FBONY BOOKS 1984 DITMAR AWARD ANNOUNCE FIRST Nominations PUBLICATION THE AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS BEST AUSTRALIAN LONG SCIENCE FICTION OR FANTASY THE TEMPTING OF THE WITCHKING - Russell Blackford (Cory f, Collins THE JUDAS MANDALA - Damien Broderick (Timescape) VALENCIES - Damien Broderick and Rory Barnes (U.Queensland Press) KELLY COUNTRY - A.Bertram Chandler (Penguin) YESTERDAY'S MEN - George Turner (Faber ) THOR'S HAMMER - Wynne Whiteford (Cory and Collins) BEST AUSTRALIAN SHORT SCIENCE FICTION OR FANTASY "Crystal Soldier" - Russell Blackford (DREAMWORKS, ed. David King, Norstrilia Press ) "Life the Solitude" - Kevin McKay "Land Deal" - Gerald Murnane "Above Atlas His Shoulders" - Andrew Whitmore BEST INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE FICTION OR FANTASY THE BIRTH OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF ANTARCTICA - John Calvin Batchelor (Dial Press) THE TEMPTING OF THE WITCHKING - Russell Blackford (Cory 6 Collins) DR WHO - B.B.C PILGERMAN - Russell Hoban (Jonathan Cape) YESTERDAY'S MEN - George Turner (Faber ) THOR'S HAMMER - Wynne Whiteford (Cory 8 Collins) BEST AUSTRALIAN FANZINE AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION NEWS - edited Merv Binns ORNITHOPTER/RATAPLAN - edited Leigh Edmonds SCIENCE FICTION - edited Van Ikin THYME - edited Roger Weddall WAHF-FULL - edited Jack Herman BEST AUSTRALIAN FAN WRITER BEST AUSTRALIAN SF OR F ARTIST Leigh Edmonds Neville Bain Terry Frost Steph Campbell Jack Herman Mike Dutkiewicz Seth Lockwood Chris Johnston Nick Stathopoulos BEST AUSTRALIAN SF OR F CARTOONIST BEST AUSTRALIAN SF OR F EDITOR Bill Flowers Paul Collins Terry Frost Van Ikin Craig Hilton David King RUSSELL and JENNY BLACKFORD have announced Mike McGann Norstrilia Press the establishment of their new publishing John Packer (Rob Gerrand, Bruce Gillespie company EBONY BOOKS, and that they are Clint Strickland and Cary Handfield) publishing first up a new novel by DAMIEN BRODERICK titled TRANSMITTERS. Voting closes by 13th of April. Members of Eurekacon only can vote. This non-science fiction/fantasy novel by Broderick is rumoured to be based on science fiction fandom in Australia, and those who have heard about it IN THIS ISSUE: are anxiously waiting to read its possible scandalous content. A REPORT ON HARRY HARRISON'S VISIT TO AUSTRALIA - TRANSMITTERS will be released the week before Easter JOHN FOYSTER WRITES ON GEORGE TURNER, CRITIC AND NOVELIST - and officially launched during EUREKACON. It is in NEBULA AWARD NOMINATIONS - HARLAN ELLISON AND TERRY DOWLING a trade paperback format and features the cover illustration depicted above. ANNOUNCE AN ORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN ANTHOLOGY (SEE LETTER COLUMN)- BOOK REVIEWS - LETTERS - NEWS - CONVENTIONS

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PHONE:(02) 267 7630 ific reports, such as Brian Aldiss' piece from William Collins in Pan and after a on Harry Harrison last issue and John long delay, JUXTAPOSITION by Piers Foyster's article on George Turner in Anthony in Granada from Gordon 8 Gotch. this issue. In my haste to get things Due to Granada Publishers being sold to done,I do not always thank people or William Collins in the U.K., William reply to letters they write to me, but Collins Australia have now taken over I do appreciate your help. the distribution of their paperbacks in Australia from Gordon 6 Gotch. In another Merv Binns/ Editor. distribution change, Hodder have relin­ quished Arrow Books from their overloaded inventory and Gordon and Gotch are taking them over. They already have Hamlyn, Dear Readers, which was recently taken over in the UK by Arrow and which Arrow have kept as This issue of the NEWS I hope will be on a separate imprint. sale before EUREKACON. I did not intend it to be twenty pages and it will most likely get smaller in the future. I will make every effort to get AUTHORS & Other the NEWS out as often as possible, but until I get over some of my current prob­ People In the HCWS lems I cannot promise when the next issue will be out, or how much information ISAAC ASIMOV elected to have heart it will include. The Australian publishing scene is very surgery last December. The triple-by­ I have put off working on the new F§SF quiet at present. Norstrilia Press had pass operation was not an emergency, but BOOKLIST, but this will be out early in hoped to have George Turner's non-fiction, Asimov now has a much better chance of May and will cover some books from late autobiographical book, FANCY BRED, published living a normal live than he would have 1983, plus all titles known through in time for his appearance as GoH at had without it. Not missing an opportun­ January to April 1984. This listing is EUREKACON, but problems have delayed its ity, Asimov has written up his operation taking over the function of the "Books" release until probably June or July. in detail for an fssf essay. list previously seen in the NEWS and ANNE McCAFFREY, Who was the first sf Space Age Books SF Newsletter sf list. Penguin Books published the Australian writer to break through the barrier onto Space Age regular sf customers will Children's Book Award winner, MASTER OF the bestseller lists, has now had three receive the BOOKLIST free. A smaller THE GROVE in 1983. They recently pub­ books on the list, including MORETA: Newsletter will cover all other Space lished, also in the Puffin imprint, DRAGON LADY OF PERN, which has just been Age stock part from the FijSF, and will FORBIDDEN PATHS and THE HUNTER OF released here by Corgi in a large format be sent to all customers as usual. The SHADROTH, both by Victor Kelleher and pb edition. She realised an ambition in subscription to the F&SF BOOKLIST is both juvenile fantasies, similar in getting on the bestseller list, but did now $7.50 for 4 issues. style to the award winning novel. not really expect to be the first sf writer to do so. Well, I am pleased that enough people Penguin will publish a paperback edition McCaffrey has finished DINOSAUR PLANET made the effort to nominate in the of WAITING FOR THE END OF THE WORLD by SURVIVORS forFutura, which willbe released DITMAR AWARDS to allow for the Best Long LEE HARDING, early in 1985. Harding's as a trade pb in August. Underwood - and the Best Short Fiction to be separ­ novel DISPLACED PERSON, is now in its Miller are to publish an early gothic ated. But! Don't ask me how you can have fourth printing. locally published books up against over­ of McCaffrey's, A STITCH IN SNOW, in their new line, Brandywyne Books. seas books, and how in hell did a TV Some big local releases of British edit­ series get in there. This is taking things ions included Asimov's FOUNDATION'S EDGE, McCaffrey is working on a screenplay too far. The wording of the National SF in Granada from William Collins, Anne for DRAGONFLIGHT, but she is not saying Convention constitution relating to the McCaffrey's MORETA: DRAGON LADY OF PERN for whom at present. Filmation may do a Achievement Awards, may be somewhat loose, from Corgi, Julian May's THE ADVERSARY morning TV series based on Pern. There and wide open to interpretation, but surely some discretion on the part of the Eurekacon Awards sub-committee should AUSTRALIAN SF NEWS ISSN 0155-8870 is edited and published by Mervyn R.Binns have been exerted. under the sponsorship of The AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION FOUNDATION. It is also rather astonishing that ASFN is registered for posting under Australia Post , publication # VBG2791 . the book THE BIRTH OF THE PEOPLE'S The address for all correspondence is 305/307 Swanston Street, Melbourne, REPUBLIC OF ANTARCTICA could get on the 3000, Victoria, AUSTRALIA. final list, when to my knowledge, only a very limited number of copies of the SUBSCRIPTION RATE: $7.00 Australian for 6 issues, surface mail. $12.00 Airmail. book are in the country. The book may be Please make all payments payable to the editor, Mervyn R.Binns. Our American very good, but this indicates again that agent is LOCUS, Box 13305, Oakland, CA 94661. Please send all payments we need many more people voting for the in the U.S.A, to LOCUS : $6.95 US surface mail and $11.55 US airmail. Our awards to make them properly represent­ British agent is GERALD BISHOP, 2 Cowper Road, Cambridge, CB1 3SN, England. ative. It makes little sense that books : 3.75 pounds surface and 6.20 pounds airmail. such as Asimov's FOUNDATION'S EDGE and ADVERTISING: Professional Rate - Full back page $60.00. Interior page $50.00 other better books that have received Quarter page $15.00. Half page $30.00. Full page copy ready size is 360 mm V wide distribution, did not even get men­ x 275mm H. Half page 180mm V x 275mm H. Quarter page 180mm V x 135..mm H. 10% tioned. Perhaps some people are trying discount is applicable on all professional advertisements placed on a regular to point out that the rules and regul­ basis. A 50% discount applies to fan advertisements for conventions, clubs, ations relating to the awards are stupid fanzines and other activities. and must be changed. Whatever, the Best International Fiction category in this N.B. A 10% discount is allowed to subscription agencies other than our official case is ridiculous and deserves to be agents listed above, but payment must be sent direct to us. We suggest that ignored. any additional costs be charged direct to the subscriber . The really astonishing thing regarding the nominations for the DITMARS is that We are Australian Agents for: all the short stories are from one book, LOCUS: Subscription rates: $38.80 12 issues Airmail $73.15 for 24 issues Airmail. DREAMWORKS, edited by David King for ------$25.50 12 .. Sea Mail $47.65 .. 24 .. Sea Mail. Norstrilia Press. An achievement that is SCIENCE FICTION CHRONICLE: $33.00 for 12 issues Airmail/ $58.00 for 24 issues AM. not likely to be bettered for a long time. SCIENCE FICTION BOOKS PUBLISHED IN BRITAIN: $3.15 for 6 issues. I do appreciate the response I get from people when I ask for articles or spec­ is also a lot of interest in a movie of books for the time being. He does have DAVE LANGFORD, (who hopes his hew book, CRYSTAL SINGER, which McCaffrey intends to do a grand scheme in mind that calls for THE LEAKY ESTABLISHMENT, a satyrical look a sequel to, probably called KILLASHANDRA. one more book to be called "The Last at a fictitious nuclear research estab­ She has partly given in to requests by Chronicle of Thomas Covenant" , but it lishment, does not upset the Ministry of Futura to write a family saga-type novel, maybe a long, long time before he does Defence ) is writing a new novel for Arrow and will write a non-sf/f novel,( backed it. Meanwhile, he should by now be working Books, titled WILDERNESS OF MIRRORS. by her love of horses), about a veterinary on a new fantasy novel. A collection nurse, probably titled THE LADY TOUCH, called DAUGHTER OF RECALS § OTHER TALES, in memory of a favourite mare. is due for publication by Del Rey in the More Dragon books? "Your guess is as U.S.A, and William Collins in Britain. IAN WATSON has sold THE BOOK OF THE good as mine," she daid. STARS to Gollancz, the second in his "Black Current Trilogy" and he has ROBERT SILVERBERG is being pushed hard been working on the third, THE BOOK OF by Arbor House to complete his fantasy BEING. novel GILGAMESH THE KING. He planned to have it completed by May, but the pub­ JOHN BRUNNER has completed CONTINUUM lishers have announced an August release for Del Rey, who will publish it in Spring date and have already printed the cover. this year. Brunner's agent, Leslie Flood, BILL ROTSLER, had by February, completed described the novel as "first Class" and two of the four STAR TREK III books con - as good as anything he has written. tracted by Pocket. No details on titles or release are available yet. MICHAEL SHEA, winner of the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, with his NIFT THE DOUGLAS ADAMS is definitely writing a LEAN, could not attend the World Fantasy fourth "Hitchhiker" book, to be called Convention to receive his award, due to SO LONG AND THANKS FOR ALL THE FISH ; the cost of getting there. He has been a message to the doomed earthlings from employed as a carpenter's assistant and dolphins on their way into space, just laborer in San Francisco , and as much as ROBERTA A.MACAVOY Photo C.N.Brown before Earth is leveled for an inter- he would like to make writing his full galactic by-pass. Author ROBERTA A.MACAVOY has proved that time occupation,he has been unable to, Adams is also working on the script for it pays to keep trying. She has been up to date.-He hopes his new agent, a movie of "Hitchhiker", to be produced writing for 15 years, producing one book Virginia Kidd, will sell more of his by Ivan Reitman for Columbia. He has a year, with little sucess, now suddenly already completed work. Meanwhile, he is moved to New York from England, saying her TEA WITH THE BLACK DRAGON is in its working on IN YANNA THE TOUCH OF he was getting bored with Europe. Large third printing. DAMIANO went back for UNDYING, a horror fantasy, and a science offers by Pan and Pocket, for a fourth reprinting before release. DAMIANO'S fiction novel, IN THE WINDS OF THE "Hitchhiker" book, have induced Adams to LUTE is due for May publication. Her BEHEMOTH. Shea said a lot of the credit write it, despite his previous statements latest project is a collaboration with for the popularity of the award winning that the series was complete. Sharon Devlin, called THE BOOK OF KELLS, novel, NIFT THE LEAN, must go to Michael featuring an artist who has illustrated Whelen's cover illustration. the famous Irish illuminated manuscript. RAYMOND FEIST, the author of MAGICIAN, which was seen here recently in the In a recent circular letter, GORDON R. Granada edition, has sold a sequel, DICKSON reported that he had an operation MICHAEL SHEA SILVERTHORN, to Doubleday for publication on his nose, which will relieve asthma in August this year, with a third title, problems and he hopes, improve his health Photo DARKNESS AT SETHANON to follow. in general. THE FINAL ENCYCLOPEDIA he said, was delivered to Ace in November C ,N .Brown ANDRE NORTON and ROBERT ADANS are edit­ '82 and he can only blame the changes at ing a series of five volumes of fantasy Ace for the delay. He has been working stories, "Magic in Ithkar", for TOR . on WAY OF A PILGRIM, two chunks" of They are all invitational anthologies which appeared in Analog. Dickson will and the first two volumes are filled. be Guest of Honour at this year's World The Cherry Weiner Agency handled the SF Convention in Los Angeles. sales. ROBERT SHECKLEY has completed a new In an interview in LOCUS, British writer A.E.VAN VOGT has written a third "Null novel, THESEUS IN MAGNESSA and is working D.G.COMPTON, now living in the U.S.A., A" book for a French publisher, who on various other projects with JAY spoke about his efforts to get his books asked him to write it because of the ROTHBELL SHECKLEY and SIMON GONDOLFI. published. Although appreciated by the great popularity of the first two books Sheckley and Jay expect to formalise editors, Compton's work has not been there. To date there is no indication, their relationship in a civil marriage popular with the readers. He never if or when, we might see an English later this year. recognised his writing as sf until language edition. Hodder and Stoughton told him it was, JACK WILLIAMSON has completed a new after reading QUALITY OF MERCY. He MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY is currently writ­ novel for Del Rey,. LIFEBURST. His auto­ received only a pittance for three books ing NIGHT'S DAUGHTER, which is based on biography, WONDER'S CHILD: MY LIFE IN he did for Hodder, and in fact, was not Mozart's THE MAGIC FLUTE. It is written SCIENCE FICTION, is due to published by paid for THE STEEL CROCODILE. in a style similar to C.L.Moore-Henry Bluejay in May. Kutner. She will also be doing a book Michael Joseph accepted CHRONOCULES, but based on the Trojan war and possibly JEAN AUEL'S third book in the Earth's they did not like the title, so he supp­ other Greek mythology themes, plus the Children series, THE MAMMOTH HUNTERS, lied some silly ones, from which they chose Mutiny on the Bounty. is due to be published in the American HOT WIRELESS SETS, ASPRIN TABLETS, THE edition by Crown late this year. MISTS OF AVALON has sold over 100,000 SANDPAPER SIDES OF USED MATCHBOXES AND SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CASTOR copies in the German edition published OIL. They hoped it would become known by S.Fischer. Another German publisher, JOE and GAY HALDEMAN are still based at for it's long title. They sold 467 copies. Moewig, is to publish ten of the the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, teaching science fiction, until June 1st. "Darkover" books. Agent, Virginia Kidd, took Compton on and Joe has also been taking part in a TOR is publishing a new occult novel sold all his novels to U.S.A publishers, by Marion Zimmer Bradley, THE INHERITOR poetry class. Some of his poetry has but in the long run he said, that was and are going all out on publicity for been published in Omni and I.A.S.F.M. probably a bad thing, because they all it. Joe and Gay will be amongst the many lost so much money, they now obviously fans and authors from the U.S.A., who are do not want to know anything about him. STEPHEN DONALDSON has announced that he expected to attend AUSSIECON TWO next will not write any more "Thomas Covenant" Terry Carr, when editing the first range year. of ACE Specials, encouraged him, and Don Wollheim took THE CONTINUOUS KATHERINE the popular, bestsetting authors, it step. St.Martins will distribute TOR MORTENHOE, which as he puts it, "..laid is not what most of the sf Heading books and will in future, al low TOR to one of my biggest eggs." public want to Head. do hard covers if they wish. They are Never an sf convention goer and never It is more than likely that I wilt cop distributing Bluejay publications having had much contact with fandom, he some flak oven these comments. I know one already. TOR'S Tom Dougherty, who said was surprised to be asked to attend person, who often encouraged me to Head that TOR'S sales had doubled in the past Humanicon, in New Hampshire, where he Compton's books, but when I did, I must year, was delighted with the arrangement was presented with an award for his admit that they did not appeal to me. That with St.Martins. services to human values in sf. This penson wilt most likely find fault with St.Martins have a number of sf hard pleased him very much, as "human values" what I have said. OK! Let hr have it'. covers coming up, including Fred Pohl's are what he has been going on about for I will be glad to pubtish any tetters sequel to THE SPACE MERCHANTS. all these years. I receive. Highly regarded editor, Beth Meacham Compton recently rewrote THE PALACE Merv Binns Ed. (ACE 1969) and it is currently going has moved from Berkley to Tor, as senior editor. She will be working on her own the rounds of publishers. His main work has been in publishing and he was looking projects along with consulting editorial for more editorial work on a trip back staff that includes Terry Carr, Ben Bova and David Hartwell. to England. His own writing having to PUBLISHING take a back seat again. "Life is not Editor-in-chief at Berkley/Ace, Susan easy for a maverick in the field", as news Allison, said that Meachamwould be hard Locus put it. to replace, but she has found an excell­ BAEN BOOKS ANNOUNCE FIRST PUBLICATIONS ent replacement in Ginjer Buchanan, who has worked with David Hartwell for Baen Enterprises are releasing some various publishers and was most recently games to start the ball rolling, in first reader for the SF Book Club. April. The games based on Fred Saberhagen's "Berserker" series will be distributed Tor announced that they will be doing by Simon and Schuster. Their first books something about the copyrights on their will be dated August and will be available to books, and previous errors will be order in July. AMERICA: A BLUEPRINT FOR corrected. THE FUTURE by Newt Ginrich with David Editor, Bill Thompson, who is credited Drake is a non-fiction title, followed with discovering Stephen King, has been by WEB OF DARKNESS by Marion Zimmer appointed editorial director at Arbor Bradley ( a Timescape scheduled title House. Thompson has worked with a number originally ), FRONTERA by Lewis Shiner of major publishers and is primarily in­ and THE BEST SF OF THE YEAR edited by terested in fantasy, having been Peter Terry Carr. FIRETIME by Poul Anderson Straub's editor at Putnam, and he also edited is another title on the August list, TALISMAN, the King /Straub colaboration. which Baen Books took over from Timescape. Arbor House confirmed that Robert These titles mentioned are all apparently Silverberg will still be the science paperbacks. The first hard cover, due fiction consultant, with Thompson most D.G.COMPTON Photo C.N.Brown for September release, is BIRDS OF PREY likely his editor. by David Drake. Tor is doing the mass Editoniat comment: market pb edition. Some titles for pub­ Bluejay Books recently published DR lication later include THE ZANZIBAR CAT ADDER by K.W. JETER. They have now pur­ I that I must make a comment on by Joanna Russ, THE HOUR OF THE HORDE chased two more books by Jeter; THE V.G. Compton and perhaps other authors by Gordon R.Dickson and the FORTY GLASS HAMMER and INFERNAL DEVICES. They tn the field tn the same predicament. MINUTE WAR by Janet and Chris Morris. have also purchased FIRE SANCTUARY by The <5/ field is now, more than even, a TOR will also do reprints of other KATHERINE E.KIMBRIEL and THE MAN WHO very competitive one. Gone are the days books by Janet Morris. Other authors to MELTED by JACK DANN. when publishers of any types books, be published include C.J.Cherry, Joe nublish just for the fun on prestige Haldeman, Jack Vance and Keith Laumer HEROINES OF SCIENCE FICTION, an illus­ of it. it costs too much now and as most among others. trated encyclopedia covering major fem­ ale protagonists from the 1930's through publishers are in the business to make The contract between Baen and Pocket a profit, any books published must have to now, by Janrae Frank, Ron Miller and was signed in February, but details were Hank Stine, is currently going the a good chance of setting reasonably well. not made public. 1 realise that there are probably many rounds of publishers. Is this the title things that have an influence on what A few more titles are still to appear announced a year or two back by Star­ makes a book popular these days, and i in hard cover under the Timescape blaze? would suggest that in the case of science imprint from Pocket. They are: SHATTERED Some books announced by STARBLAZE have fiction and fantasy, that it is in most WORLDS by Michael Reaves, A DAY FOR now been cancelled and others delayed cases not what the fSsf literati would DAMNATION by David Gerrold, CIRCUMPOLAR as follows: MR MONSTER'S BEAUTIES AND tike to see having the most influence. by Richard Lupoff, WINTER'S DAUGHTERS THE BEAST by Forest J.Ackerman - can­ However, it is the readers and the type by Charles Whitmore, and THE YEARS OF celled, AN EDGE IN MY VOICE by Harlan of Stonies they want to read, that dictates THE CITY by Frederick Pohl. All to be Ellison - postponed; WOLF QUEST and THE to the publishers what to pubtish. published, one a month, up to August. SORCERESS OF QAR by Ted White - post­ 1 have said it before in these pages All the sf publishers in the U.S.A, had poned; THE COMING OF THE VOIDAL and THE HAND OF THE VOIDAL by Adrian Cole - and elsewhere, and 1 will say it again, a good year with sf in 1983, apart from postponed to Fall '84; MORE THAN that an author must wnite the type of Pocket. They may, incidently, continue to MELCHISADECH by R.A.Lafferty - delayed stony and in a style the Headens tike, publish two paperback sf titles per month, until Fall 1984; and some previously if he is to sett his wonk and make money. extra to the "Star Trek" titles, as well delayed, but now out, include: THE BRONZE Where do you dnaw the tine between ant as distributing Baen Books. and business on commercialism however? GOD OF RHODES by L.Sprague de Camp; I admit I would not know where to start WEB OF DARKNESS by Marion Z. Bradley; answering that question. It does seem American publisher St.Martin's Press WORLDS BEYOND: The Art of Chesley has announced plans to publish and Bonestell. to me that the most successful writers distribute mass market paperbacks, one those who can wnite welt and yet while at the same time, expanding its Underwood/Miller are publishing a lim­ Still be commercial, but the ones who sf line and offer hard cover capability make the most money are those who wnite ited edition of CUGEL'S SAGA by Jack to publishers who now only do paper­ Vance, which will incorporate a few small to a formula. The nest, tike Compton backs. As authors are demanding hard I guess, must accept the fact that changes made by the author. They will cover and paperback arrangements, St. also be doing RHIALTO THE MARVELLOUS, although their writing may be fan Martin's president, Tom McCormick, feels better, fan more literary than many of a sequel to THE DYING EARTH. that integration of the two, is a logical 5 erkley/Ace are acquiring lots of new Vonda N McIntyre, THE TITHONIAN FACTOR BEST SHORT STORY: ooks and reprinting many others. Amongst by Richard Cowper, A THEATRE OF TIMESMITHS he new titles are LYONESSE II and III by Garry Kilworth,*PAVANE by Keith Roberts, "The Peacemaker", Gardner Dozois by Jack Vance, HELLICONIA SUMMER and THE BOOK OF THE RIVER by Ian Watson, LIES, (Asimov's 8/83) ARCTIC HELLICONIA by Brian Aldiss, THE INC. by Philip K.Dick, VALENTINE PONTIFEX "Her Furry Face", Leigh Kennedy WARLOCK IS WANDERING and THE WARLOCK IS by Robert Silverberg, FIRE PATTERN by Bob (Asimov's 12/15/83) MISSING by Christopher Stasheff and Shaw, THE LUNATICS OF TERRA by John Sladek, "Cryptic", Jack McDevitt (Asimov's 4/83) TIME OF THE ANNIHILATOR and QUESTING OF NEOROMANCER by William Gibson, HEECHEE "Ghost Town", Chad Oliver (Analog 9/15/83) KEDRIGERN by John Morressy. RENDEZVOUS by Frederik Pohl, EXILES OF "The Geometry of Narrative", Hilbert COLSEC by Douglas Hill (Juv.), GIANT COLD Schenck (Analog 8/83 ) Bantam will publish two more books by by Peter Dickinson(Juv.), and reprints "Wong's Lost And Found Emporium", the author of STARTIDE RISING, David including RINGWORLD by Larry Niven, THE William F.Wu (Amazing 5/83) Brin. THE GORILLA (working title only) DRAGON IN THE SEA by Frank Herbert , Z FOR and THE POSTMAN which will be based on The Nebulas are voted upon only by the. ZACHARIAH by Robert C. O'Brien, THE Brin's Hugo-nominated novella. From members of the Science Fiction Writers WEATHERMONGER, HEARTSEASE, and THE DEVIL'S Norman Spinrad, they have CHILD OF of America association. They are dated CHILDREN by Peter Dickinson and the three FORTUNE, two new novels by Mike McQuay for the year the stories are published and a collection by Robert Silverberg, "Wizard of Earthsea " books by Urula K. and not the year given like the Hugos. LeGuin. A very impressive list. THE CONGLOMEROID COCKTAIL PARTY. They There is a "no award” allowed for in * Keith Robert's PAVANE is a new edition, will also publish the third book in the each category. The winners will be but all other new titles are either first "Inquistor" series by Somtow Sucharitkul, announced at the Nebula Banquet on April British publication or first time anywhere. 28th. which is a linked story collection titled UTOPIA HUNTERS. Timescape published the first two books in the series. The last HAMLYN PUBLISHING have a number of col­ The BRITISH FANTASY AWARDS book in the series, THE REBEL SHADOWS, lections: THE BEST GHOST STORIES, THE BEST HORROR STORIES, THE BEST SCIENCE The 1983 British Fantasy Awards were will be published in 1985. announced at Fantasycon VIII, held on FICTION STORIES and an sf/"faction" October 14th to 16th in Birmingham, Bantam will also publish CASTLES, an art title, SPACEBASE 2000 by Stewart Crowley. book by Alan Lee,( who illustrated the England. The winners and runners-up were: MABINOGION ) as a hard cover, in 1984. More details on all of these books andmore NOVEL: THE SWORD OF THE LICTOR by Gene from other publishers, will be covered in Wolfe, IN VIRICONIUM by M.John Harrison, Doubleday will publish a new collection our associate publication, THE FANTASY and PSYCHO II by Robert Bloch ( tied for of PHILIP K.DICK stories, put together AND SCIENCE FICTION CHECKLIST. second place). by Mark Hurst and Paul Williams. It con­ SHORT FICTION: "The Breathing Method" by tains the most recent uncollected stories, Stephen King, "Apt Pupil" by Stephen King, plus one previously unpublished story "Name and Number" by Brian Lumley. and a speech by Dick,on the craft of SMALL PRESS: Fantasy Tales, edited by sf writing. Stephen Jones and David Sutton, Dark Horizons, edited by David Sutton, Nemo Press will publish a bibliography whispers, edited by Stuart Schiff. of Harlan Ellison, tentatively titled FILM: BLADERUNNER, E.T. -- THE EXTRA­ A SPECIAL DREAMER: AN ILLUSTRATED TERRESTRIAL, CONAN THE BARBARIAN. HARLAN ELLISON BIBLIOGRAPHY, it has been ARTIST: Dave Carson, Stephen Jones, compiled by Leslie K.Swigart. John Stewart. SPECIAL AWARD: (given by the British Donald M.Grant are reprinting 10,000 Fantasy Society Commmittee): Karl Edward copies of THE GUNSLINGER by Stephen Wagner. King. They took this unprecedented step NEBULA AWARD NOMINATIONS 1983 because they received a lot of requests The award winners are underlined, with when the title was included on a list BEST NOVEL: the second and third runners in order. published of King's books. AGAINST INFINITY, Gregory Benford Whispers Press are doing a limited (Timescape) The PHILIP K.DICK AWARD NOMINATIONS signed edition of Robert Heinlein's new STARTIDE RISING, David Brin (Bantam) novel, JOB: A COMEDY OF JUSTICE. TEA WITH THE BLACK DRAGON,’R.A.MacAvoy Nominations for the third annual Philip (Bantam) K.Dick Memorial Award for best paperback MacDonald/Futura are doing hard cover THE VOID CAPTAIN'S TABLE by Norman original of the year are: editions of Larry Niven's THE PATCH­ Spinrad (Timescape) THE ANUBIS GATES by, Tim Powers (ACE) WORK GIRL and DREAM PARK by Niven and LYONESSE, Jack Vance (Berkley ) BENEFITS by Zoe Fairburn (Avon) Barnes. THE CITADEL OF THE AUTARCH, Gene Wolfe THE FLOATING GODS by M.John Harrison (Timescape) (Timescape) Del Rey plan to publish two reference MILLENIUM by John Varley (Berkley) volumes next year : THE ATLAS OF PERN BEST NOVELLA: TEA WITH THE BLACK DRAGON by R.A.MacAvoy and THE GUIDE TO THE LAND. "Hardfought", Greg Bear (Asimov's 2/83) (Bantam) "The Gospel According to Gamaliel Grucis", THE ZEN GUN by Barrington J.Bayley (DAW) NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM BRITISH Michael Bishop (Asimov's 11/83) PUBLISHERS FOR 1984 "Her Habiline Husband", Michael Bishop The award, originated by Tom Disch, has A new publisher, JOHN GOODCHILD, has (Universe 13) been taken over by Norwescon and it announced a number of new editions in "Eszterhazy And The Autogondola-Invention", will be presented in Seattle in March. hard cover of famous sf titles including: Avram Davidson (Amazing 11/83 ) The judges for next year will be John HOTHOUSE by Brian Aldiss, TIGER! TIGER! "Transit", Vonda N.McIntyre Sladek, Roland Green and Ted Michelfeld. by Alfred Bester, THE SPACE MERCHANTS by (Asimov's 10/83 ) Frederik Pohl and C.M.Kornbluth, BEASTS "Homefaring", Robert Silverberg THE ALPHA AWARD by John Crowley, THIS IMMORTAL by Roger (Amazing 11/83 ) Zelazny and THE WORLD OF NULL-A by A.E BEST NOVELETTE: Not another award! Yes, another award. Van Vogt. This time, it’s the Alpha Award. The "Blood Music", Greg Bear (Analog 6/83) GRANADA published Asimov's THE ROBOTS OF Alpha Award is presented by SF Review "Blind Shemmy", Jack Dann (Omni 4/83) Corner (a radio program on 5EBI-FM run DAWN in February, and to follow, they have " The Monkey Treatment", George R.R. by Tom Callaghan and Jeff Harris) to INCARNATE by Ramsey Campbell, WEST OF EDEN Martin (F§SF 3/83) someone who has contributed significantly by Harry Harrison, THE SUN SHINES BRIGHT "Black Air", Kim Stanley Robinson to South Australian fandom over a number by Isaac Asimov and SPRING OF '84: A (FDSF 3/83 ) of years. The first recipient of the CHOICE OF FUTURES by Arthur C.Clarke. "Cicada Queen", Bruce Sterling award (in 1982) was Allan Bray. Allan’s The last two being non-fiction titles. (Universe 13) award took the form of two engraved "Slow Birds", Ian Watson (F&SF 6/83) silver goblets. This year (1983, that GOLLANC7. titles include: HERETICS OF "The Sidon In The Mirror", Connie is) the second Alpha Award was presented DUNE by Frank Herbert, THE STEPS TO THE Willis (Asimov's 4/83 ) to Jan Jackson. Jan's award was a silver- _SUN by Walter Tevis, SUPERLUMINAL by tray For those of you who don't know Jan, she has been a leading light of SA fandom, particularly amongst the Trek fans and the younger sf fans in Adelaide. obituaries As Tom said, Jan is also, in every sense of the word, a lady She certainly deserved the award. Congratulations, Jan. Reported by Cathie Kerrigan

MORE PEOPLE & PUBLISHING

The winner of the 1983 Nobel Prize for Literature, WILLIAM GOLDING, has, it is worth noting, written a number of border­ line f^sf novels and shorter stories. His best known is LORD OF THE FLIES (1954) MARY RENAULT LEONARD WIBBERLEY BILL CRAWFORD while the INHERITORS (19551, features a MARY RENAULT, the noted historical with starting the semi-professional mag­ confrontation of prehistoric men, and THE novelist died December 13th in a Cape azine field in 1934, with Marvel Tales SCORPION GOD (1971), that features three Town Hospital. She was 78. Although her and Unusual Stories, and the small press novellas. One of these novellas, "Envoy novels were not strictly fantasy , her field in 1935, with publication of MARS Extraordinary", was published and perfor­ reinterpretation of the Theseus legend MOUNTAIN. med as a play, THE BRASS BUTTERFLY (1958). had a great influence on the field. Crawford who was bom on September 11th THE LAST OF THE WINE ('56), THE KING 1911, endeavoured to give sf a new image British writer ADRIAN COLE's new novel MUST DIE (’58), THE BULL FROM THE SEA THE SLEEP GIANTS, was published last other than that presented in the pulp ( '62), and THE CHARIOTEER ('53) are magazines. In 1936, his Visionary Press October. It is loosely connected to probably her best known works. Marion MOORSTONES, published 1982. The books published THE SHADOW OVER INNSMOUTH by Zimmer Bradley chided her for not writ­ H.P.Lovecraft, but other plans he had are described as children's books but ing about women in any of her novels, not "juveniles". His "Voidal" series to publish books and magazines at that but after reading MISTS OF AVALON, Renault time, never eventuated. In 1947, he and was due to be released by Starblaze in suggested Bradley write about the women the US a year ago, but the latest indi­ his wife started The Fantasy Publishing of Greek legends. "Now I'll have to," Company, and they published among others, cation is Fall '84. Starblaze have more said Bradley. difficulty keeping to their schedule OUT OF THE UNKNOWN by A.E.Van Vogt, DEATH'S DEPUTY by L.Ron Hubbard, THE than ASFN! LEONARD WIBBERLEY , who wrote THE MOUSE UNDESIRED PRINCESS by L.Sprague de Camp THAT ROARED, died on November 22nd last, and THE IRON STAR by John Taine. In of a heart attack in Santa Monica. He 1953, he launched the magazine Spaceway, was 68. Born in Dublin, Ireland, in Publish anb be and in 1970, he dropped that to publish 1915, he moved to London with his family Coven 13. In the seventies, he became when he was 8. His first job was as a involved in running conventions, and one copy boy for the London Sunday Express, Daainebi being held this Easter, the sixth SF and went on to work for newspapers in SCANDALOUS REPORTS, EMBARASSING MOMENTS, Weekend, will be held as a memorial to him. many other places throughout the world. CRITICAL REMARKS and INNUENDOS in the A man to whom the sf field owes a lot. SCIENCE FICTION WORLD His first novel, (the first of 100 books) was THE KING'S BEARD. His fantasy novels Hie Oakland Tribune newspaper of August included: the sequels to THE MOUSE THAT OTTO MESSMER, the film animator who 18th 1983, carried an article question­ ROARED, THE MOUSE ON THE MOON and THE created "Felix the Cat" died October 28th ing the death of PHILIP K.DICK. There MOUSE ON WALL STREET, QUEST FOR EXCALIBUR, last. He was 91. He also created 300 were some anomalies regarding identific­ MRS SEARWOOD'S SECRET WEAPON and others. short films in the 1920s and 1930s and ation of the body, the abrupt cremation, WILLIAM L.CRAWFORD, died of cancer on drew the daily "Felix the Cat" newspaper with no accompanying funeral service strip. and the unknown fate of a considerable January 26th. He was buried at sea by amount of cash. The reporter who wrote the Neptune Society. Crawford is credited the article, David Alcott, advanced the theory that the seeming death of PKD promotion, last October. British authors Jim Baen Associates and Jerry Pournelle wa-s a hoax, giving Dick the chance to and overseas authors took part in book Associates are to produce a new sf mag­ start a new, pseudonymous, life. Dick's signings, appeared on TV shows and atten­ azine called Far Frontiers. It will be daughter. Laura Coelho, her mother Anne ded various other promotional events. published quarterly and be similar in Dick, and Dick's father, all said that The promotion was aimed at encouraging concept and editorial direction to the they believed him to be truly dead, but more readers to read sf, but a campaign "Destinies" series Baen edited for ACE. it is an interesting theory. Just the aimed at fans is a future possibility. The magazine will include original fiction sort of thing Dick would have written (Australian publishers and distributors and non-fiction. Baen and Pournelle will into one of his novels, which all his should consider something along these be editorial directors and John F.Carr, readers can testify to, knowing that he lines to coincide with AUSSIECON 2 in managing editor. They are looking for did write about death, fraud, and August '85.) Despite the campaign's appar­ stories that J.W.Campbell would have pub­ matters of truth and illusion in many ent sucess, Christopher Priest, sometimes lished in Astounding, with an emphasis of his works. called St. Christopher by those who do not on hard science and a good story well agree with his comments in such places as told. They will also be publishing some Author William Blatty filed suit late Ansible and The British Bookseller, critic­ poetry and the occasional Unknown - type - last year against the New York Times, ised the campaign rather vehemently. We fantasy story. Payment will be 5$ per because his book LEGION was late making gather that his main ' beef' was the poor word, with higher rates for higher name their bestseller list. Although the book choice of books, that the publishers chose authors and for stories used in the was named as a bestseller by Publishers to include in the promotion. ongoing anthologies, such as "There Will Weekly back in July, the NYT did not inc­ Be War". For more details write to lude the title on their preprinted form J.E.Pournelle 8 Associates, Attention listing 36 books, (which they send to all MAGAZINE NEWS John F.Carr, 3960 Laurel Canyon Blvd., the booksellers to fill in and return), The American news and review magazine Suite 372, Studio City CA 91604 - 3791 until August. It immediately made the Fantasy Newsletter, has been retitled U.S.A. NYT list the following week. Blatty is Fantasy Review. Editor Robert Collins claiming "negligence" on the part of has got together with Neil Barron, Editor Richard Monaco is trying to find a the NYT. who was producing Science Fiction and new publisher for IMAGO, which was scheduled Numerous authors descended on Britain Fantasy Book Review and they have com­ for a September '83 release, but cancelled to take part in the Book Marketing bined the two publications, with Baron when the publisher, Chelseas House, reneged Council's VENTURE INTO SCIENCE FICTION as review editor. on the deal. 1 responsible for most of BLADERUNNER's look. Parke Godwin is doing the treatment and screenplay for "The Fire When It Comes", STREETS OF FIRE is an unusual film in a novella optioned by Noble Enterprises. that it is set in a 50's period, but not Shooting will probably commence late '84. the 50's as we know them. It is directed by Walter Hill who made THE WARRIORS A film based on Barry Longyear's novel and 48 HOURS. ENEMY MINE, is being made in England by A new production company, Salem Produc­ King's Road productions. tions, formed by William J.Immerman, Tobe Hooper, who directed POLTERGEIST, has bought L.Ron Hubbard's BATTLEFIELD will direct SPACE VAMPIRES for Cannon EARTH. Immerman will make two films, the Films. John Dykstra is in charge of Leonard Nimoy has brought in STAR TREK first of which will start filming late special effects. III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK, ( his first '84 on a $15 million budget. Gary Kurtz is producing RETURN TO 0Z feature-directing project ) on schedule CONAN, KING OF THIEVES started filming for Disney Studios. The story is a com­ and several million dollars below bud­ in Mexico recently. It will star Arnold pilation of characters and plot elements get. The film has all the original Schwarzenegger in the title role again. from 12 of the Frank L.Baum books that cast, but Kirstie Alley, who created A Dino De Laurentiis production, it is Disney hold the rights on. Walter Murch II directed by Richard Fleisher and written the character Lt. Saavik in the STAR TREK has written the script and will direct film, has been replaced by newcomer by Stanley Mann. Universal will release. at Elstree studios, and on location in Robin Curtis, who is a fashion model. Martin Sheen replaced Burt Lancaster on Italy. There will be extensive special Dame Judith Anderson is also in the FIRESTARTER after Lancaster underwent a effects. film, and the villain is played by heart operation. Lancaster was reported NBC have paid $3 million for two screen­ Christopher Lloyd who played Reverend to be doing well. Jim in TV's TAXI. The scheduled release ings of THE ROAD WARRIOR ( MAD MAX ). date for the film is June 1984. CBS will screen a 12 hour mini-series This is the first all-Australian made based on James Michener's SPACE. The and cast film screened on American In a newspaper interview, Nimoy said script is being written by Stirling network TV. that he thinks that he has used the Silliphant. It will include extensive Disney studios are making BABY, which characters better than ever before. use of actual space.scenery borrowed In the first film,they went along for is set in Africa, where the discovery from NASA. of some surviving dinosaurs has been the ride with the special effects, the made. Special effects will include a second film used them more effectively, Following the screening here of the but the actors think Nimoy has done films THE DAY AFTER and TESTAMENT, both a dinosaur 15 feet tall and 75 feet long. such a good job that they want him to of which deal with nuclear disasters, Dan O'Bannon in his first directing job, direct the fourth film. When he first the Edgley organisation, who produced is working on RETURN OF THE LIVING asked Judith Anderson to appear in the the films PHARLAP and the MAN FROM SNOWY DEAD for Hemdale Leisure Corp. George film, she said she had never heard of RIVER,have produced a post nuclear dis­ Romero was trying to stop the name STAR TREK, but some of her young relatives aster film, ONE NIGHT STAND, in which being used as he intended to use it put her in the picture. a group of young people camp in the himself, following his earlier "Living Sydney Opera House, as the world is Nimoy cut off a TV and movie directing Dead " movies. Dan O'Bannon replaced destroyed around them. Other associated career to originally appear in the Tobe Hooper as director of the film films include DOOMSDAY RUN, in which a which is now being backed by Orion TV series of STAR TREK, but he has now group steal nuclear materials, and a Pictures. come full circle and in so doing, may film tentatively titled RED DAWN AND THE have opened the way to other directorial TIN SOLDIERS, which involves a group of New World Pictures and Cinema Group Inc. assignments. He has appeared in many young people trying to survive an atomic have combined to make THE PHILADELPHIA other diverse roles from Golda Meir's blast. EXPERIMENT, which deals with an exper­ husband in the TV mini-series "Golda", ment purportedly carried out by the to the character Achmet in another TV Disney will release its first full-length U.S. navy during the war, in which a mini-series "Marco Polo" and stage animated feature since SLEEPING BEAUTY in battleship was made to disappear and roles such as "The King and I". 1959, when it releases THE BLACK CAULDRON materialise later and in another place. in 1985. The studio has been working on John Carpenter is executive producer. Following the success of the Jim Henson this $25 million medieval fantasy for film THE DARK CRYSTAL, another film is six years. British actor Peter Arne, who appeared to be made. Artist Brian Froud is cur­ in numerous British films and TV pro­ rently producing designs for the film. A third "Mad Max" film is to be made by ductions, including a number in the sf Froud's pop-up book GOBLINS has been George Miller, but it is unlikely that and horror category, was murdered last a very popular item in Britain and the Mel Gibson will be involved. Gibson has year by a young Italian teacher, homo­ U.S.A. The Australian edition also become a very hot property since appearing sexual nickun, who consequently drowned in THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY, which sold out over Christmas last. Pop-up himself in the Thames. We were ironic­ has done well in the U.S.A. American act­ books are a steadily growing, popular ally reminded of his death on seeing him ress Linda Hunt, won the Academy Award for item, and GOBLINS is particularly out­ in an episode of tne TV series HART TO Best Supporting Actress in the same film, standing in this field. HART, in which the character he played and is appearing in the film of DUNE. was also murdered. Truth is stranger Universal will produce films of than fiction! Jean Auel's novels THE CLAN OF THE CAVE GHOSTBUSTERS is a comedy film written by BEAR and THE VALLEY OF THE HORSES, for Dan Ackroyd and Harold Ramis, which will theatrical release. The films will be star Ackroyd, Ramis, and Sigourney Weaver. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS made simultaneoulsy, with Peter Guber The film was originally planned to My thanks as usual to LOCUS and SCIENCE and Jon Peters (FLASHDANCE) as execut­ star Ackroyd and his late friend John FICTION CHRONICLE for most of the over­ ive producers. Belushi. Special effects, which include seas news in this issue. The film Roy Scheider has been chosen to play a giant model of Manhattan's Central news, in particular, is mostly from Kay Haywood Floyd in MGM/UA's film of Park West skyline, which takes so much Anderson's Continuum column in SFC, for 2010 : ODYSSEY TWO, with John Lithgow power to light that part of the power to which we are most appreciative. other parts of the studio has to be cut and Bob Baliban playing two of the My thanks to Jullianne Wylie, Karen off, are being supervised by Oscar American astronauts in the story. Peter Quinlan, and Cathie Kerrigan for helping winner Richard Edlund. Hyams, who directed OUTLAND, is direct­ with typing on this issue. Jullianne is ing and producing, and wrote the screen­ also doing a good job in endeavouring to play for the film. Technical people on Tanya Roberts is starring in a Columbia find all my typos and grammatical blunders, the film will include Richard Edlund, pictures version of SHEENA, QUEEN OF THE since Justin Ackroyd is not around. I will special effects supervisor on STAR WARS, JUNGLE, based on the 1930's comic strip still need more help with typing and proof­ RETURN OF THE JEDI and RAIDERS OF THE character, previously screened as a reading on future issues, since I cannot LOST ARK, production designer Albert serial. afford to continue to use Space Age staff, Brenner, and artist Syd Mead, who was who should be doing other things. Any volunteers ? „ „ 8 M. B. trail-blazing short stories and crowns his career with a soruscating cascade of sheer genius. This novel marks a GEORGE TURRER new development in sf. Turner claims not to know whether Moskowitz ever did review THE DEMOLISHED Critic & Rnuelist MAN. Maskowitz's actual review (Science Fiction Plus, August 1953) can be used to show how sound George's ear is. by John Foyster This novel represents the ultimate achieved to date in that particular George Turner began his career as direction of science-fiction (archness 'practicing critic' with an article in of writing and loss of central ideas and plotting.) Alfred Bester, an the first anniversary issue of experienced radio script writer, Australian Science Fiction Review, June pulls off every gimmick in a writer's 1967. For this edition, John Bangsund retinue and even invents a few never had persuaded many of his regular con­ seen before. He goes a step further tributors to provide pieces of fiction, and employs trick typesetting for with the result that ASFR 10 is not special effects. The result is com­ at all typical of what the magazine had pletely different and effective science previously been. George Turner's fiction novel. In its direction,it is contribution is the only long piece of good enough to discourage wise writers criticism in this issue. In time, as GEORGE Merv Binns from exploring this vein any further. we shall see, John Bangsund did exert It is unlikely that they will be able his persuasive powers upon George Turner In 'The Double Standard' George Turner to do better than Bester, and when an also, with greater success. aimed to go beyond this; he 'proposed entire story must stand or fall by its to take a popular and much lauded sf writing, only the best is acceptable. George Turner's concerns in this first novel and treat it on several levels article, 'The Double Standard', have of criticism'; he was to be 'concerned Although the plot when recited sounds remained with him; in 1984, some with causes, effects and ultimate asinine, and the pace and special­ seventeen years later, he felt a strong values' . effects slacken somewhat at about the urge to lead a Nova Mob meeting on the halfway mark, this book is neverthe­ subject of the nature of the criticism The work to be dealt with was Alfred less an important experiment in the of science fiction. In 1967, he was Bester's THE DEMOLISHED MAN (though evolution of science fiction writing. concerned to distinguish reviewing Turner argues that more or less the Near enough. from criticism: he draws the line, as same remarks could be made about the subtitle of his article reveals, THE STARS MY DESTINATION) and ranged But the way into George's article is between 'the short look and the long, against this work was to be George not through Moskowitz, but along the hard look'. Turner - an sf reader for 39 years, Via Norstrilia (as it was later to a student of literature for 30 and a become) - a review by Rob Gerrand. This article had its origins, according practising novelist for ten years George asserts that Gerrand invents to Turner, in exchanges of ideas with (not science fiction) . John Bangsund. In introducing himself virtues in THE DEMOLISHED MAN and turns to take his 'long, hard look.' to his readers George Turner uses the (George Turner's mainstream novels are same stylistic touches he is to retain YOUNG MAN OF TALENT (1959), A STRANGER This is based, apparently, upon several throughout his SF writing career; he AND AFRAID (1961), THE CUPBOARD UNDER writes as he speaks, colloquially if readings of THE DEMOLISHED MAN: no one THE STAIRS (1962), A WASTE OF SHAME will be able to doubt that George this is appropriate, and without pre­ (1965), THE LAME DOG MAN (1967) and Turner took the book seriously. During tension or strain. Here, as elsewhere, TRANSIT OF CASSIDY (1978). He received the course of these readings, Turner his style assists the reader to follow the Miles Franklin award for THE finds his feelings about the book comfortably (and at times it may appear CUPBOARD UNDER THE STAIRS and his own all too comfortably) his flow of ideas. evolving - something not entirely feelings about his novels are summarised surprising. A book which at first in these remarks (CONTEMPORARY NOVELISTS, was hard to put down becomes first In this and several other early pieces 1976); George Turner reveals much of his a snow job and then, ten years later, I am sufficiently old fashioned to hard going. Is this a change in the philosophy of science fiction, and prefer a story with a beginning, a this article will therefore, in dealing reader, one must wonder? Then Turner developement and a resolution (though moves to his criticism, a long hard with his non-fiction, refer only to the not to the point of tying up every article already cited, together with look which is to be framed by several loose end in sight) but sufficiently questions: Does THE DEMOLISHED MAN 'Nothing to lose but the chains' of my time to avoid moral and ethical (ASFR 12, October 1967), 'On writing deserve a high place? Is it good sf? attitudes. Those of my characters Is it a good thriller? What does THE about science fiction' (ASFR 18, who display them are apt to come to December 1968) (and his review of DEMOLISHED MAN tell us about a tele­ grief as the theme tests and retests pathic society? Is it a high point Armytage's YESTERDAY'S TOMORROWS in them that issue) and 'Up the Pohl' (ASFR in sf or a high point in fooling the For this reason, I have been termed 19, March 1969). (Only the original reader? "existentialist", which is probably article is dealt with in that article.) true, and I have also been said to Turner acknowledges that it is an in­ have no moral or ethical views at all, genious thriller - perhaps too much so. Later in his career, George became a which is not. I merely condemn regular reviewer of science fiction This can be used as an explanation of rigidity of attitude and I suppose (and later again, by preference, his initial reaction to THE DEMOLISHED that in the final summation, that is MAN. But is it good sf? Here Turner mainstream literature) for the what my novels so far have been about. Melbourne AGE. Here he was able to begins to use his notions of what function along the lines described constitutes good sf: he begins to worry George introduces his remarks about THE about ultimate values. in this earliest piece: he could DEMOLISHED MAN with a series of quot­ 'give the reader of his periodical a ations, mostly invented, but attributed For George, a work must be consistent guide to what is on the market'. But to various generally anonymous labourers within its own guidelines; speculative such a reviewer, he wrote in 1967, 'is in the field of science fiction, one ideas in an sf novel must be able to of no use at all to the writer or to of whom is Sam Moskowitz. The imagined withstand scrutiny. From this point, the serious reader who considers review by Moskowitz is printed as: literature a major amenity of civil­ he moves on to what he sees as the isation, one which must be treated This magnificent novel sets a new central motif of THE DEMOLISHED MAN with exactness and great care.' (ASFR 10,10) literary standard in sf. Bester the telepathic society within which it fulfils the promise shown in his is set. For him, the book can stand 0 or fall on the handling of telepathy. He 'should set up some rules, and abide how an ass like Ben Reich managed to hold (It is useful to recall here that George by them' for 'Science is dependent on his financial empire together'. There's Turner's fiction trilogy, written some rules, and even sf must obey a few, if now altogether too much public evidence years later, depends substantially upon it is to have validity or even intell­ as to the ways in which asses do hold telepathy.) igibility '. together empires of one kind or another. (But George does not consider, at least There's something echoing in here, which The skill with which Bester has depicted in print, the consequences for his judge­ needs to be spelled out; the Gemsbackian the society of THE DEMOLISHED MAN is ment if Bester claims that the centre of sugar-coated pill manifested in the also treated harshly, again in a single his novel is not the telepathic content reading of the young George Turner paragraph. But then, taking what has at all, but that this is incidental to (if he read Wonder Stories), with the gone before and adding a note about his goal, the construction of an sf 'What is your Science Knowledge?' Reich, George Turner puts his case thriller at which Bester seems, to the feature of the magazine, in which the together. Although THE DEMOLISHED MAN reader Turner, to have been successful.) young enthusiasts of science were quizzed has 'virtues of style and speed and (Here is a flaw; for one would need to on the extent to which they had absorbed ingenuity', the evidence from three be very sure that one was judging a book the garbled scientific content of their distinct investigations is that it is by its cover story - in George's words favourite reading matter. (Gemsback shallow or dishonest. Dishonest, and it must 'be consistent within the bounds assumed his readers had poor memories; therefore a bad book. it is remarkable how often some questions of its own convention', but this surely Having dealt thus with the work itself, re-appeared.) Science fiction, for does not require it to be consistent Turner moves back from his analysis George Turner, echoes some of that with the readers convention. The question to examine the reaction of readers to Gemsback philosophy; though Gernsback to be resolved is whether George Turner's THE DEMOLISHED MAN, and considers what is, of course, passe, the science content claim that THE DEMOLISHED MAN'S success this means about science fiction as a of science fiction cannot be denied or or failure turns on the satisfactoriness branch of literature. He sees two even slighted. By a curious coincidence, of the depiction of telepathy is a major consequences. First, the warmth just as THE DEMOLISHED MAN was finishing reasonable one or not. But Turner uses with which such a book is received by its serial run in Galaxy Science Fiction, this question to deal with greater matters the science fiction community will lead over at Startling Stories (March 1952) - if the treatment of telepathy is serious thinkers to reject science Kendall Foster Crossen was hard at work unsatisfactory then the writer may, in fiction as an object worthy of study. continuing to stick pins into the hot addition, have been dishonest - if he Second, if readers like such a work,then air balloon of Gernsbackian scientism knows that his treatment has been un­ editors and publishers will encourage with THINGS OF DISTINCTION, complete satisfactory. Thus, inside one uncertain the production of similar works. This with scientific footnotes such as (in question lies the worm of deceit. But also is to be deplored. if the challenge to Bester's treatment part only) of telepathy is accurate but irrelevant Erwin Dibble, as everyone should know, Indirectly, such a response to THE then the question- of honesty does not first made his reputation in advert­ DEMOLISHED MAN will make it more diffi­ exist.) ising in 3027 when he managed to cult for writers, who seek to produce rearrange the positions of a number science fiction of quality. For they Turner's challenge to Bester takes place of stars, in the neighbourhood of must turn their backs on popularity. in a small arena: three incidents are Polaris, so that they spelled STELLA- It is far more desirable, argues Turner, identified and discussed. For each COLA. He accomplished this with a to have readers with taste, and to incident Turner asserts that there is a patented process (UGH Pat. 475621F89036) encourage amongst all readers the flaw and that Bester was aware of the flaw. which was based on the formula: That Bester, having known about the flaw, acquisition of taste. It is to this ignores it. In two of the three cases, theme that he is to return, in the article qp -pq = ih 'On writing about science fiction' late in fact, Turner gives details of the 21 in 1968. method used by Bester to divert the etc. etc. reader's attention from the difficulty In this early article George Turner One might reasonably suggest that George he has got himself into. It is hard to not only foreshadows much of the later Turner's feelings about the place of see this as a matter of ignoring a criticism he has to write; he also science in science fiction are not problem, unless one is talking about a outlines the basis upon which he con­ universally held. Yet most significant phil’osophical treatise, which generally structed his science fiction, beginning writers would not deny that science does speaking those analysing a work of with BELOVED SON. Rarely, if ever in play some part in the construction of science fiction are not doing; certainly science fiction, has a writer so thor­ works of science fiction. The question the writer of the thriller, which George oughly described and then put into may not be, then, quite so absolute as Turner found 'a most entertaining tale', practice a theory of science fiction. took a step which some at least might George Turner's rendering of it in his analysis of THE DEMOLISHED MAN. There find acceptable 'within the bounds of John Foyster, March 1984. its own convention.' is a question of degree, and perhaps one may legitimately take a softer line than (This is an extract from a much longer Here is the crux of the matter. It is he does on the authenticity of Bester's article about George Turner as critic the point of departure for George Turner's treatment of telepathy. But certainly and novelist of science fiction.) voyage into criticism; is there a double we have identified one of George Turner's George Turner is the Guest of Honour standard? Is George Turner, the first ultimate values with some precision; of EUREKACON, the 1984 National reader, he who finds THE DEMOLISHED MAN that in science fiction central scientific Australian SF Convention, in Melbourne hard to put down, the reviewer, the ideas should be worked out in some detail, over Easter. reader for whom THE DEMOLISHED MAN was and laws- ones which cannot be ignored- constructed, or is it George Turner, positied concerning those ideas. A lost cover crusty critic, who at the third reading design for finds THE DEMOLISHED MAN hard going and Beyond this central concern, Turner goes BELOVED SON full of dishonesty in its treatment of on to deal with two other matters not, in the U.S. telepathy that Alfred Bester worked for in 1952, much in fashion in science Pocket Books in those sweaty hours of 1951? Alas, fiction. In a sense,these are dealt edition, that the number of seasoned George Turners with rather more briefly than seems was dropped reading Galaxy in 1951-1952 was very justified (and more briefly than one for what was small indeed: the author investing in considered a time in\serving those readers might find suspects the later George Turner would find satisfactory). In addressing the better one. himself, ah, misdirecting his effort. question of characterization, in one George Turner argues extensively about paragraph Turner acknowledges that the BELOVED the necessity for a rationale for tele­ characters are 'very striking (and) pathy and the use of it in the novel. admirably suited to the uses to which He does not, says the critic, 'suggest Bester puts them' but draws to our SON how telepathic powers are brought into attention the failure of these characters George Turner existence' or 'discuss the techniques to develop. There's a weakness in this of using and directing these powers'. paragraph which one can imagine a more He 'never suggests a raison d'etre'. careful Turner excising: he 'wonders... 10 HRRRy HORRISOR in Australia

THE MANY FACES OF A SCIENCE FICTION AUTHOR:

Conversationalist Autographer Imbiber Publicist

American author HARRY HARRISON, visited writing on the rest of the English speak­ GEORGE TURNER himself then spoke about Australia from late January to mid March. ing sf world. Pointing out that the most British sf. The French, he said, might be He attended SWANCON NINE in Perth as successful British writers, such as blamed for inventing sf and other coun­ their GoH and then travelled on to Arthur C.Clarke, have been writing in tries have produced the odd titles that Melbourne, Sydney and Queensland. Accord­ the American style. Sf has still not will always be with us, such as WE by ing to all the reports, SWANCON NINE was been accepted by the academia, with Yevgeny Zamiatin, but British writers as crazy as Perth conventions usually some publishers in Britain even going so from Wells to Aldiss have exerted a are, and Harry and his wife Joan had a far as to say that their "sf" books are great deal of influence on the field. great time. Paul and Kit Stevens attended not sf at all. Penguin Books and their He went on to deal at length with the the Perth convention and although they John Wyndham titles, for instance. writing of Brian Aldiss, the British spent most of their time getting sun­ The major influence in American sf is "New Wave SF" as invented by Michael tanned on Cottesloe Beach, they managed money. If you produce one popular book,you Moorcock and the style of writing being to see a lot of the convention. Paul produce fifty more in the same style and produced, for example, by Ian Watson. In said that Swancon Nine lived up to the make lots of cash. Marc then quoted an the main, most of the sf being written in reputation of previous Perth conventions, article by David Lake in Leigh Edward's Britain today is just plain dull. The with plenty of fun and frivolity. It zine RATAPLAN, in which he said that sf writing,he said was nice and correct, opened on the Friday evening with Harry writing is doomed, basically because but lacking in original ideas. British Harrison and Perth fans taking part in science fact is outpacing it, and that sf's last hope, seems to lay in the hands a "TV" interview with the film makers everybody should be writing fantasy of writers such as Christopher Priest, in the novel TECHNICOLOURTIME MACHINE. because that is what the readers want. not forgetting the great contribution of It was hilarious. In fact, Harry appeared Fantasy is very big in American writing Brian Aldiss, whose newest effort, on almost every panel, or so it seemed, at the moment, Marc added, but sf is "Helliconia", Turner admitted, he likes but enjoyed himself never the less. He still with us. Many interesting aspects very much. Other authors are writing and Joan were big hits with everybody. were covered in a question time that books that are not regarded as sf, but The inevitable' Fan Olympics' were part of followed, with comments from George could not have been written if sf had the programme and one event that should Turner and Harry Harrison, who mentioned not been written first. The works of be introduced at a Melbourne convention, the influence of the anti-communist att­ Doris Lessing, RIDLEY WALKER by Russell was the pie throwing. Members of the itudes in the U.S.A, on sf writing. Hoban, LANARK by Alisdair Gray and committee were auctioned off and the other writers, are looking at sf's ideas winners had the joy of smashing a pie George Turner, who had actually organised and saying we can do something like this into the face of the person they had the discussion part of the programme, and are going ahead and doing it. paid for. Paul added fiendishly, that he then introduced JOHN FOYSTER, who spoke- about European sf and how it differs in could think of many people in Melbourne A stultifying influence on British sf that he would love to let have a pie in presentation and style to American and is the British SF Foundation, whose the moosh. British sf. Magazines for instance style of reviewing is influencing the in. some cases, carry a lot of only rem­ genre greatly, to its detriment. Turner The highlight of the con was probably otely related material. The quality of added that revolution is due in British the masquerade and the musical enter­ the production of sf publications is sf and it most likely will not come tainment that accompanied it. To sum good, but a lot is reprinted from other from the establishment. Harry Harrison up, you haven't lived until you have sources, and in some cases, without per­ reminded Turner he had not mentioned John been to an sf convention in Perth. mission. Also, they do not always get Brunner, and Turner promptly told the their facts right. Translation has been a audience why, in that Brunner had got After attending SWANCON Harry and Joan problem and many stories written in onto one track with his novels STAND ON came to Melbourne, where a one-day-affair, English have become shorter when they ZANZIBAR and THE SHEEP LOOK UP and has HARRYCON, was to be held at the Victoria are published in Germany, for instance. written little of significance since. Hotel. Where else? It turned out to be a More recently, the influence of fans quite successful day and the Melbourne Harrison also pointed out that Russell there, has forced the publishers to Hoban is an American author, now living SF Club, who sponsored the con and helped demand better translations. organise it along with Merv Binns and Space in London. In question-time, other Age Books, actually made a small profit. French magazines have been very similar authors were mentioned,including James The programme consisted mainly of speakers to the American style, with a mixture of White, Brian Stableford, Christopher talking about science fiction in various original and translated fiction and Evans and Edmund Cooper. White in par­ parts of the world today, including articles. Germany has seen quite a bit ticular, being an author who always America, Britain, Europe and Australia. of critical writing on sf, due probably turns out a good story. to the influence of fan/ collector/ The afternoon session of HARRYCON com­ MARC ORTLIEB spoke about the American writer, Franz Rottensteiner. scene and the influence of American sf menced with an interview with HARRY Bruce Gillespie receiving his Photos on this page and the previous World Science Fiction Award by Kit Stevens, John Foyster and Alex Wasiliew

Paul Stevens interviewing Harry Harrison Joan Harrison at Space Age Books

HARRISON conducted by PAUL STEVENS. Harry Harrison, the book publicist, in Harrison commented briefly on his work has never been heard of since. During answering a question on the subject put in the comic field in the 50s, which the filming, Harrison managed to get a few by Mr Stevens, quickly told the audience led him into illustrating sf magazines changes made for the better, but it about his current project, WEST OF EDEN. and book covers. Then he discovered finished only a "half good picture", He told us how he had made full use of that writers made more money than comic that got over the idea of over-popul­ his word processor to produce a corrected artists, after writing a story and having ation, but missed a lot of the points manuscript and recording, which the it accepted straight off for $100. made in the novel. The title change printer could use directly to print the caused all sorts of problems in trying He soon found himself writing for John book. Even before the printer had the to get the film screened in non-English W.Campbell at astounding and his first manuscript, he pointed out that he was speaking countries. They could not novel, DEATHWORLD was accepted by Campbell able to supply a limited number of translate the title. for $2100. Always being a traveller, he galleys, for purposes of publicity, etc- moved from his then home in Mexico, to cetera. He had some difficulty in convin­ Asked how his non-sf books sell in Denmark and set to work on another cing his publisher however, that the book relation to the sf, Harrison said that "Deathworld" novel. He spent seven years could be printed directly from the disc (?) the thrillers sell reasonably well. in Denmark, where he wrote BILL THE from his word processor, without the QE2 was well publicised by Anthony GALACTIC HERO, as well as the other "Death­ need for further correcting of printers Cheetham at Futura and SKYFALL was very world" novels , moved on to England for proofs. well advertised by Tom Dougherty at TOR a year and then to San Diego. He said and sold 250,000 copies, but non-sf by that it was quite true that Robert WEST OF EDEN is to be published by sf writers should sell well, because Heinlein has not spoken to him since he Granada in the U.K. and Bantam in the the sf fans will buy authors they know wrote BILL THE GALACTIC HERO. U.S.A, around August 1984. It is the and general readers willbuythem also. first part of a three part novel, based Somebody in the audience, of course, had The Harrison family lived in San Diego on the premise that a giant meteorite for a while, until a freeway threatened to ask Harrison if he had any Harlan did not strike the Earth millions of Ellison stories. He had, including when to divide their house in two, and it was years ago; that the dinosaurs were not put on a truck and sold in Mexico. they first met and Harlan, who was a young wiped out, and that they consquently beCqme They returned to England for a while, fan at the time, threatened to blacklist the dominant species on the planet. but a short trip to Ireland convinced Harrison in fandom, because he had run them that there was a nice place to live. This novel is the product of contact and a hoax UFO story in the magazine he was All this travelling around seems to co-operation with various people, experts editing, Science Fiction Adventures. have had little influence on Harrison’s in their fields, who pointed out the In another funny account, Harrison told writing. The main reason for moving holes in Harrison's ideas and put him on us that he had taken his phone off the around, has been to do with climate the right track. One idea, directly result­ hook,because Joan had been getting some ing from this contact, was that the dino­ obscene phone calls. Harlan who had been Talking about Harry Harrison the conven­ saur technology would be biological rather frantically trying to phone Harry, tion goer, he said that in Perth, he was than mechanical, as human technology finally got through and Harlan being listed to go on two panels, but out of has become. Harlan, uttered a few choice words in twenty three programme items he was on the process. twenty four. He attended the very small The book was orginally planned as one first World con in New York in '39, and book, but has grown so much, that it now In the afternoon session at HARRYCON, he realised while at SEACON, the '79 must be published in three parts. BRUCE GILLESPIE surveyed the Australian World Con at Brighton, England, that at Harrison sees it as being his best chance scene. He spoke about the limitations least 13 of the attendees in '39, were of making the bestseller list, as the of science fiction publishing in at SEACON. Once a fan always a fan! concept involved, is something that will Australia and the many problems involved. appeal to a wide variety of readers, not Gillespie told us of his experiences Following some hilarious recollections of just sf, although sf has been doing well as one of the members of Norstrilia Press. con-going in the U.S.A., Europe and other on the bestseller lists of late. He said it is impossible to make any places, Harrison spoke about the various money out of publishing sf in Australia fandoms he had been involved with, includ­ In the question-time period , somebody and all Norstrilia can hope to do is ing Finnish, German, Swedish, Irish and asked Harrison what he thought of the cover costs. Apart from one or two others. He told us about the provisions film SOYLENT GREEN. Apart from the fact exceptions, such as Lee Harding's made for those who drink too much at that he was ripped off by the people who DISPLACED PERSON, which won the Child­ Swedish conventions, the way everything bought the option and he only received ren's Book Award, Australian sf sales is so well organised in Germany, and the a pittance for the film rights, he was have been very small. methods used by Godzilla-like-bouncers disgusted with the screenplay, which The situation where Australian authors was written by somebody called Stanley and Japanese karate experts, to remove are being published overseas is a little those who have drunk too much in Finland. Greenberg, who promptly disappeared more significant. Lee Harding, Damien 12 right after turning in the script and Broderick and George Turner have all Gillespie said, that he was not sure if been published in the U.K. or the U.S.A., keen on seeing RIDLEY WALKER on the screen it was for past efforts with his public­ and has hopes of George (MAD MAX) Miller but their writing is most likely not ation SF Commentary, or an attempt to being recognised as distinctly Australian. being interested. get him to start publishing it again. Bert Chandler has done very well, but The award was announced at the last Space Age Books have been keen promoters his latest novel, KELLY COUNTRY, finally meeting of the World SF in Zagreb, of Hoban's books, starting with THE MOUSE published by Penguin in Australia, is Yugoslavia last year. AND HIS CHILD, THE LION OF BOAZ-JACHIN unlikely to be published anywhere else, JACHIN BOAZ, TURTLE DIARY, KLEINZEIT ’ due to the fact that it is "too Austral­ The evening session of the programme and more recently PILGERMAN, and they ian" . saw Harry Harrison and Paul Stevens were particularly pleased to have him discussing humour in sf and,in partic­ for the signing session. Originally from Gillespie added that he recommended ular, Harrison ' s sf. Harry was dressed the US, Hoban now lives in London. authors to submit their work to over­ for the occasion in shorts, T-shirt, seas publishers, and when asked if this cap and carrying a tinny (can of beer). meant Norstrilia was only getting the This item was followed by a number of BJO TRIMBLE ON VISIT books that other publishers would not fans in costumes, depicting Harrison publish, he admitted, that in fact , the characters, who proceeded to complain Los Angeles fan and writer BJO TRIMBLE, books they are doing are a bit off about the way they had been treated by author of ON THE GOOD SHIP ENTERPRISE trail. When asked if he had any sales their author. The winners of the fancy and other "Star Trek" books, was recently figures for Australian published sf dress costume were announced next, fol­ in Australia as GoH at MEDTREK, media paperbacks, Gillespie said that Norstrilia lowed by the screening of the film sf convention. Bjo is a member of long did not publish small paperbacks and "The Time Bandits". standing of the LoS Angeles SF Society, has been involved in organising sf and he had no idea what Cory § Collins On Sunday, many of the HARRYCON atten­ Star Trek conventions and is particularly were doing. Penguin, however, had tried dees accompanied Harry and Joan on a concerned with art shows and costume publishing original Australian sf and trip on "Puffing Billy", a small steam events at conventions. She told us that he said they were not pleased with the train that runs on a short line in outcome. she had enjoyed her trip to Australia Melbourne's Dandenong Mountains. The very much, and would be coming back next Harrisons and all the fans enjoyed the AUSSIECON TWO may be a good time to year with her family for AUSSIECON TWO. make an attempt to encourage people to trip very much. Later in the day, a read Australian sf and Gillespie said small group of fans travelled with the While in Melbourne, she had dinner with that the publishers could get together Harrisons over to the Healesville Wild­ a few old friends, including John Foyster, on this. life Sanctuary. A quite successful Bill Wright and others. People involved in finish to an enjoyable weekend. organising AUSSIECON TWO were pleased HARRY HARRISON was next to the podium to have the opportunity to talk to her, to talk about the organisation he began After leaving Melbourne, the Harrisons and take advantage of her convention called WORLD SCIENCE FICTION. The orig­ went to Sydney where they attended organising experience. inal idea was to get the sf authors SYNCON '84 and then were scheduled to together from all over the world. The spend a few days on the Barrier Reef. regular conventions were getting too big for the authors, agents and publish­ RUSSELL HOBAN IN AUSTRALIA Bestsellers ers to get together, so he set about organ­ GILDEN FIRE by Stephen Donaldson in a ising the first meeting of World SF in Author RUSSELL HOBAN was one of a group hard cover edition from William Collins Ireland. Over 100 authors and profess­ of authors brought to Australia to Australia, was fourth on the Bestseller ionals from all over the world ( after speak at the Adelaide Festival in March. list over the February/March '84 period. a few problems involving cultural rel­ Space Age Books were pleased to have The interest in this series in Australia ations were, ironed out ) attended. It him in their shop on Wednesday the 14th is quite outstanding, as indicated by has been difficult to keep things going of March, where he signed copies of the sales of this $9.95 hard cover. because nobody wanted to do the paper the new Picador paperback edition of Not so surprising when you think about work, involved, but World SF is still his novel PILGERMAN and other titles. it, but still unusual for a book pub­ very much alive. Readers may remember that Hoban's previous lished first in the '40s, was George A number of awards were instituted by the novel RIDLEY WALKER, won the DITMAR last Orwell's NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR, as best­ World SF Organisation said Harrison, who year for Best International SF. He is selling-paperback title. A Penguin new then took the opportunity to present issue. 2010: ODYSSEY TWO, by Arthur C. Bruce Gillespie with his trophy for Clarke in Granada pb from Gordon and the "Harrison Award", in recognition of THE SWANCON NINE PIE PASTE-UP Gotch ( probably their last big Granada his efforts in Increasing the Status of title) was seventh on the list. Science Fiction Internationally. Numerous fgsf titles were on the US Best­ seller lists over the last year, currently however, only PET SEMATRY by Stephen King (Doubleday HC) and FLOATING DRAGON by Peter Straub (Berkley PB), were on the Publishers Weekly List, with no sf at all!

Sally Sally Beasley pies Dave Luckett.

Photos by Steve Roylance

Joan Harrison & friend about to give it to Ian Nicholls. John McDouall and Mark Denbow about to let fly. 1.3 of the imagination that invented these It should be an enticement to make alien creatures. It is one of the best to make someone want to read the tale. features of the book. Fixing the prose should have been done Speaking of cinematic influences, I by the author. The prose in the second think I detected a replay of Commander half of the book demonstrates this. Leslie Nielsen zapping the tiger with More thought could have been given to his blaster in the garden on Altair 4 the construction of the story. It does in Forbidden Planet when Fram dis­ not really need a madman to wreck the integrated the night-feline with his spaceship. The polarisation between beamer. Which, even if true, does not Fram and Altorr is excessive. A sane detract, in the least, as the scene and sensible person would have had no was well executed. choice in leaving Altorr for dead. Not de rigeur for a properly ethically STRANGE TERRITORY In this type of book, the main action motivated protagonist, but Altorr had has to concentrate on the characters. By Jean West Penna an extremely bad track record. However, Fram, the first person narrator, is (Walrus Books, Australia, 1983) $5.95 more should have been made of the sopping wet and far too humble for characterisation of three principals. Jean West Penna's STRANGE TERRITORY words. He is consistently his own Only after a relationship is allowed is a galactic robinsoniad in which worst enemy. Lady Cynthia, an aristo­ to develop between Fram and Elney, do three characters, the Lady Clytha, crat and super-snob from Sparia, is the elements of the story coalesce her servant Elney and a crewman Fram, absolutely and utterly dedicated to her properly. They should have done so are marooned on an unnamed and unknown own comfort and care; expecting all right from the start. With more work planet, after their spaceship the Ten- else to do likewise and do so at her and a good editor, I should expect the X-Three, was wrecked by a one-man mutiny. instant beck and call. She does have next novel will be much better. It is an account of their survival her few ennobling moments, but not and adaption to an alien environment. enough to detract from her imperious While the alien environment of Strange However, it is as much about the nature, thank heavens. If only she Territory is no place to bring up psychological and emotional problems had been given more plausible substance children, I warn the reader not to be as about their physical problems of to her actions and behaviour. Elney, put off by the cover, and be prepared survival. The main conflicts are her body-maid, is allowed to be more to persevere until the middle. between the characters with the nec­ plausible. She spends most of her essity of survival acting as a constant time infuriating Fram by constantly Reviewed by Jeff Harris driving force. Overall, there are a caring for her mistress. Fram lacked number of problems about discussing the gumption and emotional confidence this book; basically they boil down to assert himself properly to correct to saying it could have been better matters. Altorr, the villain of the than it is. piece, is more blackhearted than a black You can't judge a book by its cover, hole in a star-less universe, and the or so they say. We all do so, absolute epitome of masculine violence. irrespective of fine sentiments. This A totally deranged psychopath yet one could have packaged better. I technically competent, courageous, know nothing of Walrus Books, an confident, and exceptionally determined. Australian publisher, nor anything Utterly implausible as a character. If of their other publications. The the Terran crew had not been so blurb on the back, and the Mediaevalish thoroughly incompetent he should have high-fantasy style cover illustration been gracing the ship's cells to be of an elegant archeress-, apparently court-martialled back on Earth. bedecked with flowers with a jewelled I said earlier that this book has bow plus a bluish dapples unicorn, problems and that it could have been led me to expect a galactic gothic better. This is a first novel and fantasy romance. While there is a its author deserves to be given a different touch of it in places, this chance to improve. I agree with is not a ' Mills and Boon' in space. It George Turner's dictum that bad writing SAVAGE TOMORROW worries me that the book may not have by established writers should be shot been packaged to appeal to its down in flames. Simply, this book was by Trevor Donohue appropriate market. This is despite published before it had been properly Cory & Collins it having been widely distributed; edited. PB 154pp $3.95 certainly true in Adelaide, but of other Australian cities, I know not. Actually, the book gets into its own, Conan in a crash helmet, Hell's Angels once the obnoxious is disposed of. It hurling along an hyborean highway, Mad There is a strong sense and feeling is a bit much to ask readers to work Max in black and white prose rather than for living things--plants and animals their way halfway through a book before on the technicolour widescreen. Yes, all —that runs through the book. it really gets underway. Fram needs these glib phrases, and more, are easily Menstruation, pregnancy and childbirth more backbone as a character--he is conjured to mind by this fable. If you feature enough to make Dig strong the protagonist, as such needs to be, have seen the MAD MAX films you already macho boys go weak at the knees. In capable of surviving on alien planets, know what this book is about. fact, even humble edible fungi get a even with a liability like the Sparian guernsey. There is a fine collection Lady Clytha. Generally, the characters It is fitting that Australia - the land of imagined organisms on the planet; need to be fleshed out, and interacting that brought this sub-genre of heroic mainly with appropriate names. Mothaves, in ways that exemplify their survival fantasy to maturity on the cine screen - crustacean konkoes, extraordinarily problems. Clytha's anti-survival should be putting it into book forn». In rapacious eels, night-felines, rattles behaviour has to be overcome, or at SAVAGE TOMORROW (an unfortunate choice of (rat-like, gotcha?), roc-like quadrens, the very least circumvented, for example. title; bland and abstract, could be about and the Watchers (who are the local anything), the time and place is post­ natives). The flora and fauna is The prose is too cautiously written. Holocaust Melbourne with mechanized mayhem, rather like a toned down version of It is overwritten to the point where machismo, and massacre the order of the the savagely exotic lifeforms in the it reads as if it is in a passive and day. French-Czechoslovak animated feature not an active voice. This may seem Morgan, the lone reader, encounters and film, Fantastic Planet. I have doubts a trivial point, but it represents the joins forces with Ice, the strong woman about the scientific soundness of the difference between easy and difficult to read prose. Even the title can be who fights by side, and Slapsie, the almost biology and the ecology. For example, comic relief sidekick callow and devious the quadrens would have to be too big improved. Strange Territory could be the title of any number of books---- but ultimately loyal. They fight with, and too heavy to fly in the higher get captured by, escape from, and finally gravity of the planet. Despite that, it means everything and nothing. A title should be precisely and overcome murderous bikie gangs, an all­ I enjoyed the vigour and the vitality female fighting force, cannibalistic 14 specifically relevant to the story. mutrons, the cloned spawn of a mad scientist' book concerns the detective-type almost anything (including feminist and a mammoth mechanical monster. efforts by Moreta and others to deter­ treatises) to learn a little more of As a genre heroic fantasy has hardly raised mine what's causing the epidemic and Darkover from the mind of the creator. its gaze beyond the horizon mapped out how to stop it. The book is full of My curiosity is insatiable. suspense , excitement, adventure, and by Robert E.Howard. There have been faint Reviewed by Jane Tisell. indications of new arenas of heroic fantasy good characterisation, all very well to be explored and exploited (to say written. I especially appreciated the ending, which was very fitting after conquered is too strong an expression in HELLICONIA SUMMER this context). However, Norman Spinrad's all that had gone before - but was very THE IRON DREAM and Roger Corman's action sad. By Brian Aldiss flick DEATHRACE, foreshadowed a new style Jonathon Cape; 398pp; $22.95 Reviewed by Jean Weber of mechanized macho madness to warm the Possibly because of its concentration carbon-encrusted cockles of any heroic WHEN VOIHA WAKES on theme and setting rather than plot, fantasy freak. "Power, tension, and speed", HELLICONIA SPRING received, I feel, less the basic characteristics of the action By Joy Chant than proper recognition in Australia. thriller noted by George Orwell in a Unwin Paperback; $7.95 HELLICONIA SUMMER, redresses the balance literary essay. Donohue's tale has them This book is marketed as fantasy,, but with a narrative of intrigue, battle, in abundance. Now the mechanized divisions the only real "fantasy" element blood and sex wherein kings play for of the Robert E. Howard thick-ear fairy is its setting in a different universe. crowns and alien mercenaries finally tales are doing wheelies, high-powered It's a feminist book, but without pose a bigger threat than any human pursuits, and gas-guzzling gladiatorial being preachy; it's also a love story. conflict. And the onset of a three- displays on the printed page. millenia winter is the greatest threat Here is a society in which the men and of all. Dostoyevsky, it ain't, but it isn't intended women live separately. Women are the to be. Science fiction, it ain't either. law-makers, the merchants, etc; men The first volume of this huge novel sets Fuel supplies couldn't last long enough are craftsmen or labourers. There is out the playing area -- an Earth-like to keep the action moving along a la a clear division of sex roles and very planet orbiting one star of a double Donohue. This makes it a speculative strong societal pressure not to trans­ sun in an enormously elongated eclipse impossibility, therefore it is a fantasy gress those roles. which allows only a comparatively short with a nuclear war to set the wheels summer every three thousand yeaps or so. turning. Alas, too many gallons per mile The book is 'feminist' primarily in During this warm period the humanoid are burned to make it last. There are its treatment of the relationship inhabitants recover the culture that has other possibilities. The latest SCIENTIFIC between the two main characters, Rahike been lost or distorted in the struggle AMERICAN has it that "the right bicycle and Mairilek. As their friendship to survive the savage winter. Each can do 60 mph". Say no more. "MAD MAX (and later, love) develops, the author summer represents a short step forward VERSUS THE BMX BANDITS". It may be the has opportunity to question their and in this volume the culture can be mighty thunder of pedals that terrorizes sex roles and our own. Despite the equated with Europe's late medieval, a the aftermath of Western civilization. rigid sex roles, there was no suggestion period of warring egos which Aldiss that one person would try to dominate exploits so fully, that the major theme If you liked MAD MAX, live in Melbourne the other the other, or that either is sometimes in danger of being lost. (you can follow the characters' burning would give up his or her "future" for round the burnt-out town), and are crazy the other. Rahike helps Mairilek to That theme (too briefly stated here) about cars and bikes, this is the book pursue his destiny, even though she is that cosmic events determine human for you. In words of Tom Lehrer, "sentiment knows he will have to leaves her to history and that man does what he must will not endear it",, what's important is do so. But because she loves him, she rather than what he will. This is the price. At $3.95 SAVAGE TOMORROW is will let him go. A beautiful and emphasised when the humans discover cheaper than seeing MAD MAX on film or moving story. that tlje subject race, the Phagors, video, and it can be read in the same is better adapted than they to survive amount of time. Not art in terms of Reviewed by Jean Weber the long winter and is probably the adding permanently to our culture, but true major species of the planet. art in terms of entertaining. MISTS OF AVALON Also, circling Helliconia'is a Reviewed by Jeff Harris Terrestrian observation satellite, by Marion Zimmer Bradley itself a miniature 'generation ship' Michael Joseph(Nelson) cut off from home by light years. HC $19.95 ARP Here, too, cultural changes have developed over centuries of exile, The publishers of MISTS OF AVALON have and it begins to seem that Aldiss is done Marion Zimmer Bradley a disservice. developing an extended fictional If this had been the first of the author's commentary on the nature and evolution books I had read, it would also have been of culture. The outcome and summation the last. The legend of Arthur told from should appear (I hope) in the third Morgan le Fay's point of view is basically volume, HELLICONIA WINTER. a good idea. Unfortunately, the plot is cluttered and characterisation generally This is a work of true speculative weak,so that by the third "book" you are science wedded to fiction without wishing the story over. falling into the traps of dullness which have snared Hal Clement and THENDARA HOUSE James Hogan. The difference is that between the informed artist and the by Marion Zimmer Bradley over-academic plodder. Daw Books PB 414pp $5.45 Reviewed by George Turner. MORETA - DRAGONLADY OF PERN THENDARA HOUSE by the same author seems By Anne McCaffrey to have suffered the same problem. An THE CYGNUS Severn House HC $19.95 editor with a newly sharpened pencil could have greatly improved both novels. CHRONICLER Another book in the famous "Dragon" An Australian Review ol Science Fiction and Fantasy series. I didn't find this one quite This is not what I would call a "Darkover" as fascinating as the previous ones, novel, although it is published as such Featuring fiction from the best Australian authors, but I certainly did enjoy it. and is purportedly set on that world. art from the best Australian artists, plus reviews, Too little of the action is set on Dark- news and letters, and regular columns on SF-related Moreta is a Weyrwoman, who becomes over and too much in the minds of the themes. deeply involved in a serious problem: protagonists, in whose deliberations we Only $5 per year from: a very severe epidemic is sweeping are endlessly mired. I can only conclude The Eperex Press across the continent and killing both that this book is for Darkover fans like PO Box 770 people and runnerbeasts. Most of the Canberra City ACT 2601 myself, who are willing to put up with Australia EARTH CHILD fit into all this, is only partly explained by Sharon Webb and there will be more in forthcoming Bantam PB $2.50 US 176pp novels. Robots of Dawn is interesting, but The first of (yet another!) trilogy, this only as a fragment of a wider tapestry volume reads as if it started out as three and not as a novel in its own right. short stories. The first part was well written and convincing, conveying the THE WELL OF DARKNESS Randall Garrett and horror of public reaction to learning Vicki Ann Heydron. Bantam pb $2.50 (US) that an immortality process had been Books Part 4 of a series, that looks like going perfected - but it only worked on people on a few more books yet. A thin plot in By Paul J, Stevens under 16 or so. Vast numbers of adults 165 pages, but better written than most. react by slaughtering children in jealous THE JAUNDICED EYE/DOUBLE JAUNDICE A CENTURY OF PROGRESS Fred Saberhagen rage. Tor pb $4.60 In the last issue of ASFN, our beloved Now here is a good idea for a story, Part 2, which takes place 5 years later, editor listed the winners of the 1983 I found less convincing; and Part 3, 99 nasty Nazis battling the forces of good, Hugo awards. Now, in mid-January, the across multiple time tracks, and to be years later, is even worse. When it's nomination forms for the 1984 awards have fair to Saberhagen, it works up until the realised that immortality and creativity lurched onto my desk and are confronting last few chapters when everything falls seem to be incompatible, certain me like the spectre at the feast. Nominate, exceptionally promising children are rather flat. Could be we may get a series they say to me, nominate! Hell I had out of this! given the "opportunity" to choose not to trouble even voting in last year's Hugo take the immortality treatments, and thus awards,so how the hell can I nominate? AMBUSH OF SHADOWS Paul 0 Williams Del Rey serve humanity through brief, dazzlingly $4.60 pb Looking over last year's crop of sf is productive lives. Perhaps if the author Book five of the Pelbar series and one of rather like looking over our political had spent a whole book developing this the best new writers I have read recently. leaders, everything looks slightly moth- theme, it would have been better. A good story and well worth catching up eaten. The leading contender will have GOLDEN WITCHBREED with. The first four books were excellent. by Mary Gentle 480pp to be Asimov's ROBOTS OF DAWN, a novel that is admittedly better than the poor THE LAND OF LAUGHS Jonathan Carroll Gollancz HC (Hutchinson Aust.) $19.95 ARP choice that won for Asimov last year. Hamlyn $5.95 ARP pb 241pp This book deserves lots of superlatives. FOUNDATION'S EDGE was not a good novel Here is the book I would list as the best The theme is that of an earth envoy - and I've marked it second on my voting and most unusual I read during 1983, a in this case a woman - who meets the ballot, right after 'no award'. "2010" mixture of fantasy, horror and humour. alien culture and learns not only about came third with MERCHANTER's LUCK following Any attempt to describe it, would only the aliens, but also about herself and on behind. Last year was not a good year destroy the reader's enjoyment of the her own culture..Superficially, the book for the Hugo. Mediocre is the way I story. Seek out this novel! describe it. appears to follow the style of: new envoy THE SEREN SENACLES Victor Norwood takes a trip around part of the alien What else is looming large for a nomination? pb Bantam $3.95 ARP planet, meeting various races and having There is Anne McCaffrey's MJRETA: DRAGON­ Lots of good plot elements in this novel, adventures along the way. LADY OF PERN and Marion Zimmer Bradley's a strange series of events at a mine on an But Gentle's story is more than a series MISTS OF AVALON, yet another of those isolated planetoid, an ancient alien race, of adventures, though plenty of those rewritings of the Arthurian legends, a coverup by authorities and an ancient happen: it all fits into a coherent whole. this time told from a feminist viewpoint. weapon. Good entertainment from Victor She has also worked in as a sub-theme Mary Stewart's the WICKED DAY is also a Norwood again. contender, though I doubt if it will make the question: how would a society develop Christopher Stasheff it onto the final ballot. There has been ESCAPE VELOCITY if its children were not raised as females Ace pb $4.60 SAB a novel by Phillip Jose Farmer,GODS OF or males, but all the same? Gentle's The origins of the planet of the WARLOCK Ortheans are neuter until their equivalent RIVERWORLD...... IN SPITE OF HIMSELF which unfortunately of puberty, when they become the sex they Whatever novels make it onto the final doesn't live up to the original story. will remain for the rest of their lives. ballot, no doubt the choice will be Rather blah. However, since until then no one has any emotional rather than critical. I'll PAWN OF PROPHECY David Eddings Corgi idea which sex that will be, all children plump for ROBOTS OF DAWN to win. are naturally raised simply as children. pb $4.95 ARP First of a five-part series. And since by the time they "change", they The other nomination paper to hit my desk Yet another one of those bloody series are fairly well trained in some skill, was the Ditmar or the Australian Science books,that seem to be springing up all virtually all occupations have both male Fiction Achievement Awards. This one is a over. This one is entertaining and reads and female practitioners. The Earth envoy little easier, as there has been about a well and has sold very well in the US does not understand the true situation dozen or so sf and fantasy novels published edition. You could do worse. until one day she suddenly realises that within Australia during the preceding twelve months. Top of the list has to be DINOSAUR TALES Ray Bradbury Bantam TPB Orthean children are neuter, and at the $9.95 ARP A collection of poems and tales Bert Chandler's KELLY COUNTRY, followed same time her Orthean companion realises and illustrations on dinosaurs by Bradbury. by several publications from Norstrilia that Earth children are sexed. Both are This is a volume that school libraries Press and several novels from Cory and shocked. will want on their shelves, and should Collins. Unfortunately, the very small have! Good value. But what about this Golden Witchbreed number of fans who nominate for this award, stuff in the title? They are the central let alone vote, means that the Ditmar has mystery of the book, always lurking in lost something of its lustre in my eyes. the background. Fera of the Witchbreed I would like to see a lot more Australian SCI FI underlies a great deal of the customs of SF/fantasy readers voting for this award, Orthean society. We are eventually told who rather than just those fans who happen and what they were, and what they did, but be fully paid up members of the Australian FILM neither the envoy nor the reader learn national sf convention. whether they are still around. STAR TREK tfvts DAYS THE ROBOTS OF DAWN Isaac Asimov Reviewed by Jean Weber Doubleday HC $19.95 US (Granada HC due from William Collins in April '84 ) SCIENCE FICTION STORY COMPETITION Screening dates at THE NATIONAL MUTUAL This is the third in the Elijah Bailey THEATRE in Melbourne : Saturdays May Sth, The Melbourne SF Club is organising a series and is part of Asimov's attempt to June 2nd, June 16th and July 7th. short story competition. Entry forms tie together his earlier novels into a At Anzac House Cinema, Sydney, 26 College can be obtained from the M.S.F.C. WRIT­ coherent whole. The plot is slow and Street: April 28th, May 19th, June 18th ING COMPETITION, 145 Faraday St., Carlton ponderous, with Bailey being given an and July 21st. 3053, Victoria. Entries should be in impossible murder to solve and some interesting ideas about Earth and Spacer More details will be included in the next by May 4th. Further enquiries may be issue of ASFNews, meanwhile you can ring made by ringing Michael Wauchope on society, that must also be solved if Earth is to move into Space. How the robots Sydney, 367-6138 for full programme 347 6102 or Jodi Willis on 478 9645. details. 16 SLIMER came out under the name of Harry Martin Amis, and to discuss frankly the Adam Knight and there'll be another Knight trivial and misleading coverage given to LETTER book from Star, in June next year.Written writers by the so-called responsible press. by me alone, unfortunately (it therefore Or does The Bookseller arrive in Australia COLUM lacks the kinky sex and nastiness that devoid of the few balls it actually has? were Leroy's main contribution to SLIMER) That first article in The Bookseller led it will be called CARNOSAUR and is about to a commission to write more articles, dinosaurs. Genetically engineered and since then, I have been writing about dinosaurs, that is, that run around in Terry Carr one a month. Most people in fandom will present-day Cambridgeshire making a nuisance immediately recognise the stuff as 11037 Broadway Tee of themselves. Oakland, Calif 94611 fanwriting, which is a nice irony lost on Oct 26, 1983 You may wonder why I chose to write a book 99% of the people who read The Bookseller. about dinosaurs. Well, last April a friend Of course, I am now better known in the Dear Merv, returned from a trip to Hollywood and when book trade for these articles, than I I asked what the new Hollywood trend was am for my books. Many thanks for the copies of Omega that going to be he said, 'Dinosaurs.' you've been sending. Apparently, everyone was making films about Since this seems to shading over into news, News: I'm just finishing my work editing dinosaurs for some reason. Disney was here's the rest. The great Priest/Tuttle six new books for the New Ace Science doing BABY, someone else was remaking plunge into oblivion continues with Fiction Specials and I'm extremely GODZILLA and Ray Harryhausen was at work bankruptcy ever closer. I have had nothing pleased with the novels for this series. on a dinosaur epic, set in the Victorian in print in the USA for two or three years, They are all first novels by excellent era. And the new Indiana Jones movie, and in Britain, only one paperback remains. writers, some of whom will be unfamiliar INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DEATH, Most of my transatlantic editions have to most readers, though Kim Stanley also features dinosaurs (no-one is supposed also gone out of print. Collapse looms. Robinson, Howard Waldrop, and Michael to know this yet - it is still officially Lisa's FAMILIAR SPIRIT seemed to Swanwick have been getting attention for A Big Secret), Obviously, 1984 is going dematerialize instantly on publication. their short fiction, as has Bill Gibson, to be the Year of the Dinosaur. And Undismayed, we are both working on new whose novel NEUROMANCER I especially hopefully,millions of dinosaur-crazed twits novels, and will probably finish them around the same time, in the early New recommend (though it's hard to pick a are going to buy CARNOSAUR and make me Year. I don't know much about Lisa's, as single favourite in this series). The rich. Yeah...sure. books will appear from Ace beginning in we make a practice of not discussing our March 1984 and every two months thereafter. One book that won't make me rich is THE work. Mine is presently called THE GLAMOUR, Gollancz has already bought U.K. rights MIDAS DEEP which is published tomorrow. and is quite long and very complex to to Gibson's novel. Originally it was supposed to be a lead describe. It is possibly closer to science title, but as SKYSHIP went down like the fiction than THE AFFIRMATION, but not With my work on the Specials about finished Titanic with the reading public, Hamlyn much. -- though there may well be further Specials Paperbacks decided to try and keep very In all, although the lights are slowly later if the first six sell well -- I've quiet about Midas. So far they've been going out here in Harrow, I'm extremely signed a contract with Tor Books to become 100% successful. I have a feeling it will busy. The Hogarth Press will be reissuing their Associate Editor. I'll be buying go straight from the warehouse to the some H.G.Wells next year, and I shall be and editing six books for them, of a remainder shops, thus cutting out the writing al least two of the introductions. somewhat different sort than those for the middlemen. I write occasional book reviews for New Specials: I'm not looking particularly Statesman, but not of novels. I've for first novels nor will the "slant" I guess I was naive to expect that recently written a television dramatization of these books be as specifically manganese nodules would become a major popular interest with the public (I've of my novella "The Watched", which will literary. I'm looking for quality novels be going out in early February (they're with good commercial potential -- which yet to see a woman wearing a manganese nodule around her neck). And there's recording it next week). I'm planning to means, in general, more emphasis on plot, revive my fanzine Deadloss in the New Year, colour, and action (and possibly on Name already been another book out on the subject. Called DEEPWATER, it has a plot when the novel is finished. And perhaps writers). The books will still have to be my most enjoyable new enterprise, is that very well written; however.Advances will strikingly similar to mine, but it failed to make any splash at all. It was published I've started a small part-time literary be very competitive. in hardcover by Hutchinsons who, ironically, agency, concentrating on the more Hope you and everybody else there are well. are now the owners of Hamlyn Paperbacks. adventurous sf writers, such as William Yes, by some cosmic fluke, Hutchinsons Gibson, Rudy Rucker and Bruce Sterling. Best, And, of course, I'm delighted to be the Terry ended up publishing two books about manganese nodules in '83. No other UK rep for Norstrilia Press. (Carey Handfield publisher can make this claim, nor would did himself a lot of good while he was any other publisher want to... here earlier this month.) but the novel 23 Lushington Rd is my main commitment at the moment, and London NW 10, UK Worst thing about MIDAS DEEP - my name I work a six-day week on it. 23 Nov 1983 on the jacket is printed in the same colour as the background, thus making Congratulations to all in Melbourne on Dear Merv, it unreadable. The crudest blow of all. the Worldcon, and I wish I could be there Thanks for the latest issue of Oz SF News.. Cheers, for it. Cheers, You'll be glad to hear I've forgiven you J.Brosnan for printing my last letter back to front Chris in two different parts of the magazine (I was wondering why I was making more sense Christopher Priest than usual). 1 Ortygia House Dave Langford, 6 Lower Road 18/11/83 94 London Rd., Anyway, seasonal greetings from Lushington Reading, Berkshire, Road, hang-out of the biggest lush of them Harrow Middlesex HA2 ODA RG1 5AU U.K. all. I won't be sorry to see the end of 22nd November 1983 Dear Merv, this year, it's been a bummer and a half. Dear Merv, But one bright spot was the publication Life is hectic here. One of the great of SLIMER in September, which I wrote with ASFN just blew in, brimming with elderly continuing mysteries of the writing life Leroy Kettle. We had a Slimer Launch Party news. Is this the Curse of Surface Mail? is how one can be so poor and so over­ in a drinking club (of course), in an attempt Actually, I am impelled to write by your worked, more or less simultaneously, for to promote the book ourselves. The cream exceedingly feeble and weedy synopsis of years on end.. Am still waiting patiently of the London sf fraternity, turned up my article in The Bookseller. To say that for Pocket Books, God rot the souls of (curdled though it may be these days) and it described my "enjoying" the Young Brits everyone in their accounting and contracts a good time was had by all, but the party promotion is to mirepresent it. The whole departments, to so much as issue a con­ resulted in not one iota of publicity. point of the article was to expose the tract and pay an advance for the book However, we did get a mention in the Times. arrogance and conceit of the self-styled (THE SPACE EATER) the mingy, pox-ridden "Slimer Drools Okay," said the reviewer. top writers, such as Ian McEwan and sods published back in February. 1 7 Hope to get out another Ansible prior to fans are in some cases slightly mad (in "The book is intended to present an Christmas, but in case I don’t: Merry a very nice way) but they are also a open-door on the mythic Australia. The Xmas to all of you in sunny Australia. very caring and humane group of people power, the ancien,t magic, the super­ By the way, I received some money the and I am happy to be one of them. imposed precontinuum that one feels at other day from the Sydney Morning Herald Hanging Rock, up in the Flinders Ranges, for their reprint of a (Moderately wor­ For this reason,I would like to bring to their attention a number of movies when meeting a native Aboriginal on the thless and trivial) computer program of dusty streets of Hawker. In short, that mine. Funny thing is, that the program that have been black banned by the American Humane Society for their cruelty inexplicable sense of region and milieu was from a column I do sometimes over that Peter Weir captured in PICNIC AT here, and makes little sense without towards animals in the pursuit of realism. Chief among these is the current fantasy HANGING ROCK, that Bert Chandler evokes the supporting explanation...which wasn’t in KELLY COUNTRY, that Peter Carey (or won’t be) reprinted. flick ’Conan the Barbarian' (along with other non fantasy; Heartland, First Blood, conjures up in so many of his stories. All the best ever Triumphs of a Man called Horse and that A country both real and dreamlike...To Dave incredible flop Heaven’s Gate.) be specific, a sense of Australia as a land of power and myth, a place of new I just hope that the quickie producers magic sunk to its roots in ancient Damien Broderick that jump on any popular trend, don't mysteries. 10 Marks Street, turn the current fantasy film popularity Brunswick, VIC 3056 into something to be avoided. "So far only Leanne Frahm and Lucy Sussex have come close to our mark. (Sussex's 16th December, 1983 I salute your excellent zine and look "The Poor New People" is steeped in that forward to receiving my next issue. heady concept of mythic power. Add to Dear Mervyn, this basic quality, an innovative plotting, Sincerely, that moves through characterization to A brief note of thanks for your often Betty. a satisfying denouement...you can under­ unrecognised efforts in bringing AUST­ stand with what whoops of jollity, we RALIAN SF NEWS to us all. At a time Terry Dowling greeted Sussex at full throttle.) when other important fan publishers have PO Box A777 "The land itself is alive. The land has been obliged by rising costs to restrict Sydney South, 2000 human characteristics, or even super­ or abandon production, your dedication to human characteristics. That's what we're the NEWS is heroic. Finding an issue 2nd March, 1984. trying to capture...Not just another book waiting for me in the mailbox -- with its of so-so yarns that could be published mixture of news fannish and writerly, Dear Merv, anywhere, but a gestalt that will be lunatic letters, reviews high and low -- Two things led to this letter. First, echt-Australian. That opens for cheers me up even though I am stuck in I had to thank you very much for the Melbourne. Australians and non-Australians,a door­ copies of ASFN you’ve been sending. way into a landscape of strangeness and, While we’re in the context of unapprec­ I’ve always thought it an excellent again, ancient mystery. The sort of iated worth, it might give you pleasure publication, doing a very important job feeling one does get watching Peter to know that Robert Conquest (British in helping to maintain that sense of a Weir's PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK: that co-editor, with Kingsley Amis, of the national and international community. sense of looking through a rift in important Spectrum SF anthologies) You made things sound grim enough in normal space-time, into a place where wrote this March in Quadrant that ’’the your latest editorial, that I just had to the Mary Celeste and the Wandering Jew best sf bookshop I have ever been into make sure you didn't go unthanked from and Caspar Hauser might exist side-by- was, and I hope still is, in Melbourne.” this end. I hope the problems of side. Best Wishes, Sport. production anticipated in your last The essence of this search is, I fear, issue, don't prove too great. Damien The Grail. We want the kind of stories The other reason for writing is to give that have never been written before. you some news on the book Harlan and I We want thoughts never thought before, Maxim Jakubowski, are putting together - DOWN DEEP: STORIES places never described before, and 95 Finchley Lane, OF FUTURE AUSTRALIS - to be published insights into the human condition that London NW4 IBY, here first by Norstrilia Press. I've produce a frisson of recognition, while Great Britain. just spent two months at Harlan's editing leading us into the unknown. Better THE ESSENTIAL HARLAN ELLISON, and we than that, we cannot provide clues. 4th January, 1984. received many submissions for DEEP DOWN "What we're trying to cajole, chivvy, (though the pre-Olympic mails made this taunt and direct the writers to do, is a pocket nightmare). Dear Merv, the chore of bottling the magic. What We're very excited about this project, I saw and felt in PICNIC and THE LAST For a biography of American SF writer needless to say; but here it is in WAVE; the myth-turned-to-narrative in Philip K. Dick, commissioned by Bluejay Harlan’s own words: KELLY COUNTRY: the compulsion and Books, New York and Editions Denoel, fantastic ambience in THE DREAMING Paris and being written with the full "What we're after in DOWN DEEP: STORIES DRAGONS. Not so much, I guess, accept­ knowledge of the author’s estate and OF FUTURE AUSTRALIS is the capturing in able "science-fiction" as the sort of Literary Executor, I would appreciate contemporary terms of the mythic quality story that resists categorisation: hearing from anyone who knew him or that drenches Australia. I found when Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery", corresponded with him and has information I was there, and came back to the cities Fritz Leiber's OUR LADY OF DARKNESS, about his life. Interviews can be after wandering in the outback and the THE LORD OF THE FLIES, Ballard's conducted later in 1984 in the USA or Flinders Ranges particularly, that what "The Drowned Giant", Lafferty's through correspondence/exchange of tapes. I had seen and felt was greeted with "Narrow Valley". wonder by Melbournians and Sydneysiders (Dowling interjects: This is not to Thanking you in advance for inserting alike. I was surprised and a bit dismayed, say we just want endless re-workings this Author Query in your publication that so many urbanites were dulled to the of the same thing. We need hardly whenever possible. magic that lay just beyond the paved streets. fear this anyway, given the individual imagination and the unlimited Yours faithfully, "(It is difficult for me to express all possibilities of the subject. Nor Maxim Jakubowski. of this...but I was touched more deeply does it mean that the non-mythic, by your land than ever I’ve been on my more conventionally future-oriented own...or by any other place I've ever stories are to be excluded. A skill­ Betty de Gabriele been. And I suppose, that's why I bum ful blending of modes and material 19 Collins Street, to share in the creation of this very is possible here. And quality will St. Albans, 3021 special project with Terry. I want to always win out.) pass along to Americans and Australians Dear Merv, both, the power and mystery I experienced "These will be, I'm sure, harder stories while in that land.) to pull out of people than the sort I know that in general SF and fantasy of things Omni and Analog would buy. 18 We're steadfastly holding out for the the art show, and the repeated call for stories that hurt the writers to produce. PHANTASTACON Australia's Premiere Games Convention people to help run the convention. ...That means we're going to have to AUSSIECON TWO NEEDS YOU NOW! beat a lot of big-name, established April 20th-23rd 1984 authors about the head and shoulders The Diplomat Motor Inn, 12 Acland St., to get them to produce something better StKilda. Activities will include a than they have ever produced before. Dungeons and Dragons Tournament, A Traveller Tournament and other games FAN NEWS SSnces We're greedy, and we're arrogant, and competitions, plus a dinner and a we will settle only for that which has MARC ORTLIEB, who recently moved from never existed. masquerade. The convention is sponsored by Adelaide to Melbourne and Melbourne fan the games distributers, The Jedko Games "Why bother? My answer--is to convey CATHIE CIRCOSTA, announced their engage­ Company, who will provide prizes for the ment in February. the thoughts above, about how wonderful various competitions. For further details and strange Australia is. That, and a contact P.O.Box 45, Mitcham, 3132, Vic. THE SYDNEY SPACE ASSOCIATION showcase for Australian writers in the eyes of provincial American readers, For details of meetings of this group, Queen's Birthday Weekend are the reasons for this book...We want KINKON write to Vai Rogers, P.O.Box 1374, June 9-11 '84 .. .no, we hunger to have Australian Crows Nest, 2065, N.S.W. The Victoria Hotel, Little Collins St., writers speak of their land in these Melbourne - Melbourne fandom's most THE NEW VARANGIAN GUARD stories in a way that will make others popular venue for SF conventions for want to come and lay their hands on the If you like dressing up in medieval many years. Theme : Sight and Sound in rocks, to feel the power!" costume and such, contact Michael in Science Fiction and Fantasy The Guests Melbourne, on 826304 and join the New So there it is, Merv. I do hope it's of Honour are ALAN FINNEY and JOHN FLAUS. Varangian Guard. of interest to you. We're offering Full membership is $20, Supporting $10, 10< a word and have a June '84 deadline, Day $10, Hucksters $40 (Including mem­ though we're after a good book, not bership and 1 table). A feature of the Wf fUNDS just a book, so this may be extended con will be the Masquerade with the until we get what we want. We're after theme of "Sexuality in SF" and a $300 JACK HERMAN has won DUFF. 101 people 80,000 words, and we have a solid prize. For further details ring voted, with 78 votes going to Herman, 14,000 of those already. So it's just Ruth Murphy on 7931706, or write to 11 to John Packer, 8 no preference, a matter of time. 29 Alexander Avenue, Dandenong 3175, 2 hold over funds, 2 write in. Jack Victoria. intends to attend as many conventions Best wishes, as possible in the U.S.A, between the NECRONOMICON ONE time he leaves Sydney on August 15th Terry Dowling for and when he leaves for home again on Harlan Ellison and Terry Dowling AUSTRALIA'S FIRST CONVENTION OF GAMERS FOR GAMERS September 24th. Any U.S. fans who would Peon People, Previous games conventions have been like to contact him and tell him what sponsored by distributors of games in cons are on in the U.S.A., can write Thank you very much f,or your letters. I do to him at Box 272, Wentworth Building, Mt have, the space to reply to you all Australia. The organisers of this con, say that they will have complete free­ University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.’ personally and 1 apologise (,or the delay dom to give the gaming fans exactly ■in publishing your letters, but if, you GUFF winner Justin Ackroyd said goodbye have been reading my editorials, you what they want. For more details con­ to Space Age Books on March 30th, got will know I have my problems at the tact Necromicon 1, P.O.Box 706, drunk at a send-off party that night Dandenong 3175, Vic. Australia. moment. Letters from Rick Kennett, Michael and caught the plane taking him off Haltstone, Josephine Dorian and Ron 14th - 16th September, The Victoria overseas the next morning. He intends Putnins will appear next issue. Hotel, Little Collins St., Melbourne to spend as long as possible overseas, after attending EASTERCON in Brighton, The AUSTRALIAN HORROR 8 FANTASY MAGAZINE England, and will be visiting other places wrote last year,asking far stories and Li A, CON The 42nd World Science including conventions in the U.S.A. Space I have not been able to squeeze in their Fiction Convention 1984 Age are sorry to see him leave, but are letter. Write S.Studach, 234 Jamison Rd., August 30 - September 3 not seeking a replacement at present. Penrith, N.S.W. 2750, Australia far details. . The Anaheim Convention Centre (Close Marc Ortlieb, who has just sent out a new M.erv B.Ed. to Disneyland)) Guest of Honour: issue of his AUSTRALIAN FAN FUND'S NEWS­ GORDON R. DICKSON, Fan GoH.’DICK ENEY. LETTER, is looking after the GUFF fund Toastmasters: ■ ROBERT BLOCH and JERRY until Justin's return. For details on POURNELLE. Supporting memberships, all the funds including the SHAW FUND, which are not convertable to attending, write to Mark now, at G.P.O. Box 2708X, can be had for $20.00US. These entitle’ Melbourne 3001, Victoria, Australia. purchasers to vote for the Hugo, the A couple of dollars donation would not site selection and receive all public­ go astray, although he does not give a ations. sub rate. Attending membership of LA CON is $50.00 There are some rather pointed comments on US, as of January 1st up to July 15th. the lack of Fan Fund Trip Reports by The rate at the door will be $75.00.US winners, in Mark's Newsletter, which we Write LA CON II, Box 8442, Van Nuys, tend to agree with. Winners should not EUREKACON CA 91409, USA. There is no Australian - expect the funds to pay for the printing agent for LA CON. of their reports. They should keep them The 1984 National Convention short if need be and produce them cheaply Easter April 20 - 23 AUSSIECON TWO at their own cost. That, in my opinion, is the least they can do. However I have THE VICTORIA HOTEL A3rd WORLD SF CONVENTION Little Collins Street, offered to help Paul Stevens with his, so Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Melbourne you may see it out by AUSSIECON TWO...... August 22nd - 26th 1985 GoH: GEORGE TURNER Well, I have run out o& space again and I The Southern Cross Hotel THEME: IT'S A BAD, BAD, BAD WORLD'. had so much more to include. Cathie's For more details write : G.P.O.Box 2253U Programme: Discussions, Masquerade, MEDTREK REPORT and Fanzine Reviews will Melbourne,3001, Victoria, AUSTRALIA a Vogon Poetry Contest. have to wait till the next issue, along Memberships up to April 20th The First Progress Report was sent out with the AU Our Yesterdays Photographs. $25 attending - $15 supporting. to members of AUSSIECON TWO in March. Detailed reports on SWAN CON NINE and At the door $35 - Daily rate $10 If you are a member and have not SVNCON '84 are to be faund in Roger Address for further details: Box 175, received a copy, we suggest you contact Weddall's zine THYME, Humber 32. Roger's South Melbourne 3205, Vic. the committee now. PR1 contains a message address is 79 Bell St., Fitzroy 3065 from Chairman John Foyster, details on Subscription $5.00 far ten Issues. membership rates, facilities and accom­ This issue must be out befare Easter, so modation, programming, the masquerade, time has run out...... M.B. in BOOK SELLERS! (O', COMIC DEALERS! ?° Think Of BUD PLANT, INC Why try us? Are speed, Reliability, Careful Pack­ SPEED: We ship your order out fast! SELECTION: We carry more items—over ing, Selection, Full information, and Coming items are thoroughly described 2500, NOT including new comics. These Friendly Service important to you? and illustrated in our monthly Quicklist are special items that set your store Then send us your business card or so you can order in advance with con­ apart from the competition. Comics? letterhead for your free Dealer's fidence. Air freight is available. DC, Marvel, Pacific, First, Warren, Archie, Red Circle... Package—today. PACKING: Match ours against anyone! 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