~A·I·n·l·xl
AugustSeptember 1986 65 Acknowledgements:
EDITORIAL - Maureen Porter John and Eve Harvey for advice, sympathy, and being a hard act to follow KEKBERS' NOTICEBOARD Paul Kincaid for proof-reading and THE BSFA COLUXN paste-up, plUS use of the word-processor (without which, etc). Remaining typos BEWS - compiled by Dave Hodson are mine (and others) The rest of the commi ttee for more CONSPIRACY - THE FAM ROOM 10 sympathy, advice and encouragement - by Linda Pickersglll I have work in hand from Philip Collins, AN APPEAL - Dov Rigal 11 Kark Gittins, Andy Sawyer, Pam 'Wells and Steve Higgins, Mark Gittins, J3ernard CONVENTION LISTINGS 12 Smi th, David )lorton, )lic Rogers. ALBACON REPORT - Nicholas Mahoney 15 DBADLIWE FOR JlATRII 06 - September 14th XEDIA REVIEWS - Stephen R Ealey 10 USEFUL ADDRBSSBS - Terry Broome - Colin Bird FOCUS BDITORS: THE COMICS PAGE - Dave Hodson 10 Paul Grunwell Liz Holliday 108 Twyford HOUGe COKPETITION CORNER - Liz Sourbut 19 218 Rainsford Road CbellEford Chisley Road London WRITE BACK 19 ...... Cll1 2PD 015 (0245 350889) (01-809 1406) SOAPBOX - Ken Lake 20 PAPERBACK UPER»'D VBCTOR EDITOR: BDITOR: ARTYORK Andy Sawyer David V Barrett Cover Ian M Brooks 1 The F1aIYard 23 Oakfield Road Yoodfall Lane Croydon p.3 Jim &rker L1 ttle BestoD Surrey South Yirral eRO 2UD p.10 Arthur (ATom) Thomson L64 4BT (051 336 3355) (01-688-6081> p.14 Arthur (ATom) Thomson Copyright: ClBSFA Ltd 1986. Individual p.15 Arthur (ATom) ThOJllSon copyrights are the property of the authors and editors. p.19 Richard McLaren ISSM: 0307 3335
Editor: Maureen Por-ter Printed by: PDC Copyprint 114 Guildhall Street 11 Jeffries Passage Folkestone, Gu1ldford Kent Surrey CT20 IES GUI 4AF (0303 52939) BSFAXBXBBRSHIP News Editor: Dave Hodson 104 DeMen ThIs costs 1.7 per anDU. and Is available Gloucester Road fro.: Tottenham Sandy Brown London N17 SSPA Ke.JJership Secretary Reviews Edi tor: Mark Greener 18 Gordon Terrace Blantyre 2 Whi te Hart Close Lan.armh.1re Buntingford G72 9IA Herts Keabersh1p renewals to: Clubs Liaison: Ron Gel rams 11 79 Mansfield Close Keith FreeJM.D Birchwood 269 Wykehaa Road Yarrington Reading Cheshire Berlr:shire 'WA3 ORN RG6 IPL REDSHIFf The Editorial
Today I started thinking about the number of active BSFA IDliullbers, you know, how many people are actually seen to be doing anything for BoSFA and came to the conclusion that at present 1 t· 5 probably about 75 people, including the Committee, the reviewers and the people wbo write in. And wbat I really want to know 1s what the other 725-odd people are dOing? Are they even reading this? What do they want from the 8SFA? Are they satisfied wl th what they are getting from us? And if they weren't, would they actually bother to write 1n and tell us why, and say what it was they did want.
And you know sOlllethlng else? It just !lint good enough. A society 1n which the all start making an effort to turn up bulk of the membership are passive now and again -I know I ought to). consumers 1s at best boring, at worse what's left? JlIOre or less dead. A small group of people work steadily on, fanning the Well, there are these four magazines, flame of enthusiasll, trying to make a see. Vector which handles all the show, whilst the apathetiC masses critical writing about SF, and the drainthat Vitality and throw aside the hardback book reviews, PlJperbacE Inferno drained carcase of that committee and which covers all the paperback reviews, wait for the next set of idealistic Focus which has deal t with all aspects enthusiasts to feed them. of the craft of writing and getting your stuff published , and there is KlJtrix, Okay, so what are we going to do to the one in your hand, the one which rel:Oedy this? covers news, reviews, information and anything else that's left over, along Yes, WE! 'I1e are all in this together. with all sorts of interesting articles, you know. You want a thriving BSFA - at and the letters column. least, the small handful who've bothered to make any comment seem to want this 'What you could do, and I hope this august body to keep going - but at the doesn't sound too revolutionary, is moment I get the impression that people contribute to these magazines. For imagine it is solely the Committee's job anything up to 90% of you these to run this SOCiety. 'I1ell, we will give magazines are your only contact with the some genuinely efficient administration BSFA .0 this;; i. your chance to be part but we might as well whistle if you of what's going on. How about writing don't take advantage of what's on offer something? and actively support us. Now, I realise that not everyone finds So, how do you do that? Let us accept it easy to write long critical articles, that we can't all be in a position to and not everyone enjoys reviewing, so take an active part in helping run the why not write something for X~trlx, and show. However, that doesn't eliminate enjoy participation Without tears. everyone. Turning up at the AGX at Eastercon would have helped, and I'd The major function of XJJtrix, as I seem take a bet that rather !DOre than about to have been saying ever since I got ten BSFA members were actually at this Job, is to act as a clearing house Albacon this year. How about redeeming tor information and as a forum for the yourselves by turning up for the EGX at exchange of views and opinions. It's the Hovacon? This is your chance to have a bulletin board of the BSFA if you like. say in the running of your society, And like a computer, if you want rather than griping afterwards about something out, you have to put sOIOething what should have been done and wasn't. in first. Omnipotent the Corami ttee migbt like to be but it is not telepathic. And this is HOW you're going partiCipate! Okay, so you can't get to the AGM, the BGM, the collating weekends (and I I am absolutely convinced that every really do think it's about time we did last one of you could supply llIe with at
MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~gBe least one useful piece of information, Locus? There are hundreds of groups, if you were so minded. All it takes is a societies and individuals producing letter and a stamp. I'll even let you magaZines that I know absolutely nothing send it second class, but send it you about. I want to find those magaZines so must, and send it you will. I've a good that I can let people know what's line in continual nagging. available. I also want to receive copies of those magaZines for inclusion in the Book shops, comics shops, games shops magaZine review column. I want to know ideally, I want to locate all tbe shops its title, price or availability (ie for in the country which specialise to some trade, locs, stamps etc), its subject degree in SF and fantasy. comics or matter, the editor's name, where to get gaming equipment, and anything else I the zine, production method, average may have forgotten. I need is you lot page count, frequency of appearence. to write in and tell me about your local shops. I want news., News is anything that someone might not have heard about. I I need the shop's name and its address. want national news, local news, anything Opening times would also be useful, and of interest to SF fans. I want to hear it would be helpful to know if the shop about signing sessions, media or runs a mail-order service and whether it theatrical events speaker meetings, produces catalogues. anything which might be of interest. Tell me beforehand and I'll advertise If you want to be a little more the event, or else write me a report of sophisticated tell me about its stock, what happened. whether it's biased towards new or second-hand, the proportion of SF to I also want news of conventions, and fantasy, anything you think might be that includes general media cons, Star useful. Does it stock comics as well? Or Trek cons, gaming weekends, comics games? conventions . Tell me about them and they can go in the convention listing. And how about clubs? Do you belong to a Take the entries there as an example of local group, or to a university society. the sort of information I need. Or do you belong to a fan club or appreCiation society of some sort, a Afterwards, tell about the media group perhaps, or a gaming group? convention. What was it like, did you If so, all you have to do is tell Ron enjoy it, why was it successful, why Gemmell. Ron GelllllBII is the new Clubs didn't it work, what did you like Liaison Officer, and he is even now most/hate most. What happened, were any waiting to hear from you. good films shown?
What we want to know is this. 'What is You can also wri te articles and reviews your club/group called? Who is the for Natrix. Contrary to popUlar belief secretary, or the person to contact. you don't have to be JG Ballard or What does your group do - does it have William Gibson to get something into regular meetings, formal or informal, do print. You can see your very own you sho'''' films and have speakers, or is articles in print, right before your it just a regUlar, informal get very eyes in Katrix. together in the pUb? Where does it meet, how often. and at what time? Do you We need media reviews, which should be publish a magazimi! (and if so would you sent to Jlark Greener as at prCGcnt. please send me details on that, and a Media means television, radio, theatre copy for review in }(t:ltrix). and film and anything else you come across th&t might be of interest. And Be adventurous, how about brief SF? - well, we carried a review of a article on your club or group, say 200 novel interpretation of Voltaire's 300 words, just to tell the world all Candide recently, if that gives you any about yourselves. You might even recruit clues. I am taking SF to mean new members. And how about advertising speculative fiction for the purposes of your special events in advance in this magazine in order to cover as wide Natrix. You might improve attendance a range of material as possible. For And then you could write a report of example, is anyone going to see your meetings from time to time. The KetaIDDrpboses at the Mermaid Theatre in possibilities are endless, and not too London - if so, do me a review. It burdensome, so do us and yourself a doesn't have to be a huge piece of work, favour and get in touch with Ron Geamell just 3-400 words conveying your thoughts at 79 Xansfteld Close, Birchwood., on the production. Yarrington, Cheshire, YA3 6R•. lie'll be very pleased indeed to hear from you. If you don't fancy that, write something for the new SOAPBOX column, your very I mentioned magaZines just then. What do own chance to have your say on anything you read? Apart from Asimovs, F&SF and under the sun. It could be about SF, or
MATRIX 65 A (TGUST/SEPTEMBER ~ 986 anything under the sun 60 long as you survive without the help of the feel passionately enough about it to put membership of the BSFA, and that's you sOlllBthing down on paper. It's much lot, out there, even now throwing this warlllBr than going to Hyde Park, and it aside because you think it's boring and doesn't strain your vocal chords half so you can't be bothered. Well, you'd DUch. better be bothered, and soon, or else you won't have the luxury of being able Or letters. Write and tell me how much to thro..... the magazine aside. you like lfatr1x, or tell JlIe that I'm rlIaking a right pigs-ear of it, and then 'tou under6tand? Good, so get out there tell me what I ought to be doing. and start working. Comment on everything in the last issue, or comment on just one thing. But write. In the meantime, read ltLItr1x 65 and You can all manage one letter a year, enjoy. It may not be the revolutionary can't you? Even if it's to tell me to new zine you were all expecting, but I piss off because you're busy. ~ warn you not to expect miracles overnight. However, I think most people And artwork too. I am discovering some will find something of interest talented artists among the membership, even if several features are slightly but I still need more work, especially shorter than normal. small spacefiller pieces. Black-and white art .....ork will be much appreciated. And don't forget to start writing (and drawing) ! But whatever happens, KlJtr1x cannot
MEMBERS' NOTICEBOARD
HBLP VAnED WAITSD
I'm trying to compile a complete listing Paperhack editions of Grendel Briarton of SF clubs and groups in the UK and (Reginald Bretnor) Tbrougb Space lJnd worldwide for Conspiracy, the Worldcon TiJD8 wi tb Ferdi nand Fegboot (Tbe in brighton in 1967. Compleat FegbootJ; Groff Conklin (ed) SCience Fiction Oddit1es; L Sprague If you are a member of a local or DeCamp Tales from GlJvlJgan's &r (Bantam university group, please GET IN TOUCH as edition only) and Divide and Rule; Joe soon as possible. WEli. and ~ does Haldeman Cosm1c Laugbter, and many your club IIlB and we. should I send others. information to? Offers and requests for his full wants I am also collecting fanzines, clubzines list to Ken Lake and newszines from now until August 115 Xarkhouse Avenue 1987, for display in the fan room at London, CONSPIRACY. Tbis 1s irQod pUbl (city for E17 6AY your group or z1ne. Use it! 1 am Pam Vells of 24a Beecb Road, Bowes Park, London, Nll 2DA. Dr you can pbone llJe on 01-889-0401 after 8pJl lJnd at JoIeekends. FORSALB We have found an excellent pub on the outskirts of Canterbury - good beer, Twenty Dr Wbo paperhack books - .t5 good food, and a landlady wbo reads SF and we are thinking of trying to start or will exchange for 21st Century Foss up a regular group meeting. Anybody by Chris Foss (must be 1n good interested, please get in toucb. condition) We are hureen Porter, Paul Kincaid and Contact: Patrick Lee John Fairey, and we can be contacted via 24 Ousden Drive 114 Guildhall Street, Folkestone, Kent, Cbeshunt CT20 lEB. Tel: Folkestone (0303) 52939 Herts anytime EN6 9RL MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~986 6 WALKING ONGLASS The BSFA Column WANTED FOCUS Applicants for the jab of BSFA FOCUS 16 returning! Its new incarnation Membershi p Secretary will debut in October on one cond! tien: we have very few articles or I intend to retire from the post of stories on hand, and need your Membership Secretary, when a replacement contributions IlQl1. is found by the Committee. I've been doing it for over seven years now, and We intend that FOCUS should appear it's time someone else had a chance to regularly once again and be a tough, bring new ideas to the job. Totally thought-provoking and entertaining forum unpaid, it involves paperwork, for all those with an interest 1n the paperwork, finance and paperwork. sharp end of sf and fantasy. In terms of articles, some of the subjects we hope It's not the sort of job you can take on to cover are: for a couple of months, then back aut of THE EASY OPTION OF DYSTOPIA - that just costs the BSFA badly-needed PARANOIA AND THE WRITER lOOney for wasted advertising and CaXEDY IN SF AND FANTASY stationery. But if you are prepared to ROMANTICISM VS NATURALISM do the job for at least a couple of FEAR, LOATHING AND PREVARICATION years, drop me a line at 18 Gordon ENGLISH AND AKERICAN STYLE Terrace, Blantyre, Lanarkshire, G72 9NA, PROS AND CONS OF 'FORMULAS' and I send you - COKPLETELY WITHOUT OBLIGATION - a job description to enable 'li'e shall also be keen to pursue our role you to decide whether you want to apply as the BSFA's fiction outlet. As well a6 to the Committee for the post. encouraging new writers who have never submitted work before, we'd like to HURRY, AVAILABLE ONLY WHILE STOCKS LAST! feature 'near misses' (stories which have done the rounds of the pro outlets Sandy Brown and have nearly-hut-not-quite :maode it), regUlar competitions, and workshop-style On a sad note, Ansible carried a note criticism of what we print (and we want that Roger Gilbert from Swansea died of to hear strong ~oices from the BSFA' s a brain haemorrhage in late June. Older fiction seedbeds, the ORBITER groups). members of the BSFA may recall that Roger Gilbert used to be Information Karket news, a 'neglected ideas' Officer for the BSFA many moons ago. section, words from the wise (or at least the famous), letters, and the very IRTRODUCIRG best black and white illustrations will also appear in every issue. The first of a series of articles introducing the various members of the So send articles and stories immediately BSFA Committee. Why not, I thought, to either of the new editors: start wi th me, as I' m here. Paul Grunwell Liz Holliday I'm Maureen Porter, the newest member of 218 Rainsford Road 108 Twyford House the BSFA Committee, and presently CHELMSFORD Chisley Road editing my first edition of KLttrix, the Essex LONDON first of many, I hope. on 2PD "5 (0245 350889) (01-809 1406) My SF-reading career started auspiciously with the discovery of Lard of the Rings, at the age of thirteen, and immense disappointment because I Mike Moir has asked me to Zlpologise to hadn't discovered it three years earlier those of you who have written to him in when I read The Rabbit. After that I his capacity as Information Officer of followed the • comparable to Tolkien' the BSFA. tags and read Eddison, Morris, Evangeline Walton (the choice was a lot He's in the process of lOOving house so better in those days), at which paint I all his reference works Zlre packed away ran out of decent fantasy and started in boxes at the moment. normal service pretending I was really a parent so as will be resumed as soon as Hike has a to sneak into the childrens' library permanent address. We'll let you know. wi thout embarassment. MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~986 '7 When I was nineteen I suddenly decided My contribution to the BSFA so far has that someone else must be reading all been reviewi ng for Paperback Inferno and those book. in the shops &0 I set out to Vector, but obviously editing Matrix look for them, and met the Oxford represents a rlIUch greater cOlDllli tment and University SF Group, legendary for gi ves me a chance to work on the producing such luminaries as Dave Committee for the membership. Langford and others too numerous to IEntion. And through them I met CUSFS My role as editor is to assemble all the and Jomsborg, and joined The Women's news and inforamtion prOVided into a Periodical, eventually becoming coherent, readable form. On the other administrator for a year. I was briefly hand I don't believe in Just sitting involved with Oxcon, the 1984 Unicon, here waiting for the material to roll and served on the committee of Xexicon in. At best it drifts in gently from 2. time to time, at worst it just doesn't arrive at all. So I'm going out looking I'm currently working on the programme for the news, follOWing up hints and for Rovacon 16, working on the fannish rumours, making enquiries, actively SUb-colDlllittee of Conspiracy, the 1987 soliciting articles and reviews from Worldcon, contributing to Franks and Tbe people, aided by my trusty contributing Organisation, as well as TWP, and my edi tors. soft toys write for Get Stufferi. I am also one of tbe two IDOst southerly I guess that's all you really need to members of the Dundee SF Group (don't know about me at present except that my ask, it' 5 too complicated). I guess you weak points are cats, Alan Garner, Peter could say I'm a pretty active fan at the Gabriel and children's Iiterature, not moment. necessarily in that order. The winner of the DUFF ballot (The Down Under Fan Fund, dedicated to NEWS transporting selected fans between Australia and America, much as TAFF DAYB HODSOI/PAUL IIICAID/JIAURBRI PORTER fiunctions between the UK and the USA) (with a little belp from Locus, Ansible, has been announced, except tnat and other nameless sources) 'winners' is more appropriate. The artist collective consisting of Lewis Some of you Day already bave heard that Xorley, Marilyn Pride and lUck the artist Chesley Bonestell, a pioneer Stathopoulos will be going to of space art, died on June 11, 1986, Confederation this year, something of a aged 98. precedent as the fan funds are usually intended for a individual rather than a He started life as an arcbitect but at group, the age of 50 became a special effects painter for Hollywood movies, prOViding I have received a letter from Sheila M realistic backgrounds, buildings and Powis concerning a new monthly magaZine perspective shots for such movies as THE of poetry and short stories that she has HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAXE (1939) and recently started publishing. She basn't CITIZEN KANE, to name but two. given me a title for this magazine but otherwise the details are as follows, At the age of 56 he embarked on a second quoting from her letter: career as a space expert, producing numerous paintings of space scenes, "All published contributions attract a future war, the Earth from space and so fee but I have to ask that all work has on, prOViding covers for ASTOUNDING and an SAE as I am working to a very tight GALAXY as well as material for LIFE and bUdget. the magaZine aims to provide a SCIENTIFIC AKBRICAN. showcase for new talent but established writers are also very welcome to He also collaborated with Robert contribute. A short piece about eacb Heinlein to produce the first realistic writer new to the magaZine will appear space film, DESTINATION XOON, which won wi th published works. an Oscar for special effects and provided backgrounds for IIHEN ItIORLDS Each volulll8 will be linked to a theme, COLLIDE. flAR OF THE ItIORLDS, and THE and those for the first few issues are: CONQUEST OF SPACE. He also collaborated Transport; Sun, sea, SAnd; Jewels, on book projects with Willy Ley, Werner Rocks, Stones; Murder, Xystery and von Braun, Arthur C Clarke and others. Suspense; so items on tbese will be initially IIlOre succesful. A further list He was awarded a special Hugo in 1974 of tbemes is available for editions for his achievements. after October. MATRIX <55 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~ga6 '" For anyone' interested in subscribing to THE }fIST and set in Ancient Greece, it this magazine, the cover price 16 .flo 00 will be the first world edition. It's but until 1 November 1986, the also the first part of a new fantasy subscription 1s .tIO.OO p. a. There 1s an sequence. associated Circle for writers and poets which costs .t3. 00 p.a.• and if you would ~ are to hardcover KIll STAILBY like details of your society, ROBIISOI's ICBHElGE before the end of competitions, courses, etc included I the year. would be very grateful to receive details. There 1s no charge for llNDERWOOP MIl I HR: December sees the newsletter items and Circle members can release of a 3 volume set called THE use the magazine to request help with ClJLLECTED sroRIES OF PHILIP K DIClC. The research etc. free. II first 400 will be slipcased and numbered. The first 100 will contain a If you are interested, please contact tipped-in signature from one of Dick's Xrs Sheila Powls, Muddlecolllbe Court, P a Cheques. These will sell for an Box 108, Dartford, Kent, DAI lAA astronomical $350. The other 300 will cost $100 and will feature a three page The FICTIO' JU.GAZIIE sbort story insert with a synopsis of an unwritten competl tieD has a first prize of .t250 alternate history novel called THE ACTS and guaranteed publication in the OF PAUL. The ordinary trade edition will magazine and the EABE..R IHRODUCTIO' 10 cost $80. anthology. Closing date is August 29th, and entry forms can be found in the The PHILIP K DICK publishing bonanza current issue (or try The Fiction continues. Another of his long :Kagazine, 12/13 Clerkenwell green, unpUblished novels, THE JlAJf fI110SIJ TBETH London Eel). Apart from the entry form VBRB ALL BZACTLY ALIJaJ, receives its the current issue of FICTION JlAGAZIlfE first UK publication from ~ in (Vol.6, no.6 August 1986> contains a August, whilst GQL.L.AllC..Z. follows up with memoir by Christopher Priest about the HUJlPTY DUJlPTY II OAKLAID in October. Beatles. You can't miss it - it's conveniently next to the entry form. GARRY KILYORTH's first mainstream novel, VITCHVATBR COUJfTRT is due from BOI2L.E.Y. H.EAJl this month. He also has a slim BOOK IEYS volume of poetry, TREB lfESSIAH available from BIVOI POBTS (Pen Ffordd, Newport, TAPPAI KIBG is the editor of Dyfed) . tvILIGHT zon follOWing the sacking of JlICHAEL BALIIE in :Kay. GEOFF RYJIAI's BSFA Award-winning story, THE UlCOIQUERED COUJfTRT is aut in a III YATSO. has sold two novels, fIIloRES slightly revised book length edition OF BABYLON, based upon the story VB' from AI r EN It! UJiTiIN THIS KONTH. REXEXBER BABYLON to GB.A..E.I.O.li. (still better known as Granada) and QUEBIllAGIC, Also available from AI I EN &; UNWIN in KI.GJlAGIC which is due from G..O.L.L.AliCZ. in August is COLlI GREEBLAm's second September, wi th the first third novel, THE HOUR OF THE THI' OI, while in appearing as an independent novella in September they are publishing SECOID F&SF. ~ will also publish his IATURE by CBBRRY WILDBR. collection EVIL VATERS AID OTHER STORIES in Spring 1987. BRIll ALDISS's for missing Kexicon 2, TRILLIo, YEAR SPREB (his JODY SCOTT (author of Passing for HUJ1JlJn> revision of BILLION YEAR SPREE with will be Visiting England in September to former Vector editor, David Wingrove) is promote THE WOKEN'S PRESS edition of I, to be published in OCtober by GOLL.AliCZ.. VAllPIRE, and also to attend FANTASYCON in simultaneous hardback and paperback. (see the convention listings in this He is also working on a new mainstream issue) . novel to be called BITB HALL. CHILDREN OF THE DUST, the post-holocaust On the other hand, IAII BAIKS, author of novel for children by LOUISE LAYRHICB The flasp Factory and flalking on Glass, has been shortlisted for the Library promises that his next novel, probably Association's Carnegie Medal, their due in 1987, will be straight science annual award for an outstanding work for fiction. In the meantime, try THB children published during the preceding BRIDGE, which is anything but year. mainstream. JlALCOLK EDWARDS has purchased an SF novel from John Brosnan on the strength The second selection in the GDl.l.A.lKZ. of a story outline. CLASSIC SF paperbaCk line, due this September, is; THE CITT AID TOB STARS by GQL.L.AllC..Z. are to pUblish a new novel from ARTHUR C CLARKE, THE Dt:XJR IITD SUJIJlBR by GBIE VOLFE in October. Called SOLDIER OF ROBBRT HBULBII, THE REPRODUcrIYB SYSTEJI MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~986 by JOn SLADBK, and a newly revised E.ll.I.J.l.RA. start their annual SF edition of lIOLFBAIIJ by FRBD POUL and C J{ promotion this month featuri ng JERUSALEK KORIBLUTH. FIRE by R• JlELUCH, billed as ' a splendid melange of violence and high " J BARRlSO. is currently working on t ....o fantasy, with warrior priests, sentient new novels, a fantasy called THE COURSE birds and intergalactic llIayhem': LIXITS OF TOB HBART wbicb he calles a counter by LARRY .IVBR, a short story Viriconiulll, and a llIllinstrearo novel collection: FRED PORL's THE llBRCHAIT called CLIlIBERS about his favourite "AR, the sequel to Pohl and Kornbluth's pastime, rock climbing. THE SPACB IlERCHAITS', and TEIJIlSOI TARB, wbich sounds like a paranoia trip from CBAJU.BS PLATT, critic and scourge of the the blurb: TAILCHASER'S SO,G by TAD SF world, is the autbor of a new book YILLIAJIS, a fantasy which aims to do for called HOtI TO sa A 9APPT CAT, produceu pussycats what "ATERSHIP DO", did for wi th the cartoonist GRAY JOLLIFF ickle bunnies, with a ginger tom called Tallchaser going on a quest for his best Tbe bardcover book line being set up by friend Hushpad and encQuntering a US pUblishers KJi will begin in sinister cat-god; THE SULTA"S TURRET by September with GOROOI R DICKSOI's THE SBAJ(US CULLBR, a sequel to A 'CXJSE OF FORBVBR JlAI and THE DRAGON IN THE SVORD LIGHT; A TAPESTRY OF TIllE, the by XICIlABL JIJORCOCK conclusion to RICHARD COVPER's enchanting flHITE BIRD OF KI'SHIP Let's take a sligbtly different approach trilogy, wbich began with THE ROAD TO to listing upcoming UK books CORLBY and A DREAK OF KIlSHlP; YBICEAlCB OF THE DA,CI.G GODS by JACK L CHALKER; July releases: RICHABL COBBY' 5 THE CELESTIAL STBAK LOCDItCJTIYB and various other E!lI..1J.BA back ~ have DAlCI'G "ITH IlERJlAIDS by catalogue titles. RILES GIBSOI, Tbey also bave A DARXIBSS AT SETHAJDI, E.J.lI..llBA have also announced three titles by RATJIOID PBIST, published fOr the 0R.B.l.I. imprint in September. They simultaneously in hard cover and are FLIGHT OF Ho,oUR by RICHARD RcSnDS, paperback, tbe climax of THE RIFTWAR which is described as the second volume SAGA whicb began .... i tb J1AGICIAI and of the FAR STARS AID FUTURE TIllES continued into SILVBRTHoRl - yes, it's series; TJIH JXX)R I' THE HEDGE by ROBI. another fantasy trilogy wbich is RCKIILBY (trUf stuff, this one - XSP): supposed to be exciting, stunning, etc, and PHoE'IX 1. TJIH ASHES by JOil D etc. VUGE. fElmlUli give us DRAGOlIS OF THE AUTUK/f ~ give us the entertaining .IKE TtlILIGHT, vol ume 1 of THB DRAGOIILABCB RHS'J"ICK wi th SAlfT/AGO, tongue-in-cheek CHROnCLBS by )(A.RAGRET WISS and TRACY as usual; and "AYLAIDER by DAVID GEJ(J{BLL HICKllAI, and based upon an extended - more best selling fantasy. Dungeon& and Dragons campaign; and THE PBlGUI' lIORLD OXIIBUS OF SCIElfCE July/August hardcovers include STBPUBB FICTIDlf, edited by BRIAR ALDISS and SAIl OOIA.LDSQB's THE IIIRROR OF HER DREAlfS J LUIDYALL. from COL.L.l.liS.. August releases: ~ offers THE 501IGS OF DISTAIT EARTH by (gasp) ARTBUR C CLARKE (Sol ba.s snLE.RE. release TRUJlPS OF JXX)X by ROGBR gone nova, mankind ba.s been evacutated ZBLAZIT, book 6 of the AJlBBR series. in huge sleeperships, one of which lands on the planet Thalassa for repairs), HEy FIG! TSH I THRARy inflicts ROBBRT B BURlIlIC CHROJIE by WILLIAJl GIBSOB (a VIJIDBJIAI upon the UK in the shape of THE short fiction collection, inclUding some Drs TO PARADISE, a futuristic fantasy collaborations), and KEITH ROBBRTS' THE of five keys, scattered through a realm LORDLY Oll1lS (mistyped last issue as The of &upernatural happenings, strange Unlikely One.>. creatures and other-worldly powers. Another B-format paperback which means The new SF and fantasy specialist an X-rated price of L3.95. publisher K..E.ROS.l.B.A, publishers of KAETI AID COKPAIY, which featured in the last .IEL. also have KICI: PAJlU.' s a:JRPSB: .ICI: VEctor, bave announced their next two SBARJIAI's rou'RB BIT, and a re-issue of books. SHADES OF DARXIESS is by bRICBARD SPACB CADET by ROBBIlT HBIILBII. COWPER and 6bould be available in late 1986, wbilst GRAI"l1 by KEITH ROBERTS PIBIlS AITHOIT-mania continues with OF will see print in Spring '87/ Limited, JlAI AID JlAI'TA, an ollmi bus volume signed editions as well as trade containing ODIVDR1l, {]I and oRl, from hardcover editions of eacb title will be ~at t..4.95. published. MATRIX <55 AUGUST/SEPTEJr-£EER ~<..}a6 that fannish concepts, although often similar, are by no means identical. ~~~~ Rob Hansen will be overseeing what promises to be a stunning range of special publications' which will be on offer at the sales table, and Maureen .~ Porter is liaising with the Fan Guests TheFanRoom of Honour and qUite likely will be supervising the convention newsletter One of the most notable features of which will be run off on whatever super British conventions especially to tech computerised ki t we can encourgae foreign fans - are the Fan Rooms and Fan someone to demonstrate in the repro Progranunes. First tried out in 1975, and room. coming to full fruition 1n 1977, they have become a major factor in the ""e will be setting up a Video Box to interest and entertainment of British record opinion and anecdote throughout fannish fans. As the premier British the convention, and will also be sending convention of the Eighties, CQJlSPlRACY a team of video pryers around the place has already begun the trek to....ards (the public parts of it anyway) finding bringing you the best fanraom and fan out those things most people would programme we can muster. rather be left unrecorded. All our facilities are 1n the Metropele, These points are only the front end of and; comprise a large fan room which wl11 the Conspiracy fan programme. no fan have its own bar and lounge area, a room or programme can come together or separate but adjacent programme room, function properly without the assistance and a fanzine workshop and repro room of all who might use it, both before and which 1'1111 be also be handling the during the convention. "During" comes convention's daily newsletter. the fan later, but we would like your help right room, bossed by Greg Pickersgill and pam now with the "before" part. ""ells, will be the cenre for socialising; as well as the bar and If you would like to help with the Fan lounge area (eqUipped wi'th a unique Room in general, or with the Video Box, "cafe society" section) tbere will be please contact Linda Pickersgl11, 7a sales tables offering a range of Lawrence Road, South Ealing, London 'is fanzines new and old, convention 4XJ memorabilia, and whatever interesting junk we can otherwise acqUire. Also in All information Fan Groups and it, as well as filling the short Conventions should be channelled through corridor connecting the bar/lounge and Pa. Wells, 2403. Beech Road, Bowes Park, fan programme room, wi 11 be convention London, Nll 2DA information, fan group details, displays and layouts of events and history, all If you have fanzines you would like masterminded by Christina Lake and other to have, either for fixed price Peterfred Thompson, even now bUSy sale, auction or to give away, please collecting things to line the walls for contact Greg Plckersgl11, address as for the idle (and even the bUSy) to gawp at. Linda. Tribute will be paid in both the displays and the programme items to the Just remember, to make this work and be fact that COISPIRACY coincides with the really enjoyable we need you more than 50th anniversary of SF cons in the UK you need us. fifty years since the fannish fans did first did something for the SF readers to attend. Expect to see some remarkable "Blast from the Past" photo-spreads featuring many people who have since donned the mantle of ultra respectahility. Recognising that nothing perks up convention spirits as much as a good shouting match, Martin Tudor has come up wi th the theme of "Contention" as a seed for his programme ideas, and is scouting the UK, Europe and the rest of the world for items to get up people's noses. Note - that "rest of the world" is important; too often have fan programmers, especially in the USA, forgotten that fandom exists allover the world and MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTE~BER ~~ II An Appeal This appeal ls made to all fans 2. By writing and complaining of his everywhere on behalf of Eduard harkov, treatment and urging the Soviets to who 1s a fan stuck in the USSR and relent to: desperate to leave there. Leonid Zamyatin Eduard 1s fluent in English as well as Soviet Ambassador Russian, and be 1s expert in the field Soviet Embassy of both Eastern and Western science 16 Kensington Palace gardens fiction and fantasy. He has written a London V6 number of as yet unpublished works and has translated many SF books and stories 3. By registering bim and his family for from English into Russian. conventions and asking tbem to attend. He. his wife Ludmilla and his son Sergei first applied to leave the USSR :I n 1979, 4. By inviting him to speak or take part they were refused and ha.. e been In a convention. constantly denied permission to ga since then. The reason given was that the Anything you do wl1l help. Do not feel invitation to go to Israel did not came that you will make Eduard's sitUllition from a close enough relative. This is any worse because he has already been clearly just an excuse as his sister made a non-person in Soviet society. lives in the West. If you wish for more information or if He Is now desperately worried because you are willing to do either 3 or 4 of bis son bas reacbed tbe age wben be may the above, please contllct Dav Rigal, 06 be called up for military service. If Eden Road, London, E17 9JY. Telephone tbis should occur it will be used as an 01-521 1153(bome) or 01-631 277(j(work) excuse to deny a visa to leave allllOst indef1nitely. The phySical risk is an I received a copy of tbe above appeal additional reason for worry. wben I was at tbe The Tun the other week. I tbink it is important tbat this Eduard was dismissed from bis job in tbe is brougbt to tbe attention of all field of energy engineering when he IDembers of tbe BSFA, and indeed to as applied to leave the USSR. Since that .leny members of Bri tisb fttndom as time he has been forced to work in only possible. We are very fortunttte, bowever the most dangerous, unpleasant and we JDlJy view the sitl/lltion, to live in poorest paid posi tions. what is Msically a free society. As such, I feel it is important to lend as Eduard wants to go to tbe West so that much support as possible to those wbo he may live in freedom and pursue a lire not free in ways we would recognise, career in uncensored writing. He wants a wbicb is why I am printing this appeal chance to get his books published and to in Matrix. Tbis is, 1 add, :my personal live a life free of tbreats and cboice tc do so, and not a poliCY continual harassment. decision by tbe BSFA. Nei tber is tbis a pelitical issue, and I very JllUcb bope He has heard of the SF communi ty in the tbat it will not be interpreted as sucb. West. He has heard how this community This is a matter of a man being denied helps its members. He has asked that a basic human rigbts. It could have been direct appeal be made to you fans to cne of us, it wasn't, whicb lao'kes it help. even 1I1Ore important to lend our support. The article tells you wbat is needed and You can help in a number of ways: - I hope that at least SOI11e of you will take some action. 1. By writing to him at: I would be grateful if people would keep botb Dcv and myself informed of wbat USSR tbey do and any response tbey J1IlJy RSFSR receive. At a risk of appearing to Leningrad 196340 thrive on SODBCne'S Jaisfortune I would Kostyushko 10 like to lJJlIintain a watching brief for Apt 67 MatriX and keep everyone inforlll8d of MARKOV, Eduard developDtBnts. MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~98G 1-2 THE PERIODIC TABLE CONVENTION ROUNDUP OXBInUXIT 1966 Slightly different set-up froJll now on in The Tol:ll:ien Society's Annual Oxford that I will not only be listing English Meeting conventions, but also key overseas conventions for those BSFA members who 19th-21 September 1986 fancy taking in a convention whilst on holiday. Be warned that American cons UK Guest, and Hostess: Priscilla Tol:ll:1en aren't always quite like their English counterparts. Information from Jenny Curtis, 35 Martindale Close, Leicester, LE2 7HH CO.SEPT I"OL'oo. UnteoD 7 Guest of Honour: Tanith Lee Warsaw, Poland Kembership: Attending LB.OO Membership: Pree to Western fans Supporting ,L4. 00 Information from Richard Jasinski, 70 Send cheques/PQs/etc payable 351 S:zc:zecin, UJ. Bol. Smialego 14/26, "Consept: Un7con" to 9 Grabam Road, Poland. Yealdstone. Harrow, Klddlessex, RA3 5RP RUBICOR The Britisb Fantasy Society Annual 22nd-25th August 1986 Convention Cbequers Hotel, Newbury, Berks 26th-28th September 1986 Kember-ship: LS.OO Tbe Midland Hotel, Birmingbam Information from K Oborn, Bishops Guest of Honour: Denh1s Etchison Cottage, Park House tane, Reading, RG3 Special Guest: lody Scott 2AH K. C Samantha Lee Membership: Attending otlO.OO KOAIAooR (BPS members ot9.00) 22nd-25th August 1986 Supporting ot2.00 'iarwick Universi ty Send cheques/POs/etc, payable to Guests of Honour: Dave Langford, Pete "Fantasycon" to Fantasycon XI, 15 Tamlyn Stanley Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 50£. Information from Alex Zbyslaw, 123 Room rates: per person, per night, Hollis Road, Stoke, Coventry, UK ot18.50 oo~BDERATIO. IIICOI The 44th World SF Convetion Pronounced 'Sicon' (I think), it' EO tbe 12tb Gla&gow Convention 28th August - 1st September 26th - 29tb September, 1986 Guest of Honour: Ray Bradbury Central Hotel, Glasgow (wbere the Fan Guest of Honour: Terry Carr Eastercon was) Toastmaster: Our very own Bob Shaw Guest of Honour: Harry Harrison Hilton Hotel/Towers H01:el, Atlan1:a, Georgia. Membersbip: Attending ot9 Su pporti ng .t3 I've no idea what 1t w111 cost on 1:he door and 1 t· s probably too late to book Cbeques/POs/etc, payable to "XI JCON", to by post anyway, but worth noting in case SJ campbell, Beacbf1eld, Galfmuir Road, you're in the area. Lenzle, Glasgow, G66 3JJ. MATR~X 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~9B6 13 Room rates: Single per night t16.00 Room rates; Single per night t2l.50 Twin/Double per person, per Twin/double per night. per night t13. 50 person t16.50 Triple per persen, per night t13.00 I'd better declare that I have an interest here - I'm doing the programme. At the risk of sounding biased, it won't I1COB 66 be quite like any Rovacon you've ever seen before. On the warning in PR 1, The First Northern Ireland Science we're not so much premising to get heavy Fictien Convention as demonstrating to the hotel that we have given a warning. They were not 26th October 1986 happy, last year. All we really ask is that people are discreet. End of Students Union, Queen's University, commercial. Belfast Guest of Honour: Anne McCaffrey, James STAR TREK PLATIIUX AIIIlVERSARY White, plUS Peter Merwood, Chris Boyce CORVEIITIOII Fan Guest of Honour: to be announced 15th-16th November 1986 Kembership: Attending t2.00 Guests of Honour include Gene Supporting .tl. 00 Roddenberry, George Take1, Diane Duane and many more. Send cheques/POs/etc, pllIyable to "Queen's Clubs and Societies", to thoJll.!ls The rates are too complicated to Ferguson, Science Fiction Society, c/o summarise here but information to be had QUB, SU Building, University Road, from Platinum Anniversary Convention, Belfast, BT7 lPE Box 6B38, Broad & Water PO, Boston, XA 02102, USA. 12th WORLD FABTASY CORVEBTIOII Apparently a con without a name CORCEPTIO. 30th October - 2nd November 1986 A celebration of the 50th anniversary of Providence, Rhode Island, USA the first ever SF convention, held in Leeds in 1937. Guests of Honour: Ramsey Campbell, Charles L Grant, J K Potter 13th-15th February 1987 Queen's Hotel, Leeds Membership: Attending $45 (no at-the~ door memberships, size limit (This is a correction - there is no 750) Grand Hotel in Leeds, only wishful Supporting $20 thinking on John's part about relocating Rovacons) Information from 12th World Fantasycon, Box 3251, Darlington Branch PO, Membership: Attending .t6.00 Pawtucket, RI 02861, USA. Send cheques/POs/etc, payable to "Conception", to 12 Fearnville Terrace, IIOVACOB 16 Oakwood, Leeds, LSB 3DU The Birmingham SF Group's Annual CORFLU 4 Convention. 20th-22nd February 1987 31st October - 2nd November 1986 De Vere Hotel, Coventry Cincinnati, Ohio Guest of Honour: EC 'Ted' Tubb Information from Bill Bowers, 2466 Special Guest: Chris Evans Harrison Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45211, USA Membership: t8.00 attending tl0.00 on the door GRICO. send cheques/POs/etc, payable to 6th-Bth March, Essex (anyWhere in "Novacon 16" to Graham Poole, B6 Berwood particular in Essex?) Farm Road, Wylde Green, Sutton Coldfield, West Kidlands. M@mbership: .t12.00 plus 3 SASEs MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~ga6 14 Send cheques/POe/etc to 60 Burdett JlTTBCO. XVII I Avenue, Yestcllft-on-Sea, Essex, SS) 7JY JIIythopoeic Conference. Theme:· Tolkien Retrospective CAPCQ' 14th-27th July, 1987 1967 Australian Batlon41 SF Convention Jilarquette Uni versity, Xilwaukee, "'iscons1n, USA 18th-20tb April 1987 Kember-ship: Attending: AS2!5 in advance, I tbink tbis is tbe conference of tbe ""30 at the door Mythopoeic Society, with fairly strong Supporting: AS!5 acadelll1c empbasis. And if anyone knows how to pronounce it .. ? Information frOIl Capcon, PO Box 312, Fysh",lcll:, 260; ACT, Australia CO.sPIRACT • 87 ~BCCO. '87 The 45th World SF Convention (the first 1n Britain since 1979) The 1967 Easter-con 22nd August - 1st september 1987 25tb-27th April 1987 Metropole Hotel " Brighton Centre, Ketropole Hotel, WEC, Birmingham Brighton (surprise, surprise) Guest or Honour: Keith Roberts Guests of Honour: Doris Lessing, Alfred Fan Guest of Honour: 6tl11 to be Bester, Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Jim announced Burns KembeTship: Attending ~10 Fan Guests of Honour: Ken and Joyce Support!ng .tIS Slater, Dave Langford Nate that these rates wIll go up by ott Toastmaster: Brian Aldiss sOlllewbere at the end of September Membership: Attending ~25 (children 8-14 Send cheques/POs/etc, payable to .£12.50) "Beccon", to SeeDeD '87, 191 The Supporting ;tID Heights, Northo1t, Middlesex. These rates will go up on 2nd September so get your application in quick. MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~986 15 1 WIlS waiting around for tbe BSFA awards ALBACON m to be handed out after sitting through a load of lunatic games. The hotel team The Con Report had won somewhat SUSpiCiously, this event being tbe IDOst forgettable of tbe whole weekend. All of a sudden tbe by ll1cholas Xaboney celebrities started walking in. Five minutes later, Joe Haldeman had sat down Albocon III 1n I1y view WAS a total next to me and we eventually struck up a success. conversation. Being only my second convention I always I collected my wits and found that h@ fel t I knew bow to get more out of 1 t hadn't read the award nominations, so I than my previous convention 60 I can't gave him my opinion of tbe novels as compare enJoynent. Actually. it the last best I could and bad the horrible two are anything to go by, then I wtsh I sen&ation I could qUite possibly be could afford to go to more conventions. boring hi•. I also found Clive Barker Por a student they are a touch pricey. elUnently approachabl@. I took up a book I'm continually updating calculations AS to be signed and he immediately made me to how JlUcb the Yorldcon 1s going to feel at ease wi th an enthusiast 'Hi cost me. and CODlt ng to the dreary there' . conclusion that it w111 be half a grant cheque, whichever way you look at it. A_lOg the highlights of the weekend were the GOH speech and Barker's guest At Albacon, to economise, I avoided speech. I was hoping they'd be in Katrlx hotel food <1t 1& possible) but most but alas Barker started off by others dido't and sang its pratses. Bar saying that he was nervous but inspired prices were something I could relate to, a tbou&and souls with his enthusiasm and I indulged as much as my oyerdraft (well, not quite that :many were there, would allow. The book roolll was huge. For but it was that good). Haldeman's non-convention goers out there, it is question and answer routine was the best plac@ to try and get that book interesting and conta1ned the follOWing you have never been able to find. For 'What do I tbink of reviewers? Well, me, it was a good. place to inflict GSH what does a fire hydrant think at dogs?' on my bank account. On the same &ubj ect, Barker produced 'DoD't even ignore them.' The filJDli? Bladerunner was good, as ever, but Cocoon was the big surprise. I Where science fiction fans are saw the title and tbougbt 'this is gonna concerned, conventions should be be crlllp'. It wllIsn't. I enjoyed it from prescribed by the NHS as a cure for beginning to end llInd WlloS facinated by deprelii&ioD. I came home vibrant with the audience reaction. In tbe film 1lI few ideas and enough :DlOtivation and old people become increllisingly enthus1aliim to write a few semi-decent energetic, to the point where one stories. So mucb happened in the space becomes a breakdlllnce sensation at a of four day& that it took me weeks to disco. The Albacon audience applauded get rid of the anecdotes. I left for the him. The atmospbere wllltchlng the films train with a feeling that, as unwilling WlloS sO:lllethlng I've never experienced in as I was to let it end, I had to leave a cinema, as a result the level of to have some normal life to compare it enjoyment wall mucb bigher. with. I always find the panels fascinlllt1ng, there 1s such a wide range of subjects, and so often put forward 50 enthusiastically that there simply has to be something for ev~ryone. I could go on for pages about them. I never felt tempted to try the f.}.o prograllUllE! so I can hardly say anything about that. Throughout tbe wbole convention I felt at home almost to the point of becoming an extrovert and tbat, believe me, is saying sometbing! All I needed to do to find a friend was to simply strike up a conver&6tion witb the nearest available person. Witb your pet subject as untrodden ground it W3S a cinch. Only I wasn't fully aware how universally tbat applied until something partiCUlarly IlI8l1lOrable happened. MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTE~BER ~9a6 us years ago I enjoyed his collections R 1s for Rocket and S 1s for Space, but then MEDIA REVIEWS I read Tbe SIMll ASSlIss1n, his horror/fantasy collection, wbich put me SOMETHING WICKED THIS YAY COMES off reading anything further. That is, until I read Sometb1ng !l1cked Tbis Yay (adapted by Liz Brailsford, with music Comes before going to see the play. I by Andrew Dickson, from the novel by Ray enjoyed both. Bradbury> The question is, would a Liverpool Pertormed at the Everyman Theatre, audience, perhaps sated on a diet of Liverpool, 15th May - 21st June, 1986. Star V"rs, Legend and Kn1ght R1der appreciate a production wbich required Reviewed by Stephen R Ealey it to use its imagination rather than presenting it with spectaCUlar effects Let's talk about secret drealtlEl and to admire. Unfortunately, on the night I Hallowe'en and dinosaurs and boys with saw the play, the auditorium was only wild imaginations. Yes, ",e are in Ray balf full. However, the encouragingly Bradbury country, Illinois, and sure young audience seemed to enjoy every enougb. something sinister 16 about to rsinute and gave the company a good happen. reception. Jim Nightshade and Will Halloway are The Ray Bradbury Theatre: Karionettes almost fourteen. Tbey are riding easy 1n Inc the reins, Jogging along, waiting for Hallowe'en - hut this year Hallowe'en Based on the story by Ray Bradbury comes early. Their langUid autumn Is shattered by the arrival of Cooger and Starring: James Coco, Leslie Nelson Dark's Carnl val, and the carousel which Directed by: Paul LynCh can make your secret dream come true. Produced by: Seton McLean This adaptation of Bradbury's 1903 novel Broadcast: gth June, Yorkshire TV (30 opens With a recital of its evocative mlns) prologue and from then on fai thfully adheres to the original story, the only Reviewed by Terry Broome minor deViation occuring at the end of the play. Very few SF and fantasy John Braling bas an overly helpful wife stories have been adapted for the stage, who can't stop talking. His life has for obvious reasons, but this is an become a boring routine. Then he arrives excellent example of what can be at work to find an advertiseruent for achieved with limited resources. Xarionettes Inc an his personal computer. Everywhere he goes he is There are no dazzling special effects, assailed by their business cards and and scenery and props are kept to a their company motto 'We Shadow Fortb'. rDlnimum. Two pairs of step ladders give They seem to know everything about him, sterling service as houses, library right down to the way he thinks. stacks and a hot air balloon; the Persuaded by a colleague to visit the lightning-rod salesman jangles an company, he meets Fantochini, the imaginary sack of ruetalwork and a large proprietor, (played by Leslie Nelson, umbrella covered with tin foil (along best known for his role in Po11ce wi th the inevitable stepladders) makes a Squad). Knowi ng that Brali ng Iives a sad colourful carousel. An already extended and unhappy life, he offers him a new imagination has no trouble vlsualising start. the freaks and horrors of the carnival as they cavort around the stage. After high-pressure selling, Braling accepts and an android replica The actors played all the music live, takes his place at home whenever be and they appeared to enjoy hugely their wishes to be away. Xeanwhile his total involvement in the production. colleague ha. discovered that Braling's Barry Bircb eas Jim) and Ben Daniels wife is also a marionette and has spent (Will> made brave attempts to capture all his money. The scene ends with the the boys who 'grew up overnight, and marionette ominously opening its eyes as were never 60 young any more' but the man bends aver it. perhaps they were a little too old. Special mention must be given to Xatthew At the same time, Braling is finding Zajac as the evil Xr Dark, who delighted his replica to be an improvement on him in bis sudden appearences from trap in every way, and it has started to do doors, and who stalked ominously around things that he would never do. It 1sn't the stage. aoing as JIlarionettes Inc wou ld Iike and it doesn't want to go back to tbe I 1IlUst confess to a certain indifference factory. It is enjoying its new life tao concerning Ray Bradbury's work. )(any llllJch, and wben Braling confronts it, the MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEFTE~BER ~98~ 17 marionette refuses to get back into its suffers from the everything-but-the box. After a brief fight, Braling kitchen-sink approach. The finale is hi.lIl6elf is sealed into the box, and the stretched to include a variety of replica resumes its life with Braling's spectacular special effects allowing the wife, viewer to become distanced from the action. Fright Night ieo; by no means a Coco is an excellent choice to play failure, the performances are uniformly Braling, but Nelson steals the scenes excellent, especially Chris Sarrandon as wben they appear together. Indeed. the funky vampire who exudes charismatic Nelson' 5 Fantochini is a very qUirky potency but suffers from a bad case of character and a del ightful sunburn. Holland sticks closely to the interpretation, though I couldn't quite hallowed principles of vampire lore make up my mind as whether or not he which, by now, most of us have overdid it. There is a fine line between forgotten in the wake of endless movies a good portrayal of a sinister character which have shown much less respect for or ham acting. the dead (or should that be undead!). This vampire can change his victims into In the story, Marionettes Inc is not hounds, turn himself into a bat quicker particularly sinister. The company than you can say 'Louma Crane' and he requires a mould for any character they develops a strong vegetarian streak when replicate, for example, and their motto someone mentions a steak. proclaims 'No Strings Attached'. The whole story is jokily written, the H P Lovecraft is not the kind of writer final scene where the marionette you would expect modern horror audiences confesses to having feelings and seeIll5 to appreciate, but director Stuart embarassed to admit to loving Braling's Gordon has revitalised an old series of wife Reviewed by Colin Bird Re-AniJmltor is an enjoyable romp, sensi bly played as much for laughs as For those of uS enjoying a breather from for chills. There are several ludicrouEi the many recent limp science fiction scenes involving a headless corpse and films MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~ga6 lB to dismember the zombie and incinerate the corpse, but the burning flesh produces oS cloud of the cbemic",l which settles on the nearby graveyard. A sillall group of locals caugbt up 1n the incident hole up in the mortuary and UK Categories begin to succumb. Favourite Artist: Alan Davis " Writer: Alan Moore Al tbough there 1& a sense of panic evident tbroughout this f11m, the story Comic: 2000 AD Comic Album: Nemesis Book 3 seeming to overrun the flira-makers much as the zombies do civilisation, the pace Character: Halo Jones and twisted huraour ensure a novel Villian: Torquemada approach to a preViously jaded plot Supporting Character: Meggan device. There are several references to Captain Britain Romero's pioneering' Dead' but Return of Cbaracter Most Yortby of Own Title: Halo tbe Living Dead bas a flavour very much Jones 1 ts own. I especially enj eyed the sight Favourite Single or Continuing Story: of increasingly stronger polLce rescue Halo Jones Book 2 (2000 AD #406-415> attempts being quasbed by a tllaSS of zombies whleb seelDEld to appear from New Comic: Captain Britain nowhere. Comic Book Cover: Captain Britain Favouri te Specialist Comics Publication: The Comics Page Speakeasy Roll of Honour: Alan Moore BAGLB AWARDS The 1986 Eagle Awards were announced at SPIRIT TV JlQVIB the June Comic Con in Birm! ngham and featured a nearly clean sweep by Mexican A pilot TV lIlOYle of Will Eisner's THE guest Alan Moore. Apart from winning the SPIRIT is currently filming in the Best Writer categories for both the UK Uni ted States. Made for ABC by Warner and the US, Alan' 6 work was voted top in Brothers Television, the film features the following categories; SAl( JOIRS (of FLASH GORDON fame> as the 'Wildwood Detective', with IllA VISITOR Favour!te Comic Book (US), Favour!te as Ellen Dolan and GARRY WALBERG as Supporting Character US Categorlelil: Joining the regular ELRIC OF JtHLIIBO"~ and H.AtIKJICJOI adaptaitons from First Favourite Artist (Penciller): George Comics is THE CHROIICLES C1F CORUJI (which Perez are actually the best of Moorcock's S&S Favourite Artist (Jnker): Terry Austin novels, in tbe bumble opinion of this Writer: Alan Koore wri ter - DH>, to be wri tten by XIK:B Comic Book: Swamp Thing BARD. and drawn by JlIKE JIIC.OLA andRICK Favour! te GraphiC Bovel: American Flagg BURCHBTT. - Hard Times Favourite Character: Batman Rob Cregg has also passed on some pieces Group or Team: X-Men of information: Villain: Anti-Moni tor Supporting Character: John DETECTIVE 567 contains a batman story Constantine - Swamp Thing penned by Harlan Ellison. Character Most Vorthy of Own Title: Wolverine The &tllJl!Jn 400 is a speCial 64-page no Favourite Single or Continued Story: ads issue with an array of guest writers Crisis on Infinite Earths #1-9 and pencillers. plus an intro by Stephen Favourite Bew Title: Miracleman King. Comic Book Cover: Swamp Thing #3' Fantastic Four 296 is the 25th Annish Favourite Specialist Comics Publication: and features the return of Stan Lee Amazing Heroes himself. MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~9B6 19 COVET ITI ON CORlfER There were six entrie& this time, frolll Stephen R Ealey, tb.rtin Hewitson, Nicholas tb.honey, Kevin Mcveigh, Phil Nichols, and Dave Wood. An interesting selection of nominees included: The Stainless Steel Rat (twice), Marvin the Paranoid Android, the Ticktockman, Zarathustra, Paul Atreides, and God. (And yes, SOIll9 people entered more than once) . The winner of this, lIy last competition, is PHIL NICHOLS, for his lithort, pithy manifesto in suppport of Hari Seldon: Vote Seldon. He will: - Play absolutely no part in the running of the Association: - Allow the Association to continue its inexorable process of decay; - Keep the membership totally in the dark: - Put in a token appearence once every fifty years. That says it all really, doesn't it? Phil will be receiving a 1.5 book token. Thank you to everyone '''ho's entered my competitions, and I h0F-e a few more of you have had some fun thinking Ilobout thelll at hOJllB. I'm now taking a rest for Ilo few months, but be warned - I may be back! Once more into the hreach, dear friendlit, and may the Force be wit"h you. And all that relllllins fnr me to do 1s to WRITE BACK thank Liz very much for all her hard work in prOViding the competitions over the last few issues of btrix. The LetterColumn The competition column i6 going on holiday for the time being, although odd Perbaps I /1.111 Just a natural-born little competitions may emerge from time pessimst but I honestly didn't expect to time. The column will re-appear to recei ve so il1UD9diate and so around the turn of the year, I hope. favourable a response to my plans for Unless, of course, ~.owls of protest Matrix. 1 found it extre11l@1y persuade me to do otherwise. Mind you, a encouraging. Okay so the egoboo was very shOWing of six out of eight hundred h'el CO.lllL'? , but it also de1JlOnstrated that a potential entries isn't exactly lot of you are Willing to put pen to inspiring. We shall se(. paper. Tbe nU11lber of new nallles a~ng tbe correspondents _s espeCially beartening. 1 shall be expecting to see MAT1?IX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~986 lots /DOre new..::omers in future 1etter wortb listening to if you are a fan of .::olt'mns. SF-influenced music. Yamash'ta also provided all the music for the David As " little incentive next time "round, Bowie/Nicbolas Roeg film Tbe Kan who for the first new person to wri te into Fell to ElIrth. the letter column there will be " FREE book. By 'new' I me"n th"t your n"me H\l65l:11 n Mphl'med sbou1d not h"ve lIppe"red in the l"st 124 Gloucester Road, Kingston-upon- five 1ettercols of Matrix. Thames, Surrey, KT1 3QN I think a few words on my editori"l Kevin McVeigh raises a faSCinating topic policy so f"r "s thE' letter column is when he asks what music people choose to concerned wouldn't burt. I will print associate with SF. I have often read wblltever you wri te, but I reserve the comments from readers asserting that right to shorten, edi t or use extracts rock music is the sound most often as necessary. I lim not suggesting you associated witb SF. Is this true, and if keep letters sbort but it be1ps if you 50 why? Because of Hawkwind and present your thougbts c1e"rly and Moorcock, and Yes and Roger Dean? I concisely. At the same time, enigmatic personally think thllt there is as much one-sentence st"tements wi th no I;fQrd of connection between rock and SF as there explllnation lire little help either so is between Wagner and SF, i.e. none, please make sure tb"t I know what you're everything or whatever you choose. I saying. You don't b"ve to type your fail to see that there is an innate letter, but ne"t handwriting belps. X"ke connection which often, judging by sure tb"t you print your n"me and readers' comments, seems to be the address legibly somewhere an the letter consensus. Xaybe it's just that I hate - ple"se! Rock! Jeez, prejudice against the seminal music of our time! I must be a I've relllised tbat same people expect" reactionary old fuddy-duddy Wonder person"l reply as well "s b"vi ng their wbat other people think? letter printed. Sorry but you're being greedy. It si.I1Jply is not possible for me ~ to respond person"lly to every letter 74 Hl:I.rdy Street, Hull, North Humberside, that I receive as Matrix editor. So, HU5 2PJ much as I lIppreciate tbe thoughtfulness of tbose who lIctually enclose SASEs, I'd I'm a fan of both [music and SF] but prefer it if you didn't. I'll be in tend to see the two interests as touch 1f necessary. Otberwise, your separate entities. David Wingrove's acknowledgement of receipt must ei tbar recent article in Vector [on Yes], and be seeing your letter in print or your previous ones I've read, have yet to nll1I1e in the IAHF column. convince me that the two fields can be I tbink we will pick up tbe thre"d of slltisfactorily merge. tbe SF music discussion with Kevin XcVeigb's response to Pl!Jtr1ck Lee's As far as I can see, there are four query from X64. areas where SF music is claimed to exist. First, there are bands/tracks/ Kevip McYe'ib llibums with SF titles. This is often 37 Firs Road, Mllnthorpe, superficial - you can't claim that Duran Cumbria, LA7 7QF Duran is an sf group or that SplIrks in Outer Splice is an SF album. Secondly, SF In reply to Patrick Lee's comments, I is often linked with electronic or hadn't noticed the link with Tears for progreSSive music. This 1s guilt by Fears' Everybody VlInts to Rule the association, the synthesiser=hi World but I can see his point about the tech=futuristic. an the other end of the music from Dune, which was mainly scale MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEFTE~BER ~ga6 21 is the question of .t.AJ:it.Jl. People who I agree with Ken Lake - Guffstuff should like both SF and music tend to claim the go out to all BSFA members. connection for groups @tc they like. David Wingrove's article on Yes, for Tlhilst 1 agree that Xatrix bas to be instance, was obviously a labour of far Tf10re thlln a news IMgazine I can't love. But to one who does not know or accept tbat disposing of tbe lists of enjoy the music, it was not convincing. ne", releases will serve any good. Too Can anyone look at the SF/music .llUny people rely on them - "'hilst fans interface without falling into any of aren't always serious book collectors the above traps'? I've not seen anybody tbey do like to knoW' what is going on. do so thus far, but I would be delighted If tbey can't afford to buy lJIlJil order if it could be done. books regularly tben tbey are a little stuck for information because they won't Any offers? Contributions gratefully see tbe catalogues. received, but 1 alii not interested in itelllS listing groups and songs without Certainly, 1 ""ant to extend the review any critical analysis involved. And if colulIIDs and cover as wide a variety as you want to pass on lists of recolV1lBnded possible. On tbe otber hand, 1 would ~sic to one anotber, would you do it like to avoid too JJftJch detail on anyone directly rather tban througb Xatrix. subject, coJalcs for example. Tbe Whole intention of tbis ne"'Sletter is to Ti1lle to lIIOve on to tbe lIIOre serious prOVide a general overview ratber tblJn .lIIo!ttter of wbat tbe BSFA in general, and in-deptb analysiS, and 1 alii really not Matrix in particular ought to be doi ng. prsp4red to sacrifice too lIIucb space to Opinions vary, of course. any p4rticullJr specialised interest at tbe risk of overlooking others. ~ 103 Highfield Road, Romford, 1 have also lJIentioned your tbougbts on Essex, RKS 3AE Guffstuff to Eve Harvey, and I expect to be bearing from her in tbe not-too First of all, I'd like to thank John distant future. Harvey for the great job he did on }I(64, prodUCing a fine issue in very difficult Kevin McVeigb disagreed witb Ken Lake on circumstances. Your "'hat Future the subject of receiving boo1clists - we for Katrix? article was a refreshing really will be keeping tbelll, honest introduction to what you're planning for and also went on to c01lUlll9nt about the the '%ine in future is&ues. It is good deatb of L Ron Hubbard. to have an editor who isn't afraid to look ahead and -.ke radical changes In my view Ilatrix could (and should ) become the flagship of both the BSFA and 1 was disDllyed by Xichael Wi ppe11 's fandom as a whole. Generally speaking, I reaction to the death of L Ron Hubbard. like the sound of the changes you're The death of the founder has not as far planning, but I'll try not to expect too as l' m aWlIre been significantly much too soon. detrimental to lIIIElnibership of the cult of SCientology. Indeed, I am inclined to Although Ilatrix is the newsletter of the belIeve that it could even increase as a BSFA I agree that it should be far more result of his • Joining God'. I am than a newsletter. Every serious book saddened to think that, though Hubbard collector receives the lists, was undoubtably evil, any rational revieW%ines etc put out by the mail person would rejoice in the death of order SF cOlllpanies, and it is pointless another human being. It would surely to duplicate this information by have been so n1uch better if the menace publishing endless lists of new releases of his cult had bee-n destroyed Whilst in the pages of KlJtrix. The rest of the allOWing him to live. As SCientology news coverage is fine, considering the lives on, what was tbere to be glad bi-monthly schedule. about'? It is not the end of the man which brings victory but only the Apart from the spread of news the zine replacement of his evil work. And are we should concentrate on two main areas not all stained by our [ailure to reviews and discussion. A lively, provide a 'good' alternative to lead our extensive loccol is a must, and I hope children away from the evil'? There can all the fen who're idly sitting, be more than one piper! whingeing about the BSPA, get off their butts and at least contribute to this It .llUkes mre wonder, in all this fuss section of the zine. I also rather like over tbe death of L Ron, just ho'" many your ideas on fan%ine reviews, as it'll people actually kno'" JOVcb, if anything, provide a nice variety of reviews on the about Scientology. If anyone can supply various zines around. However, with the a good, objective llnd unbiased (and that dearth of Britzines it looks as though JIlE'ans ei ther It'llyJ explanation of the you'll only be covering US/Aussie zines! working of ScIentology I'd be glad to MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTE~BER ~ga6 22 take " look at it ",itb " view to publication. Eecause fantasy novels have an unsavoury habit of carrying off SF awards o..w1. Ben Stove! ey-TlIY] or fantasy awards, leaving excellent SF novels wi tbout any awards at all. The 33 Chalk Ridge. \ilnchester. reverse deesn't seem to happen. HantS,5023 8QY Terry's views call for a extra division, Reviews ot media presentatlan5 seem to baving separate awards for hardbacks and have II. I10ndatory section "tbere tbe paperbacks. I think that would be a bit reviewer explains how the production bas pointless since almost all hardbacks of' tailed to CApture X, Y or Z. Could I ask any note will make it into pllperback. reviewers to think seriously about when I'd much rather see two awards, one for this criticism Is relevant, and when the SF and one for fantasy (and Empire of the film or play should be judged on its tbe Sun, etc) than one for paperbacks, own Ill8rl ts'? I thought that the review of one for hardbacks. Overdrawn lit the Xe11lDry Bank(X03> was bad in 1 ts comparisons w1 th the My most important point of 'only 'original' version, and that of paperback eligibility' got 60me support. Fabrenbei t 451 "'auld anyone like to add to tbat, SOllie On the BSPA awards debate I agree wi th of our regular reviewers l1IlIybe? And bow the virtually unanimous view that there lJoout Joining tbe reviewing stable, Ben? should be two separate awards for best paperback and best hardback with only Perbap5 it's ti.rae to move on to DOre first editions being eligible. It general BSFA l1IlItters. Tbe discussion should, though, remain as an award for about tbe awards see.lllS to be goins SP or fantasy, with only first editions stronE tbougb I can't say I notice any being eligible. One point rlllrely plIrticular conclusions being reacbed. discussed is the validity of foreign novels in what purports to be the BRITISH Science Fiction Award. In .Illy Hi chol 06 Mohoney view the award should only be open to 27~ Lonsdale Avenue, Intake, British writers and indeed, I Doncaster, DB2 6HJ autoletically disqualified both Powers and Wolfe from this year's ballot. Concerning Terry Broome's comments there are a number of things he waliited a lot Clive'ioodley of space on which were just 29 Highlands Road, Orpington, III.1sunderstandings. My saying that Kent, DRS UP Sbarra's Exile didn't belong on the memory-jogger referred to it being a I thought, as one of the silent majority book of the year before not because of who did not vote, that I would scribble any belief that it was fantasy. a few reasons why I didn't. Apart from FurtherlDOre I think that the so-called the fact that all the SF books I buy, memory-jogger 6b.aJ.Ll.d.. be definitive. If for financial reasons, are second-hand, ~trix can inform us of every book and so are usually a year. or so old, I coming out on a *>nth by month basis am not convinced of the value of the then there's hardly much excuse for BSFA awards. I have seen no evidence coming up wi th an inaccurate memory that the publishers/producers etc pay jogger list. any attention to a book or ruedia presentation which has BSFA award winner By quali ty voters I mean votes from tagged to it. Are awards for the people who have actually read the edification of the fans who vote for necessary books rather than voting for them, or do they 601ely provide an their favourite authors or whatever. egoboost to the award winner? Does even the award winner really care or take As for d1l;j,tinguishing between SF and much note of winning a BSFA award? fantasy, which in rare cases can be a Please, if any person, inclUding past bit lUind-boggling, I'm not campaigning winners, knows, can they inform me? I for separate awards simply for would like to know, I'm open to llppearence sake but more accurately conversion. 3I<£ATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTE3I<£BER ~98e 23 "'-""--"=1. 1'.111 tentatively planning tbis for Jlatrix 2 Paddock Yay, Higher Kinnerton, 67 or 68, to give people tiJlle to Chester, CH4 PBA lA Andy StuQler AZlyone else out tbere got anything Z1ice 1 The Flaxyard, Woodfall Lane, to say lJbout libraries, lJnd wbo's blJd Little Beston, South Virre1. L04 4BT blJd experiences trying to get new SF requested? Some comments in M64 suggest that people don't read hardbacks. Specifically, they Stephen R EoJ ey don,'t or can't borrow thelll from 9 Glasven Road, Northwood, Kirkby, libraries. I'llI a librarian so obviously JIIerseyslde, L33 OVA this is a bit of a hobby horse of mine but l:I...I:..a.. libraries that bad? Recent discussion of the BSFA awards seems to have neglected the Best Artist From my own experience of a not-very award. It was Joseph IUcholas, I think, progressive authority, a new novel can who said, some time ago, that without be requested and supplied in a the "preViOUS year only" criterion the relatively short space of time. a_rd for beat novel would go to the Certainly, for JKJst SF hardback novels Foundation trilogy, say every year, you won't get the problem of long clearly a aituation to be ayoided. waiting lists as you would for the new However, this seelE to be exactly the Danielle Steel or CAtherine Cookson! If aituation we are in wi th the Best Artist a book isn't in stock at your library, award. The same artists are nominated then you should be able to request it: year atter year - some have produced if this isn't the case perhaps you ought notable work in the preceding year, some to drop a line to Richard Luce, Minister have not. As :Mike Moir suggests in his of the Arts, at the House of Commons and article, perhaps the nominations should remind him about the bit in the Public be for a par'ticular piece of artwork, Libraries and MuseuJllS Act, 1964, which say a magazine or book cover, or retes to a local authority's duty to interior illustration. provide a "comprehensive and efficient library service." MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~9B6 And next, we have tbe continuing Bernard could therefore withdraw my letter. My Smith/BSFA debate. Again, this is very refusal to do so unless something difficul t for IDe, walking into a tangible was forthcoming from the BSFA sittlatlon which seeJDS to have been going end has resulted in the usual, and on forever, <'liS tbe new editor of Katrix predictable, response of stonewalling and as the newest BSFA CO/1ll1Jittee member. and distortion. I received no reply to I wasn't involved in what bas already that particular letter and, amaZingly, taken place, which 11ekes it even barder no Antares has appeared. Even if the to COJJUDent. However, let us start with original material has been 'lost in the Bernard's latest letter and then move on post', what kind of editor sits back and to responses engendered by his letter in lets a print deadline slip qUietly slip K64. by wi thout even picking up the telephone to enquire where the work has gone? If Bernnrd Sm1 th John Harvey had not telephoned Alan 8 Wansfard \IIalk, Thorplands Brook, Dorey to inform hilll of the contents of Northampton, my K~trix letter, I wouldn't have known of the loss and would have been able to In reply to John Harvey's cOJUIDents, the arrange for Simon Ings to not only send BSFA does, indeed, have a head. It's replacement manuscripts but also called the Council, and if they aren't completely re-do the artwork. For the running things, then who is? Did anyone record, everything on Illy Antares file suggest at the AGK that a temporary has been duplicated and sent to Kaureen chairman be appointed until the problem Porter, and I alll quite happy to have any is sorted out - that's the type of thing of it duplicated anywhere, anyti:me. that most organisations usually do in these circumstances. The co:mments frolll I fully appreciate that many :members lain Anderson make it quite clear that I must be quite tired of bearing about did not 'read anything' into John this shambles, and I can assure them Harvey's repl"y, and that the content and that all the people who have put in tone were obvious. liith regard to his considerable time amd trouble to try and asinine remark about' pet projects', his get this project off the ground are own edi torial states that Antares was equally sick of the whole business. launched by the BSFA. Is it that he After discussion with them, it was doesn't read his own editorials, or just decided that something needed to be done that he doesn't believe them? to sort this business out once and for all. To this end, I wrote to Alan Dorey I have been in contact with all the on 30th June 1986 and, on behalf of all people who have been involved with the authors and artists, made it clear producing Antares from the Cassandra that we were prepared to give him until end, and they are all as disgusted as I July 28th to produce Antares. If a copy alll at the deliberate lie that the delays did not reach :me by that date, then had been caused by 'a distinct lack of permission would automatically be communication' frOIll our side, If this wi thdrawn to use any material produced were the case perhaps someone would like by us, and the material should be to explain how ten works of fiction were returned. sent to Alan Dorey - most of them typed I fully admit that, when the members of up, caroera- ready, along with eight A5 Cassandra agreed to get involved in this illustrations, one editorial and the project, they did so against their cover design. Perhaps they would also better judgement and despite warnings like to explain the numerous letters on from a number of people that we would be Illy file which have been sent to hiro wasting our time. Nevertheless, we since last SepteIllber repeatedly asking agreed and produced an amount of for information and keeping hiIII informed material totally out of proportion to of our progress (I have ~ letter from our numbers (25). It was done on trust hiIII dated November '85) Perhaps he and the results are clear to see, This would also like to explain the repeated was the first time I have gone against phone calls from Simon Ings who finally my instinct - it will be the last. gave up in frustration. Perhaps he would like to explain why one of our members If Ant"res appears in this mailing, it was assured, at Mexican, that he had all will be as a result of an ultimatum to the copy and that it was at the printers the BSFA, not a commitment by it. If and ready to go for the April mailing not, I think that an apology to the only to inform me by telephone that he whole membershi p is called for - and not 'hadn't received anything' Everything before time. sent from Cassandra has been done by recorded delivery - nothing has been H"ssn1 n Mohnmed acknowledged other than the cover and one piece of artwork. I was 'assured' After Bernard Smi th' 5 kind comments over the telephone that a new printing about Vector production recently, I date had been set and that Antares would hesitate to criticise, but it really is definitely be in the June mailing. I qui te pointless disgruntled members MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~9B6 25 writing in to BSFA publications in this you agree with the tone he uses, he does way :MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTE:MBER ~ga6 20 Association sinking even further into dedicated. 1 think that tbings are going ch".os. There needs to be a faT IlIOTe to improve fairly rlJpidly. professional attitude to the entire business of tbe organisation, reflected Vbilst the 'swamping crisis' delllOn 1n a regular lind more polished approach strllted the power of advertising, tbe to the publications, bringing Katrix and very fact of it causing LJ crisis also PI up to Vector's level. sbowed tha t we di d not ha ve tbe m.:tcbinery to cope with it tben, lJnd the However, all the6E1 things cannot be situlltion is JUUch the S.!ll.me now. This is accomplished without an enthusiastic sOJDething we are aware of, particularly dedicated, even - company of people with the Vorldcon coJ4ing to Britain next working on the publications and the year, naturally a target for some strong Association's other responsibilities. I recruiting. The hope is to bave our cannot believe that skilled and willing adIfnistrLJtioD OD a firm footing by tbe helpers do not exist among the beginning of 1987. membership; the problelll 1s that those interested people are put oif because Ir'e need vol unteers to help outwi tb nobody outside the Council and the m.:tnning desks at future conventions, in Edttortal Staffs knows how the BSFA an attempt to pro11lOte the BSFA l1IOre works. Do all the current workers live Vigorously. The commi ttee members are in roughly the same area of the country? few in number and we can't tiJke on If so, how do they lll8et? What if someone everything aIDOng us so would anyone be at the other end of the country wanted preplJred to belp run a desk frOl/l time to to get involved - can s/he make any time, give an hour here or tbere? Tbis realistic contribution if s/he cannot would be of i1JlJ:leasurable value, travel south due to unemployment or some particularly if you hlJppen to be going other problem. to the lIorldcon. Any offers to me. Still on tbe subject of wbere the BSFA In addition, there is no rational case sbould be going for keeping the membership low increased membership means an increase COl1 D 'ierphllm in funds as well as the volume of work. 40 Manor Drive, Hinchley Wood, The mid-70's swamping crisis proves that Esber, Surrey, KTI0 QAX an advertising campaign will dramatically increase applications for I propose 3 changes which will improve membership - therefore the organisation the BSFA's image, its membership level sbould prepare for it wi tb an assured and funds: force of helpers and, it is important to point out, an increase in the membership 1. Almost all societies, associations, fee. Let's not have any baulkin8 at etc have graduated membership fees, and this. If we want a better service we are I see no reason why tbe BSF" should not going to bave to pay for it. Personally have at least two membership fees; one I would have no objections to paying for those under 18 years old, and .t10, deepite being unemployed. another, more expensive fee for the rest One cOllUDi ttee member comes from of the members who are more able to Li verpool, one from GliJsgow, two from afford it. Folkestone. Ir'e meet in London or have done so far, and 1 presume hOe will 2. At present tbe BSFA has tbree(?) continue to do so for now. simply publications and only Vector is is beciJuse it is a useful focal point for reasonably well-printed; the others vary transport. (Ir'e meet at John Harvey's from very bad to bad. To solve all the house.) Those who attend committee problems of printing and distributing, meetings bave tbeir expenses paid all tbe magazines should be combined in anyone can ta~e a part if tbey wisb. On a single, large, well-printed magazine. tbe otber band, I don't think hOe'd be Such a magazine would have extensive SF able to pay e.ypenses for people to news, BSFA news, interviews, book and attend the stUffing meetings. BeLJr in film reviews, articles and maybe a short mind that we LJre looking for a new story or two as well! lIIBl/Ibership secretary. If lJnyone wants to beC01Jle involved, now is the time. There A single magazine would provide a focus is no geograpbicLJl discriminLJtion, for the Association wbich is lacking at tbough groups tend to cOlJlesce in areiJS the JIIcuaent, lJnd the distribution problem with a high proportion of active fans. would be solved since only one magazine has to be sent out to the members . .I believe tbat skilled belpers lnIst exist somewhere in tbe BSFA, but tbey 3. In this cocntry there are two seem very sby lJbout coming forward. Ve organi&ations which cater for science can't 110ke people work for us, wbicb is fiction and fantasy fans, the Britisb why, .!liS with lJny orglJnislJtion, the Science Fiction Association and tbe dediclJted few tend to continue doing the !Jritlsh Fantasy Society. If both were work. And this present cOllUDittee is very ~_ombined into a single society the MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTE~BER ~9B6 27 mebership would increase, along with observed 'The BSFA gets out what its funds, and so the publications would members put in, so if you want more out, improve to the point where the members put more in' to which I can only add my receive one a month, and the image of hearty agreement. the society/association would be far more professional. Some of the above mean drastic changes Ian Brooks and Peter Creffie1d (13 within the BSFA, so the members should Coppice Road, Whitnash, Leamington Spa, be asked what changes they would prefer. Warwickshire, CV31 2JF) both asked about Wb(ltever objections are made to the the difference between supporting and above ideas, the BSFA has GOT to get out attending membership at conventions. The of the rut it is in at present. simple answer is that attending membership is more expensive but gives So, ",blJt do people tbink? you entry to the can, whilst supporting membership is cheaper and desgned for On tbe second point, tbis lJrgument those who won't be attending the con but surflJces from time to time, lJS does tbe who either want to show support and/or lJ"'lJrds debate. If lJ11 tbree 111lJglJzines receive the information, badge and were to be combinmed, lJl1 tbree would programme book. It is always possible to suffer tbrougb hlJ vi ng 1 ess space for convert from supporting to attending. elJcb lJrelJ of interest. Paperback Only attending members can make hotel Inferno, in its present form, would 1J1Qre bookings. or less dislJppelJr, lJnd Vector lJnd Matrix would jostle unelJsi1y for position. I Phil Nichols (lQ Kendal Avenue, Copnor, trust you wi 11 fi nd tbe new, 1 i tboed Portsmouth, Hants, P03 5AX) wrote, XlJtrix llJOre to your tlJste. Ve bope PI underlining the need for information ,.,i11 be going into tbe SlJme forJ1llJt in about the BSFA and its services. I am tbe very nelJr future. To be bonest, I busy trying to find out about those clJnnot see wblJt difference one 111lJglJzine still available but would like to hear or tbree ",i 11 make, lJS we blJ ve no a) your experiences wi th any that you distribution problems to stlJrt with. have used, and h) your ideas on other Tbis is one tbing wbicb hlJS never things we should be doing. suffered from probl e1lJS of lJny sort. One Ken Lake (115 Markhouse Avenue, London, or tbree, tbey still blJve to be stuffed E17 8AY) (twice!) with lots of into tbe envelopes and sent out. fascinating comments, ideas and advice, On your llJst suggestion, blJving spent and still holding out against listing new book releases. You already know my t",o pl1.ragrlJpbs talking about improving feelings - they won't be scrapped. our image, you promptly suggest that we destroy tbat il1JlJge by ama1g/HMting with I Everton (l45 Victoria Road, Leeds, LS6 lJnotber group. By the way, were you IDU) who wanted an apology for John lJware that tbe BFS WlJS formed by a group Harvey's 'We don't need no poofreader' of fans wbo broke aWllY from tbe BSFA remark, but unfortunately didn't say becasue tbey felt insufficient attention why. was placed on horror and fantasy? The BSFA lJnd the BFS serve two different Alastair Lovett (19 Arnc1iffe Avenue, groups of fans and I am not certain how Stockton, Cleveland, TS18 3QB) writing much of a crossover exists. his first letter to the BSFA, highlighting the lack of pUblicity All amalgll111lJtion WDu1d mean is that the again, and commenting on the absence of lJma1gaIIJated society hlJS tbe sum total of articles about Olaf Stapledon' s botb memberships, and tbe sum total of centenary. I'll mention this to Dave tbeir funds with which to administer Barrett of Vector, as critical articles thlJt group. There is no financilJ1 gain aren't really wi thin my brief, but there to either side. In flJct, if lJnything is a Stapledon conference being held at there will be lJ decrelJse in membership Liverpool University later in the year, clJused by that group of fans who are and I hope to be able to find someone to JDembers of both socities. And haVing give us a report on the gathering. l'I111lJlgaJMted, how ",ould the running of this mega-society be organised, lJnd what Roy Hill (8 Windsor Road, Canterbury, would we do about thlJt single lMglJzine Kent, CTl 3UN) commenting' I always find you've just proposed? the concept of, unpaid volunteers How do other people feel about the idelJ? working for me in their spare time amazing, and to criticise them for what IN BRIEF they have not done without thanking them for their achievements is ungracious.' I also heard from: So, keep those letters coming in, and Toby Branfoot (11 Darell Road, remember that the first 'new' writer Caversham, Reading, RG4 7AY) who will receive a small bonus. MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~9B6 SOAPBOX What is Science Fiction Anyway? byKen Lake Just what IS science fiction anyway? I want to read, so I'd welcome a firm think we all bave our own definitions; indication on dealers' lists> my problem 1s that, buying all my books by mall from dealers' lists, I find that c) Adventure SF - not to be confused I am constantly paying for tbings that I wi th space opera because the SF is don't "'ant, don't 11ke and don't regard essential, but these are 6tories as being SF at all. where action is its own raison d' ~tre (the Venture SF series is an Of course, the dealers have to sell the excellent example> goods, and many of their lists do go a long way towards glYing me a good idea d> Stories of primitive worlds past or of the contents and slant of tbe books future - these bore me to tears but they list. But I' III afraid it' & not should neverthelees be distinguished enougb: can I get other fans to kick from the next group around some basiC detin!tiona in the hopes that we can agree a e> Post-holocaust stories, where there classification for the genre? is enough science and history and sociology to tie the story to the To explain in brief: I do NOT want to world-as-we-know-it, in other words read what I regard a6 'horror' or this is a subclass of dystopiae, but 'fantasy' in general (though I admit I was trying to avoid that aspect happily that a few fantasy books, IIIOstly hUlIOurous ones, have given me iJllJlll!nse f) Worlds developing from ours by pleasure>. I do not want what I call extrapolation6 of sociological, 'space opera' (but is it what YOU call religious or silll1lar 'soft' it too?>, and I do not want books that science6, whether dys- or u-topic. deal with 'the return to the primitve'. So let's see where we go from there: g> Worlds where the development has been technological, scientific, with 1. Horror: today's world, menaced by no overtones of religion or ethics unpleasant things. Fair enough? formi ng any 1 mportant aspect of the raison d' l!Itre 2. Fantasy: worlds where, although the laws that control them are self h) Humour - to me this is a separate consistent, we recognise them as category and whether it's humour (or 'laws' that have no validity in any parody) on any of the above world that we can realistically categories makes little difference expect to exist in the Universe-as as I f1nd I usually enjoy this class we-know-i t, past or future as well of book. alii present. Bow to me each of these categories 3. SCience fiction: well, this breaks indicatee a different KIND of book, and down into a number of categories, for me to choose happily from any list, leaving behind what one usually I often need guidance on which category cal16 • hard-core SF'. The main a given book falle into. But I am often ca"tegories seem to be: not getting that guidance at all - in fact some dealers' lists are so badly a> Time travel andlor al"terna"te history done that I am even conned into buying (my all-time favourite subject, as HORROR stories - or I was, until I spent it happens, BO dealers wanting me to a great deal of "time mak1ng up a list of buy should always flag such works every horror wr1 ter so that I could clearly for me!) recogn1ee them at once! libo will support me 1n this campaign for b> Space opera - any story which could a Trade Descript10ne Act applied to the wi thout serious dislocation be def1nition of SF, so that we cannot be transferred to a non-SF genre; in flogged Stork for butter'? Or who can other words, stories where the SF is post definitions which are better than a mere trapping, not an essential m1ne, more workable, I80re logical, I80re part of the story (the&e I do BOT helpfUl? Over to you! MATRIX 65 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER ~9B6