, in his usual mysterious way he “That is what you may expect when I scanned in (by Grant) and may be reused, their actions. Instead, his eyes flickered from had told me to be at a certain place at a certain follow you. unless you object to its reuse. one to another, not only as they spoke, but as time, and wait for a certain person. I had been “Mr Smiley, I’ve been made aware of the they listened to the others speaking. there, and there he was, a mild-mannered man circumstances under which you left your Contributions: This is not a fictionzine. It If he knew of more he kept it to himself. in a rumpled overcoat, trundling along with a previous service. I have been hired to help is intended to be our fanzine, so be interesting. Mycroft Holmes held some sort of undefined book under his arm. Sherlock had even told you resolve the matter . . .” but high position in the Civil Service. He had me what to say. Material in Alexiad is copyright © 2013. served Tory and Socialist alike, with the same “Mr d’Ascoyne?” I asked him. — David Cornwell and Mark Gatniss, not to All rights reserved. Upon publication, all reserved demeanour. He blinked. Those glasses and his mention Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, were not rights revert to the original contributor, but we hunched, closed demeanour made him look harmed in the writing of this piece. reserve the right to use any item more than They left him alone in the room for a almost like a mole. He said, “I’m afraid once, unless otherwise specified by the moment. He would have to return to his you’ve got the wrong man.” contributor. All letters sent to Alexiad become normal office, but he needed some time to “Oh. Do you know a Mr d’Ascoyne? Or the property of the publishers. Any material think about the men he had heard speak. a Colonel Nicolson?” by the editors is available to other fanzines if Percy Alleline, Chief of the Service. Roy He shook his head. “No, no, definitely they provide proper credit and send a copy. Bland, his deputy. Toby Esterhase, the chief not.” of the covert actions department. Bill Haydon, He walked off and I followed. “It’s a Available for The Usual (letter of chief of the London station. matter of some importance. Jim Wormold told comment, trade, contribution). Sample issue He knew them all, and he knew one other me that they could help me. Are you sure you available upon request. Back issues $1; thing. That one day in the Strangers Room of don’t at least know him?” subscription $10/year. Alexiad is also the Diogenes Club, when the previous Chief, He paused. “Wormold. I think I’ve heard available by email in Adobe Acrobat .pdf shown in through the delivery entrance, had that name. But I don’t know the man.” format. revealed his suspicions, the suspicions that one “Please. I can explain it to you. We had of them was a mole, a double agent for the better sit down. Do you live near here?” other side. And then Control had died. He made a face and said, “This way.” ALEXIAD There was another. His departure from the c/o Lisa & Joseph Major Circus had served to clear him. But how to get to him? Mycroft had a way. 1409 Christy Avenue Louisville, KY 40204-2040 USA [email protected] http:/efanzines.com/Alexiad/index.htm