~The news magazine ofthe British Science Fiction Association £2.25

Issue 149 May/Jun 2001

lames White remembered Or Who on tape Top ten sf films revisited BSFA Awards - 2 - Matrix Issue 149

Matrix BSFA Officers BSFA Publications Issurl49.l\hy/Jun2001 President: Matrix The bi-monthlynews magazine of1he Sir Arlhur C. C1arke, CBE British Science Fiction Vice President: Editor: Andrew Seaman Association Slephen Baxler 2 Becchwood Court. 33A Thomsett Road. Kenwood, Sheffield. S7 INB RegJSlnedtnEngland.Llmnedby Secretary: Vikkl Ut (*nottcbangt) Guaram«. Company Number 921SOO 44 White Way. Kldlington. A.Seaman@,btinlemet.com R~lcrN Addrtu: 1 long Row CIost. Oxon. OXS 1XA E,-adon. 03\'t'Olry.l'\.'NI1 )BE [email protected] Contributing edjJOI}:

The BSFA 'U5 foundc'd In 1958.nd ,sa non­ Treasurer:Elizabt'lh Billingu Books: Janrt Barron profitmakmgorgan'~lIOll.StalTtd I Long Row Close. El·erOOn. t'tIlIrely by unpaid WIUnll:ffS. Davent!)'. Northants.. NNII 3BE ) Ullswlller Road. Bames. London. [email protected] SW139PL ISS:'\I: 014) 7909 [email protected] ()8SFA2001 Membership Services: Paul Billingrr Indl\idualeop)TlghlSarethcpropenyoflhe 1 long Ra...· Close. E"e-rdon. Fan news: Greg Pieken:gill Da'"C'Illry. Northants.. NNII )BE eontnblJtonand eduors. Views expresstd heTcin 3 Be-Ihany Row. Narbe-nh Road. bllhnga@t'tIle-rpru.e.ncI ~noID«C'$5.iInlylboseortheBSFAor BSFA Pembrolr;eshi~. _ UKmanbe-rshlp:£21 paor£14palun"'lIga1). Have-rfordwest. SA61 2XG Convrnl1«tnmlbC'f's. [email protected] ErrorsandomlulOl1s.lIre~TeSfi'Ol"1Sibllltyoflht hfemembaslllp £190. Europe: £26 pa. RC'$! of World: £26pasurf-eelNl,I,£J:! pa:llrlNlll EduOIlalTeilm. CheqUC'lI payable to: BSFA Lld Film/media news: Gal')' Wilkinson Pnnled by: POC Copypnnl. I1 Jdfnes 18 Waler Lane. Soulh Witham. Passagt.Gu,ldford.GUI4AP us Agent: Cy Chauvin Grantham. Lincs.. NG33 SPH 14248 wilfrcd Street. Detroit. MI4821J. USA gary_ [email protected] Uudline forsubmlsslons for nnl Issue: _USsubseription:$37surfaceorS47airmal1. pa)'llblelo:CyChaul'inIIlSFA) 6lhJunf' 2001 Magazines: GI('nda Pringle 22 Mead Way. Kidlington. Oxon.• OX5 2BJ BSFA Services ehri akidlington66.freescrve.co.uk Contents BSFA Awards ('"'nole c:hangf') & BSFA Web/Internet news: position vacant Web Site (www.bsra.eo.uk): Cover: from Transpor/ Pictllrf!J(Agile Tanya Brown Rabbil Edilions. Amsterdam) Cl 1999 Pepin Flat 8. Century House. Annoury Rood. Vector van Roojen. London. SE8 4LH The Critical JOIlrlwl ofthe BSFA amarall1h@;avncl.co.uk I'roduclion: Tony Cull('n 3 Editorial; Novacon ad LOndOn Meetings: 16 Weaver's Way. Camden. London. 4+ 5 Book News: Media News Pllulllood NWIOXE 6 Media News II:! Meadowside. Eltham. London. [email protected] 7 Chocolul & Shadow ofthe SE96BB Jampire re\'iew. Andrew Butler paulf!!,aOOen.demon.eo.ulr. Fealures:Andrew1\1 Butler ~iO De-pl:. ofArU & MedII. 028 - ASSH 8-9 OVD review. Gary S. Oalkin Orbiter Writing Groups: Faculty. Buclr.ingllamshi~ Chilterns UnivCTSity 10-11 James While Short Story A ward Cnol Ann Kerry-Grrt'n (-note c:h.ll1gf') College. High Wyoombe. Bucks.• HPlt 2JZ speech. Graham Andrews 178 Victoria A"enuc. Hull. HUS 3DZ [email protected] 12 -Ifafer review. Gary Wilkinson [email protected] '"d 13 Resonanecs. Slcphcn Baxter GaryDalkin 14-15 Forthcoming Books, lanel Publicity & Promotions: 5 Lydford Road. Bournemouth. Dorset, Bill ClairI.' Brillley SSN Barron 26 NonhamplOll Rood. Croydon. SUlTry. CRO [email protected] 16 Or Who audio review. Mark 7HA Greener cbsfa@:lr:l.gic.de-mon.eo.uk Book Reviews: Sltn Jfrfrf)' 17 BSFAAwards.ChrisI-lill& 44 While Way. Kidlington. Oxon.. Tanya Bro\lo'Tl OXS2XA pe-l'e~11li 18-19 Top ten sf films: readers' leuers aol.eom Mark Plummer 20-21 PULPitations. Glenda Pringle 1-\ Northway Road. Croydon. Sum:y. Focus 22 Club Corner CR06JE 23 Forthcoming Events & JVriters'Maga=ille Convenlions: l'ublicalionsManager: Editor: Simon Mordcn Vlkki Ler Members' Noticeboard I) Egremont Drive. Shl'l"iff Hill. Ga1eshead. 24 Competition, Mail Order -\'" White Way. Kidlington. OxonOXS2XA NE95SE Catalogues. Credits pc:\[email protected] focus.edilor([.blueyonder.oo.uk Issue 149 Matrix·3·

two of them) Danen new administrator (and BSFA Aronofsky's spectacular debut webmistress) Tanya Brown Pi, David Fincher's introduces herself. Many Jij provocative Fight Club and thanks to Chris for his hard Andrew iccol's fine (and work and best of luck to increasingly prescient) Gal/ara. Tanya in her new role. Editorial surprisingly nominated b}f no­ onc. Not all mainstream genre \'Vith Andrew Butler's look at And in a packed issue this movies, but ones with a two very different films of time around.. definite sf-nal sensibility to potential interest to genre them. fans and Mark Greener's Gary WiJkinson's 'Top Ten sf round-up of recent Dr \Xlho films of all time' piece in \'Ve're also pleased to be able audio releases, I think I can issue 147 provoked a to present the text of safely say that we've vigorous response, the results Graham Andrews' speech at produced an issue that should of which are featured last year's inaugural lames appeal to most sf devotees. beginning on page 18. As White Short Story Award editor 1, of course. have to ceremony. Thanks to Graham Finally. I'm pleased to report maintain an air of strict for sharing it with readers. that our request for impartiality in these matters, volunteers for the vacant but can't help sneaking in Elsewhere, retiring awards position of \Xfeb/Tnternet mention of three of my administrator Chris Hill news editor has resulted in a favourite sf films of recent announces the results of the healthy response. \Xfatch this years (and I'm using sf in the BSFA Awards for 2000, while space for an announcement! loosest sense of the term for

After 30 years Novacon finally has a Quality Hotel!

NOVACON 31 9th_11'h November 2001 at the Quality Hotel, Bentley, Walsall, (Junction 10 of the M6). Guest of Honour: Gwyneth .lones NOVACON 31: a Quality Hotel, a Quality GoH, but a Bargain Pricel

Attending membership costs £35 until 2r" October or £40 on the door. Supporting membership costs £15.00 throughout. Cheques/Postal Orders should be made payable to "NOVACON 31" and sent to: Steve Lawson, 379 Myrtle Road, Sheffield, S2 3HQ.

Further information from http://wwwwnovacon.org.uk .4. Matrix Issue 149

Ne'\Ns Books, people and events makin~ the headlines

China's run Obituaries NOl'cllas China Miel'ille, author of Clarke Award 'Fortitude', Andy Dunean (Realms of nominated Perdido Street SllItiml is running Supernatural fiction writer R. Chetwynd­ F(jnta~T,lun99) for Parliament in the forthcoming General Hayes,deseribedbyoneofhis publishers as 'Ninety PercentofEverything',lonathan Election as the official Socialist Alliance "Britain'S Prince of ChiI!." died of bronchial Lelhem, lames Patrick Kelly, & John Kesscl party candidate for the constituency of pneumonia on March 20th, He was 81, (F&SF, Sep99l Regents Park and Kensington Chetwynd-Hayes had been living since early 'HuntingtheSnark',MikeResnick 1000 in a care home in Teddington, South (Asimol"S, Dee99) ConJosc announces web site Hugo London, Born in lsleworth, West London, on 'Crocodile Rock', Lucius Shepard W&SF, May 30th, 1919 Chetwynd-Hayes wrote OctINov99) Award "Argonautica',WalterlonWilliams Conlose, the 2002 World Science Fiction more than 200 shon stories and more than a (AsimO\"s, OctlNov99) Convention, has announced that it will be dozen novels over thirty years. At onc time 'Goddesses', Linda Nagata (Sci Ficriolll presenting a special Hugo Award for Best his collections ofghost stories and humorous SciFi,com, July 5, 2000) Web Site, The Award will be open to any horror occupied the shelves of nearly every web site primarily related to the fields of public library in the United Kingdom, science fiction, fantasy, or fandom and will In 1989, he received the Life Achievement Novt'!cUcs be given formalerial displayed on the World Awards of both the British Fantasy Society 'Daddy's World', Waiter lon Willi::ltns (Nol Wide Web during the calcndaryear 2001, and the Horror Writers of America, He was ofWo mall Born, Constancc Ash, Ed" Roe, Conlose's web site has a FAQ answering also a guest of honour at FantasyCon XVIl Mar99) some questions about the one olT Hugo in 1992 and at the 1997 World Fantasy 'Stellar Harvest', Eleanor Arnason Award, but does not address the issue of Convention in London, (AsimOl"s, Apr99) voters judging sites that may have changed His correspondence and surviving 'A Knight ofGhosts and Shadows, Gardner substantially during the intervening year. manuscripts will be archived in the Dozois tAsimo\"s, OcIIN0v99) collection of the Science Fiction Foundation 'How the Highland People Came To Bc', held at The University of Liverpool. where Bruee Holland Rogers (Realms of Fantasy, FHarryheil 451 the material will be made ::lVailable to Rcligiou~ Aug99) fundamentalists in Pillsburgh researchers torched Harry Poller books in a mass Pre­ 'A Day's Work On the Moon', Mike Moseoe Easter burning s\'S5ion of items they regard (Al/alog,lul/AugOO) William Hanna, co-erealor with Joseph 'Generation Gap', St(lnley Sehmidt (Artemis as standing against God, Members of the Barbera of numerous animated TV series Harvest Assembly of God in Pittsburgh also /IIl/gldnc #1, Spring 2000 issue) including The Flilllstones and The JetsOlJS, 'Jack Daw's Pack', GreerGilman (Celllllry5, set fire to the Disney videos HerCllle,~ and died on March 22nd, Winter 2000) Pinocchio for containing paranonnal material. The assembly's Rev, GCQrge Jenna A, reliee, an editor at Tor Dooks and Short Stories Bender reportedly said, "We believe that associate editor of Century Magazine, died Harry Pouer promotes sorcery, witchcraft­ on March 10th, in New York City at the age 'macs', Terry Bisson (F&SF. OetlNov99) type things, the paranonnal, things that arc of 15, She had been in a coma since 'SeherzoWilhTyrannosaur',Michael against God, That is really bad." JK Rowling suffering an acute allergic reaction the Swanwiek(AsimOl"s,luI99) has yet to comment previous Sunday, combined with a severe 'You Wandered OfT Like a Foolish Child To asthmatic allaek, and never regained Break Your Heart and Mine', Pat York Cood Timing? consciousness, (Si/reI' Birch, Blood Moon, Ellen Datlo..... & Ken (Co,wrollaul Keep) MacLeod and Molly Terri Windling, Ed" Avon, Mar99) (Bad Timing alld O,IIer Stories just out from 'The Golem', Sevema Park (Black Heart Big Engine) Brown will be tutoring an "'aI)' Bones, Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling, Arvon course 'Writing Science Fiction' Awards Eds" Avon, MarOO) between Oct I" and 6'h, [t takes place at 'The Fanlasy Writer's Assistanl',lefTrcy picturesque Lumb Bank in Yorkshire, The 2000 Nebula Awards Final Ballot Ford (F&SF, FebOO) converted eighteenth century mill-owner's 'Flying Over Water', Ellen Klages (L(/(~\ house is surrounded by twenty acres of Novds Churchill's Rosebud Wristlel, No, 7, October pastureland, deep, unfortunately, (as of Darwin's Radio, Grcg Bear (Ballantinc Del 2000) April) in foot and mouth country, though Rey,Sep99) with a !illle luck by the time the course takes A Cil'il Camp(ligll, Lois MeMaster Bujold Scripts place, the viral crisis will be well in the P(lS1. (Baen,Aug99) Galaxy Quest, David How(lrd and Robert Peter Hamilton is scheduled to make a guest MidniglJt Robber, Nalo Hopkinson (Warner Gordon (Dreamworks SKG, Dec99) appearance mid-week Further details of Aspec1.MarOO) Being John AfalkOl'ich. Charlie Kaufman ArYon's 'residential creative writing courses Crescent City Rhapsody, Kathleen Ann (Propaganda Films, Oct99) open to all' can be found at www, Goonan (Avon Eos, MarOO) The Green Mile, Frank Darabont. from the arvonfoundation,org or by phoning 01422 Infinity Beach, lack McDevill (HarpcrPrism, novel by Stephen King (Castle RocklWamer 843714 FcbOO) Bros, Dee99) Forests ofthe Heart, Charles de Lint (Tor, Dogm(l, Kevin Smith (View Askew Junoo) Productions, Nov99) Issue 149 Matrix· 5·

Princess MO/IQ/wke, Hayao Miyazaki and Ends of/he Earth. Brian A. Hopkins. cd. Neil Gaiman (Miramax Films/Studio Ghibli, The rear's Best Falltasy (wd Horror: Nov99) Thirteenrh Amnlal ColleetiO/I. Ellen Datlow U"breakable, M. Night Shyamalan andTcrriWindling,eds Media News (Touchstom: Pictures. November 2000) Nonfiction Cary \Vilkinson rounds up The Awards will be announced at the 2001 AI the Fool a/the Story Tree: An inquiry Nebula Awards Weekend to bc held in Los blto the FictiQlt 0/ Peter Slrflljb by Bill Ihe lalesl on film Angeles Shcehan He/lnotes by David B. Silvaand Paul F & television Olson Stoker Awards Horror oflhe 10/h Ce/!/lIryby Robcrt Weinbcrg The Horror Writers Association announced 2~D Buffy the nominees for lhis year's Bram Stoker air WrilingbySlephenKing Following on from Angel there is to be Awards. recognising outstanding writing in the dark fantasy. horror or occult genre lIIuSlratl'dNarrative another spin-off from Bl!{fy. The published in 2000. Winners will be Cable 79-84 by RobeTl Weinberg Vampire Slayer -- an animated version announced at the 2001 Stoker Banquet in The League 0/£rlraordilwn' Gemlemen by of the original series. It will air on Fox Seallle in conjunClion with the World Horror Alan Moore in the US. probably early next year. The Convention on May 25Ih-28th. Red Romance by Joe R. Lansdale new version will take the show back to Spuds by Remic Wrightson Buffy's high school years. loss Whedon, No\'el 81!!JYS crcator has said that each new The Deceased by Tom Piccirilli Screenplay thirty minute episode will allow "stories The indifferellce o/lIeal'en by Gary A. The Cell by Mark Protosevich we could not afford to do" and that it Braunbeck Pitch Black by David Twohy. Ken Wheal will be "spooky, tough and epic" but The Licki,/g Valley COO" HmI/el's Club by andJimWhcat still keep the shows unique vein of BrianA. Hopkins Requiem/ora Dream by Darren Aronofsky humour. Let's hope for something Sife/1/ Children by Ramsey Campbcll andHubcrtSelbyJr. The Trm·efing Vampire Shall" by Richard Shadow o/Ihe Vampire by Steven Katz Manga-esque and not like the old Trek Laymon Unbreakable by M. Night Shyamalan cartoon.

First Non"l Work for Younger Readers House 0/Lem'es by Mark Z. Daniclewski Be A/mid!. Edo van Belkom. ed. Sleeping Tiger The Ucki"g Valley COOIl Hunters CIr.b by TfleClrriSllllosTlring)'byF.PauIWilson A surprise at the Oscars was epic )..,mg­ BrianA. Hopkins Harry POller /Imf tire Goblet a/Fire by J.K. fu fantasy Crollching Tiger. Hidden Nailed hI' Ihe Heor/ by Simon Clark Rowling Dragon. Although it did win Foreign RIm by Douglas E. Winter The Power 0/VI! by Nancy Etchemendy Language Film award. which it had been tipped for. it also received Long Fiction PoetrrCollection unexpected gongs for Art Direction. "God Screamed and Screamed. Then I Ate Bllrial Plol by Sandy DcLuca Cinematography and Music (Score) -­ l1im" by Lawrence P. Santoro The Complele Accursed Wil'es by Bruce highly unusual for a subtitled movie. "In Shock" by Joyee Carol Oates Roston "The Man on the Ceiling" by Steve Rasnic Puratabloids by Michael A. Amzen Another genre winner was The Grillch Tem and MclanieTcm A Stlldem a/Hell by Tom Piccirilli with Rick Baker's team picking up the "Riding the Bullet" by Stephen King Oscar for Makeup. It was absolutely no OtherJ\ledia surprisc 10 anyone when Balllefield Short Fiction Back to the Black Lagoon by David J. Skal Earth virtually swept the board at the "Dead Cat Bouncc" by Gerard Daniel Chiaroscuro by Palricia Lee Macomber. Razzies (The anti-Oscars celebrating the Houamer Steve Eller and Sandra Kasturi worst films of the year.) "Fallcn Angel" by Robcrt 1. Sawyer Gothic.net by Mehitobel Wilson "Gone" by Jack Ketchum Twilight Talcs Reading Series. Tina L. lens "Mexican Moon" by Karcn E. Taylor and Andrea Dubnick.produccrs Bond does Bradbury Pierce Brosnan is to star in Renny FictionCoJlcction Harlin's film adaptation of the Ray Ci~1' Molly Gloss wins 2000 Tiptrcc Fishing by Steve Rasnic Tern Bradbury short story .A Sound of Magic Terror: Seven Ttlles by Petcr StrJub Award Thunder' Hunters travel back in time to Up. 0111 o/Citie.~ Thai BioII' Hot and Cold by Charleelacob The winner of the 2000 James Tiplrce, 1r. shoot a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Wind OI'er Hem'en ami Olher Dark Tofes by Award is Wild Life by Molly Gloss. (Simon Unfortunately onc of the party steps on BruceHolland Rogers and Schllster). The lames Tiptrce, 1r. Award an insect and when they return to is an annual literary prize for science fiction current times they find the world Anthology or fanlasy . written by men or women. thal massively changed. e.'l:plores gender issues. Bad News. Richard Laymon. ed. Brail/box: The Real Horror. SIeve El1er, cd More owards lIell's all page 17. Ex/remes: FWllas)' lwd Horror From Ihe .6. Matrix Issue 149

Quantum Trek I in talks to play the role originally played vampire assaults on the police, sex with Well this is sort of project that by her mother Tippi Hedren. The budget zombies and bestiality (the last convinces you that half of Hollywood is is $40 million with a big chunk of it to apparently before the titles even roll!) It on drugs. John Cusack is bringing us be spent on special effeclS via KNB (the will inven the traditional Vampire Cosmic Bandiros. Based on a book by A company behind the effects of, ahem.. predator/prey relationship: instead of C Weisb«ker Colombian marijuana Maniac Cop 3.) Let's just hope for an aristocratic vampires fceding off the smugglers are on the run and lost in the improvement over Gus Van Sant's shot­ peasants; these bloodsuckers are from jungle when they come across...1 Not for-shot version ofPsycho. the sink-estate underclass. As long as too sure whether this will IUrn out to be Channel Four approve the scripts (they sf as yet, but Cusack described it as have already paid for them), production "really original -- it deals with quantum Battle of the Battlestars will be going ahead soon -- Blair Witch mechanics in a gonzo, gung-ho sort of Glen Larson, the creator of the '70s style: low budget, a cast of unknowns way:' RighL. show Bat1/estar Galacrica and Richard and filming on digital video. Hatch, who played Apollo in the series, had been hawking around some CGI Quantum Trek 2 concepl ideas for his vision of a new Not Dead Yet Rumour has it that Scoll Bakula. who series at various conventions. HOlISe of 1000 Corpses (gol to be a previously appeared as the time and Unfortunately he seems to had been contender for beSI title ever) the body-jumping star in QI/allllllll Leap, beaten to it because Bryan Singer, directional debut of Rob Zombie (from has been approached to be the captain in responsible for the X-Men movie has the group White Zombie) has been the new Star Trek TV series. It now look reportedly been given the opportunity to turned down by its backer Universal. almost cenain that this will be set in the produce a new series -- as long as he can The film is well-made and fulfils Mr. er, pre-Kirk. 221ld Century, with 'gritty' fit it around the filming of X-Men 11. Zombie's creative intentions: apparently starship interiors to predate the Iyrea, Apparently Singer was a big fan of the just not too tastefully, that's all. and the minskins and computers with transiSlors original series and can recite the plot studio has surrendered Ihe rights back to of the Original Series. But filming could and east lists ofentire episodes by heart. the director. He is now looking for new be clobbered by the looming writers' Thc new show will ditch the last series distributor. and actors' strike, which also looks of Ca/actica (and associated TV likely 10 hilthe tenth Trek movie (which movies) whcre the Battlestar ended up in is planned to feature new look orbit around the 1980s Eanh (to make it It's a Rap Romulans). Coincidentally one of the cheap to lilm) for continuity. The fleet After his succcss with fat Buddhist strike's organisers. Ihe co-chair ofonc of will still be searching of the lost Earth 'saint' Steven Scgal in the thriller Exit the Screen Actor's guild wages and whilst fleeing from the Cylon menace !VOl/mlr, the rapper DMX will appear in .....orking conditions comminee. is Annin and visiting interesting places along the Lll=oms aka Crow 4 (but this onc will Shimennan -- Quark from Deep Space way. Sounds like a Voyager remake to have no connection to any of the 9. me. Another Trek conncction is that this previous Cro1\' films) -- well, 3S long as will be a son of Galllcrica. the Next he beats charges ofassaulting two prison Ge/Jeratio/l -- focusing on a ncw group guards. that is. Flavour of the month Tron Returns of young actors. playing decendants of Eminem will be playing a villain who is It finally looks like that Troll J.O will see people from the first series. but still raised from dead in the film: apparently the light of day. Rumours abound that including some of those from the he's got no charges standing at this time. Disney will be producing a sequel to the original show in minor roles as the 1982 original. Original director Steven fleet's new leaders. This series will also Not content with the Motown version of Lisberger will write and possibly direct be 'darker' (just like the new Trek) in the Wi=ard of 0=. Tire Wi=, that came (returning after career killing disaster design and plot with in lighting between out back in the 70s, Grease director Slipstream.) The effects look likely to be the young and Ihe old and many new Randal Klesicr is planning to make a handled by Pixar of Toy Slory fame. The models of Cylons (prcsumably coming hip-hop version. Brandy will play planned plot involves programmers to a toy shop near you soon). Dorothy a "successful but lonely music insening themselves into cybcrspace to producer who. after an LA earthquake, pull off the ultimate hack. Disney want falls down into a "strange, wondrous as many of the original stars as they can Sce-you, Buffy! land called the Big Oz:' Joining a host get. including JefT Bridges. to return to A possible new coming to Channel Four of rap slars (including Busta Rhymes, play powerful computer executives. is Sikeside, which has been described as Queen Latifah and Eminem. again) is BI/ffy meets Trainspotting. The series Little Richard as Ihe Wizard. has been penned by comics writer Mark Bird Brains Millar. Sikeside is an area in Miller's A remake is planned of the Hitehcock hometown ofCoatbridge which has been classic The Birds. Jan .Speea De Bont described as the Scollish Harlem. It has been approached to direct this time definitely sounds more Trainspouing around. Intriguingly Melanie Griffith is than Buffy in its outlook with vicious Issue 149 Matrix .. 7"

A Svveet Tooth Andre\\ Butler samples CllOcolal and SlllllloJt' of/he Jumpil'e

Both these films are confections, and Ard.lfrs was award-winning material), ripping this off), essentially a Dne-joke Euroconfections at that. C};()(olal is the elderly and stubborn Armande has movie but a very good joke at that. based upon a best-seUing novel by the unmistakable air of a character This film is another one-joke movie ­ Joanne Harris, which I confess to from a Victoria \Xfood sketch ­ what if Max Sehreck in F \XI Murnau's having nor yet read despite myriad somewhere between Acom Allfiqlluand classic chiller Noiftmlll (1922) were not recommendations. The story concerns Diwur/(ldin. Presumably Waiters was just an obscure actor but a methcxl a small town in France ruled with a tOO busy doing BillY Elliol. The part is a actor, even a real vampire? This is firm moral st:mce, and the impact of scene-stealcr, cven SD. more than enough to sustain a sketch, the arrival of Vianne Rocher (Juliette but not really enDugh to hang a whole Binoche) who is setting up a place to With British actors, Molina and Deneh, movie on. sell chocolate in Lent. As some of tbe French actDrs, Juliclte Binoche, inhabitants melt and accept the Swedish anors, Ohn and Stormare and It is fun enough to watch Murnau remarkable truffles and green triangles American actors, Moss and JDhnny despair of ever getting through the and nut clusters prochlced within the Depp, the latter playing Oirish, there is troubled movie (he'd had copyright shop (Vianne has a knack for guessing a befudd~ng mixture of accents on problems with the Stoker estate over what a customer's favourite chocolate display that sometimes gets in the way its links to Dmtllln) before all his cast is) so the moral resolve of others is of dle performances. Molina seems tD and crew has been drunk, but it's not stiffened, and a boycott is attempted. be rehearsing for a series of Allo. Allo, quite funny enough. Izzard is poorly ll1e arrival of a band of travellers on a as does veteran sragc actor John Wood. cast, not sparkling in his usual manner. boat, and the alliance Vianne forms The benchmark for this kind of thing is with them, is the last straw for many. Let not this criticism get in the way still Mel Brooks' )'oflng Fmllkmsltil/ ­ though. The arrival of Vianne with her the 5malll franchise notwithstanding ­ Whereas in the book the moral soft daughter on the back of the wind, or even Polanski's TtJf Fmr!us I 'alllpirr centre is a Curate, here the kiUjoy is wrapped up in red riding hoods. is Hllllftrs, as weU as James \Xfhales' TlJf Alfred i\[olina's mayor, an aristocrat no quite magical. and with the voice-over Old Dark HOlIs,. This film is neither less, the Comte de Remaud. all slicked the whole takes on the air of a fairy frightening nor funny enough; by back hair, dark ;uits and daft rale, albeit Dne with the darker shades aiming at r\\"o targets it seems to miss moustache, not to mention the accent. of narrative that the early fairy talcs had both. Malkovich is over the top as The priest, on the other hand, is only a before the Victorians bowdlcrised German dictator/director, and Dafoe short while into his residency, and is them. Vianne is haunted, by the spirit is fabulDusly uncanny as Schreck, but given to singing rock 'n' roll songs. of J\kxico, and mDre importamly by it's not enough r-,'Iolina, unfortunately, is a pantomime her childhood and her relationship villain. the sort of patriarch that would with her mother. a rclationship she is Desib'11 wise, the film is remarkable, cancel a play his kids had been dearh' repeating with her o\\'n recreating the film of both the Gennan rehearsing for weeks. His insistence Dn daughtcr. The social scenes are a jDy to Expressionist cinema of the 1920s :lOd the sanctity of marriage - when his behold - not since AlfDnso Arau's 1930s and the Universal Horror own is far from stable - leads to him Como agfla pam d)(){ollllr (1992) based on sequence of the early I930s. However. insisting that the abusive Serge (peter Laura Esquival's noyd (translated as from all accounts the real story of the Stormare) is reunited with Josephine UJu Willrr ftr CI)(Jcolalr) hfls chocolate making of Nosftmlll is more interesting (Lena Olin) who has taken shelter with been so sensuous and magical Dn then this utter fiction. Producer Vianne. This has potentially screen. Thumbs up herc, then, to Nicolas Cage has not delivered thc catastrophic results. Roger Pratt, who has worked with the goods here, alas, and after 8",,,, he's got Coen Brothers and Terry GiUiam. a lot of making up to dD. Given this 1Ieanwhile Vianne seeks to reunite her Depp, in little more than a cameo, is film and the recent capitalist landlady Armande Voizin (Judi Dench) eminently watchable and plays a decem revisioning ofA Clmslmns Carol and III with estranged daughter Caroline acoustlcb'tlltar. a IFolldtTfll1 Uft in the shape of TI.If Claimont (a barely recognisable Ctrrie­ Fm",!;' i\!(l!/. plus the disturbing thought Anne MDSS from Tlx M(lIn:...· and the The same internationalism affects of him in the title role of Capfrtil/ excellent Mtmmlo). I can't but feel that SbadOJJ' of fbt I -ampirr, with Americans Corrl/j'J !II(lndolin, suggests a IDng wait. Halstrom really wanted Julie \V'alters John MalkO\'ich and Willcm Dafoe in for the role. lVluch as I like Judi Dench the major roles, and actors such as (I saw her Cleopatra fifteen years ago Eddie Izzard and Udo Ner supporting. and she acted Anthony HDpkins off Malkovich was last seen in Btillg Jolm the stage, and her Pro Forrest in Tlx !IIa/kol'ich (and in a Eurostar ad"ert -8 -MatrL'\: Issue 149

original sound elements have been approach to film scoring which dates remixed with James Cameron's approval back at least as far as Wagner's operas into a new Dolby Digital 5.i soundtrack. and finds prominence in everything from I want my Everything has far greater depth, elarity Max Steiner's Killg Kong (1933) to John and dynamic range. which for many fans William's Star Wars (1977-2005) saga. DVD will mean nothing more than that the It is also music based on a strongly many action scenes sound much more emotional and foreboding main Iheme. ferocious than before; not that the sheer which adds greatly to thc cumulative When Arnie said: ""11 be visceral impact here quite matches impact of the unfolding drama. So impressive is Fidel's work in this audio Gar~' anything from more recent, much more back", he was right. expensive movies. remix it is only to be regrelled that the S. Dalkin on the return of DVD has missed the opportunity to Tlte Te,.",ill{lfo,. However, there is something much more include an optional isolated music track. interesting than mere audio-collateral damage here. The soundtrack is used For once the use of pop music is also much more to enhance the subtext ofthe exemplary. Particularly so in the first I am going to assume we've all seen The film. The world in which the characters part of the set-piece suspense-action Tel'lIIinalor. So the point is. assuming in The Termill(l/or live. is like our own. sequence in the Tech-Noir bar. An you like the film. should you buy this permeated with electronics and entirely apposite pop~Golh number 2DVD set? Other than an additional end machinery. Wc sce machines (sounding not unlike early All About En! credit honouring Harlan Ellison. the film everywhere. from hairdryers and gone Californian) yearns with the fever is exactly the same cut as released in UK Walkmans (which can really be bad for of rampant teenage hormones as cinemas in January 1985. James your health) 10 answering machines. obli"ious celebrants gyrate in a dance of Cameron is famed for making 'Special "ideo recorders. telephones. cars. death. As the sequence turns into eerie. Editions'. (see my DVD re"iews of The garbage trucks. construction site lull-before-the-storm slow motion. the Abyss (1989) and Temli"lItor 2: equipment and industrial robots. BUI camera focuses on onc carefree young )I/(Igemem Day (1991». but there's none now we hear them everywhere too. From woman with a hypnotically swaying red ofthat here. There are seven 'tenninatcd' the hum of air-conditioning and a skin in much the same way $pielberg scenes on the second DVD. but there is general low-level city thrum in many would later pick out the girl in the red no option to watch them in context scenes. through the spc<:ific details of coat in Schinder's List ll994). And as within the film. distant police sirens and a helicopter this happens the song is slowly passing low in the background (this as swallowed by metallic reverberation, Onc thing is different however. The Recce escapes from police early in the slipping inextricably into the cold terror sound. I saw The Termilllltor at the film. establishing a connection with the of Fidel's score. It is one of the great cinema once in 1985. and again in 1988. threat of the flying Hunter-Killers we suspense set-pieces, perfectly and Imve seen it several times via the hnve seen in the opening future war. constructed, elongating time in exactly original sell-through video release. Uoth sequence) wc arc now completely the way time does elongate when at the cinema and on video. the film was enveloped by the lifcbrenth ofmachines. something dreadful is in the process of in mono. At the cinema the sound was unrolding with the remorselessness of perfectly clear. with completely Many 1980s films saved money by using inevitability. before the carnage begins comprehensible dialogue. but as we electronic rather than orchestral scores. in a sequence which, along with the later expected of local cinemas in those days The Termillator makes a major vinue of police station shoot-out. almost certainly (and often still do) the audio was this necessity (one of the documentaries influenced the dawn of the Hong Kong nothing special. The video transfer. in on the second DVD notes that by poSI Heroic Bloodshed genre a year or SO addition to having slightly more picture production there was no money left for later with John Woo's seminal A 8eller infonnation at the top and bollom. and the music) with Brad Fidel's minimalisl. TomorTOw(1986). rather less at the sides. offered the same electra-pereussive score often breaking mono soundtrack, but with httle down the boundary between music. All that remains on the first DVD arc dynamic range and a fair degree of hiss. sound-effecls and machine noise. He two versions of the screenplay Making a direct scene by scene employs rhythms which could be the accessible only via a DVD-ROM drive comparison with the DVD. the pulse of machines, or the pounding (the cover says three versions. but the difference is remarkable. Not only is the heanbeal of a fleeing human. the new third is actually on the second disc and anamorphieal1yenhanced 1.85-1 picture sound mix extravagantly spreading his can be read from a television screen via vastly more detailed. with far stronger score around the speakers so it fuses a conventional DVD player). colour saturation and contrast. but the scamlessly with the sound design and sound is elevated 10 an entirely new nforementioned machine sounds. Often The second disc offers two 4:3 ratio level. Obviously this now aV3ilablc anticipating the musical nightmare that documentaries. An hour long reasonably quality existed in the original sound is modern 'dance' and 'techno', this is in-depth accollnt of the making of the recordings. but given thc low budget of nevenheless genuine improvisationary film. including interviews with all the the film and the 13ck of surround sound composition to highly focused eITect: for main players. and an 18-minute equipment in most cinemas in the 1980s. all its modernism following the leitmotiv conversation between Cameron and the film was released in mono. Here the Issue 149 Matrix· 9.

Amold Schwarzenegger filmed in 1992. set. Indeed. while nowhere near as originally cenificated 18. both at the Both are interesting, though what is extensive as that release. a functionally cinema and on video. Those wondering missing is any real analysis. Wc are told identical version of which should be if the film has been cut to obtain the that the film is 'great' and that it contains available here by the time you read Ihis. lower 15 classification can be assured deeper themes. but only in the most this is still a first class DVD set which that it has not. Considering that not so superficial terms - the imponance of Ihe demonstrates that UK companies are long ago films where either given a seemingly most insignificant individual ­ beginning to take the format seriously. higher cenificate on video. or cut funher what these might be. Cenainly everyone Ihan their cinema incarnations for video keeps well clear of the potentially The credit for Harlan Ellison is really issue. or both. this is funher evidence of horrendously controversial pro-life rather bemusing. None of the elements the remarkable change ofdirection at the argument implicit in the film: at one in nle Temlinator are original. There BFFC in the last two years. Personally. I point the detective leading the hunt for had been time travel. killer robolS and am either too old or too sensitive. but I The Terminator points out that hefit is megalomaniac supercomputers aplenty still find the film so nightmarish and the ultimale retroactive abonionisl. in SF before. What James Camcron did horrifying - it sends more pleasurable Likewise it is left for the viewer to make was wcne slock genre elements shivers of dread and terror down my what they will of Ihe initials of the logether into his own story. As a time spine than any other film I have seen in unseen future saviour of mankind. and travel narrative it was nOI original or a very long time - that I feel it should of the other clemcnts of Chrislian complex. even by cinematic standards. retain its original rating. Perhaps the allegory scattered throughout the story. ccnainly not compared 10 the near new rating is an indication of how much contemporaneous Back to the Future our society has hardened in the last 16 There are TV and cinema trailers, and (1985). In-fact. if onc were to lrace the years. If so J regret the time when The much more interestingly, the sevcn cinematic antecedenlS of the movie onc Temu'lIator is re-classified PG and aforementioned 'terminalcd' sccncs might look to a trinity of ColoSSlts: The shown in an especially enhanced extra­ (strangcly. the trailc:rs are presenled Forbin Project (1969). II'estworld violent 3D version on Sunday afternoon anamorphically cnhanced, whilc the (1973) and Time After Time (1979). The TV. In the meantime. The Terminator 'terminated' scenes are not). Two of fornler clearly anticipates the entire remains onc of the most exciting. these prove that the direction of the SJ..")'IIet storyline. whilst also malong two ingcniously crafted. intelligent and second film. Term;II(l/or 2: Jlldgemem direct references to Frtll/kef/stein. which moving science fiction films ever made. Day. wasn't an aftcnhoughl. but existed of course is the grandfather of all such in the material filmed for the original stories. Westworld offered the cinema's movie. Arguably two scenes, one in first great out-of-control humanoid robot which Sarah Connor decides she and relentlessly hunting down human prey. The Terminator Reece should blOW-Up Cyberdyne while the cenlral story of The Systems before they can evcr develop Terminator is essentially a varialion on Directed by: James Cameran the technology which leads to Skynct. Time After Time. In that film an Written by: James Cameron, Gale and a second, which shows Samh being unstoppable killer of young women time Annc I-Iurd and Bill Wisher taken away by ambulance after the final travels to modem day San Francisco, confrontation and has the camera pan-up followed by a weaker. morc ordimlry Cast to reveal the name of the factory as man. The latter of these falls in love Arnold SChwarzeneggcr - The Cyberdyne. should have been left in the with a young woman from the present. Terminator film. The former would have given a finding himself fighting desperately to t\lichael Biehn - Kyle Reesc good rcason for Sarah llnd Recce taking save ber from the time-travelling killer. Unda Hamilton - Sarah Connor a motel room near the Cyberdyne There is even a scene in which the hero Paul Winfidd - Traxlcr complcx. and the laller more is held in police custody. accused of L1nce Henriksen - Vukovich satisfactorily complete the time-travel being the killer. and a scene in which the loop on which the film is posited. killer murders tbe 'wrong' young woman Produced by Gale Anne Hurd in rhe heroine's apanment. The only real M lIsic by Brad Ficdel The second disc is complcted by a series difference. apan from style. is that Cinematography by Adarn of photo galleries of publicity. behind­ protagonist and antagonist come from Grccnbcrg the-scenes and special elTeets images. the past rather than the furore. Our hero Edited by Mark Goldbl:n The only problem with these is that Ihe is H.G. Wells (an excellent Malcolm Special Effects by Stan \X'instan pictures are often far too small. McDowell). our villain Jack the Ripper An Orion I>icrurc:s release appearing .....ilh a vast border within the (a likewise superlative David Warner). middle of the screcn. The whole. Time After Time actually remains one of MGM DVD 15917DVD ZI together with a minimally informative the most underrated films in the history 1.85-\ anarnorphic:illy enhanced for eight-page booklet. comes in a foldout of science fiction. and It is 10 be hoped widescreen tele,;sions cardboard case which fils into a card that it will be released soon on a high slipcase. Throughout the design is very quality DVD and find the wider Dolby DIgital 5.1 good. though the animated and scored audience it really does deserye. Subtitles in "arious langua~. menu system lacks the sheer polish of including English 'hard ofhearing' the US Terminator !: Jlldgemem Day One last point. The Temlilllltor was titles. Cenificate 15. -10 - Matrix Issue 149

Yesterday is far too far Craham \ndre\\s remembers James \\ hite

Graballl WaJ kind l'flollgb 10 stlld confused with the new against Little Green .Men, or liS Ibe IfXI rif a speech be gat'f 01 \Vhite's Tavern, especially on Little Orange .Men either." Ibe inallgllral JOllies rr"bile Sborl \Xlednesday evenings. Or so SIOry Award cerelllOf!JJ beld after J've been told. I'd like to say that James Insl )'ear's Gc/oeon 01 Ihe In·sh \X1hjte was the lone voice of IVrilers' Centre, Pamell Sqllare, This unroyal 'we' included reason in pan-Ulster Dllblin. [Is a jf(f/!!J' and mo{'ing original members Bob and fandom - some members I1ibule 10 a fille JJ'riler and I'm Sadie Shaw, Wait and came from as far away as pleased 10 bOl'e Ihe opporlunity 10 Ivradeline \Xlillis, George Bangor, County Down - but be aM 10 pub/isb il bm. (ed.) Charters, and - of course ­ he could be even loonier than James and Peggy White. Bob Shaw. Tcan say, however, There had also been a recent that he gave unstinting expert Once in a great while, if we're infusion of 'new bloods' like advice to every would-be and lucky, someone like James Frank McKeevcr, Seamus and shouldn't-be writer jn the \Vhite comes along to remind Ann Lavery, Tony Moran, Ed group. As did Bob Shaw, I us that being polite is not a and Ann Oilworth, Peter musr quickly add. sign of weakness and that Crozier, and me Graham nice people don't always Andrews. Like Socrates before him, Jim finish last. Having said that, would gently pose questions however, Jim owned a water Looking back, I can't make up and give cogent hints. Such pistol and he knew how to my mind whether the Belfast as: "Do you really need that use it. Science Fiction Group of thtee-page description of a those days was a think~tank or Martian sunset?", or "Send But I don't want to get too a drink-tank (fhe more things this story to ASlollnding Scimet serious. I'd just like to give change...). But there was Fielion - in 1947," Even, you some idea of what it was certainly a lot of talk - mostly perhaps less gently: ''It's your like to be a member of the blether, with the occasional round." ] made that last bit Belfast Science Fiction Group wee thinky bit, and enough up (I think). in the late 1960s and early bad puns to fill ten Piers I970s, before the Ulster Anthony novels. offer as evidence a Troubles became more than a conversation we had in the minor inconvenience that cut The one thing that never old Blackthorn bar. White's into our drinking time. changed, however, was the Tavern had just been general air of goodwill that demolished as part of an W/e used to free associate prevailed among us. Sectarian unofficial urban renewal every other Thursday night in politics were left outside the programme. It was almost like the old \Xlhite's Tavern, which front door of \'Vhite's the fall of Trantor in was not by way of being Jim's Tavern - along with our Asimov's Foundation series. family business. That was his shillelaghs and water pistols. Anyway.. story, anyway. Nor is the old As Jirn once said in a TV \'{fhite's Tavern to be interview: "I've got nothing ]im brought up the idea of a Issue 149 Matrix· 11· rich man who made regular Frederik Pohl, then editor of Although James White took a use of organ transplams from Gala.,:] magazine, wamed to proper pride in his work, he his own famiJy. JUSt before use Dark 111fimo for the serial never treated readers with the closing time he said: "This version. But, as Jim told us: "1 contempt shown by some idea is too nasty for a James don't like Dark l11fimo." writers whom 1 don't have co \X1hite story. \Vby don't you name. That, of course, should write it Graham?" We kieked possible titles have gone without saying. But around \X1hite's Tavern for a it's nice, every once in a while, Looking upon Jirn's while, leaving them all for co say the things that all too suggestion as a complimem, I dead - even my own brilliant often go without saying. did write the story. 'You Are suggestion of Tbe Pod People. Old, Father William .. .' duly I'd have left in a huff, but I Every time .1 asked Jim to be sold to Dream magazine, and I couldn't afford the fare. Then Guest of Honour at a Belgian converted the thirty-odd quid Frank McKeever asked Jim: sf convention, he would reply imo liquid assets. So, if ever a "Why don't you eall it Space without hesitation: "I'll be writer deserved to have a Balls?" there, Graham. And the first short-story ward named after drink is on you." I didn't him, that writer is James There was a long pause, mind all that much, however, White. worthy of Sir Harold Pinter because the last drink was himself, before Jim saw fit to always on him. "Thank you, But it wasn't all one way, reply with: "I like Dark Jim - and sldi1JIe!" believe you me. Like most l1iferl1o." writers, Jim didn't like to talk BOOKS AND about his current work, I, for one, still think that MAGAZINES FOR except in the most general Frank's idea had the classic SALE terms. He would, however, simplicity of all great sometimes seeks advice from thinking. And 1 seem to recall the assembled company; this film-producer type at the especially over titles, which very next table, scribbting could be a problem with him. madly away on the back of a Tbe Silent Stars Go By ­ beer mat. In any case, inspired by his listening to '0 Ballantine Books threw our Recenl donations and bequests Uttle Town of Bethlehem' at Dark Il1ftmo and used Lifeboat mean that the Science Fiction a carol concert - was one of instead. Alfred Hitchcock Foundation has a large amount of sf/fantasy books and magazines the happy exceptions. almost sued them. for sale. Income from this goes to suPPOrt the work of thc Dark I11ftmo offers a good It couldn't have been the Foundation, including its sf library case in poim. Jim had trouble punny-type wordplay that put at Livcrpool. tiding this novel, about Jim off the title Space Balls. passengers of an abandoned Once, when Peggy asked him For furthcr derails look at the website at http://www.liv.ac.uk/ spaceliner who take refuge in to mow the lawn instead of -asawyer/sale.html, or contact these claustrophobic plastic­ writing in his custom-built Andy Sawyer, Special Collections pod thingies that get garret, he audaciously told and Archivcs, University of increasingly hot and humid. her: "The pen is mightier Liverpool Library, PO Box 123, Or dark infernos, if you will. than the sward." Liverpool L69 3DA, Ur.: (e-mail: [email protected]). -12 - Matrix Issue 149

'Do Not: Sleep' Gary Wilkinson sta~s up for Channel4's late night extravaganza.JLlIler

Very late night television can be a The aforementioned Tbe Tnp is predictions leading to the end of peculiar place full of American simplicity itself: old footage with the world and ®Tl\lark sports and poor TV movies. an added dance track. What (pronounced art-mark) However you should not entirely makes Tbe Tnp so watchable is organisation that allows the overlook it it's not just for the choice of footage. A recent sponsoring of anarchic political insomniacs, students or thc show included: early brightly acts. Perhaps the most amusing unemployed -- especially Channel coloured film of the American recent subject was on a schism in 4, because in the latter half of the landscape leading into video of a Satanic church -- a 500 pound week, and on into weekend, it the clean up of Chernobyl, then Satanist, who is married to a presents its 4Later strand of back to America but this time Christian ("She's becoming more programmes. This strand, industrial crop-spraying; the Satanic") and works as the DJ in designed to cater for a diverse Black Panthers intermixed with a roller-disco, claimed that range of minority jnterests, the Ku Klux Klan; 'weird Soviet Satanism is not anti-Christian. actually comes dose to Channel 4 psychic experiments mixed with Unfortunately his fellow original programming remit some contemporary computer worshippers disagreed. though nOt CJuite the examples of adventure game -- all to an sailing and wine-tasting that eclectic range of dance, trance From the 'weird to the ridiculous Willie \XIhitelaw was given when and fuzz guitar. is Tro!Jla's Edge TV (if you have he guided the channel's inception seen any of their films like the through parliament. C4 later, of C"lt CraiJ' tracked down some of Toxir Al'e1lger or Class ifN#ke 'em course, became known in the the truly bizarre fringe religions High you'll get the idea). All Tcan tabloids as Channel 'Swore' and in the US (these people make old say is this show single-handedly Channel 'Fwoud' a reputation it Hubbard's lot seem the epitome manages to redefine the word has never really shook off, for of sanity) -- and had moments of gratuitous as applied to nudity. good reason -- we get plcnty of poignancy when you see how the 'Swore' and some of thc CJuickly these organisations can f /ids is a zero-budget video and 'Fwour' with 4Lnter. fall apart once the leader dies -­ DVD review show (it's the once place out in the desert with naughty brother to the The programmes range from the a huge church, and surrounding tomboyish Bits a computer­ deadpan eard-sharps of Late village is like a ghost town with games programme fronted by Nigbt Poker (which for some only a half-dozen of burnt-out three women with plenty of girl­ reason I find compulsively hippies left. But also the power.) Produced in Glasgow mesmcrising) to the way-out The presenter, was not afraid to get Vids has been presented from Trip. Some of these you are angry at some of the obvious various video-rental shops, via a going to love and some you will abuses he came across. decrepit tenement, to end up in a hate. Many have a SF edge to garage for the current series. them; below are some of my On a similar theme is However the rwo presenters favourites. Disil1fOl1t1tioll (which has a Nige and Steff -- do get around fantastic accompanying web site) and about the srreets of the city The shows are introduced by a magazine show of Fortean and and out into the nearby 'The Collective' -- a series of related topics, some serious, countryside. Nige is the foul­ web-cam vignettes submitted by some humours. Topics have mouthed stocky Welsh one with viewers -- some arc inspired, included an interview with comic cropped died-blonde hair; Steff is some mad, some truly awful and writer Grant Morrison and a look the CJuieter lankly gothic Scot. In some completely hilarious; or at his hll'isiMes comic series, some between Nige's hilarious mad often all four. truly frightening ecological (Cofl1illlled 0/1 page /5) lssue 149 Matrix· 13.

Resonances Stephen Baster's guest column

which was the technology assumed cleverly enough. But it's hard to see when the Tlumderbirds shows were how you could do that with chemical made. Maybe you could even detect imaging. And we already noted Ihal the ghostly electromagnetic echo of you could screen emissions from any digital photographs being taken. sort ofcamera reaching TB I. Even this is impressive enough: does the detector work all the way to the None of this makes sense. horizon? - what about passing spy planes and satellites? And There is only one remaining remember, Scot! is able 10 operate possibility. It seems to me that the the sensor from within an atomic camera delector must do nothing rocketplane, while in motion. less than pick up the intentions of the photographers! It's not the But the bad guys could surely technology the detector sniffs out; il eliminate such leaks by shielding detects the evil purpose of a baddie their cameras in glass boxes 10 shut trying to take a Thunderbird's What's your favourite impossible in the chemicals, and Faraday cages picture. Maybe that Brains guy is gadget? Teleportation, warp drive. to close ofT the electromagnetic smarter than we thougbt. In addition invisibility? traces. to inventing Thunderbird 2, a chess· playing robot and anti-gravity, hc's For me it has to be the And anyhow there's more to the come up with a device that can read Thunderbirds' camera detector. detector than this. The detector minds. doesn't bleep every time a camera The principle of this particular comes wilhin imaging distance. 11 Or maybe the answer is more subtle. gizmo is simple. If anybody takes doesn't bleep even when nearby Perhaps SCOIt. like some primitive pictures, moving or still. of the cameras are used on innocent peoples, senses that a little of his mighty Thunderbird machines as subjects, like the toppling Empire soul is stolen every time his thcy go about their heroic business, State Building or passing giant photograph is taken. So Scott isn't a then Scat! Tracy, at the controls of alligators. No, it biceps Q!!J.y,when a chisel-jawed astronaut's son after Thunderbird Onc, is alerted by a camera is turned on an International all, but a uniformed New Age spoon bleeping little gadgct that looks Rescue machine. bender. In which case the thing on strangely like an orange squeezer the wall is just a dummy to reassure stuck to the wall. Secrecy, as Now, how does the detector know tcchno-buff sceptics. Or maybe it everyone knows, is vital 10 what picture the camera is taking? really is an orange squeezer. It can International Rescue, so Scot! get pretty hot at 15.000 mph. swings into action, more often than Does it detect the glint of a lens not resolving the situation with turned its way'! - but cameras don't I guess wc'll find out in 64 years' extreme prejudice. (As Kim need leDses, certainly not of glass. time. ewman once noted the You could just use a pinhole, Thunderbirds must be the most probably still beloved of physics ext issue: Star Trek's holodeck. heavily armed rescue machines ofall teachers even in the year 2065. And Think of the energy soaked up lime - and. apparently, above the anyhow James Bond long ago crealing all that dummy matter: E = law.) proved you could camouflage any m c squared, remember. No wonder camera. it will take Voyager 70 years to get A simple concept, obviously useful, home. easily understood. Fine, but how Can the detector somehow pick up does the camera detector work? and process every image taken by every camera in the area, to see I suppose you could imagine a Iracc which ones who Thunderbirds detector picking up the faint technology? Maybe yes for digital chemical scent of wet photography - cameras, by reading leaked signals -14 - Matrix Issue 149

# Arthur C Clarke Childhood's End Empire (Millennium, May, PB, £5.99, Books (Pan, PB, June, £6.99, 208 pp) 304pp) Forthcoming books and Richard Calder Impakto (Earthlight, NOIP Katharine Kerr Polar City publishing schedules, May, PB £6.99, 368pp) Nightmare (Millennium, May, PS, compiled by Janet Barron £6.99, 368pp) NOIP Stonn Constantine The Crow" oJSilellce (Millennium June, PB, Mercedes Lackey Brighlly Bl/rIIing £6.99. 432pp) (Victor Gollancz; June, HBffBK, £16.99/9.99324pp) Stonn Constantine The Way oJLighl (Victor Gollancz, June. HB, £16.99, # Fritz Leiber The First Book oJ 400pp Lankhmar (Millennium, June. PB, £6.99,768pp) Key Paul Comell Something More (Victor HB = hardback Gollancz, June, HBffBK, £16.99/ Roger Levy Reckless Sleep TPB = rrade paperback £9.99,400pp) (Millennium, June, PS, £6.99. 352pp) PB = paperback Raymond E. Feisl Krondor: Tear oJ # Megan Lindholm The Reindeer NOIP Now our in paperback the Gods (Voyager. June. TPS, People (Voyager, May, PB, £5.99, #= Reissue £10.99, 384pp) 336pp) ## = nonfiction ••• Watch out for these Maggie Furey Spiril oJlhe Stone George Mann The Mammolh All others, first UK edition. Unless refen:nces (Orbit, June, HB, £16.99 432pp) Encyclopedia oJScience Fiction are given, all quotes arc from the publisher. (Constable Robinson. PB. £9.99, David Gamen Space Wasters (Orbit 640pp) May. PS, £6.99. 320pp) ***Chris Amies Dead Ground (Big NOI P George R.R. Martin A SOllg oJ Engine, May, PB, £7.99) NOIP Julia Gray The Jasper Fores! Ice alld Fire Book 3: a Storm oJ (Orbit June, PB, £7.99, 480pp) Swords (Voyager, June, PB, £6.99, Kelley Annstrong Bitten (Little, 688pp) Brown & Company, June, TPB, NOIP Simon R Green Beyond the £10.99.256 pp) Bllle Moon (Millennium, June, PB, NOI P Jack McDevitt Deepsix £6.99, 416pp) (Voyager, June, PB, £5.99, 400pp) Mike Ashley (Editor) The Mammolh Book oJAwesome Comic Fall/asy Jon Courtenay Grimwood Pas}w=ade ***Ian McDonald Ares Express (Constable Robinson, May, PS, £6.99, (Earthlight May, I-IB, £12.99. 384pp) (Earthlight, HS, May, £16.99, 352pp) 512pp) Harry Harrison Return to Eden NOIP lan McDonald Desolalion # [saac Asimov FOUl/dation (I books. June. PS, £ I0.99, 496pp) Road (Earthlight, PS, May, £6.99, (Voyager, June, Ps. £7.99, 240pp) 384pp) NOIP Tom Holt VaJlwfla (Orbit, NOIP lain M. Banks Look 10 May, PB, £5.99. 256pp) LE. Modcsin Jr Magi oJCyadol' Wi"dward (Orbit. May, PB, £6.99 (Orbit, June, PB, £7,99 672pp) 416pp) Tom Holt NOlhing BUI BllIe Skies (Orbit, May, HS, £15.99, 288pp) # Michael Moorcock Elric NOIP Stephen Saxter, Arthur C. (Millennium, May, PB, £6.99, 800pp) Clarke The Light oJOllter Days # Aldous Huxlcy Brave New World (Voyager. May. PB. £5.99. 400pp) (Voyager. June, PS. £7.99, 288pp) Ward Moore Brillg Ihe Jubilee (Millennium. June, PS £6.99, 208pp) # James Blish The Seedling Slars lan Irvine Dark Is the Moon (Orbit, (Millennium. June, PB, £9.99, 192pp) May, PB. £6.99. 704pp) # Larry Niven Protector (Orbit, June, PB, £5.99, 432pp) NOIP Alice Borchardt WolJKillg NOIP Kate Jacoby Black Eagle (Voyager, June, PB. £6.99, 384pp) Rising (Millennium, June, PS, £9.99, KJ. Parker Shadow (Orbit, June, 464pp) TPB, £10.99, 448pp) # Ray Bradbury Fahrenheit 451 (Voyager. June, PB, £7.99. 176pp) NOIP Paul Kcarney The Second Stel Pavlou Decipher (Simon & Issue 149 Matrix -15.

Schuster. May, HB, £12.99, 624pp) 'Do Not Sleep' (Contifluedfrom page animatedly about his affection 12) for the old Universal horror # Fredcrik Pohl Jem (Millennium, scatological rants against all that films. The first episode was a May. PB, £9.99. 304pp) is wrong in the world are some fairly prosaic look at H. G. \'(fells; ver), incisive film reviews. They though it did include insight into Terry Pratchett Tile Ri"ce'll'illd Trilogy (Victor Gollancz. May. HB. £16.99 tend to cover the odd Well's radical nature. However 758pp) mainstream block-buster, plus the show really got into stride the surf/skate/snowboard sportS with the second episode on Terry Pratchett TlJiefofTime vid, martial-arts, foreign, horror, Frollk-fnslri", concentrating on the (Doubleday. May. HB. £16.99. sf -- in fact everything that could classic film including the director, 329pp) come under the heading 'cult'. James \Vhales', camp tOuches. This included the occasional (oh The latest, as I write -- 'Big ***Alastair Reynolds Chasm City Brother goes Hardcore' --- was (Victor Gollancz. May. HBrrPB. oka)', every episode, straight after £16.99/£10.99. 48Opp) the mid-prog ads) 'sex' film -­ truly excellent. Fmmed around an but never boring straight porno; imerview with igcl cal, this Adam Robens 0" (Victor Gollancz; this is more likely to be art-house looked at his obscure reorof//x June. HB. £16.99. 396pp) ,ruff (1.e. In Tht [Valal Of Tit, StX OIJmpics -- which in this era StnJu). one of those truly awful of reality TV looks frighteningly Norp Kim Stanley Robinson Red '70s sex comedies or an prophetic. I wonder if those Mars (Voyager, June. PB. £7.99.

Whispers of Terror and other tales 1\1ark Greener on Dr \VllO's new audio ad,cntures

For many of us, watching The The series - now up to 17 the audio stories. The Doctor battle Cybermen, stories - contains some real adventures allow Colin Baker Daleks and Ice Warriors each gems. Whispers of Terror, as to rehabilitate his incarnation, Saturday teatime was our its name suggests, uses the never the most popular on TV. introduction to SF. And Or aural medium fully, with a I always liked his somewhat Who is still regarded with creature of sound in a story of darker interpretation, which rose-tinted nostalgia by many political intrigue. The Spectre harked back to Hartnell.) SF fans. However, five years of Lanyon Moor brings the after the TV-movie, Or Who Brigadier out of retirement into The latest titles are generating remains an active commercial a creepy tale of Cornish considerable excitement. franchise, spawning books, mystery. The Apocalypse Since his appearance in the videos and DVDs, as well as Element unites Lalla Ward 1996 TV movie, Paul an on-going series of new (Romania) and Colin Baker in McGann's eighth incarnation audio adventures. a marvellous battle against the has become part of the Daleks that I would have loved mainstream Or Who Videos and DVDs allow us to to have seen on TV. continuum, with books revisit loved episodes. The developing his character. Now books, which are becoming There are - as befits Or in a series of stories, McGann increasingly adult and Who - some more pedestrian brings the incarnation to life. sophisticated - to match their episodes, such as the first The first Storm Warning offers audience - offer a diverting story, Sirens of Time, which an alternative history of the read. But I approached the unites the fifth, sixth and R101. McGann is brilliant. At audio adventures, issued each seventh doctors. They spark times, his tongue might be in month by Big Finish, with well off each other. But, like his cheek, but when it matters, some trepidation. I hate audio the television stories that he brings suitable gravitas to adaptations of books and very reunited the various the role. rarely listen to Radio 4 plays. incarnations, these never However, I had a long, boring seem to work as well as you The latest story Sword of car journey to a long, boring think they should. And just as Orlon introduces McGann to meeting. And listening to Or in the television stories, the the cybermen. If anything, this Who seemed a good way to audio adventures boast strong is stronger than Storm pass the time. supporting casts - including Warning. Just as with the Garth Thomas and Jacqueline Darleks, when you can't see I began with Red Dawn, which Pearce from B/ake's 7 and the cybermen they somehow re-introduces the Ice James Bolam. (Both the Likely seem all the more menacing. Warriors - one of my favourite Lads have now appeared in monsters. The story, which Doctor Who, either on TV or These adventures are worth explores the Warrior's code of tape.) checking out, if you have any honour - they're a sort of lingering nostalgia for Or Who. interplanetary samurai - paints The audio adventures allow More than 30 years after I man as the real monster. It's a writers (and the writing is often started watching the series, I taut, atmospheric tale with a delight) to explore events look forward to each of the moments of real tension and that never made it onto TV, audio adventures almost as strong performances from such as a meeting between much as I once anticipated the Peter Davidson and Nicola the Brigadier and the sixth TV programme. And that's just Bryant (Peri). I was hooked. Doctor. (Indeed, the sixth about the greatest compliment doctor is a firm favourite on I can pay. Issue 149 Matrix -17-

BSFA Avvards The results. and the ncn An ards \dministrator introduces herself

BSFA Awards new Awards Administrator is BSFA Awards are an important Tanya Brown, currently milestone in British science 2000 responsible for the BSFA web fiction, and I hope to build on site, and all enquiries not related that success. As Webmistress of Chris Hill, retiring Awards to the 2000 Awards just presented the BSFA web site, I'I! be in an Administrator, writes: should now be directed to her. excellent position to introduce She can be contacted by email al: online nominations, available to The results of the 2000 British [email protected] and by BSFA members only. All Science Fiction Association post at: nominated books will be Awards were announced on available to buy via the Awards Sunday, 15th April at the Flat 8, page - I know how frustrating it Hanover International Hotel, Century House, is when you can't find the novel Hinckley, Leicestershire, UK. Armoury Road, that everyone's talking about! I London, also hope to include relevant The results were as follows: SE84LH, reviews from Vecfor. and, where UK possible, links to author web Best Novel: Ash: A Secret sites. I'm looking forward to History by Mary Gentle hearing what the voters want, too. Talki"g of whom. Tallya fakes Should we reinstate the Media Best Short Fiction: "The Suspect fhis opporlll"i,y to i"froduce award. last given in 1991? Do we Genome' by Peter F. Hamilton herself fO fhose of you who need a separate class of award for (Inter=olle 156) already Iwren 'f had fhe pleasure series as a whole, rather than ofmeeting her. hoping - as with Kim Stanley Best Artwork: "Hideaway' by Robinson's Mars trilogy - that Dominic Hannan (Cover I've been reading science fiction one component, read alone, will IlIfer:olle 157) for nearly thirty years, writing be better than any single-volume about it for twcnty years, work that year? Is the Artwork Dominic I-Iannan was at the reviewing it for ten ... Given this award past its sell-by date? And ceremony to receive his award. neat measuring-out of my genre what about this Internet thing, career in decades, it seems to be then? The future is here. Say Congratulations to all the winners about time for another phase hello nicely! and sincere commiserations to the change. With this in mind I losers. offered to take over ~------, administration of the BSFA If you require any further Awards when Chris Hill 2000 PKD Award information about the 2000 BSFA announced his retirement from Awards then please contact me at the role. Michael Marsh:1I1 Smith has won the [email protected]. Philip K. Dick A.....ard (for distinguished com Plans? Oh, I have plans. The very SF published as a paperback original in America) for his novel Oll~" Fon"ard first part of my plan is to dice I would also like to announce Ihat (Bantam Spectra, 2000, in the US; Chris's brain (subject to his Harper Coilins, 199-1, in the UK). The after four years I am stepping consent: I may settle for a more a.....ard was announced on Friday. April down as BSFA Awards traditional hand-over package) so 13th. at Nor,,:eseon 24 in SeaTae, Administrator. Thank you to that the changeover is as smooth Washington. Runner-up was Seott everyone who has been so Westcrfeld, for EI'olmion's Darling as possible. Chris has done a (Four Walls Eight Windows. 2000). supportive during that timc. The great job of ensuring that the -18 - Matrix Issue 149

Top ten sf films of all time Readers repI) to Gar) \\ ilkinson's piece in issue 147

Gary's article a couple of issues ago Ihan anything on Gary's list. predielable. The Motirx? Visually generated a fair amount of comment. impressive. but it is all flash and dash. It Firsl off. Martyn Taylor takes strong Akira is probably the best anime of all, is 100 obviously 'pan I'. there are huge exception 10 somc of Gary's choices bUI when I mcnlioned Ihis 10 my son, plot holes and far too much bad (and Gary gets the chance 10 reply): who is a manga illustrator himself. he philosophy - what Ihe hell was all Ihal ticd me to the chair, superglued my eyes nonsense with Ihc spoon? And too mueh Marty" writes: If you want an anodyne open and made me walch Ghost in the was slolen - the idea (and somc sels!) selection of sf films then Gary Shell for forty-eight hours. I suppose lan from Dark City and Ihe aClion from John Wilkinson's top ten will serve. Not Watson would understand about alicns Woo. Thc directors' previous Bound many will argue with many of his on the sameplanel. was much more intcresling film. choices, although the latest arrived in

1988, nearly 201) I) ofcinema hislory ago. Othcrs? Dark Star has enough ideas to The Director's Cut is the besl version of Is he allowing Ihe passage oflime to add keep most directors going for ycars. and Blade Rllnner - Ihough il is not a patina of accepled wisdom to those it is funny (sce where Mike Myers definilive. Seoll was too busy at the lime named? ripped off Ibe 'Bohemian Rhapsody in a to nOlice Ihal Ihe people producing Ihe Pinto' scene. Timecop has ils moments new version - using Ihe American rather I rcject only onc out of hand. I thought (bill 1101 the bit abollt carbon dalillg Ihe Ihan international version ofthe original Bra=il was great allhe time, easily beller Confederate goM shipment! - ed.), and film as their basis for Ihe changes •• left than its contemporary, Back to the Ron Silver. although it also has The out fi fteen seconds ofgore and violence Flllure. RCWlltching it shows that, Muscles from Brussels. Pial/et of the he wanted to be kept in. almost unique in the Gilliam canon. Apes has to be a contender. and I Ihere is less 10 Bra=il than meets the eye wonder aboul any list which does nOI Judgement Day beller that the original firsl time around, just Ihe usual suspects include Silent RUllning. See il. Bruce version of Ihe Terminator! No way, The doing Iheir respective Ihings. and to Dem can actually act! sequel is impressive Ihe first time you nothing like Ihe effecl they achieved in sce it but on repealed viewing Arnic's Time Ba"dils, which is slill a joy. What Ah, my train of though has now arrived new caring. sharing. non-killing aboul Twell'e Monkeys if wc look for al Ihc ultimate sf film trope, Woody Tenninalor is an emasculated bore something more recent, or The Matrix? Alien, Diane Kealon and the compared to the earlier rock·hard killing Orgasmatron. I can hear those nice machine. Blade RI/nner the best of lhe ten? young men in The clcan white coats Probably. and Ihat is despite the coming to lift me bodily from the word Tarkovsky is overrated -- he is not even voiccover and the ending. Just think processor.. close to SCOII or Kubrick -- Sofaris was what Gladiator would have been like an incohercnt boring mess, nOI even wilh as good a story as Blade Rmlller, Gar)' replies: Anodyne? Possibly. visually interesling. Foreign Language But Ihen, Dick didn'l wrole Ihe source Ihough your reply implies I have at least Film? Try Alphal'ille or Luc Bcsson's Le materialforlhal. provoked some argument! 'Is he Demier Combal (The Lasl Baltle) -­ allowing thc passage of time to add a although there is no language in Ihat Anyone who thinks The Terminator is palina of acccpled wisdom to those one.. better than Judgemellt Day does not named'!" No, I jusl don't think Ihal any appreciate beller writing and beller truly great sf films were made in the last Ghost in Ihe Shell is rather good, though acting (Ol/ch! - I'd.). Even Amic is len years ... perhaps Fight Clllb but that it makes Akira look like a model of halfway okay in Judgemell1 Day. So the is way out on the edge of sf and I was coherence. The trouble with most anillle ending is sentimental. So whal? By trying 10 keep to films that arc al Ihe is that il is jusl a precis of the original comparison with Gone Witll tile Wi"d it core of Ihe genre. I was fairly impressed manga source comic. was wrlllen by Raymond Chandler! by Weir's The Tnmum Show (if only for making Jim CarTey look half-human for "If only Tina Turner had been in that Gary wholly ignores Ihe non-Anglophile once, inSlead of the soulless android one.... Ifonly Tina Turner could aCI. (-phone? cd.) mamslream movie from Ihe planet Zarg he appears in mOSI (because hc hasn't seen Ihem? - (extra of his movies) bUI in the end it is jusl a Dark Star is 100 mired in its hippy ouell! - etl.». Tarkovsky's Solaris is lighlweighl satire and not enough for the origins (though still funny in parts). I've wonh consideration, if only because top ten, I loved Pi, but that is going to be not caught up wilh Timeeop as yet Tarkovsky was a cinematic stylist on par too art-housc for most lastes. Twe/i'e (probably because every other Van wilh Kubrick and SC01l. My opinion is Monkeys? Well il is a remake (of La Damme film I've seen has been dire •• Ihal his Stafker is one of the fivc beSI Jetee), Brad Piu's hislrionic acting is though I must admit I've gOI some films made anywhere. anytime. beller supremely annoying and Ihe ending is so mindless affection for U"hwsol Solider. Issue 149 Matrix -19-

Planet ofthe Apes? Planet ofthe (ft'€r• hundreds of screaming people. And il Flash Gordon (Hodges, 1980). Forget Actors more like and I cannot get all wouldn't be half as good. This movie is Get Carter, this is Hodges' mastcrpiece, those abysmal sequels out of my mind. I 40 yean old, and holds its age very well. A gloriously camp Day-Glo comic book hope the re-make is an improvement. Again. compulsory viewing. of a film splashed across a wide canvas. Silent Running? And you say Judgement Fabulous script, impeccable design Day is sentimental. Silent Running has a perfectly mirroring Raymond's drawings, stupid plol (Biologist takes almost Colin Odcll & Miteh Le Blanc offer top-notch casting. II's a deconstruetion forever to realise plants arc dying their own alternative top ten: of American male. It's an S&M classic. because of the obvious lack of sunlight. It's got Pelcr Dunean getting binen by a and thal is just onc example) and cute GUT)' Wilkinson 5 list of the ten best tree beast. Sex, drugs. whippings. flying robots (urgh!), (Haw! to agree wit" Gary Science Fiction Films did whm all good creatures. bore wonns, floating cities. on r"at one, ed,) "best or lists do • prol'Qke a response. Max Von Sydow in his finest role since Whilsr t"ere is //0 dellying the place of T"e Se\'emh Seal, Brian Blessed Woody Allen... for me helt would be any ofthe films 011 Gary's list (with the chewing the scenery. Add that over-the­ being chained to my scat and forced to pOSSible exceptio/l ofMad Max 2) in a top Quecn score and il'S almost a watch a Woody Allen retrospective. top ren. SI/ch a limired lIumber i/lel'itably musical as well. Unbeatable. forever. lem'es omissiOlls. 1I10re so in (/ Ust that has rwo Ridley ScOIt filllls and two Famastic Planet (Rcnc Laloux. 1973) Stanley KI/bricks bill //0 John Every frame screams European science Stel'e Kerry wrote: I mostly agree with Carpemers. So rather than looking ar fiction comics. Bizarre scnings. strangc Gary's choice of movies. but there are each entT)' here is an altematil'e list, creatures. truly alien in its outlook. two that I simply could not leave out. just as mUd and presumably just as olhing like this could have come out of "Tong to 1?l'€T)'OIIe else's! Hollywood and certainly not out of Silem Running (1971) Directed by Doug Disney. At times moving. at times Trumbull, Forbidden Planet (Wilcox. 1956). Great surreal. at times mystifying and proof Earth has been devastated by nuclear effects. Great script. Laugh at Leslie that Japan isn't Ihe only country thal can war. The last remaining habitats. with a Nielson. Shiver at the genuinely make dccent animated sf. careful balance of flora and fauna. arc terrifying monsters from the id (slill one placed in a series of environmental of Disney's finest hours). Gawk at Alta's T"ings To Come (William Cameron domes and sent into orbit around Saturn. costumes. Wish you had a cool robol Menzies. 1936). Producer Alexander One day lhey will be recalled. and used that can manufacture whisky. Marvel at Korda proving that Britain could. at one to replant the Earth. But when the call Ihe finest matte and model work of all time. more than compete in scale with does come, it is not to return the domes time. Theramins. Triangular doors. other countries' productions. Huge sets but to jettison and destroy them. Onc Shakespeare. Big, bright, wide. classic. that still impress. great ideas. props. ctc. man's battle to save the last forest, and Science fiction with a brain but also the steps he must take to do it, makes a Tht>y Ul'e (Carpenter. 1988). Which great for the eye. a sort of British powerful movie experience. The Carpenter could you choose? The Metropolis. environmental statement is just as hilarious Dark Slar? The awesome The relevant today as when it was made. T"illg? The exhilarating Esc(lpe From The Day The Eart" Stood Still (Wise. perhaps even more so. Filmed on a New York? The classics keep rolling, but 195 I). Robert Wise proves he is the shoestring budget (£1.35m). this movie Thl?l' Lil'e's combination of left field Jack·of-al1-genres this elegantly should be compulsory viewing for all SF ide~lism. ugly aliens. shades. cheesy designed pacifist film. Proof that aliens fans. dialogue and wrestling superstar Rowdy don't always mean bad things. thal Mars Roddy Piper go a long way 10 selecting doesn't need women and that quality The Day The Earth Callght Fire (I% I) this as the unfairly ovcrlooked film of special cffccts can be used as an Directed by Val Guest. his impressive oeuvre. And he's all out intrinsic part of the story rather than as ofgum. the be all and end all ofa film. A series of nuclear tests has caused the Earth 10 wobble on its axis, and a Tetsuo: T"e lroll Man (Tsukamoto. Mars Attacks! (Burton. 1996). The anti· handful of newspaper reporters in 1992). Not to be confused with the thesis of such patriotic drivel as London slowly uncover the full equally excellent The Iron Giallt (1999­ IlIdepelldence Day. Tim Burton's Mars implications. There are no flashy take your kids, pack some hankies. it's a Attacks! is so gleefully tasteless. explosions. and no big special effects tear jerkcr alright) Shinya Tsukamoto's dangerously bright and mcrciless in its beyond a thick fog, Certainly there are Gatling gun-paced black and white rejection ofHollywood blockbuster rules no superheroes 10 step in and save underground cult film is an often (othcr than ils unashamed delight in humanity at the last minute. It is this unfathomable fusion of manga, spectacle) you can't help but like it. understatement that makes the film so Svankmajer·style animation, metal Brimming with ideas but virtually powerful. No doubt a Hollywood fetishism and sex and violence. set to plotless and quite possibly the most version would see half of America one of the most pounding scores enjoyable way to Ihrow $85.000.000 of destroyed (the rest of the world doesn't imaginable. Shocking, audacious and Warner Brothers' money on a huge pyre maller). with 10ls of earthquakes and breathlaking. rConl;nufi1on pugt:fJ .20. Matrix Issue J49

PULPit:at:ions Glenda Prin!:le finds Ihal noslal!:ia ain'l "hal il used 10 he

nos·tal·gia 11 [NL, fr. Ok lIosros process started. perhaps, when Where once we thrilled to return home + NL-alg;a: akin to OE Johll W Campbe// was editillg 'sensawonder' slories where the gelleS{/II to survive, $k t IIa.mte he Analog (then called Astounding) approaches] (1770) I : the state of hero braves all odds to overcome being homesick: HOMESICKNESS and insisling rhal allthors devote an attack by little green men on a 2 : a wistful or excessively equal care and allemion 10 Ihe distant planet and return home, sentimental sometimes abnormal science and the fiction in their we're more likely these days 10 be yearning for return to or ofsome past stories, Where an earlier story met with a mundane, but period or irrecoverable condition: might have been primarily a nevertheless interesting, story also: something that evokes nostalgia... (from fJebsters Ninth showcasefor all idea, such as the about the day·to-day problems New Collegiate Dictionary) suggestion that satellites could be being encountered by a llsed for worldwide radio terraforming team on a planet A recent spate of thought­ commllnication, a Campbell SI0'J' carefully chosen for its near-Earth provoking editorials in SF based 011 the same idea would be conditions. Is this necessarily a magazines and the excellent more cOllcel'lled with how that bad thing or are some of us (and I Des1inarion: Mars series on TV capability might affect1he lives oJ include myself to a certain extent) has set me wondering as to Iwmall beings all o\'er the world. showing "a wistful or excessively whether nostalgia is necessarily sentimental sometimes abnormal all it is cracked up to be. We all We still get the occasional yearning for return to or of some too often equatc 'old' with nostalgic [my emphasis] call for past period or irrecoverable 'better" and not just in SF of a relllm 10 rhe older. simpler killd condition"'? course. But werc 'the good old of "gadgel" SIOty; bllt most days' better, or just different? readers now prefer the more i,,· As Schmidt points out, most depth. multidimensional people these days prefer the Stanlcy Schmidt, albeit in an approach to examining the wider, more scientific approach. editorial on religion and science cOllsequences of an idea. The But why? Personally, I think it is fiction in the April 2001 issue of trend IowaI'd broadellillg because much of the need for, let A"alog got me thinking with the IlOri=01l5 Ihat Campbell arguably alone desire to experience, following observations: started has comillued jar several 'sensawonder' has disappeared decades. and science ficlion now from people's lives. Man has There was a rime, back when rOlltinely concerns itself wirh rhe been into space and walked on maga;ine science fictioll was Big Questions. Things like Ihe the moon, it was boring and lie\\', when ir occupied itself origins oflife, Ihe Universe, alld ridiculously expensive in some maill~l' with speculations abow el'erything: the meanings of life people's opinion. When things fUlllre scientific discol'eries and alld death and humanity: and started to go wrong (e.g., Apollo technological illl'entiolls - space moralio' and ethics - that whole 13 and the Challenger disaster) it rrm'el. for instance, and \I'hat thorny complex oJ problems was shown to be dangerous and sorts oJthings might Ih'e 011 other about holV people should behave. unpredictable. Very few people planets. Such thillgs were al/dwh.1' .. can cite anything beneficial that considered wild~v I'isionary back came out of the space program rhen, alld mosr oJthe Slories were Forgive the extensive quotation, (although the man on the primari(v ahow rhe ;Jeas. but I felt it was important to let Clapham omnibus might pitch in you know where I'm coming with "non·stick pans'). This is The ideas are slill imparlalll, bw from here. My point being that why my heart went out to those the range and scope of science times have changed and that SF dogged scientists building a mock fiction's concerns ha\'e has, out of necessity and sheer Mars landing site in the US desert broadened dramatically. That evolution, changed along with it. in the Destination: Mars series. Issue 149 Matrix. 21·

How arc these guys going to 'streetwise' SF we all know and (Co.wnwdfrom pag' 19! spark interest in a Mars landing love today. (It's interesting to and watch the glazed expressions of when Joe Nonnal has, he feels, note that this 'revolution' studio execs and audiences who just didn't gct it. Ak-ak ak! achieved his lifetime ambition by occurred at the same time as getting a season ticket to many of the high points of the Sofaris (Tarkovsky, 1972). Oftcn Manchester UnitedlWashington space programme.) Forgive me if billed as the Russian 2001 (i.e. it's Redskins/you fill in the blank? If I once again give way to science fiction, it's bum numbingly life is grand right here, why quotation, but as Silverbcrg puts long and most people found it dull and/or overly intellectual) Tarkovsl..}' should we bother going to an it: takes the metaphysical approach to life inhospitable, not-as-red-as-we­ in space. Long shots of empty rooms thought planet? Because it's The standard view of the New (pre-dating Alien). Multi-minUlc lakcs there and because we can if we Wal'e story nowadays, among around Russian motorways. Rain really want to and because, once those who knolt' anything abollt it indoors. Pontificating about life and humanity. Long, long periods of again, we all would benefit from at all. goes something like this: almost total silence (do not bring in the spin-off technologies in our uIltil1965, sciellcejiction was all any popcorn!). Lots ofdifferent length everyday lives! Ho hum...there I artistic alld intellectual desert. cuts to compare and contrast. Two go, ofT dreaming again .. dominated by a few t)'rmmical hundred minutes of head nodding editors \l'ho sen'ed the needs of wonhiness that is essential vicwing for anyonc - cvcn if you do hate it. I finnly believe that Our modem an undemanding. uncritical interest in SF stories that deal public by forcillg all writers to Lapllta (Tcnku no shiro Rapyuta. with the practicalities of crank Ollt simple, formulaic MiyazakL 1986). Anything by discoveries and technologies stories, demid ofall stylistic flair Miyazaki is causc for celcbration but rather than the rip-roaring alld illtelleclUal individuality. this is a beautiful combination of cell animation and picture perfect adventure surrounding their Qllly standard themes (space charactcrisation. I-Ialf futuristic, half acquisition is a direct off-shoot of war, time trQl'el, robots) were Victoriana this is far more profound people's loss of interest in space permitted, ami all stories had to than anything from the Mouse-house. exploration coupled to the fact hQl'e positi"e, uplifting endings. more inventive and more satisfying. that we now know that there are Thell. suddellly, a turbulem bUllch Suitable for children and adults alike but be warned. some scenes arc really no little green men on Venus and ofbrilliam nOllcollformist writers scary! that we can't just step out of a ar,-i"ed 011 the scene, brillging spaceship on Mars and hop on the with Ihem a host ofnew ideas alld Le Del'lliel'e Combat (Bcsson, 1983) nearest canal barge for a ride to new I\'ays of telling stories, and Bcfore Luc Bcsson crippled the the Lntergalactic Hotel on Main dro\'e all Ihe reactionary editors. wallets of studios with epic fare such Street. Because we knoll' so as The Fifi" Element or Joa" a/Arc hc alld their cadres of musty old madc this ultra-Iow budget black and much more about the universe, hacksfrom the scene. white post-apocalyptic film with Jean we have in our everyday lives Reno. Thc conceit of having a plot ceased to wonder or even But, as SiIverberg then goes on to involving everyone being unable to speculate about what's out there. point out: "Some of that is true. speak makcs for a film that is universal in market and economic in Thank goodness our science Most of it isn't." Such a view its lack of synch-sound requirements. fiction authors haven't! ignores the classic genre-shaping A triumph ofimagination over budget contributions of (to name just a Robert Silverberg, in his two-part few) Heinlein, Asimov, Borderline: Some films that would editorial on the influence of the Bradbury, Sturgeon, Simak. van havc been in this list had thcy been ew Wave of 1965·72 on science Vogl. Williamson, Vance, Sester, more obviously science fiction: Nowhere (Gregg Araki), Cit)' 0/ lmt fiction (Asimov's, March & April Leibcr. Herbert, Dick. Niven. Children (Jeunct and Caro). Edwurcl 200 I), has I think pinpointed the Aldiss, LatTerty, Ballard. Delany. Scissor"u"ds (Tim Burton. 1991), very moment when SF changed and, of course, Silverberg Fight Club (David Fincher. 1999). from the old to the new - when himself. Now I remember what I 'sensawonder' gave way to was feeling so nostalgic about! Thallks 10 ewn'olle who took Ihe time revolution and transfonnation, 10 write in. Some cOl/sensus. some and finally the modern, dissem. Jus/lI'hatll'e like /0 see! (ed.). .22. Matrix Issue 149

Glasgow SF/F Writers' Circle North Oxford Alternate Tuesdays at 8pm. The Last Thurroay ofthe month at The Conference Room. Borders Plough, Wolvercote from 1.30pm. Bookstore. Buchanan Street, Glasgow Irregular and just starting. so contact (actual dates arc publicised in Borders' Steve and Vikki on 0 I865 371134 or events guide, available in store, or ask [email protected] for details. at the Infonnation Desk). All genres and standards of proficiency welcome. Norwich Science Fiction Group Contact: Neil Wi11iamson. Second & fourth Wednesdays from 0141 3532649. ore-mail: 8pm at the Cellar Bar. Ribs of Beef. [email protected] Fye Bridge, orwich. Contact 01603 417104: [email protected] .-Iul1 SF Group Belfast Science Fiction Group Second and Fourth Tuesdays. 8.30 to Peterborough SF Group Alternate Thurroays. 8.30pm at the 1O.3Opm at The New Clarence. First Wednesdays at the Bluebell Inn. Monico Bars. Rosemary Street. Charles Street. Hull (from Jan 2000) Dogsthorpe and third Wednesdays in Belfast. Contact Eugene Doherty 028 Contact lan and Julie on 01482 the Great Northern Hotel,oppositc 90208405 441953. or Dave and Estelle on 01482 station Contact Pete on 01733 [email protected] 444291, or see: www.mjckch.demon. 370542. www.tcrracon3000.org.uk/sfgroup. co.uklhullsf.htm htm Portsmouth/South Hants SF Leeds Alternative Writers Group Birmingham: Brum SF Group Second Saturday at 2pm in central Second and fourth Tuesdays at the Second Friday ofthe month on the leeds. For venues and details contact Magpie. Frauon Road. Portsmouth. second floor ofthe Britannia Hotel. lan on 0113 2669259 or Scan 0113 ew St. Membership is £IS/year. 2936780. Reading SF Group (*note change) Contact Martin Tudor, 24 Ravensbourne Grove. offClarkes ow meets every week in the Monk's London BSFA meetings (* note lane. Willenhall. W. Midlands Retreat. Friar St, Rcading. The usual change of venue) WWI3IHX. time will be from 9:00pm (probably [email protected] Fourth Wednesday ofthe month laler in practice). but every third (except Deccmber) from 7pm at the Monday wilt be from 1:30pm. Some Cambridge SF Group Rising Sun, Cloth Fair (ofT long people may decide to meet at the Lane), EC I. Barbican/Farringdon earlier time every week. but this is not Second Monday of thc month in The tube. Check Ansible for details and official. For dctails contact: Cambridge Blue. Gwydir Strce!. guests, or organiser, Paul Hood on RSFG@onelistcom Cambridge. 02083336670 [email protected] Sheffield (NEW ENTRY) Cardiff SF Group Anyone intercsted in setting up an First Tuesday on the month 1.30pm in Guest for the May meeting is Alastair infonnal pub meeting in the city? Or Wellington's Cafe Bar. 42 The Hayes. Reynolds. maybe there's an existing meeting that Cardiff. I'm not aware of. Either way. contact London Circle your humble editor at the address on Colchester SF/FlHorror Group First Thursday ofeach month from page 2. Third Saturday orthe month al around 5pm at the Florence Southampton: Solent Green 12.30pm in The Playhouse pub. St Nightingale ("Dead Nurse"). on the John's Street. Wcstminster Bridgc RoadNork Road Every third Thursday, 1pm, at The Contact Des Lewis 01255 S12119. roundabout. Waterlool Westminster Duke of Wellington, Bugle Strect, tube. Contact Mall 01703 577113 The Cro)'don SF Group [email protected] Manchester: FONT Second Tuesday ofthc month. 8pm in Walsall SF Group (NEW ENTRY) The Dog and Bull. Surrey Street (by FO T meets on the second and fourth the market). Croydon. Surrey. We are Thursday ofthe month at The Goose First Saturday ofevery month at 2pm sometimes upstairs or out in the on Piccadilly from about 8.30 in the Meeting Room of Walsall garden. Contact Robert Newman on onwards. Contact Mike Don on 0161 Central library. lichfield Street. 02086866800. 2262980. Walsal1. htlp:llmembers.nbci.comlwalsall_sf/ Issue 149 Matrix· 23.

Forthcoming Conventions & Events

6 May 2001 Christian. MembershIp: DO. Websile: 3-6May2002 Eleventh Peterborough Fantasy homcpage.ntlworld.comldawn.marbl Damn fine Convention (Twin fair Peaks theme) The Cressel Exhibition Cenlre. Brellon, 30 August -3 September 2001 Sheppenon Moal House HOlel. Sheppenon. Peterborough. Cambridgeshire. For delails Millennium PhilconlWorldcon 59 Surrey. Guests of Honour rumoured 10 be contacl: PeterCOl{(01733370542­ Pennsylvania Convenllon Cenler & Colin Odell and Mitch Le Blanc. £20 evenings). Tobookaslandconlacll3ruce PhiladelphiaMarrioll.Phillldclphia. regislration untillsl December 2001 (free King, 5 Amln Close. Holmes Chapel, Pennsylvania. Guests of HOllour: Grcg Bear. for Norwegians resident in Norway!) Cheshire. CW4 7QP. Tel: 01477 534626. Stephen Voull. Gardner Oo'l:ois, George Cheques (made payable to 'Damn Fine Scithers. Toaslmasler: ESlherFriesner. Convention') to: DFC, 37 Keens Road. Membershipcurrently$160.. buleheckfor 25 - 27 May 2001 Croydon. Surrey.<:RO IAH. Rooms £30ppn latest rales. Conlact Philcon. BOl{ 310. twin or double. £40ppn single. Conlael: Seccond (Seccon 2) I-Iuntingdon Valley, PA 19006. USA: [email protected]: The DcVere lIolel. Swindon. Guest of phiI200I@nelal{s.eom:www.netaxs.coml www.damnlinc<:onvClllion.org.uk Honour: Paul McAuley. Membership now -phiI2001 £25 to 15th May (£30 at door or £121day (£6 16 - 19 August 2002 after 6pm)). Cheques payable 10 ·Seceon·. 22 - 23 September 2001 Conlaet Seceon. 19 Hill Coun. Cheltenham. Discworld Convention 2002 Gloueestershire.GL523JJ; liypotheticon Hinckley. Lelceslershire. Guest of Ilonour: Somewhere in Glasgow. Membership: check [email protected]{.eo.uk:www. Terry Pratehell. Contacl: SAE 10 Discworld for current prices. FUr1herdelails: seceon.org.uk Convenllon 2002. 23 Mcdom Road. Hypolhelieon 2001, 25 Ravenscraig Avenuc. Romford. Essex. RM71EP: info@dwcon. Paisley. PA2 9QL: org; www.dweon.org 28 June - 1 Jul)' 2001 [email protected] A Celebration of British SF 29 August - 2 September 2002 UmversllY of LIverpooL deposit: £25. total 13 - 14 October 2001 cost) £23S1S355 (me. B&B. 3 lunches. Conjose (60th Woddcon) 2 dinners: Sludenllunemployed £l771S265). Octocon San Jose. California. Guests ofHonour. Royal Marine HOlel. Dun Laoghaire. Co. day rates £50. Cheques to The Science Vcmor Vinge, Davld Cherry. Bjo & Davld Dublin. GUesl of Honour. Anne McCaffrey. Fiction Foundation (22 Addington Road. Trimble, Ferdinand Feghool. Toaslmasler: Reading. RGI 5PT). GoH: Brian Aldiss. Membership: £121£15 Irish 10 1/5/0l.1hen Tad WilIiams. Membership: SI20unlil Slephen Bal{ler.JohnClule. Nieola £20/£16 Irish. Contatc: Octocon. clo Vellow 31/12/00. Conlacl: PO 80x 61363. Brick Road. 8 Bachelors Walk. Dublin I. Grimlh. Gwynelh Jones. Ken MaeLeod. E· Sunnyvale. CA 94088-4128. USA; UK Ireland: [email protected]:www.octocon mail: [email protected] A.P. AgenlS 52 Westbourne Terrace. Reading, Gwyneth Jones. MembershIp: £32 10 EasICT Noticeboard Stan Nieholls and Pete Morwood & Dianc: '01. then more. Info: 379 Myr1le Road. Duanc:. Membership: £25 fSludents (20). £30 Sheffield.S23HQ Wanted to complete Cowper/Murry al door. Conlaet: Eboracon. 9 Prospect collection: reading copies of Colin Tm1lcc:, Fulford. Vork. VOIO 4PT; 29 March - 1 April 2002 (Middleton) Murry's A Palh 10 Ihe Sea ebomcon@psy.:h.york.ac.uk:www.users. Helicon 2 (Eastercon) york.ae.ukl-amrI07/eboraeonlindex.html and Pril'(lle View. Hotel de Francc. SI Helier. Jersey. Guests of Honour: Brian Stableford. Harry Turtledove 25 - 26 August 2001 & Peler Weslon. Membership £35. Contact: Please contact Mike Cross. 41 Redland Cybercon 2001 33 Mcyrick Drive. Wash Common, Drive. Kirk ElIa. Hull. HUIO 7UX; Tel: Hiholl HOlcl, Belf:tS1. GUCSIS: lan Ncwbury. Bcrkshire. RG14 6SVj 01482 656866; Email: mike@mjckeh. McOonald. Paul Darrow. Jeremy llulloch. [email protected];www.smof. dcmon.co.uk. Nicholas Couneny. Michael Shear. Claudia demon.co.uklhelicon2.htm .24. Matrix Issue 149

JO's Timewasters NNl8 OSD by early June 2001. [email protected] Matrix Competition Second-hand science ficlion, fantasy and 149 horror. Mail Order Catalogues Fantastic Literature (Simon & Competition 146 Larainc Gosdcn) Dreamberry Wine 35 The Ramparts, Rayleigh 217; 1/8; 3/10; 6/9; 5111; 4/12 Mike Don. 233 Maine Road. Essex SS6 The novels by Philip K. Dick (1-6) 8PY derive from. incorporate, or take ideas Manchester M 14 7WG Phone/fax: 01268 747564 from the short stories P-12). The 01612262980. [email protected] infonnation is contained in the notes to [email protected] www.fanlasticliteralure.com PKD's Collected Short Stories. Only onc all-correct entry. from regular Hundreds of sth hb and pb. magazlIle We are the UK biggest out of print and entrant Theo Ross. and small press titles at very reasonable secondhand SF intemel bookseller. prices. DW. part fanzine part catalogue dealing in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Competition 147 also carries short reviews. letters and Ghosts, Horror, Weird. macabre. Thrillers, etc. Why not visit our site and search our cntire slock of 12.000 items Oh! ValindalPacem EstlDclena EstlLrg. Fantast Medway ForstlDark lcarus/Jean Dupres/Rorqual at: www.fantasliclitcrature.com - thc Maru/Willie's Blues/Cascy Agonistes/ Ken Slaler. PO Box 23, Upwell UK's biggest on line out of print sf and Lisbon CubedlDoing LennonlAutomatic Wisbech, Cambs PEI4 9BU fantasy bookshop! Tiger/Camera Obscura/Chicken Icarus/ 01945773576. Occam's Scalpel/Savage Pellucidar/ [email protected] Philip Vernon Unaccompanied Sonata/Venice 47 Slync Road, Bolton-le-Sands, New and used ("previously enjoycd') Drowned/Proxima Centauri/Omithan Camforth, Lancs., LA5 8AQ Thropus. hardbacks and trade and mass markct pbs, including a listing of the highly (01524) 822962 Lots ofentries for this. probably 10 point recommended Liverpool University Operates a 'no obligation' booksearch oul the typos, which I've left in. Most Press series of SF publications (see service. Contact Philip at the above people got them all. and first in the draw Vector 204 onward for reviews of address for further details. is MichaelJ. Cross several ofthese). Andromeda Competition 14R 2-5 Suffolk Street. Binningham, As of today (April 6th) no entries BIILT received 01216431999, fax 1021 6432001 [email protected] Credits issue 149 Competition 149 New and s/h books. magazines, sf. Alll/rix 149 was edited and produced by media. video, CD and now DVD titles, Some sf inventions have come to Andl'"ew Seaman 10 the happening plus a selection of Rog's Remainders fruition, such as Heinlein's waldoes. sounds of REM, Morphine, Godspeed from less than 2 quid. Foir the following creations, can you say You Black Emperor! and Calexico. what they arc? Some are obscure - you can guess those; guesses for them all Midian Books As always a big 'thank-you' to all might even win the prize. 69 Park Lane, BoneHill, Tamworth, contributing editors and everyone who Staffs. B78 3HZ supplied items ofnews - you know who I. Dexax 01827281391 you all are. 2. Toktik [email protected]. 3. Cupriolanic tape uk Printed by PDe Copyprint ofGuildford. 4. Beep (nol an invention. but the result Collated and mailed by Bramley ofone) Mostly occult, weird fiction and horror. Mailing Services. 5. Venusupial incL cult and film. Some rare/ 6. Spindizzy collectable 7. Polypip 8. Flapple Porcupine Books Entries for competitions 148 & 149 to: Brian Amerigen, 37 Coventry Road, Ilford, Essex, IG I 4QR John Ollis. 49 Leighton Road, Corby. 02085543799