NEWSLETTER OF THE IRISH SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION

INTERVIEWS: GREG BEAR & NICHOLAS MEYER SPIELBERG'S 'HOOK' REVIEWED LATEST BOOK AND COMIC NEWS ASIMOVTRIBUTES CONTENTS EDITORIAL EDITORIAL 2 NEWS 3 The ISFA is in Its fourth year since Nebula Award Nominations being reformed. When we started MEDIA NEWS 5 in 1988 we decided to keep it small Brussels SF Film Festival and gradually grow, depending on Video preview the resources we had available. 'Hook' reviewed ISFA NEWS 8 We decided to essentially adopt CONVENTIONS 10 the aims of the old Association, CLUBS 11 namely promoting interest in sci­ INTERVIEW: 12 ence fiction and Its related gen­ Face to Face with Nicholas Meyer res. This was to be achieved LETTERS 15 through regular meetings, work­ Asimov Tributes shops and publications. FTL was UPCOMING BOOKS 20 the first publication, appearing in INTERVIEW: 21 A5 format and edited by John Greg Bear Kenny for issues 1 and 2. Its aims were to provide a platform for Irish REVIEWS 24 writers of fiction and articles, inter­ JUST FINISHED 32 views and reviews. Artists, both THE COMICS COLUMN 32 illustrative and comic were to be OUT OF GAFIA 35 showcased. With the advent of the fully printed version last year the possibilities for expanding in­ terest in science fiction, especially in the art field, grew hugely. The second publication, the Newslet­ ter, appeared in 1990 and basi­ cally deals with reviews, news and, PRODUCTION recently, interviews. EDITOR: BRENDAN RYDER However the printed version of FTL COLLATING: ISFA COMMITTEE takes up a. lot of our resources, financial and people. The delays with the current issue have been a PUBIJSHEDBY:TI IE IRISHSCIENCE mixture of both of these. Three MCllON ASSOCIATION,30 BEVERLY professional advertising agents DOWNS.KNOCKLYONROAD, who were to seek advertising for TEMPLEOGUE.DUBUN16. FURTHER the magazine have withdrawn for INFORMATION FROM THE ABOVE a variety of reasons; problems with ADDRESS OR RING 934712 the design also contributed to the delay. What has happened over the past six months is that the commitment by those involved in the magazine has hardened - FTL 12 will appear, and will be the launch of a strong presence by Irish writers and artists on the do­ mestic and international scene. It will feature more pages, more art

PAGE 2 ISFA NEWSLETTER and a more readable layout. Your SF field have fallen in the last dec­ support and understanding will be ade but seem to be bottoming out very gratefully received, as well as - both Asimov's and Analog sell in your letters and comments once the region of 75,000 copies you see the magazine. Don't grum­ monthly, while the market leader ble to yourself if you're not happy - OMNI, sells some 850,000. write or talk to us! Nobody will lose out on any issues either as we PHILIP K. DICK AWARD hope to get back to our original schedule eventually. NOMINATIONS The ISFA, following the hectic This award, first announced in period after Octocon last year, is 1982, honours the Best American also reexamining its roots. The Original Paperback Book of the Questionnaire last year, together year. Some previous winners have with comments at the AGM and been Neuromancer by William elsewhere, have all been consid­ Gibson, Strange Toys by Patricia ered. Following the open commit­ Geary, Wetware by Rudy Rucker tee meeting that was held at SfEx and The Anubis Gates by Tim Pow­ and ordinary committee meetings ers. The final result was announced we expect to announce our plans at Norwescon at the end of March shortly for the next year. So have - I hope to have it for the next no doubts - we are working, and Newsletter. In the meantime the hard, on your behalf. nominations are: Brendan Ryder, Chairman, ISFA MOJO AND THE PICKLE JAR - DOUGLAS BELL NOTE: THE OPINIONS EX­ BONE DANCE - EMMA PRESSED IN THIS PUBLICA­ BULL TION ARE THOSE OF THE INDI­ THE CIPHER - KATHE VIDUAL CONTRIBUTORS AND KOJA DO NOT REPRESENT THOSE OF THE ISFA, EXCEPT WHERE KING OF MORNING, STATED. QUEEN OF DAY - IAN MCDONALD BRIDGE OF YEARS NEWS ROBERT CHARLES WILSON The winner will receive $1,000, ASIMOV’S & ANALOG TO second will receive $500. BE PUBLISHED BY DELL Top US magazines 'Isaac ABORIGINAL SF Asimov’s Science Fiction Maga­ MAGAZINE NOW zine' and 'Analog Science Fiction/ Science Fact' have been sold by QUARTERLY Davis Publications to Dell Maga­ Charles Ryan has been forced to zines. All editorial staff are to be move to a quarterly schedule, retained in the move, which should though future issues will be 116 mean that there will be few, if any pages instead of the 'normal' 68 changes to the magazines in the pages. He is also polling his read­ near future. Magazine sales in the ers on the continuation of colour

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 3 illustrations inside the magazine, Mr Xcitement and his assistant the most obvious difference be­ Grainne Waile are called on to tween AbSF and its competitors. solve the problem." Listen out on Mondays, Wednes­ ‘OZ’ THEME PARK days and Fridays on the Sean Ashmore Drive Time programme PLANNED at 5.10 p.m. on East Coast Radio Forget Eurodisney - Kansas City (95 FM - Dublin and 103 FM - plans to open a $300 million park Wicklow). based on the film version of Frank L. Baum's classic in 1995 or 1996. UNDERGROUND BUNKER BUZZ ALDRIN, TO HOUSE THE WORKS OF ASTRONAUT, TO WRITE SF L. RON HUBBARD A related group to The Church of NOVEL? Scientology has built the vast com­ According to SF Chronicle the plex, which cost in the region of second man on the moon now has $7,000,000, in Northern Califor­ some ideas for an sf novel and is nia. It is designed to withstand seeking a collaborator. Only experi­ nuclear attack or natural disaster, enced authors need apply! and officials expect the work to survive for a millienium. NEBULA AWARD NOMINATIONS NATIONAL ART GALLERY Best Novel: STOCKS FANTASY! ORBITAL RESONANCE Well, at least one painting could - JOHN BARNES; be considered for SfEx ’93 - have BARRAYAR - LOIS a look at A Fantasy by Domenicus MCMASTER ' BUJOLD; van Wynen, known as 'Ascanius'. BONE DANCE - EMMA It can be found in the Dutch school, BULL; Room XIX. SYNNERS - PAT CADIGAN; THE DIFFERENCE EN­ ISFA MEMBER ON TOUR! GINE - BRUCE STERLING J.O.E.L. de Rouelle Biget, whose massive cold cast bronze statue & WILLIAM GIBSON; of Sagittarius stole the show at STATIONS OF THE TIDE last year's SfEx, is to tour the US - MICHAEL SWANWICK. with a collection of his work during The results were to have been the summer. announced at the end of April - we may have the winner by next issue. NEW MAGAZINE ‘SCIENCE FICTION AGE’ MR XCITEMENT HITS THE To be published bimonthly start­ AIRWAVES! ing in August SF Age will have an “Someone or something is pump­ initial print run of 40,000 - 60,000. ing yellow toxic waste into the River Stories by Thomas Disch and Liffey, making people see things Barry Malzberg have already been that are not there! bought, and Ron Goulart, Craig

PAGE 4 ISFA NEWSLETTER Shaw Gardner, Geoffrey Landis, who had attended all the films in Gregory Benford and Charles the competition. The film received Sheffield will also be involved regu­ the Pegasus Award. Second place larly. Submissions and SASE's to went to TIMESCAPE and third to Scott Edelman, Science Fiction DROP DEAD FRED by Alec de Age, Box 369, Damascus, MD Jong and starring Phoebe Cates 20872-0369, USA; payment will and Rik Mayall. be 4-8e on publication. Response The festival also featured a short time is 4-6 weeks. films competition. The jury for this was composed of representatives MEDIA NEWS from eight TV stations across Eu­ rope, including RTE. The winner BRUSSELS SF FILM L'ENCADRE, by Manuel Gomez - FESTIVAL who coincidentally designed the The Raven for best film at the 10th Pegasus Award mentioned above Brussels Festival of Fantasy, - will be shown on each of the Thriller and Science Fiction Film participating stations. was awarded to TIMESCAPE, di­ The public also got a chance to rected by David N. Twohy and star­ vote for their favourite short and ring Jeff Daniels. Based on the chose IMPACTS. Director Remy classic story "Vintage Season" by Giordano wins 20,000 BF and has Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore, it the films subtitled in either Eng­ tells of the story of an innkeeper lish, Dutch or Spanish. (Daniels) who receives some very DAVID STEWART unusual guests. The jury, consisting of Lewis Gilbert RTE BANS STAR TREK’S (Chairman), David Blyth and Stijn ‘THE HIGH GROUND’ Coninx, awarded two special Because of an indirect reference prizes. The first went to Bruce to the IRA in episode dealing with McDonald as best director for terrorism RTE have banned it, say­ HIGHWAY 61 and the second was ing it was unsuitable to the largely awarded for special effects to young audience. To the best of my Japanese film TETSUO II - THE knowledge this is the first episode BODY HAMMER, directed by of Star Trek RTE have banned - all Shinya Tsukamoto. Lewis Gilbert original 79 episodes were shown praised the film for its innovative when it first appeared, which can­ character and remarkable force. not be said for the BBC who Honourable mentions were also banned four. given to THE JOHNSONS, a Dutch horror film by Rudolf Van Den Berg, and Wes Craven's lat­ ‘THE PRISONER’ ON est shocker THE PEOPLE UN­ CHANNEL 4 DER THE STAIRS, which received It appears that from October 10th its European premiere at the fes­ Britain's Channel 4 will show all 17 tival. episodes of the classic 60's se­ PEOPLE UNDER THE STAIRS ries. Other celebrations are was also honoured as the winner planned for the series’ 25th anni­ of the audience prize, voted on by versary - watch this space! those members of the audience

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 5 STAR TREK ON BBC Rumour has it that one of Queen BBC 2 is to show all 79 episodes of Elizabeth Il's pet corgis is called the original Star Trek, starting in Spockl May.

DR. WHO: TOM BAKER VIDEO PREVIEW SPECIAL STEPHEN KING'S THE A video of the famous unfinished Who episode 'Shada' will comprise GOLDEN YEARS the bulk of a special retrospective Starring Keith Szarabajka and of Baker's days as the Doctor. Felicity Huffman The missing footage will be filled in Running time : 236 minutes by Baker reading from the script. Expect the video to hit the shops Seventy year old Harlan Williams in July. is beginning to feel his age. The cycle to work takes a lot out of him, SNIPPETS: and then he is told that he is about SUPERMAN V - currently a project to lose his job as janitor in an agri­ of Alexander Salkind - may fea­ cultural testing facility, because his ture Arnold Schwarzenegger, eyesight is failing. But then some­ though not as the Man of Steel. thing happens which alters ROBOCOP 3 should appear in the Harlan's lifestyle completely. A US in Summer - look for a Christ­ major experiment in the field of mas release here. regeneration goes disastrously The script for A PRINCESS OF wrong, destroying the laboratory MARS, based on the Edgar Rice and exposing Harlan to chemicals Burroughs book of the same which begin to rejuvenate him. name, is currently being rewritten. There follows a long and compli­ Rumour has it that Tom Cruise, cated Investigation, featuring the Mel Gibson, or Kevin Costner may death of almost everyone involved, get the lead, with Sylvester Stallone and a chase across the USA. an outside chance. Meanwhile, the psychotic doctor The budget for BATMAN II is now continues with his experiments, at $75,000,000 and still rising. disregarding safety regulations. A new GODZILLA film may be out This is another of Stephen King's soon, titled GODZILLA vs KING mini-series, shown in seven parts GHIDORAH which will feature on American television. It is a good Mechaghidorah and the story, but a little too drawn-out. In Gojirasaurusl fact, at times I wondered how they In an interview with The Irish Times were going to make the story last Anthony Hopkins said that he got for four hours, but somehow they the inspiration for the voice of Dr. managed it. Hannibal Lecter from HAL in 2001, Some of the special effects were A Space Odyssey. Other sf and good - I particularly liked the glow- related projects he's involved in at in-the-dark rat! - and I thought the the moment: FREEJACK with Mick theme music, 'Golden Years' by Jagger, and as Van Helsing in David Bowie was very apt. To be DRACULA. honest though, I was very disap­ pointed with the ending. After sit-

PAGE 6 ISFA NEWSLETTER ting through four hours of sus­ chair the opening of an extension pense I was expecting something to the orphanage that Peter Pan a little better - especially when grew up in, Captain Hook kidnaps Stephen King wrote it. Peter’s children and imprisons Overall it is well worth watching. them in Neverland. Tinkerbell And don’t say I didn’t warn you comes and tows Peter Pan away about the ending. to said Neverland (or Nevern- Available soon from your local everland, as it is sometimes called) video library. in order to save his kids.When Teresa O’Connor Peter reaches Neverland he is not a little stunned. He still does not remember that he is Peter Pan. ‘HOOK’ Tinkerbell, after saving him from Starring Robin Williams and Dustin Captain Hook, takes Peter to meet Hoffman the Lost Boys. They are not im­ Produced by Stephen Spielberg pressed. Peter is old and fat. He can't fly. He can’t play. He looks I was fortunate that a month awful. He can't even IMAGINE abroad had insulated me utterly anything any more. The film scores from any hyperhype surrounding well here, in so far as it empha­ this film. (The French title is “Hook sises the value of imagination, as - ou la Revanche du Capitaine the original fairytale did. Crochet", by the way). But, as you'd expect, Peter does The plot of 'Hook' concerns the eventually learn how to fly, how to further adventures of Peter Pan. play games again, how to have After he decided to stay in the real fun; and only here does Robin world, Peter Pan grew up into a Williams look really comfortable in normal young man - forgetting the role. He re-learns to fly by think­ along the way his proper fairy-tale ing a “happy thought"...which her­ origins. He married Wendy's alds the most impressive special granddaughter and had two chil­ effects extravaganza that I have dren and moved to America, where seen in recent years. You will, I he became a high-flying execu­ promise, be as gobsmacked by tive, replete with portable phono. the flying sequences in 'Hook' as In the long tradition of executives, you were by Arnie's shape-chang­ his work began to interfere greatly ing adversary in 'Terminator 2'. Also with his family life, and his wife and the aerial views of Neverland, seen kids began to feel a bit neglected. from the point of view of Peter The first quarter of the film ex­ flying, are truly spectacular. I im­ plores this situation a little, but one agine that this film would lose 90% gets a distinct impression that of its impact on a TV screen, so go Speilberg wanted to get the plot to it in a proper cinema while you background dealt with and out of have the chance. I will not discuss the way as quickly as possible in any more of the plot, suffice it to order to get on to the wonderful say that it is both predictable and Neverland scenes. As a result the unpredictable. first part of the film has a very What about the film itself? There compacted feel to it. are some major flaws, yes. For During a family visit to London to example, the Lost Boys speak American, not English.; and also,

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 7 Dustin Hoffman (the human, not Star Trek competition were as the turkey) was not the best choice follows: John Kenny, Noreen for Captain Hook. He isn't nasty Monahan, Gerry Cleary, Hugh and horrible enough. But there are O'Neill, Greg O'Shaughnessy, good points to offset these; the James Bacon pirates, for example, are magnifi­ The answers? Oh alright: Geoff cent. I would be proud to know Ryman (published by such a dirty, greasy, smelly, lov­ HarperCollins, though we did take able bunch of cut-throats. And of Unwin Hyman) and Joe Hardeman course there are the effects. And was the only author in the list not then there is the lovely Julia to write an episode for the original Roberts, whose performance as series of Star Trek. Tinkerbell is not bad at all. She is the perfect foil for Peter Pan: her AISL1NG GHEAL flavour of maturity offsets Pan's Please note that the closing date childishness perfectly. for this competition is now the 30th If you are a Trekkie like me, then June! Rules were printed in the one part of the dialogue will induce February Newsletter. More details a distinct lack of rhythm. When from the ISFA address or ‘phone Smee is presenting Hook to the number. pirates he cries, “I give you....Captain James Hook!" I fully expected to hear a middle initial T SFEX ‘92 in there. Some 40 artists took part in this 'Hook' is, in retrospect, magical. year’s Art Exhibition which was Despite the flaws, there are some held once again in Bewley’s of genuinely poignant scenes, and Grafton Street. Over 100 works of course those amazing effects. were on display, ranging in media Neverland itself and the scenery in from pen and ink to watercolour, general are very faithful to the origi­ wood sculpture to metal figures. nal animated Walt Disney version The general consensus was that of Peter Pan. The film works. And the standard was once again im­ works well. proved, and the requirement that The last time a film really caught the work had to be mounted on at my imagination was when I saw least board encouraged many 'Dances with Wolves'; I came out exhibitors to go all out and fully of the cinema trying to think of a frame the work. Sioux name for myself. After see­ Artists received a questionnaire to ing ‘Hook’, I came out of the cin­ fill out; at some point in the near ema wishing I could fly. future we will be using the results of this to encourage them by pro­ viding specific services. The gen­ eral public who attended were ISFA NEWS AND given a brochure and a voting form. COMPETITIONS The results of the voting were as follows: RESULTS: Best Artist: Peter Queally (second The March Eason’s Book To­ was Paul Sheridan, third Arthur ken was won by Noreen Monahan. O’Duffy) The winners of the prizes in the Best Piece of Art: Birth Moon by

PAGE 8 ISFA NEWSLETTER Alex McLennon venue be found for the monthly Best Model: Alien Head by Martin meetings, as it was felt that prob­ McCanney lems with the Horse and Tram were Best Modelmaker: Martin too great. This need had been McCanney recognised some time ago by the Best Junior: Martin McCanney committee and a new venue is No, I won't make any comment currently being sought. about Martin....I The Newsletter was discussed - The event was kindly sponsored the general feeling was that it had by Eason's of O'Connell Street improved recently with the extra (who gave £60 in book tokens, pages and wider variety. The de­ and put up a display in the shop sign was highly praised, though advertising the event) and the lack of cartoons and other Bewley's who gave us a day free graphics was pointed out. Plans to set-up and supplied free cof- for the future of the publication fee/tea to the first fifty who came were announced: a new editor will in. take over for the June Issue (now Problems occurred in setting up confirmed as Michael Cullen), the exhibition but once in place it there will be more Information on ran smoothly. The lack of music the media side, including a special was a major oversight though - the review section on videos which are original music provided for last to be supplied by a certain video year’s event was commented on shop. Star Trek will also be cov­ very favourably. Overall it was a ered specifically as it is an intro­ very worthwhile event, but organi­ duction to sf for a lot, and may sation next year will need to be serve to get new members/ read­ greater. ers who will then broaden their interests to include other material ISFA AWARDS also catered for by the Associa­ The categories for the awards will tion. be announced in the next News­ FTL received a lot of attention. An letter. explanation for the delay to date was given by the Chairman - al­ though initially it was intended to OPEN COMMITTEE appear early, before Christmas, MEETING design and advertising problems On Saturday evening during SfEx caused a postponement until, it there was the first of the two Open was hoped, the AGM in January. meetings required under the reso­ Unfortunately this proved impos­ lutions passed at the AGM. Some sible to meet due to financial re­ fifteen people turned up, a low strictions - delays caused by ad­ number considering the interest vertising (the lack of an advertis­ expressed in it at the AGM. ing agent, particularly) and further Items discussed included: talks on design problems has left the maga­ sf that are to be given to the staff zine in limbo until now. However, in Eason's by an ISFA member; with the stepping down of David future meetings (some ideas were McKane from the designer posi­ - A talk on Magic; an evening with tion of the magazine due to pres­ Morgan Llewellyn; a science talk). sure of work, a new designer has It was also requested that a new been found and the new FTL team

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 9 will endeavour to produce the Merchant's Place, Reading, magazine as soon as possible. Berks. RG1 1DT, U.K. No one will miss any issues due to them, the Chairman assured. CONTAGION - THE SCOTTISH The content and design of the ADVENTURE CONTINUES... magazine was commented on in 18 - 20 July, 1992, The Central detail. Stories that were overlong Hotel, Glasgow. The Scottish Star were criticised - after discussion it Trek Convention. Guest of Hon­ was essentially agreed that the our is George Takei, who once actual design and typeface of the took a convention on an early magazine (issue 9-11) made sto­ morning jog around the streets of ries too difficult to read. The qual­ Coventry! Further information from ity of the fiction was raised but Contagion, PO Box 867, arguments as to what constitutes Rutherglen, Glasgow, G73 4HR, a good story ensued and possibly Scotland. the correct resolution was arrived at: it all comes down to the editor SCONE, the 13th UniCon (UK because it’s impossible to keep university sf convention) This one’s everybody happy all the time! More also in Glasgow, which is a great artwork to break up the magazine city with a very active fan scene as was suggested, also a looser you can probably see! GoH is lain typeface. There were too many Banks, and the dates are 7th to review columns, according to a the 9th August, 1992. Details: couple of people, who wanted Scone, c/o Kenny Meechan, 80 them all together similar to Inter­ Otago street, Glasgow, G12, Scot­ zone. Finally, a letters column was land. urgently needed (but nobody is writing any letters!) MAGICON, 50th World SF Con­ Other subjects covered included vention: Orlando, Florida, USA. plans for a new Questionnaire with Registration: $95 until April. De­ involvement from marketing peo­ tails: MagiCon, Box 621992, ple as well as fans, and the plans Orlando, FL 32862-1992, USA. to discuss the best way forward for Irish sf with bookshops and 03 - Octocon ’92: 16th - 18th publishers agents, similar to the October, The Royal Marine Hotel, way the British SF Association was Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. Registra­ initially set up. The next Open Meet­ tion (until September 1st) Attend­ ing may take place soon after the ing £13, Supporting £6, Junior Summer - I hope the attendance (U16) £6. GoH: Orson Scott Card, is better next timel other confirmed guests: Gill Aider­ man, Graham Andrews, Catherine Brophy, Diane Duane, Martin CONVENTIONS Duffy, Nicholas Emmett, Katherine Kurtz, Scott MacMillan, Anne PROTOPLASM, Manchester, McCaffrey, Peter Morwood, Geoff U.K. 19th - 21st June, 1992. Ryman, Michael Scott, James Guest of Honour Bob Shaw. For White. ‘Green’ theme and a further details contact Proto­ Tolkien celebration. Progress Re­ plasm, 1 Shoesmith Court, port 1 now available to members only. Membership etc available

PAGE 10 ISFA NEWSLETTER from 03, 30 Beverly Downs, will receive 4 glossy, A4 size, 70+ Knocklyon Road, Tenipleogue, page newsletters (containing in­ Dublin 16. Telephone 934712 terviews, LOCs, articles, news on anytime. (Note: anyone wishing to the cast etc.) plus free photo & help out on the organisation of the membership card. Also vast range con ring the above number anytime of fanzines & merchandise (incl. - it’s a big job!) photos, scripts, notepads, mugs, badges, photo stamps & special TRANSYLVANIA 1992, 31st Oc­ deal on the BBC B7 videos) and tober 1992, 9.30am -midnight, regular London and regional meet­ Mount Royal Hotel, Marble Arch, ings and outings. Please send 2 London. The first OFFICIAL IRCs for application forms, cur­ Rocky Horror Convention. Guests: rent rates &/or further information Richard O'Brien, Patricia Quinn, to: Miss Ann Steele, Horizon Club, Sal Piro (subject to commitments). 66 Sherwood Park Road, Sutton, Tickets £25 (including midnight Surrey SM1 2SG, England. showing of RHPS, with cast, props and audience participation!) until STARBASE IRELAND 31st May 1992, rising to £35 after­ Star Trek group, based in Dublin. wards (without midnight showing, £5 membership entitles you to a less £5) Details: 1 Elm Grove, quarterly A4 magazine, a mem­ Hildenborough, Tonbridge, Kent bership badge, certificate and TN1 1 9HE, UK. card. (Overseas write for details) Memberships from STARBASE TIMEWARP, 6th and 7th March, IRELAND, P.O. Box 3208, Dublin 1993. ISFA has received just this 14. Intriguing notification about this event, and I quote: “49 weeks to THE BRAM STOKER SOCIETY the biggest Star Trek event ever Membership is £6 per year, ben­ seen in Ireland. Watch this space efits include entry to all lectures, for details." Enough said. films and events; a quarterly News­ letter (8 pages); an annual Bram CLUBS Stoker Journal (40-45 pages). Available from Mr. Albert Power, RED DWARF FAN CLUB Secretary, The Bram Stoker Soci­ The Red Dwarf Fan Club is per­ ety, 227 Rochestown Avenue, Dun sonally supported by Rob Grant Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. and Doug Naylor. Membership (which entitles you to a quarterly Upcoming Meetings: newsletter ‘Better Than Life', a Tuesday, May 5th - Part 1 of the badge and a membership card. BBC Radio 4 version of “Dracula", For more information contact 52 taped on stereo audio-cassettes. Granville Road, Dun Laoghaire, Room 5025, Arts Buliding, 8 p.m. Co. Dublin, Telephone: 284 0201. Tuesday, May 12th - Part 2 of “Dracula". Room 4050A Arts HORIZON, the Blake's Seven Building, 8 p.m. Appreciation Society. Founded in Tuesday, May 26th - “Le Golem", 1980, Horizon is a friendly club director Julian Duvivier, France, and welcomes new members, who 1937. Black and white subtitled. Venue: Room 4094, Arts Building,

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 11 TCD at 8 p.m. where STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY THE MANGA CLUB was shown. Following the show­ 'The Manga Club will keep you ing of the film, Mr. Meyer took part ahead of the pack and up to date in a question and answer session. on future releases of Japanese Unfortunately, my tape recorder animation, many of which are des­ broke down - something of a tradi­ tined to become cult classics in tion with the ISFA I believe - so I the UK, repeating their phenom­ am relying on my sketchy notes enal success in Japan and and memory. Also please note that America' To join send your name Mr Meyer spoke in French so what and address to The Manga Club, you are reading is my translation Island World Communications, 40 of what he said. St. Peters Road, London W6 9BD, The first question concerned how UK. It's free! you get the actors to relate to a world beyond every day existence. Entries are free in the Clubs sec­ Answer: “You pay them a lot of tion, but we would appreciate be­ money. Seriously, they are profes- ing kept up to date regarding the sionals and activities of your group. New en­ they do tries will be accepted on receipt of their job a sample mailing (if you publish "I'm not a well." anything) and a chatty letter. science fiction I then fan..." asked him ) if the fact INTERVIEW that both STAR TREK II and VI dealt with the crew facing their own mortality FACETOFACE was a coincidence. W1TI1NICIIOLAS MEYER “The question of their ages," he relied, “was an inevitable conse­ quence of the story in STAR TREK by David Stewart II. It was easier for me to get their ages up front before people Nicholas Meyer’s influence on the started thinking 'Hey these guys Star Trek movie series cannot be are too old for this!' In STAR TREK underestimated. After the less II it was a core fact of the movie, in than stupendous STAR TREK: VI it was more of a joke." THE MOTION PICTURE he gave Moving on to the question of what us STAR TREK II: THE WRATH kind of audience it was aimed at OF KHAN and set the tone for the Mr. Meyer was most emphatic that following four movies. He co-wrote it was not for children. "It's just a the script for THE VOYAGE HOME story that I tell the best way I can and now he retains the centre seat for intelligent people. The only peo­ for STAR TREK VI: THE UNDIS­ ple I hope have any difficulty un­ COVERED COUNTRY, the last derstanding it are those who voted of the Classic Trek movies. for Ronald Reagan." Nor is the Nicholas Meyer was a guest at the movie aimed solely at ‘Trekkies' Brussels Festival of Fantasy, he explained. “I am not a science Thriller and Science Fiction Films fiction fan nor was I a fan of STAR

PAGE 12 ISFA NEWSLETTER TREK. I didn't seo STAR TREK One member of the audience then until I asked about the influence of Gene came to Roddenberry citing references in direct "It’s just a story the 25th anniversary special that STAR Roddenberry had a tight control TREK II." I tell the best on scripts for TNG. The dis­ way I can for “I didn't know Gene Roddenberry cussion, intelligent very well. In ten years I only met then people" him maybe five times. He didn't turned work on the films except for the towards first one. After that he was a sort the mu­ of eminence grise. He commented sic. Mr. Meyer was full of praise for and gave advice but didn’t make composer Cliff Eidelman. “We changes to the script. He saw didn't have a budget for an estab­ STAR TREK VI three days before lished composer like Jerry Gold­ he died - I hope that wasn't what smith (who wrote the score for ST: killed him - and he told me he liked TMP and ST: TNG), besides, I was it." getting a bit tired of marches. I The next questioner addressed the listened to a lot of young compos­ philosophy of STAR TREK and ers and I came across Cliff the themes of the series. Eidelman (who composed the “For me the secret of STAR TREK scores for TRIUMPH OF THE is never to repeat anything. So I SPIRIT, DELERIOUS and tried in the three scripts I wrote, to CRAZY PEOPLE). I met him and find something different. STAR explained what I wanted. I de­ TREK II dealt with aging, friend­ scribed it by saying I wanted some­ ship and death. STAR TREK IV thing like Stravinsky's Firebird for dealt with ecology and STAR the opening to give it a mysterious TREK VI dealt with politics." feel. Three days later he came But what about the budget. back with a tape of the opening of Doesn't the size of the budget STAR TREK VI. oblige you as a director to bring in Back to the special effects. Was it a box office hit but at the same difficult getting the effects you time include certain non-commer- wanted. “The weightless assassi­ cial aspects? nation scene was a nightmare. It “For me STAR TREK VI was very was particularly hard on the ac­ con­ tors, but they are professionals." r ven­ I then asked was he influenced "... (Gene ient much by the Next Generation. “I've Roddenberry) was a b e - seen a few episodes. The special cause effects are far superior to the origi­ sort of eminence in Hol­ nal series because of the budget. grise..." lywood But I don't think it has the humour j it's al- of the original, it takes itself too w a y s seriously. So no I wasn't greatly a b s o - influenced." lutely essential that the film makes Wait a minute - my tape recorder is a profit. No profit, no film. If I had working again - kind of. Now we're approached Paramount and said cooking. 1 want to make a film about the

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 13 end of communism, economic ets. But against who? Klingons I cliaos, think." rac­ Question: “What are you going to ( ism, "In the Pentagon now do next?" xeno- “I never discuss my future projects pho­ they are proposing with anyone. Because it’s a sort of bia, new doomsday sce­ Hollywood bullshit. I work, I write politi- narios to justify the and I hope." c a I arms and budgets. But Final question: "Who would you a s - like to work with that you haven't s a s - against who? worked with already?" sina- Klingons, I think." “There are many actors with whom ti o n' \______J I would like to work. I like actors a they lot. Many directors don’t like ac­ would tors. They see them as a problem have said 'No', and then if I said but I love them. A lot of times I am ■It’s called STAR TREK’, they so entranced by them I forget to would have said ‘Go with God’. say ‘cut’ because for me they are Because of that STAR TREK has so wonderful to be able to repeat liberated me. It's much easier to any emotion, even tears. When I choose a subject. It’s new wine in was directing TIME AFTER TIME, an old bottle, I think, and if the my first film, I saw Malcolm bottle is called STAR TREK, the McDowell and Mary studio doesn’t mind what I put in it. Steenburghen and I was like this The studio was very good to me. (Mimes mouth open in wonder­ They loved the script immediately. ment and then recovering and There was no interference. There saying ‘cut’). And I have many were some disagreeable discus­ friends who are actors. I have great sions about budget before filming admiration for Ricardo Montalban started, but once that was ap- (Khan In STAR TREK II), Jason pioved there were no further disa­ Robards (THE DAY AFTER) and greements. they were very sup­ I like Christopher Plummer a lot. portive. This is the only business where “The theme of the film was very you can work with your dreams. serious. I am afraid of change. “Okay, that's not quite the answer Transitions are, I think, the most to the question. If I had to answer serious parts of life. Marriage, di­ the question with one name I’d vorce, new job, new apartment, a say Judy Garland." new world. In the last three years And with that the meeting ended. the world has changed. Here we Those of us who wanted auto­ are now in Brussels, the centre of graphs were invited to queue while NATO, and what to do now with the rest headed for the bar. those great big buildings. They are I would like at this point to thank practically useless now. There are Jean Paul Bertin of UIP Belgium - people, good people, who are so who distribute Paramount - for his afraid of the future, an unknown invaluable assistance. future, that they are doing naughty things. In the Pentagon now they are proposing new doomsday sce­ narios to justify the arms and budg­

PAGE 14 ISFA NEWSLETTER LETTERS a start, you know, the one who didn’t know anything and wouldn't talk to anybody. And the other one Dear Brendan, with the PLO scarf, he was even Many thanks for the kind words on worse. PFJ in your March Newsletter - The guests were great, they knew only one thing wrong: my address how to look after their fans even if is Dublin 6 not Dublin 4. As for the the inept efforts of the committee actual PFJ review, well Paul seemed to hamper them at all McKinley is a good, fine example times. And the guests were so of criticism at its best. He's hon­ under-used it was unbelievable. I est, precise, and clearly someone mean, if you have a guest of the to be reckoned with. I don't care if calibre of Anne McCaffrey or Greg he wasn't too fond of the maga­ Bear the least one can do is give zine. Sticks and stones may break them something interesting to do. my bones, but who gives a rat's Well, that’s it. You wanted letters, arse what Paul McKinley thinks? you got one! See you soon. ... when is FTL coming out? Does Michael Carroll the lateness of the issue mean Dublin that ISFA members will miss out (Ed: I'm keen to hear from readers on a copy? (No, see the report on about the Newsletter, as I am print­ the Open meeting in the ISFA News ing a wide variety of material cov­ section - ed.) ering, I hope, the wide range of Anyway... A great Newsletter. Se­ media and genres that the ISFA riously. Very Interesting indeed. caters for. From the next issue Please keep up the standard. I Michael Cullen will take over as notice that you’re looking for an Editor - support him with letters, editor - does this mean a change articles and reviews and you will in the format? I hope not. I’m really see the Newsletter improve again getting to like it. - he has quite a few interesting Reelspiel is brilliant. More power ideas. I’ve enjoyed editing the NL to Des. I want to see much more immensely and I hate dropping it. like this. I’m just glad I've managed to please As for TrinCon, I think Helen was quite a lot of people. I do intend to far too lenient with the committee. write regularly to Michael about sf Nail the bastards up, I say. TrinCon and I hope I may encourage oth­ was a success thanks only to the ers to as well.) good nature of the attendees, dealers and guests. It would have been a lot more successful if the Dear Brendan, closing ceremony had included a Since the last newsletter (and burning-in-effigy of the committee Michael Carroll's comments) I members (particularly that dumb have received a number of com­ asshole who was in charge of the ments about the Trincon report, comics panel). Not all the commit­ most of them saying that I wasn't tee were morons, of course, but hard enough. I don’t believe in there are several I could maim - I kicking a committee to pieces. The mean, name - who should never points I raised in the report should have been involved. That twit with have shown how much thought I the stupid hair and the glasses, for put into it. It is always easy to

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 15 rubbish other peoples efforts but 1 in which the atom bombs are felt that due to my reasonably high dropped on Japan, but not on the profile in Irish SF any really de­ cities. rogatory remarks could provoke Ballard’s ‘The Terminal Beach' il­ accusations of ‘superiority’ or ‘jeal­ lustrates again that Ballard is noth­ ousy*. This would not be true. ing less than a great writer. The As a founder member of Octocon protagonist moves In an unreal and a person to whom science atmosphere, driven deeper and fiction means such a lot, my con­ deeper into existential horror, until cern is that sf fans get the best the blocks and the illusion of his possible efforts from a committee wife and child, are all that hold and a convention of which the fans chaos at bay. Ballard's experience are paying customers. Octocon in the prisoner of war camp, during has always tried to live up to this, childhood must have driven him and I hope that in the future that into the existential position. Being other groups will hold this ideal. As very much alone, or very alienated, long as we can all work together to can bring one to this position. coordinate and timetable our ac­ Yet I believe a form of existential­ tivities (eg. avoiding clashing of ism, allied to humour, can be a conventions), and think first of the most useful philosophy, for it can people we are serving, SF in Ire­ indicate an attitude towards free­ land should have a bright future. dom, an attitude towards chance. Helen Ryder My own story, ‘Brains On The Dump' was first published in North­ ern Ireland in 1973. It concerns Dear Brendan, the foolishness of war, the foolish­ I enjoyed ISFA News, no. 70. ness of terrorism, of violence. It I particularly enjoyed the interview defies belief that the Troubles nine­ of Joe Haldeman. I have only re­ teen years later are as horrific as cently read Haldeman, for the first ever. time, but he seems to embody the I was surprised last Autumn to type of realistic science fiction that read my story ’A Brass Chair' in was partly swamped by the popu­ FTL 4, Spring 1990. I had forgot­ lar success of space operas like ten the story, yet it seems better STAR WARS, and the rise of sword that much I have written since. and sorcery. His comment that Have rewritten it, extended it, pol­ couples stay together for complex ished it up and send it off to an and mysterious reasons, is often American magazine. true. Recently finished FTL, issue 11. A I recently got a copy of Harry high level in the fiction, in Pat Harrison's ‘There Won't Be War' Quigley's piece, and in your James which includes a story of mine. White interview. I particularly liked The Joe Haldeman story 'Beach­ 'Without Honour' by Robert S. head' was my introduction to his Neilson. 'Gligots' was cheerful, and writing. I will buy some of his books in contrast 'The Chase’ was true when I get back to Ireland. horror, with an almost Beckett-like Every story in the anthology inter­ ability to leave the reader nowhere ested me. Kim Stanley Robinson’s to hide. 'The Lucky Strike’ is a simple but A Norwegian publisher asked me profound alternative history story, to submit a story for an SF an-

PAGE 16 ISFA NEWSLETTER thology, and it should appear later A letter received from David Lass, this year. Hon. Librarian of the Bram Stoker Regards, Society, gives some details of their Nicholas Emmett upcoming meetings, which are Oslo, Norway detailed in the Clubs section. The Society is dedicated to promoting FIVE BOOKS: the serious appreciation of Stoker Stand On Zanzibar - John as a writer and to further the read­ Brunner ing and recognition of his works. It Foundation Trilogy - Isaac also encourages interest in other Asimov Irish authors in the supernatural Foucault’s Pendulum - fiction field, including Charles Umberto Eco Robert Maturin (1780 - 1824), Discworld Series - Terry Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (1814 - Pratchett 1873) and Lord Dunsany (1878 - Cthulhu Mythos - H.P. 1957). More details are available Lovecraft from the address in the Clubs sec­ Eugene Doherty tion. Belfast (That's the most ‘Five Books' to Dear Brendan, date - about twenty!) My all-time top ten books: 1. The Silver Locusts (original We recently heard from Science- UK title for The Martian Fiction Belgium about a company Chronicles but my favourite) by called LEADBELLY PRODUC­ Ray Bradbury TIONS. They have published four 2. Stranger in a Strange comic strips INTERPLANETARY Land by Robert A. Heinlein LIZARDS OF THE TEXAS 3. Childhood’s End by Arthur PLAINS, #1, #2, #3 and THE C. Clarke BOOK OF THE LOST SOULS. 4. Lord Of The Rings by You can expect them to appear J.R.R. Tolkien on the Irish scene shortly, if they 5. The Weapon Shops of haven't already (and if they have, Isher/ The Weaponmakers can I have a review please?) by A.E. Van Vogt 6. The Way The Future Was by Frederik Pohl 7. The Stand by Stephen King FIVE BOOKS 8. The Right Stuff by Tom The Elfstones of Shannara - Wolfe Terry Brooks 9. It by Stephen King The Wishsong of Shannara - 10. Do Androids Dream of Terry Brooks Electric Sheep (original title for Magician - Raymond E. Feist Bladerunner) by Philip K. Dick Prince Of The Blood - Raymond E. Feist Books I've been disappointed The Diamond Throne - David by: Eddings 1. The Stono God Awakens Michelle Carter by Philip Jose Farmer Dublin 2. So long, and Thanks for all the Fish by Douglas Adams

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 17 3. Protectorate by Mick Farren March (and which went quite well, 4. JOB: A Comedy o’f Jus­ I hear.) tice by Robert A Heinlein 5. A Heritage of Stars by Clifford D. Simak ASIMOV TRIBUTES

Books I’ve enjoyed recently: Dear Brendan, 1. The Time-Lapsed Man by I was sorry to hear of Isaac Eric Brown Asimov's death... Although I have 2. Songmaster by Orson Scott not read his work for years I still Card treasure my collection of Asimov 3. Ubik by Philip K. Dick paperbacks, my favourite being 4. War Fever by J.G. Ballard The End Of Eternity. 5. Them Bones by Howard Waldrop Michael Minogue, Co. Clare John Kenny

From Padraig Holland in Donegal: Dear Brendan, With regard to your Isaac Asimov Dr. Isaac Asimov will be remem­ tribute I would like to ask if any bered within the sf fraternity, I sup­ films have been based directly on pose, for his robot stories and the any of his sf works. I recently saw Foundation series, but they are a preview on video showing ex­ not the most important part of his cerpts from “NightfaH", based on legacy. Asimov’s short story published in Isaac’s great achievement was the “Astounding Science Fiction" in building of bridges between the 1941. world of science and the layman. David Lass, Dublin Whether you read Reader’s Di­ gest, Playboy, the Times or your (I believe I saw that clip too, on childrens' storybooks, you were BBC 2's “The Late Show", a cou­ certain to sooner or later read an ple of days after his death. I don't Asimov article, and to be bowled believe Asimov has had any con­ over by its clarity and accessibility. nections with the film industry apart From there it was an easy step to from his involvement with Fantas­ his Doubleday collections of es­ tic Voyage from the late 1960s. A says, his short stories and bingo! If number of his stories were not an sf reader for life, you be­ optioned, most notably the Robot came a layman who could read series, but I'm not aware of any science without being intimidated films having been made. Has any­ or slightly ashamed. body else any information?) Asimov taught us that science, like art, was a transcendental ex­ pression of the human spirit. We also heard from: Diane Duane I used to struggle with the conflict & Peter Morwood; CoIm Ryan within myself between my scien­ (whose article on STAR TREK VI tific training and my desire to write I will try to fit in next month!); quite artistically. After discovering a few members wanting to know Asimov I learned there was no about the Starbase Ireland day in

PAGE ^8 ISFA NEWSLETTER contradiction. I began to write, and what it was. All I knew was that I sell. I also discovered that the cut­ liked these far-out stories about ting edge is more often than not space-travel and spent the next the despised rockets-and- six years hunting them out in bugeyes of modern sf. Forget the school libraries until our English Booker Prize, Philip Jose Farmer teacher named the genre. After and Ray Aldridge are where it's at. that it got easier and it was easier Asimov gave me more than that. still when I joined the town library; Despite his confirmed atheism and yellow plus VG equals sfl I could belief that life was three score spot the genre and pretty soon I years and ten and no more, he could spot the masters. Asimov presented a wonderful overview was one of the first I remember; I ''f the human billion-year-spree read the Robot stories and some condition. Reading Asimov, one of his collections, I loved the sto­ felt a closeness both to Stone Age ries and I loved the little bits of man and the galaxy-spanning civi­ personal background even more. lisations of the future, and indeed I read “Nightfall" and I still think a responsibility to make this Earth it's a classic I read the “Founda­ as beautiful and viable a place as tion" series and it knocked me out possible. .His “The Problem of with the whole sweep of it, I read Population", for instance, should some of his science writing and be required reading for every man liked that too. and woman of child-bearing age My father died two years ago next on this planet. month. He wasn't much of a reader I will not miss Isaac as a parent, but I remembered him reading two but rather as a trusted favourite sf stories, one in an Irish boys uncle, always there and always magazine (called OUR BOYS, wise. natch) about a trip to Ganymede, the other one of my few paper­ backs from teen years - Cordwainer From Declan Fox, Co. Tyrone: Smith's “The Planet Buyer". I think he enjoyed them both. I can hear I was standing in the Bank of Ire­ him saying “For sheep's sakel" land in College Green waiting for a from the latter book) at the dinner harassed manager. It was table and us both having a good Wednesday 8th April and I had giggle at it. Twenty-odd years ago. been tearing around for two days; I hope they're all out there some­ I looked at a copy of Tuesday’s where, whether as souls or quan­ Financial Times on the counter to tum equations or whatever, catch up with the news while wait­ Asimov, Smith Heinlein, Dad and ing. Isaac Asimov's death was in all the others who were important one of the little bits down the left to me. Wouldn't that really be hand side of the front page and I mazel tov? felt real sorrow. I never met him; I never wrote to him, I never even saw him at a convention but he was real to me. And Swann-like, I flash-backed through maybe thirty years to reading science-fiction in primary school before I even knew

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 19 From John St John, Dublin 7: Nameless (Futura, May, pb) Cherryh, C.J. - Hellburner (NEL, My tribute to The Master May, hd) (NF)Clarke, Arthur C. - How Robots may malfunction and rust, The World Was One: Be­ Foundations may flounder and yond the Global Village fade, (Gollancz, May, hd) Writers of Asimov's calibre are Devenport, Emily - Shade (The born, Women’s Press, May, tp) They could not possibly be made. Doctor Who: (M) Cartmel, Andrew - Cat’s Spaceships and planets will in time Cradle: Warhead (April) disappear, (M) Hunt, Andrew - Cat’s Earth, Moon and Stars will all go. Cradle: Witch Mark (June) But as long as mankind has a memory, (F) Duane, Diane - The Door The name Asimov we will all know. Into Sunset (Corgi, May) (H)Fowler, Christopher. He was The Master -Red Bride (Macdonald, April, and none will surpass him hd) (H)Fowler, Christopher - City Jitters (Futura, April, pb) UPCOMING (GN)Gaimen, Neil & Dave McKean - Signal To Noise BOOKS (Gollancz, April, hd, tp) The following is a list of some (H)Gallagher, Stephen - The upcoming books. The letter at the Unforgiven (NEL, April, hd) beginning indicates (roughly) the (F) Gemmell, David - Morning genre: F - Fantasy, GN - Graphic Star (Legend, April, hd, tp) Novel, H - Horror, M - Media, NF - Gordon, John - The Burning Non Fiction, SF - Science Fiction, Baby (Walker, April) ST - Star Trek. Where there is no Harrison, M. John - The letter I have no information on the Course of the Heart title. All the books given are due (Gollancz, June, hd) from British publishers within the (H) Herbert, James - Portent next few months. Next month will (Hodder & Stoughton, May, hd) be a list of American Upcoming (F) Kerr, Katherine - A Time Of releases. Omens (Grafton, June, hd) McAuley, P. J. & Kim Newman Banks, lain M. - The Crow (eds) - In Dreams (Gollancz, Road (Scribners, April, hd) June) (SF)Baxter, S.M. - Anti-Ice (H) Massie, Elizabeth - The (Grafton, June, hd) Sineater (Pan, May, pb) Brooke, Keith (SF)Miller, Walter M. Jr. - -Expatria Incorporated Leibowitz and the Wild (Gollancz, May, hd) Horse Woman (Orbit, June, (H) Campbell, Ramsey - The hd) Claw (Futura, May, pb) Norton, Andre - The Mark of (H) Campbell, Ramsey - The the Cat (Legend, May, hd, tp)

PAGE 20 ISFA NEWSLETTER (F) Pratchett, Terry • Small INTERVIEW: Gods (Gollancz, May, hd) (SF)Shaw, Bob - Warren Peace 1 (Gollancz, June, hd) (SF)Sheffield, Charles -Tran­ GREG BEAR scendence (Gollancz, April, hd) (SF)Shepard, Lucius - The interviewed by Robert Elliott Dragon Griaule (Grafton, April, hd) Silverberg, Robert - Kingdoms Greg Bear has been writing pro­ of the Wall (Grafton, May, hd) fessionally for over twenty years, (SF)Steele, Allen - Labyrinth of winning a number of awards along Night (Legend, June, hd, tp) the way, with three Nebulas and (H) Tem, Melanie - Blood Moon two Hugos, as well as a Prix Apollo. (The Women's Press, April, tp) His novels include 'Eon', 'The Thomas, Sue - Correspond­ Forge of God', 'Eternity' and ence (The Women’s Press, tp) 'Queen of Angels'. He has three (SF)Vinge, Joan D. - Summer short story collections, ‘The Wind Queen (Pan, June, pb) From a Burning Woman', 'Tan­ (ST)Vornholt, John - Star Trek: gents' and ‘The Venging’. He has Sanctuary written one Star Trek novel, 'Co­ rona'. The inter­ "I'm not view with Greg Bear blowing up any took place more solar at Trincon, systems..." o n V ____ / 08.02.92.

We started out the interview men­ tioning his two new books, 'The Venging', a short story collection and ‘Anvil of Stars', a novel. Both of these were launched at Trincon. I mentioned that although he had a fair number of stories published in the digests, he was not consid­ ered primarily a short story writer. "I have had two collections out, but I haven't written many short stories recently. I don't write many short stories, about four or five a year. Usually I reserve short sto­ ries for relaxing from a novel or exploring an idea, or writing fan­ tasy, or something surrealistic. That's why they only come about only every two years or so." A lot of writers use short stories to

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 21 launch Into novels, or find them­ selves turning a short story Into a We moved next to his Star Trek longer work. Does he write short novel, 'Corona'. Was this some­ stories with a view to expansion thing he wanted to write from the into novels? age of ten? “I specifically set out to write short stories. I don't waste much time “Not from the age of ten. I first saw on them, I won't sit down and start Star Trek at the age fourteen and writing a short story unless the I was quite impressed, and I idea is very firm and I know how wanted to do it. I was definitely a long it’s going to take. Very sel­ Trekkie. Star Trek came out in dom does a short story spin off 1966, and I was brought into Star into a novel. Sometimes a short Trek fandom In 1968. Star Trek piece of fiction will expand on some­ was pretty much gone by 1969, thing in a novel, like 'Heads' ex­ but its fandom lived on. And I would pands on 'Queen of Angels’ and is attend Star Trek conventions, set a little in the future from that. sometimes on the committee, The next novel I'm writing will go on sometimes just to be there, to from where 'Heads' left off. But meet people. I've never lost being I m a Trekkie. I don't see much of The p r e i i y Next Generation, because I have sure now ’’He’s Dead, to young kids who go to bed at that when I Jim...” ) time. get an “But I have a great deal of respect idea how for Star Trek. For one thing, it's long it's going to take me to ex­ been a vast influence on me. When plore that idea." the opportunity came up to write a The hard science doesn't appear Star Trek novel, I didn't feel to be as prevalent in his short sto­ ashamed. There were some things ries as it does in his novels. in Star Trek I wanted to fix a little 'Heads' is hard science fiction, and bit. 'He’s Dead, Jim' never struck ‘Blood Music* was hard science me as being very appropriate for fiction. However, I really do like that level of technology. In my novel short fiction fantasies." it's very hard for Bones to say 'He's Dead, Jim.' What he as to say is We then moved onto his new ‘He's dead, Jim, because we novel, 'Anvil of Stars'. James asks erased all of his memories.' Not as if this is a sequel to 'Forge of God'? dramatically strong as a simple “Yes it is." statement, but more science fic­ But it is self contained, isn't it? tional. I noticed that a lot of the “Yes, as long as you realise that things I used in 'Corona' were ei­ the Earth is dead. That's all you ther thought of or picked up by the need to know." people doing The Next Genera­ Ah yes. He's quite fond of destroy­ tion." ing the planet isn't he? Did he ever write a Star Trek epi­ "Well, I'm not blowing up any more sode? solar systems after 'Anvil of Stars'. “Almost. I came very close to writ­ At least for a few more books. ing for the next Star Trek TV show That was something I worked in about 1978. But they didn't go through in my adolescence." ahead with it. Instead Paramount

PAGE 22 ISFA NEWSLETTER decided make a motion picture. to you about 'Dead Run'. You But I did a story idea, parts of know, you have a real opportunity which seemed, through no con­ here to get at people like Jerry spiracy on the part of anybody, to Falwell. Go to it.' They weren’t end up in “The Wrath of Khan.’ afraid of it, and in fact they got a Like the Genesis probe? tremendous response. They got “Yeah, the Genesis probe. It would two letters. Apparently evangelists have been an alien version of the don't watch The Twilight Zone" Genesis probe, coming to convert the Earth." Next, we discussed things cin­ On the subject of TV, we men­ ematic, particularly his new screen­ tioned the episode of ‘The Twilight play. Zone’ he “I'm working on an original screen­ wrote. play with a friend of mine, Phil “The story is /------\ Tipett, the stop motion animator. in ‘Tan- "I’m a great Probably the best in the world, I gents', think he was over here for the 'Dead Run’. fan of monster filming of Dragonslayer. Now he's Did they movies" in Berkeley, doing Jurassic Park. show It \______J Together he and I are putting to­ here? gether a showcase in the next step I mentioned in monster movies, special effects that I saw it twice. and animation." “A friend of mine was story editor Is it going to be robotic, or what? on the second ‘Twilight Zone', “Well, there's going to be a robot there actually were three. I'd never in it, but it'll be very organic other­ sent him anything, I didn't think I wise. Other than that I can’t tell had anything immediately obvious you much, but it'll be called 'Bio­ as a 'Twilight Zone' episode. How­ sphere' and it'll have a lot of things ever, a mutual friend sent him a you haven’t seen before." copy of ‘Dead Run' and said ‘Look Is he fond of monster movies? at this, this is wonderful', and he “I'm a great fan of monster mov­ liked it. Which is ironic, because it ies. This will be very sophisticated, was rejected by Twilight Zone PG, non-splatter, but a very strong, Magazine for not being Twilight very science fictional film. It'll have Zone enough. It was eventually there strong female characters, published by Omni, who paid more all of them scientists. No scien­ for it. It was very ironic all the way tists' daughters in this film, off to round. It ended up on the pro­ make the coffee or marry the hero gram, and I think it was one of the when he's conquered the mon­ better shows. They did a good ver­ ster." sion of it; the script was brilliant" James mentions that Jim Cameron So he was happy with it then? originally had a similar idea for The “Certainly I think they did a good Abyss, with scientists, but the pub­ job. They didn't change anything lic would relate better to blue-col­ in terms of content. A very funny lar workers. thing is that a network executive “Yeah, there's a certain amount who oversees content on the show of truth in that, except that some and called in one of the guys on of the best monster movies have the show and said ‘I wanted to talk scientists. But the whole pitch was

iSFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 23 that the movie would be about pletely, and sometimes I get things scientists, and at least one of them wrong, which interests the scien­ had to be a woman, the mad sci­ tists too. It gives them a new per­ entist had to be a woman. This spective on things. The weirdness was a brilliant suggestion, it com­ is there in the physics, and I love to pleted in my mind the idea." pluck them out." Will it be ready for, say, 1994? Does he never get hate mail from “I have no idea. It’s got a lot to go scientists, saying 'You forgot to through, the screenplay has to be carry the two’? finished, we've got to find a direc­ "Never. I deserve it, I'm sure. There tor, it takes a long time." are all sorts of things, certainly What about options on his books? conceptual errors. But scientists “'Blood Music" has been optioned. are pretty forgiving. They like to It’s got a wonderful screenplay, read books by people who enjoy and it's by Lewis John Carlino. This what they are doing." could get off the ground. Carlino is very well connected, very sharp, Sadly, we had to finish up here, as made a lot of good movies like Greg had about fourteen inter­ 'The Great Santini', and I could views to follow. I'd like to thank not have done better on the screen­ Greg for agreeing to the interview, play. and to Simon Hess from Legend Books for arranging it. Next, back to his books, and we started talking about the science in his books. A lot of his novels are hard science fiction, and I won­ dered was he possibly alienating some people by putting this in the REVIEWS books? “Oh, probably. Whenever you write something that has some content, SASSINAK there are going to be people who Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth don’t like that content. I'm sur­ Moon prised that I'm as successful as I Orbit, 333pp, UK £4.50 am. It's probably not because of the physics in the book, but on the This book Is the first in a series other hand it's probably not de­ called The Planet Pirates. The time spite the physics. I love these In which it Is set is many years things, I love getting comments ahead of now, and most of the from scientists saying ‘I might important action takes place in know how to do that, I might know space. how to make an Infinitely long tube Sassinak is a woman who rises shaped universe out of space­ from being a slave girl to being time. Sounds good to me. I get captain of a space cruiser. She is comments from physicists, which an interesting character. Her fam­ is very exciting, because I’m not ily are all killed by pirates and she is that good at physics. My maths is taken as a slave. After being res­ terrible. But I love reading complex cued by the Fleet of the Federa­ texts, hoping to pluck an idea or tion of Sentient Planets, Sassinak two. I don't understand them com­ vows to have her revenge on the

PAGE 24 ISFA NEWSLETTER pirates. She joins the Fleet and ing happens, the only smear on its works her way up, piecing together reputation being the destruction the truth about the pirates as time of a hippie colony ten years be­ goes by. fore. Hundreds died and the Her character is well drawn. stigma remained. Slaughter finds Sassinak is an Independent per­ a dead hitch hiker and later, on son who gets along with other peo­ arrival at the coroner's office, finds ple. She has a good rapport with the coroner dead and the body aliens, and has many friends gone. As murders begin to occur, among them. She is very resource­ Slaughter realises he is dealing ful, and you get the impression with no ordinary mass-murderer that if anyone is to get the pirates, and so the plot thickens. Sassinak wilfl Drawing heavily on Salem's Lot The book is written in sections. and Rosemary's Baby this book is Each section is usually years hardly original. Morrell goes fur­ ahead of the previous one. This ther, relying on “rhythm, lean prose adds to the pace. Before the mid­ and Jungian imagery" to empha­ dle of the book, she's a Captain in sise the terror in the book. This all her forties and in serious pursuit of sounds great in theory, but in prac­ the pirates. tice it breaks down. I didn't notice According to her short biography, the Jungian imagery, the prose Elizabeth Moon served in the was too lean, with descriptions non­ American Armed Forces. This has existent giving an unfinished look been to her advantage for the to the book. The rhythm is as­ descriptions of the Fleet. The mili­ tounding but with the sketchy para­ tary details are convincing and graphs I found myself reading the have an air of authenticity. paragraphs again and again. Af­ McCaffrey chose her collaborator ter the first hundred pages this well. became downright annoying. The Sassinak is an enjoyable read and biggest downfall however was the I found it quite absorbing. I'm look­ ending. It just didn’t make sense. ing forward to the second book in After rereading countless para­ the series, The Death of Sleep. graphs and then coming to a point­ ANNEMARIE NUGENT less ending I was severely tempted to throw the book in the fire. The blurb on the back puts The THE TOTEM Totem in the ranks of the ten scari­ David Morrell est books ever. After reading it Headline Feature, 306 pp, UK however I can safely say that I £4.50 have lost all respect for back-page This book has just been reprinted critics. I recommend this book for after ten years, presumably to cash rainy day reading only, but try the in on the success of his latest other nine scariest books first. book. Never having read one of his GERARD O'BRIEN books (but after seeing all three Rambo films, which were written THE SEA OF POSSIBILITY by him) I was looking forward to reading it. Hugh Daly, ONFA Publications, Slaughter is the police chief in a IR£4.99, 87pp small, sleepy little town where noth­ Ireland has precious few sf/fan-

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 25 tasy writers, so I was delighted to and slickly written fantasy of magic see this book in Forbidden Planet. and alternate worlds with lots of Described in the blurb as a roman­ violence and mayhem featuring the tic fairy tale, it seemed most prom­ royal family of Amber. ising. It opens slowly with two chapters First of all, "The Sea of Possibility" of discussion and explanation of is a children's book. It doesn’t spe­ some events In the previous three cifically state this anywhere, but books before Merlin is plunged Into the condescending tone and lack ten chapters of non-stop action of attention to detail that pervades with many sudden changes of lo­ this book means that the author is cale via magic doorways, Trumps aiming at children or scientologists. (magical playing cards that can be The story concerns four friends used as communicators or door­ who, on a whim, set of in search of ways) and mirrorsets. the Sea of Possibility. They don’t Roger Zelazny seems to enjoy cre­ know what it is, or anything about ating exotic locations, new mys­ it, but as soon as its name is men­ teries and yet more explanations tioned, voom. They're out of there. of the fundamental nature of his This seems a particularly rash de­ fictional reality. In Knight of Shad­ cision, especially giving that two of ows he introduces a place be­ our protagonists spend the first tween shadows, alternate realities, two pages talking like people fresh beyond the control of the twin poles out of university. of Order and Chaos, the Pattern This sense of incongruity goes all and the Loyrus, which are just vis­ the way through the book; actions ible manifestations of the struggle go unexplained, characters act between the Unicorn and the Ser­ without a shred of consistency. pent. All this makes for a certain One can only conclude that the mythic resonance in an enjoyable author was of the opinion that mere action adventure with too many children wouldn’t care about such questions still unanswered. This details. I, for one, suspect him to to my mind Is the most annoying be gravely mistaken. thing about this series - how long It's unfortunate that with so few sf do we have to wait for answers? or fantasy books coming out of Read this if you like action and Ireland that one of the few that being puzzled but start with the makes it is of such poor quality. first volume, Nine Princes in Am­ The only redeeming feature I could ber or volume six Trumps of Doom. find is that it’s too short to take up RORY LENNON more than an afternoon. ROBERT ELLIOTT THE GHOST FROM THE GRAND BANKS KNIGHT OF SHADOWS Arthur C. Clarke Roger Zelazny Orbit, 253 pp, UK £7.99 Orbit, 251 pp, UK £4.50 Never start with an apology! It was This is the ninth book in the Amber a struggle to read this and I can series and the fourth narrated by see why no-one was in a hurry to Merlin, son of Corwin the narrator do a review. Orbit Books would of the first five books. Like the have us believe that this is classic previous books this is a fast paced Clarke. Wrongl This is Clarke on

PAGE 26 ISFA NEWSLETTER the downside of the normal distri­ the God Mercury, and turned him bution curve. (Ask a mathemati­ into a drooling idiot. cian). Perhaps all authors fade out Plenty of opportunity for Disch to In such a manner. throw in medical terms to show his The Story. It’s set in 2010, a erudition. Some of the conditions number not unfamiliar to Clarke he describes are quite Interesting fans. In two years time it will be the e.g. Ondine’s curse and Tourette centennial of the sinking of the syndrome. His stick could cure Titanic. The remains df this great Dutch Elm disease and AIDS too. ocean liner lie four kilometres down So he invented a new plague, on the Grand Banks of the Atlan­ ARVIDS, to keep his medical re­ tic Ocean. The urge to raise the search funding. It is spread in a wreck in time for the Centennial manner whereby vegetarians are celebrations proves irresistible for safe. The author takes the oppor­ some major consortia. Two solu­ tunity to slag smokers, Catholic tions are proffered, but the sunken schools, alcoholics and religious ship hasn't given up all its secrets. fanatics along the way. There are some items of interest Stephen King’s name appears on in the story e.g. the Mandelbrot the dust-jacket blurb. He thinks Set (which is a good title for a it's brilliantly entertaining. Would social club), various ways of rais­ you buy a second-hand novel from ing the ship, references to Ireland this man (either King or Disch)? I'd and Lord Dunsany. Also a stowa­ welcome a second opinion. Dean way gets her hundred year old brain R. Koontz says it's full of well-ob­ repaired. Hopefully molecular brain served and convincing characters, repair will be available soon, I need often darkly hilarious yet with seri­ it after the above. ous intentions that give it consid­ And so to classic Clarke. Plenty of erable impact. Sounds like a runa­ submarine interest in The Deep way truck. Range (1957), Earthlight, A Fall of CHRIS O'CONNELL Moondust, 2001, Imperial Earth, Rendezvous With Rama. I'm sure VIRTUAL MODE others have more titles to add to Piers Anthony this list. HarperCollins, 315 pp, UK £14.99 CHRIS O'CONNELL In an age when teenage suicide and underage sex are becoming THE M.D. dismally prevalent in our society, Thomas M. Disch some of the subject matter that HarperCollins, 401pp, UK £14.99 Piers Anthony attempts to broach Bill Michaels is a doctor. He's got a in his latest novel ‘Virtual Mode' magic stick (a.k.a. caduceus). If may raise an eyebrow. The novel he makes up a rhyme and touches revolves around Colene and a person or object he can help Darius; Colene is a fourteen year people or get revenge. But his old girl who is suicidal and was shooting stick sometimes misfires, raped when she was thirteen. because he's not a great poet. So Darius is from another dimension where did he get this useful item? where he is “the king of laughter” When he was young he nicked it and has arrived on Earth seeking from his brother, paid homage to a wife who can self generate joy so

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 27 as he can siphon It off and redis­ THE FACE OF THE WATERS tribute It to his people without de­ Robert Silverberg pleting the woman from whom he Grafton, 348 pp, UK £8.99 is siphoning off. The two meet and Robert Silverberg is a name I've their adventures take off hence­ heard bantered around quite a lot forth. but this is the first of his books I’ve While this may be a light fantasy read and I quite enjoyed It. novel some of the Issues that The year Is 2450. Earth has been Anthony tries to address are quite destroyed and the remnants of strong such as the Issue of teen­ humanity are scattered around the age suicide. However It is on this galaxy. Some have come to Hy­ quite considerable social rock that dros, a planet with a globe-en­ Anthony perishes. The writing is compassing ocean and only a few assured and relaxed, the sign of artificial islands. Mankind lives on an old pro enjoying his craft. But it these islands by the grace of the is his handling of Colene and her local inhabitants, the Gillies. Hy­ characteristics that is less than dros has not one but around a satisfactory. Her plight fails to jump hundred types of intelligent off the page and involve you: it lifeforms, all living In complete sym­ really Is “colour by numbers" char­ biosis. When the inhabitants of acterisation. It is a worthy deed to Sorve, one of the islands, they go try and involve social Issues in the in search of the mysterious face of light fantasy genre, but Piers the waters, a place where no hu­ Anthony glosses over his subject man has ever returned from. matter and thereby misses out on The underlying theme is that no a golden opportunity to examine man is an island. The humans are the circumstances that drive young out of place on Hydros and they kids into a life of despair which hope this quest will give them a causes them to contemplate, flirt sense of belonging. Silverberg is with and eventually commit sui­ very good at portraying this sense cide. of loneliness and frustration. He The plotting of this book is also at also creates a world full of exotic fault; it is sloppy and careless which marine animals, some harmful, causes events in the novel to take some harmless but all living to­ place too quickly. A plot Is gener­ gether in one great cycle. I couldn't ally used to knit the story together help feel sorry for the humans who so everything meshes in a coher­ seemed drab in contrast to this ent manner. Unfortunately this imaginative world. doesn’t happen In "Virtual Mode". Overall, this is a good book. It's This novel is the first in a series of very well written, easy to read and “Mode" books. I suppose the acid I've only one bad remark. The end­ test of any series with connecting ing threw me off completely. I was themes is whether you'd want to expecting something totally differ­ go out and buy the follow-ups. And ent but what was there was good while I'm sure that Anthony’s le­ though very strange. It left me gion of fans will no doubt lap this slightly puzzled but satisfied. A up, I’m afraid I will not be around good book for the shelf and defi­ for the series' duration. nitely for any Silverberg fans. EAMON MCGRANE GERARD O'BRIEN

PAGE 28 ISFA NEWSLETTER INCENSE AND CANDLE plex and moralising continually in­ truded on the content of an other­ BURNING - THE PRACTICE wise tolerable book. If you want AND PURPOSE OF A SIM­ my advice, don't buy this book. PLE MAGICAL ART LEONIA MOONEY Michael Howard (Aquarian Press-Paths to Inner FIREBIRD Power series; 112pgs; pbk; Peter Morwood stg£3.99) (Legend; 308pgs; stg£14.99 hb, £8.99 tpbk) The only thing I wanted to burn, when I had finished reading, was The first book in Peter Morwood’s this bookl When I first opened this ‘Prince Ivan' series (of the same book I thought “Great, a book for name) introduced the main char­ the beginner, with no mumbo- acters present in ‘The Firebird', jumbo, no silly spells to thwart thine but there is sufficient information enemy, no collecting ingredients in this new tome to allow a new at midnight...." Unfortunately , the reader to enjoy the book and hope­ following 112 pages proved me fully they will then have the good wrong. On Page 10, the author sense to go out and buy the origi­ states that, “...(he) presume(s) nal as well. The era is the early that everyone reading this book middle ages and the scene does believe In such a concept switches from the cold steppes (some kind of Supreme Crea­ and kremlins of Old Russia to Teu­ tor)....", by which time my only pre­ tonic Germany and the Knight Cru­ sumption was that anyone still saders. Permeating both cultures reading was either a sadist or a is - magic. Prince Ivan of Khorlov poor innocent reviewer (still can’t and his wife Mar'ya Morevna (‘the figure out which I am). Also on fairest princess in all the Russias', page 10, we encounter the first (of as we are repeatedly told) are safe too many) references to the An­ and settled after their previous gelic Hierarchy (whatever sacred adventures, but are disturbed from image of the Godhead you wor­ their rest by urgent news from the ship or respect) - at this stage the Prince’s father of the possibility of desire to consign this book to the war with the other Russian Princes. trash nearly The reader knows who the myste­ overwhelmed me, but I perse­ rious adversary is from the begin­ vered, surely it had to get better? ning as we are introduced to Grand Well, maybe not. the first chapter Master von Salza and ‘The Order then degenerated further into a of Knights of the Hospital Church self-righteous acclamation on the of St Mary the Virgin of the House glory of the occult, which included of Teutons in Jerusalem', back the obligatory diatribe against the from the crusades, practising ar­ Catholic church. The rest of the cane magics and eager for con­ book improved slightly, but only quest of new lands and new riches. slightly. I found the subject matter Von Salza needs inside help from to be interesting and some of the Russia and gains it in the form of author’s insights to be enlighten­ an old enemy of Prince Ivan - Baba ing. However, his persecution com­ Yaga, the sorceress...

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 29 The riches In this book are not In the first place. Unfortunately simply from the excellent and well these two extra quests break any researched plot; the vivid and ac­ rhythm this book would otherwise curate descriptions of the weap­ possess. onry and tactics of that era; the Brooks' use of ideas may be ques­ careful use of phrasing and tim­ tioned. He has hardly created any ing. They are also to be found in original ideas since the first the bibliography where details of Shannara book which was very the recipe books used by Morwood similar to “Lord Of The Rings". in his research are listed, for the The same magical items are al­ poor reader who ends the book ways used and the same types of with taste buds tingling at the people use them. thought of schi, ryabchik, kasha The ending of the book came as and smetannikl quite a shock and I was fairly dis­ Peter Morwood not only writes a appointed. Still, It's nice to know rollicking, stirring fantasy in exotic he’s got two more books to settings, he also puts a lot of him­ straighten things out. self into his work, sometimes too Overall Brooks creates an involv­ evident to those who know him. ing read. No-one can question his And by the way Peter, where was writing ability and his fine descrip­ Blackadder? tive manner makes the book more HELEN RYDER than a little captivating. Plenty hap­ pens, there's lots of action so you THE DRUID OF SH ANN AR A won't be too bored. One of the Terry Brooks least original going but another Orbit, 423pp, UK £13.95 one for a rainy day. This book Is the second in a four GERARD O'BRIEN volume series "The Heritage of Shannara". This series is set 300 ORBITSVILLE JUDGMENT years after the “Shannara"" se­ Bob Shaw ries in which the druid Allanon was Orbit, 281 pp, £4.20 killed and Brin Ohmsford and her Imagine a place where there's no descendants received their “trust" horizon... Instead the land rises from Allanon as he lay dying. up, so it always seems as though This book is mainly concerned with you're living in a bowl. A place where the search for a single black ttie sun is always directly overhead, Elfstone which has the power to where night arrives as a huge restore the Druids' keep of shadow dashing across the Paramor, and subsequently the ground. Druids who were lost in the third At last, Bob Shaw has finished the book “The Wishsong Of legendary Orbitsville trilogy. For the Shannara" uninitiated, Orbitsville is a Dyson Confusingly, there are two other sphere, a huge inside-out planet quests which run parallel in this completely encircling its sun. This book. They're not worth mention­ gives it roughly five billion times the ing because they are barely surface area of the Earth. touched upon. They almost ap­ In the first book, Orbitsville was pear as an afterthought which led discovered and populated. The me to think why they were included second book, set two hundred

PAGE 30 ISFA NEWSLETTER years later, showed strange things THERE WON’T BE WAR happening to the sphere, after Edited by Harry Harrison and Bruce which it was unceremoniously McAllister dumped into another universe. But Tor, 309 pp, UK£3.25 (US Edition) why? And where did it come from Jerry Pournelle has edited millions in the first place? Well, the third and millions of anthologies in the part finally answers those ques­ "There Will Be War" series, and tions. Harry Harrison (not being one of Much like the second book Jerry's biggest fans) one day de­ (ORBITSVILLE DEPARTURE), cided that Jerry was doing it all this concentrates on how wrong. Together with Bruce Orbitsville affects the life of one McAllister he has produced the particular character, albeit indi­ most interesting thematic anthol­ rectly. Jim Nicklin is a mild-man­ ogy in a long time: a collection of nered, shy, retiring sort of guy, who stories with an anti-war theme. inadvertently comes into contact Maybe not a very original idea, but with the travelling preacher Corey it works extremely well. Authors Montane. Montane professes that include Robert Sheckley, James Orbitsville is just too convenient a Morrow, Isaac Asimov, Jack find for Humanity, so therefore it Haldeman, Joe Haldeman and must be a trap laid by the Devil. Frederik Pohl. One or two of the The book focuses on Nickli's char­ stories here do seem a little out of acter as he's changed from a pleas­ place, but only marginally. My fa­ ant wimp Into a sarcastic sod (and vourites are 'SEAQ and Destroy' very believable it Is, too). Shaw's by Charles Stross and every other always been good at writing bas­ story except one. tards, and Nicklin’s one of the best This is easily the best anthology he's ever created. I've ever read. With the exception Without giving the whole thing of five stories, this is all-new fic­ away, I'll say that by the last page tion. Two of the reprints are ‘The Nicklin solves the entire mystery of Liberation Of Earth' and 'Genera­ Orbitsville. And is it interesting? tion Of Noah' by William Tenn, Does it make sense? Yes, sort of. unlikely to be seen again in the I really don't want to spoil this most near future, as his excellent col­ enjoyable book, so I say read it lection OF ALL POSSIBLE with caution and a raised eyebrow. WORLDS seems to be out of print Uncle Bob occasionally ruins his (but I don't care, because I've got stories by dumping in an unex­ one). As mentioned in the March pected wheelbarrow load of Newsletter, one of the stories is metaphysics in the last couple of ‘Brains On The Dump', by ISFA chapters, and this book is not ex­ member and Octocon '92 guest empt from that most awful of hab­ Nicholas Emmett (whose name its. actually appears first on the back I really enjoyed the first ninety per of the book - lucky sod). Mr Emmett cent of the book. The rest of it left has had fiction published in FTL, me cold. so now you know it is worth send­ MICHAEL CARROLL ing in your stories. I know I'm a maniac Harry Harrison fan and very likely to be biased, but

ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 31 I defy anyone with an interest In (H) Jones, Stephen & David the future of this planet not to be Sutton - Dark Voices 4 moved by this book. Dann, Jack & Jack Haldeman - Harrison and McAllister, by chal­ High Steel lenging some of the best authors Norman, John - The Captain to produce something different from the norm, have come up with a with a winner. MICHAEL CARROLL THE __ COMICS JUST FINISHED: COLUMN The following is a list of books recently completed by authors, and Mark Bagnall currently with their US or UK pub­ Reviewed this issue: lishers. Note that there is no defi­ THE COMPLETE JUDGE nite date for publication for any of DREDD these. The key is the same as that (Fleetway Editions, £1.25, Issue used for the UPCOMING BOOKS 2) section. STAR TREK (TRIDENT, (H) Russell, Ray - Absolute £2.15, ISSUE 1) Power METROPOL (EPIC, £2.75, (SF)Gibson, William - Virtual Light ISSUE 11 NO. 1) (H) Simmons, Dan - Children of the Night At last, somebody has decided to (SF)Bisson, Terry - Bears print every 2000A.D. Judge Dredd Discover Fire story, and not only that, but in or­ McDonald, Ian - Necroville der too. The answer to every (rea­ Wolfe, Gene - Night Side the sonably young) Dredd fan’s Long Sun dream. In The Complete Judge Cadigan, Pat - Parasite Dredd you get sixty-four pagos of Cadigan, Pat - Rites Dredd. The artwork is slightly disap­ (H) Andersson, C. Dean - pointing considering that most of Buried Screams the stories are drawn by either Ian (F) Forward, Eve - Villains by Gibson or Mike McMahon. The Necessity stories are fairly- crap though oc­ (SF)Bova, Ben - Triumph casionally they can be quite amus­ (SF)Bova, Ben - Empire Build­ ing. In fact reading these for the ers first time makes me wonder how Moffett, Judith - Time, Like an Dredd survived for fifteen yearsl Ever-Rolling Stream Despite this, The Complete Judge Kerr, Katherine - A Time of Dredd is essential for all connois­ Omega seurs of the genre. (F) Emerson, Ru - Dyadd New from Trident this month Is Spinrad, Norman - Down In Star Trek. I'm not particularly a fan Flames of ST, I much prefer the Next Gen­ Costello, Matthew - Masks eration. For your money you get (H) Jones, Stephen - The the first parts of three stories. The Mammoth Book of Vampires first two are set (correct me if I'm wrong) after the third movie, and

PAGE 32 ISFA NEWSLETTER the final story is set at the end of of Odyssey came out? It seemed the t.v. series. All of these are re­ then that the world wasn’t ready prints of D.C. material, not the cur­ for an Irish homemade comic, and rent series. As they're only the first fifteen pages of the story it's hard indeed Mainstream is the first to to tell if they're going to be good or come along since then. That alone not. I don’t quite see how a comic makes it a worthy effort, but be­ like this can be a success, on the fore we sing its praise to highly, back of just one film, especially what's it like? considering how Marvel’s Next Generation magazine recently The comic contains three stories, folded. all of them with one creator who After much cajoling from certain does both the writing and the art. friends I've finally read an Issue of This originally seems a bad idea; Metropol. Published monthly it is it's relatively rare for someone to the brainchild of Ted McKeever; he created, writes and draws the be competent in both fields. This is comic. The basic storyline revolves the case here, certainly in two of around four angels who have vis­ the three stories. ited the city of Metropol to wipe out The first one, Vex, is written and a group of Demons who are plan­ drawn by the comic editor, Stephen ning to takeover the Earth. Also there's a back-up story called “The Reid. It chronicles the adventures Resurrection of Eddy Current” of the eponymous hero, aka Jason which I liked better. It's described Velacroix. Vex seems to be your on the cover as a cross between average 21st century superhero; Clive Barker and Kafka which, trashing the bad guys and postur­ judging by this issue is a slight overstatement. I feel that I may ing as he does so. The art is very have got a weak issue, and I also good most of the time; there are think that it has the potential to some cases where it isn't quite as become an excellent comic. Try it if dynamic as the context would sug­ you're looking for something dif­ gest. However, the plot is weak, ferent. And finally, a word about a new and the dialogue appalling. Chris monthly magazine about comics. Claremont at his worst was never The Comics Collector this month this bad. However, the art is good features an interview with Alan enough most of the time that we Grant, an overview of the can (almost) ignore such gems as Sandmen, news and lots more. After the death of Speakeasy this “Pack my things before they fig­ deserves to be supported. ure it was I, Dr Era Botch who was behind those diabolical murdersl” I didn't quite know what to make of the second story, the work of one MAINSTREAM #1, ED George O'Shea. Basically “The STEPHEN REII), £1 Real Man Who Came to Mailego" Remember back in about 1988 or is the story of a misogynistic 89 when the first (and only) issue

SSFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 33 bounty hunter who beats the crap out of an all-female gang of ban­ dits. The dialogue and plot aren't bad, but there's far too much misogynlsm on the part of the hero to be forgiven, even given the twist in the tail. The art ranges from below average for the most part to some very good individual panels. Finally, we have Rolling Thunder by Kieron Stynes. The writing on this one isn't bad, telling of the second gunner on a futuristic tank called Rolling Thunder. A bit of a naive kid, his diary suggests he wears rose-coloured glasses as part of his uniform. Despite some lapses, the dialogue is usually be­ lievable, even if the commander uses the word “bleedin”’ a bit too much. If this was an attempt to use “harsh language", it fails mis­ erably. As, In fact, does the art; it's atrocious. This guy should be a writer, not an artist. His back­ grounds and technical stuff is fine, but the story revolves around peo­ ple, and people are something that he can't draw. However, the story is strong enough to survive it. Overall, Mainstream’s maiden voy­ age is no disaster, but it could have been far better had each of the three people concentrated on their own forte and got somebody else to supply the rest. I'm looking forward to the second issue. If you can't find a copy, write to Mainstream, 113 Briarfield Villas, Kilbarrack, Dublin 5 ROBERT ELLIOTT

PAGE 34 ISFA NEWSLETTER Title: "Out Of Gafia” by Tony Glynn ISFA NEWSLETTER PAGE 35 X FUTURE ISFA JOIN THE ISFA! MEETINGS Members of the Asso­ ciation receive the June: 2nd - Venue: The Horse following: • & Tram, Eden Quay, 8 p.m. A monthly Newsletter, Topic to be announced minimum 24 pages - you're holding a June: 16th - venue: The Vin­ sample I tage, 6, Camden Street, 8 p.m. A quarterly magazine, Writers and Artists workshop FTL - full of fiction, artwork, reviews and July: 7th - venue: to be an­ interviews nounced. Topic: Alien Discounts in The Lenscapes, brought to you by Alchemist’s Head, The Modeller's Nook Paul Sheridan. & Dandelion Books k______7 A membership card Discounts on any merchandise or events produced by the ISFA Two meetings a month - general members meeting & a workshop

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