Vector The Critical Journal of the British Science Fiction Association Chinese Sf and Fandom Eric Frank Russell and Race Gareth L. Powell Interviewed Plus Moonbases, Webcomics, and more... No. 279 Spring 2015 £4.00 VECTOR #278 – Winter 2014/2015 Vector The Critical Journal of the British Science Fiction Association ARTICLES Torque Control Vector Editorial by Glyn Morgan ................................. 3 http://vectoreditors.wordpress.com An Interview with Regina Kanyu Wang Features, Editorial Glyn Morgan Talking About Chinese Sf and Fandom and Letters: 17 Sandringham Drive, Liverpool L17 4JN by David Gullen .............................................. 4 Essex IG10 1EF, UK [email protected] An Interview with Gareth L. Powell Talking Book Reviews: Martin Petto About a Monkey... 27 Elmfield Road, Walthamstow E17 7HJ by Glyn Morgan .............................................. 8 [email protected] Production: Alex Bardy Milestone or Millstone: Searching for Black [email protected] and White in the Founding Accomplishment of Sam Hignett and Eric Frank Russell British Science Fiction Association Ltd by Gillian Polack ........................................... 11 The BSFA was founded in 1958 and is a non-profitmaking organisation entirely staffed by unpaid volunteers. Registered in England. Limited by guarantee. BSFA e-newsletter Sampler by Donna Scott .............................................. 14 BSFA Website www.bsfa.co.uk Company No. 921500 Registered address: 61 Ivycroft Road, Warton, Tamworth, Staffordshire B79 0JJ RECURRENT President Stephen Baxter Foundation Favourites: Andy Sawyer .... 16 Vice President Jon Courtenay Grimwood Kincaid in Short: Paul Kincaid ............... 18 Sequentials: Laura Sneddon .................... 21 Chair Donna Scott Resonances: Stephen Baxter .................. 26 [email protected] Treasurer Martin Potts 61 Ivy Croft Road, Warton, Nr. Tamworth B79 0JJ THE BSFA REVIEW [email protected] Membership Services Dave Lally The BSFA Review: Martin Petto ................... 28 [email protected] In this issue, Dan Hartland visits The Southern MEMBERSHIP FEES Reaches, Martin McGrath looks for Gemsign, UK £29 per annum (Unwaged: £20 pa) Shaun Green wants to Get Katja, and Liz Bourke Life Membership £500 Outside UK £40 remains in This Just City. Meanwhile, Gary Dalkin Joint/Family Membership Add £2 to the above prices climbs the City of Stairs, L J Hurst considers it a Cheques (Pounds Sterling only) should be made payable to ‘BSFA City of Endless Night, Sandra Underman is struck Ltd’ and sent to Martin Potts at the address above, or join via the with Terror and Wonder, and Lynne Bispham is BSFA website using Paypal at www.bsfa.co.uk just wondering why she only has Half A King while FOCUS: THE BSFA MAGAZINE FOR WRITERS L J Hurst has The Complete Uncle.... Design Editor: Alex Bardy [email protected] BSFA AWARDS Administrator: Farah Mendlesohn Published by the BSFA Ltd © 2014 .......... ISSN 05050448 [email protected] All opinions expressed are those of the individual contributors and ORBITER WRITING GROUPS not BSFA Ltd except where expressly stated. Copyright of individual Online: Terry Jackman articles remains with the author. [email protected] page 2 VECTOR #278 – Winter 2014/2015 Torque Control t’s been a year (on the calendar, if not in number of issues: more on that later) since I took over this editor- publication has its place). From authors looking to expand Iship, I don’t really know where that year has gone. onarly their journals ideas, of or the share University something Presses they – found that’s interest fine, every- 2014, despite being packed with all sorts of amazing and ing during their research, even to be interviewed about terrifying things, seems to have short-changed me on the their work (see my interview with Gareth L. Powell in number of days. It’s the only explanation I can think of. I’ve these very pages, and hopefully a forthcoming one with really enjoyed the experience of editing the journal and his co-Best Novel winner Ann Leckie in a future issue), collaborating with the rest of the BSFA and Vector team, to fans wanting to share their passion for the genre, or but I can’t deny it’s been hard work. draw attention to a forgotten favourite author or text. And You see, aside from editorial tasks, I’m writing my Ph.D everyone inbetween! I (soon to be we) would much rather thesis at the moment. To pay for that (and still make rent) have to work with an article writer to get the tone and lan- I have a part-time job at a certain chain bookshop. Along guage right for Vector with writing papers for conferences and organising my own place. If in doubt, send us something. We don’t bite. annual Current Research in Speculative Fiction conference This particular Vector than takes never us around see the the article world, in thefrom first (and indeed a second conference this year on Alternate an interview with Regina Kanyu Wang about sf fandom in - China, then south to Australia from where Jacob Edwards rything in has been a challenge. This is partly why this issue writes an article about race in the stories of English author ofHistory Vector – is because with you I’m now, a glutton in early for 2015, punishment), rather than fitting late eve Eric Frank Russell, via Sunny Bristol and the aforemen- 2014 as had originally been intended. I apologise for that. tioned interview with BSFA Award winner Gareth L. Powell. As my thesis approaches its endgame, and its word All four of our regular columns return, with Andy Sawyer count looks intimidatingly undernourished, I need to unearthing a forgotten novel which is terrifying in more refocus my energies; but fear not, I’m not pulling a Ninth ways than one. Paul Kincaid goes animatronic over a short Doctor on you. I’m learning too much (and enjoying myself story by C.L Moore, and Stephen Baxter takes us on a tour of whilst doing it) to cede this post. Instead, I’ve recruited a moonbases through the ages. Finally, Laura Sneddon gives co-editor to share the load and responsibilities. us the lowdown on some of the webcomics that have caught So, from next issue, Vector will be edited in part by me her eye (and having followed up on them, you really need to and in part by Anna McFarlane, who recently completed her visit some of these web pages, the comics look even better in full colour and as Laura points out, some of them have novels of William Gibson. Anna’s also currently editing a moving elements which really add to the narratives). volumeown Ph.D of atscholarly St. Andrews essays University on the works on the of scienceAdam Roberts, fiction On top of all that we’ve got the BSFA Review, edited by Martin Petto, bringing us a cross section of the current to the journal, and I hope you’ll offer her the same encour- sf hitting the shelves of your local bookshop (chain or agementso I feel confident and support that that she’s I’ve going received to be anover invaluable the last year. asset otherwise). All this means that if you were expecting to be holding the I hope you’ll agree that’s not half bad, and I’m optimistic traditional “year in review” issue of Vector in your hands that 2015 will go on to be even better. After all, two heads right now then fear not: it’s still coming and we’re going to are better than one… pull out all the stops to get it to you sooner rather than later. Plus there are already some cracking articles being worked on which will hopefully make it a bumper issue. Tweet about Vector, Glyn Morgan use the hashtag Talking of articles. I cannot emphasise enough how Features Editor helpful it is to have a choice of material to place in #sfVector forthcoming issues. Please do not read Vector under the assumption you cannot contribute to its pages. We welcome submissions from all BSFA members whether Cover art by Jamie Noble, seasoned professor looking to air out a new idea (or dust “Greenfingers” The Giant off an old one), postgraduates looking to cut their teeth www.thenobleartist.com on an easy publication (and let’s face it, we’re an easy publication compared to the fancy peer-reviewed schol- facebook: www.facebook.com/jamienobleartist Please submit all articles, comments and queries to [email protected] page 3 VECTOR #278 – Winter 2014/2015 An Interview with Regina Kanyu Wang Talking About Chinese Sf and Fandom Regina Kanyu Wang interviewed by David Gullen I met Regina at EuroCon in Dublin. She was also at LonCon3 as part of the Beijing WorldCon bid team. Regina was on a couple panels at EuroCon, and later on we were part of a group that collected at the bar and chatted into the evening. I asked Regina which mythic heroes existed in Chinese culture, equivalent to, say, King Arthur or Robin Hood. She reminded us of what we already knew – the Monkey King (Sun Wukong) – and also told us a story of a white serpent that fell in love and wished to be human. The differences and similarities to our own stories were fascinating and left me wanting to know more. I also asked Regina if she’d be willing to do this inter- view, and I’m happy to say she agreed immediately. David Gullen: Thank you again for agreeing to a long time. Learning advanced science as well as democ- answer a few questions about Chinese sf and fandom. First, please tell us a little about yourself, and how you was supposed to play at that time. Most of the western sf became involved with clubs and conventions.