SCIENCE FICTION INTERVIEWS: ALEXISGILLILANDJOHNSHIRLEY
RICHARD GEIS DARRELL SCHWEITZER WINTER IDITT7T171X7NUMBER61 1986 XvIJjVlUjVV$2-50 ORSON SCOTTCARDELTONELLIOTT GENE DEWEESENEALWILGUS
CHARLES DELINT
ROTSLER WILLIAM KOSZOWSKI ALLEN SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW (ISSN: 0036-8377)
P.O. BOX 11408 NOVEMBER, 1986 — Vol. 15, No. 4 WHOLE NUMJER 61 PORTLAND, OR 97211 RICHARD E, GEIS—editor & publisher PHONE: (503) 282-0381 PAULETTE MINARE', ASSOCIATE EDITOR
COVER BY ALLEN KOSZOWSKI PUBLISHED QUARTERLY FEB., MAY, AUG., NOV.
ALIEN THOUGHTS 47 TEN YEARS AGO IN SCIENCE SINGLE COPY - $2.50 By Richard E. Geis FICTION - 1976 By Robert Sabella 6 AND THEN I READ... By Richard E. Geis
WHERE IS THE CUTTING EDGE SCIENCE FICTION? By Orson Scott Card INTERIOR ART TIM KIRK—-2,5,6, 14 INTERVIEW: JOHN SHIRLEY WILLIAM ROTSLER-2,4,14,17,20,. By Takayuki Tatsumi 21,28,29,37,38,45 18 RAISING HACKLES ALEXIS GILLILAND-3,8,15,18,21, By Elton T. Elliott 23,27,33,34,35,44,47 GRANT CANFIELD-7 22 PAULETTE'S PLACE GEORGE KOCHELL-7,21,25,40,46 Reviews By Paulette Minare' DAVID TRANSUE-9,10,11,12,16, 19,30,36 23 LETTERS OLE PETTERSON-20 By Ian Covell ATOM---21 Howard Coleman RANDY MOHR-21 Adriana I. Pena MARCO BIANCHINI-24 Darrell Schweitzer JACK GAUGHAN-26 George H. Scithers BRAD FOSTER---29 Alexander B. Nedelkovich STEVEN FOX-32 Alan Dean Foster F. . . ?-32 Larry Niven BRUCE CONKLIN- —37 Charles Platt MICHAL DUTKIEWICZ-44,47 Robert Bloch Joel Rosenberg Chester Twarog Fernando Quadros Gouvea Robert A. W. Lowndes Sharon Jarvis Elton T. Elliott NO ADVERTISING WILL BE ACCEPTED ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS, NEW AND OLD, ARE HONORED AND FULFILLED ON AN 30 ONCE OVER LIGHTLY ISSUES NUMBER BASIS. Reviews By Gene DeWeese Second Class Postage Paid at Portland, OR 97208 33 SMALL PRESS NOTES By Richard E. Geis Copyright (c) 1986 by Richard E. 34 INTERVIEW: ALEXIS GILLILAND Geis. One-time rights only have Conducted By Curt Phillips been acquired from signed or cred¬ ited contributors, and all other 36 THE VIVISECTOR rights are hereby assigned to the By Darrell Schweitzer contributors. 38 OTHER VOICES Reviews By: SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW is published Howard Coleman at 1525 N.E. Ainsworth, Portland, Dean R. Lambe OR 97211 Mark W. Antonoff Stuart Napier POSTMASTER: Send address changes Alma Jo Williams to SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW Fernando Q. Gouvea POB 11408 Neal Wilgus Portland, OR 97211 Andrew Andrews Charles De Lint REVIEWS_ BORIS VALLEJO'S FANTASY OLYMPICS.6 KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES!.6 TRICK CINEMATOGRAPHY.6 FOUNDATION AND EARTH.18 THE DANDELION CAPER.22 THE GHOST OF 29 MEGACYCLES.22 THE MIRRORSTONE.22 AFTERLIVES.29 ENIGMA.30 HUYSMAN'S PETS.30 HIGHWAY OF ETERNITY.30 TO THE RESURRECTION STATION.30 FOUNDATION AND EARTH.30 GODBODY.31 THE BLOSSOM OF ERDA.31 THE BIGGEST TONGUE IN TUNISIA AND OTHER DRAWINGS.31 FIRECHILD.31 THE COMPLETE E.C. SEGAR POPEYE, VOL.1-4.31 TALKING MAN.32 THE EMPIRE OF TIME.32 THE OZOIDS.33 DEMON WITH A GLASS HAND.33 THIEVES’ WORLD #3.33 BURNING CHROME.38 THE WARRIOR'S APPRENTICE.39 THE DOOMSDAY EFFECT.39 DOUBLE NOCTURNE.39 AMERICA 2040 II: THE GOLDEN WORLD.39 THE FACE THAT MUST DIE.40 INCARNATE.40 NAZI GOLD.40 SURELY YOU’RE JOKING, MR. FEYNMAN!.40 THE HIGH KINGS.40 GILGAMESH THE KING.40 THE CQNGLOMEROID COCKTAIL PARTY.40 SCIENCE FICTION: THE 100 BEST NOVELS.41 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH THE DEITY.41 THE 1986 ANNUAL WORLD'S BEST SF.41 TERRY CARR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION OF THE YEAR #15.41 THE YEAR'S BEST SCIENCE FICTION, THIRD ANNUAL COLLECTION.41 THE PLANET ON THE TABLE.41 ALL THINGS ARE LIGHTS.42 TCM 0'BEDLAM'S NIGHT OUT AND OTHER STRANGE EXCURSIONS.44 OJO IN OZ.44 SPEEDY IN OZ.44 THE WISHING HORSE OF OZ.44 FUTUREDAYS.45 STEPHEN KING: THE ART OF DARKNESS.45 TERROR.45 LIFTER. 46 THE ARCHITECT OF SLEEP.46 THE WANDERING FIRE.46 BAGDAD.46 TWISTING THE ROPE.47 THE COPPER CROWN.47 THE THRONE OF SCONE.47 ouew THOUGHTS RICHARD E. GEIS
Since this is the last and fin¬ sanity? Have you gone around the Exactly. Another reason to al issue of SFR as a Geis title--- bend and into the sewer? I go to leave, to pick up my fanzine and it is always possible that sometime sleep for a few months and look go home. I'm hurt, Alter. I wanted in the vast reaches of time ahead what you're doing! No, no, I can't one...one last H-H-Hugo! someone will think, "Gee, SCIENCE allow it. SFR cannot die." "Awww, don't cry, Geis! I FICTION REVIEW would make a neat, Too late, Alter! The deed is hate to see an old fucker like you logical title for a magazine, and done! The die has been cast, and cry." I've never heard of it being used your fat is in the fire. I can't help it. I'm wounded, before..." (probably next Tuesday) "Let me delve into the synapses cut to the quick, humiliated before — certain matters must be taken up, here— *Gasp!* Well, let me check all of fandom. There truly is no tossed around and disposed of. the memory hole. *Groan!* I'll try justice. There is the matter of SFR sub¬ to override the willpower node--- "Well, you had a long run, you scription obligations. My impulse *AAAARRRRGGGHHH!* How did you do won a lot of awards, you had the is to say, "Fuck'm!" and walk away. that?" admiration and respect of the entire But that's not ethical, moral, or I'm a man of iron and arthritis, field... What more do you want?" now, Alter. Fused bone and sinew. Nothing. Nothing. I retire to So instead, as indicated last I have only to sit at this typer the fringes, to let new blood, more issue, those remaining, unfulfilled for a while and my pain overcomes ambitious fans fill my niche in sf SFR subs will go the way of all my ambition. review publishing. I wish them flesh---into THE NAKED ID. Which "Arthritis? Is that all? All well. I go now, into the golden is to say and declare, that all of you do is load up on pain-killers, sunset, into the oblivion of--- you loyal and nervous subscribers take a lot of cod liver oil and al¬ "Oh, Christ, Geis! Knock off will receive my controversial, mind- falfa tablets, go on a no-animal- that shit. You forget I have Access. bending personal journal instead of protein, high-veggie, high-fruit I know what lurks deep in the hideous SFR, and...AND...you will receive diet, and all will be well. You'll depths of the your mind, down, down two (2) issues of THE NAKED ID for lose weight, your health will im¬ in the slime of your warped ego. each issue due on your SFR sub! prove and your pain will go away." I know what lurks—" Now, I ask you, is that fair? (A No, Alter. There is a sadder, All right. I hope to be a best¬ rhetorical question! I did not ex¬ bitterer, more poignant reason for selling author. Satisfied? pect to hear any loud no's! Shoot killing SFR than those other reasons. "Yeah, but you won't be. I those people!) "Oh? What?" also know you've got a life script And, yes, I will be reading Science fiction fandom doesn't which limits your success. You're and reviewing some sf and fantasy want me anymore. I--I haven't and things like that in THE NAKED won a Hugo for years! And today I ID. Not much, but some. My core received FILE 770:61 from Mike Gly- interests are myself, my writing, er, and he printed the horrible my freedoms, my appalling obsession truth—the voting run down for the with macro economics, sex, current latest Hugo Awards. In Best Semi- events and controversies. Quite a Prozine SFR came in fourth behind lot to cover in 8 pages, eh? I'm LOCUS, SF CHRONICLE and NO AWARD! down to it. "Behind even No Award? That is hard to take. That really is a "What rhe hell is going on message, isn't it?" here?" There's worse to come, Alter. Oh, it's you. In the Best Fanwriter category, I "Who else talks to you in your came in third, behind Mike Glyer fat head, Geis? Of course it's me. and...and...No Award! Alter Ego. Ring a bell?" "Ahhh! The unkindest cut of I vaguely remember you, yes. all! To think fandom could treat "Oh-ho! How distant, how for¬ the great and noble Geis like that! mal, how shitty! I do detect a A slap in the face, an ice pick in desire in you to terminate our re¬ the ego! To vote No Award over lationship. I do detect— My Richard E. Geis! I see how you Ghod! You're closing down SFR! feel. That is sacrilege!" Geis, have you turned in your 5 not comfortable with too much money or work, Geis. You're afraid of AND THEN I READ.... the pressures wealth would impose, and you're not sure of its advant¬ er volumes. It's a never-ending job, ages. You're still not leveling and Bill Warren is probably the one with your readers." and only man capable and qualified True. I look upon novel writ¬ to do it. ing as a source of money to support Why? He's incredibly knowledge¬ more important activities like semi- able, encyclopedic, detailed, in his pro and amateur journals and book¬ commentaries on each movie, and witty- buying and time-to-read. So I'll sharp-tongued, and funny, too. He be publishing something--some kind has a perspective and he doesn't ev¬ of review/opinion journal for as er lose it. You may disagree with long as I am able. I may even change the title of THE NAKED ID him on a small point, but his overall again. But depend on't, it won't judgements are flawless. As for be SFR or THE ALIEN CRITIC or PSY¬ instance his description of Pat CHOTIC again. Boone's performance in JOURNEY TO "I'll be seeing you in THE BORIS VALLEJO's THE CENTER OF THE EARTH (1959): NAKED ID, Geis. I'm going back to FANTASY OLYMPICS - 1987 The rest of the cast is mostly sleep now—" This is his fantasy calendar, along for the ride, including Pat What? I didn't say you could a year-long project for him, based Boone, who doesn't even stay in do dialogues with me in TNI! That's on a mythical Olympics between hum- character-he doesn't even attempt MY zine! ans and monsters, dragons, a rob- a Scottish accent-but he's com- "Our zine. I'm too much in¬ Ot... Each extraordinary painting pletely harmless and even appealing extricably intertwined in your psy¬ features a nearly nude male or fe- in a great-big-little-boy way. He che, Geis, for you to cut me out male human, with an emphasis on sings well and doesn't bump into completely. See you when you ideally developed muscles. In fact, things, occasionally entering into least expect me. Have fun." homosexual males should find Janu- the spirit exuberantly. But he's *Sob* I expect I will. ary, March, May, the magnificent not believable, Now as to those other mundane two-page centerfold, August and The writing is not formal, December of special interest. and is very, very readable. A matters to be mentioned: Artwork. I find all of these perfectly great combination of information, I still have an enormous lot of developed humans a bit of a bore, entertainment and perception, artwork which I will retain and use since there isn't a bit of differ- These volumes are not cheap, in THE NAKED ID, as best I can. ence between them except heads and however. Vol I is 485pp. and costs But artists must be patient and skin color within each sex. $39.95 + $1.50 shipping and handling. long suffering. Still, the technique is exqui- Vol II is 816pp. and also $39.95, In the meanwhile, please NO site, the composition fine, the col- with shipping and handling at 75* if MORE ARTWORK OF ANY KIND, FROM or wonderful. you buy both books. Both volumes as ANYONE. When and if the time comes, For calendar purposes these are a set are $65. I'll ask. great paintings. These books are the definitive Artists will receive two copies This calendar is published by reference/commentary Books on sf of the issue of THE NAKED ID in Workman and costs $6.95. movies, and should be in every res- which their work appears. 1 West 39 Street, New York, NY 10018. pectable library in the world. But, ah, if any artist out there wishes their work returned, please let me know, and it shall TRICK CINEMATOGRAPHY be done. The Oscar Special Effects After a period of say, a year, Movies the thousands of unsold back issues By R.M. Hayes $25.95 of SFR, THE ALIEN CRITIC, RICHARD KEEP WATCHING THE SKIES ! McFarland 8 Company E. GEIS, CONSPIRACY NEWSLETTER and Volume II (Address above) uh.. well, that's all, will be taken By Bill Warren Most of this volume is lists to a secret place and recycled. I McFarland 8 Company, Box 611, of credits for special effects work. will again, for the first time in Jefferson, NC 28640 The movies credited from 1927-28 to ten or twelve years, see the north This is, obviously, Vol. II of 1984 begin with THE JAZZ SINGER and wall of my basement again. the on-going, exhaustive and endless-THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HELEN OF TROY That's about it, folk. SFR is ly fascinating chronicle of American to 2010 in 1984. dead, long live THE NAKED ID. Science Fiction movies. Every year has a Comment by Hay- It's been a Trip. And it's Vol. I covered 1950-1957, and es, and they are very candid and hon- been a Revelation. And it's been this latest volume, about twice the est, and interesting, a Marvel. size of the first, covers 1958-1962. Every picture has a full and I'm not done yet. I must thank This is what might be called conplete listing of credits, from everyone who contributed to SFR over the junk, schlock and B-C-D-movie every actor, the producer, director, the years. All you professionals era for sf and fantasy. I have no etc., to such as Miniature Super- and all you non-pros who write well doubt Bill is hard at work (still a visor. Dubbing Mixer, Color Consult- enough to be pros. All you artists and cartoonists. All you letter young man) on later years and furth- ant. This book is obviously for Ref¬ writers. All those who traded with erence and Specialists. Trades. That reminds me. I won't be trading THE NAKED ID with sf fanzines, clubzines, comixzines, or personalzines. RICHARD E. GEIS Take all. eveoyeopy fi*£BZE' TUis POOR IS HOW CH^HSlNG PESTlH^not4/ WHERE IS THE CUTTING EDGE OF SCIENCE FICTION ? — the world" in which the doings of the ied Futurians; the Inklings; Virginia Venetian aristocracy and the rulers of Woolf's Bloomsbury group; that tight ■ *■ lv loomed little society of London playwrights
fortress, seize control, and plot the directions and aims and goals of sci¬ friAN3 KAFkA..?"\ ence fiction. \ KAFKA?J point, though. I'm not merely offer¬ ing an alternate view, a set of con¬ trary opinions while modestly admit¬ ting that nobody can be "right" or J) -THE JBRK IN) "wrong" on matters like this. I'll 'j FORMS 1>ES i^n. agree that nobody is likely to be ab- they can be "absolutely wrong. Swan- k wick's "Guide to the Postmoderns" is about as accurate as would be a his¬ tory of the world written by a monk in 12th-century Venice. For his time, he might be erudite, cosmopolitan, up-to- V V date, well-informed—but he would al¬ most certainly produce a "history of J BY ORSON SCOTT CARD £3 1 8 thoughtlessly e “Labor Day Gro
TATSUMI: The element of anger in cyber¬ punk did not cone up in my interviews INTERVIEW WITH with Bill Gibson and Sterling. You seem to emphasize that much better than they. SHIRLEY: I think that cyberpunk obvious¬ ly has a kind of energy, a kind of tone, that we associate with an angry reaction to things. Anger in itself is not use¬ ful. It's what the anger is reacting to -- there are ideas underlying the anger. JOHN Ultimately that part will probably fade out of cyberpunk to some extent. It's a kind of fuel that we are using to get the thing (to use a corny science fiction an¬ SHIRLEY alogy) out of the bounds of gravity. TATSUMI: Before reading ECLIPSE, I read your letter to CHEAP TRUTH which criti¬ cizes someone's negative conments on NEU- ROMANCER, saying that the anger of the BY TAKAYUKI TATSUMI punk movement is not a pretension but its essence. I expected you to be the kind of writer who appreciates experience more than imagination. But by reading Takayuki Tatsumi is a 31-year-old portends a radical cultural reawakening your work, I found your style experiment¬ Japanese citizen currently working on his in our genre that we hope will transcend al and imaginative. It was real and sur¬ Ph.D at Cornell as a Fulbright Scholar. the genre and make it possible for us to real. How do you relate your non-fiction He has won awards in Japan for his schol¬ write science fiction that is read out¬ with your fiction, the imaginative thing arly work Chis fields are American Ren- side the genre, that is transgeneric. and the real or acpual thing? Are you
BY ELTON T. ELLIOTT ^esseftr
INTRODUCTION: One last reminder about ELLIOTT'S led by his decision. He believes Galaxia ence fiction novels solve the dramal BOOKLINE: By the tine you read this #3 has limitations but is not sure why. He resolutions almost always by action,
PAULETTE'S PLACE iminating the need for spiritualist¬ ic mediums. His project was called the Spiricom Communication Project. THE DANDELION CAPER (Juvenile SF) agents. After harrowing experiences,;, Discamate entity, Dr. Swann ex¬ By Gene DeWeese the factor which enables them to es¬ plained this problem: Putnam, 11/86, 160pp., $12.95 cape, is called "the observer/ob¬ served interaction." REVIEWED BY PAULETTE MINARE' Young people and older ones as This sequel to BLACK SUITS FROM well, will enjoy THE DANDELION CA¬ OUTER SPACE, which I reviewed in PER, where the "good guys" encounter SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW #58, is an¬ the "bad guys" of outer space. Mys¬ other intriguing fast-paced adven¬ terious developments continue to un¬ ture. The same young, almost-tvelve- fold, keeping one's interest at the year-olds, Calvin Willeford and peak. This book, with very readable friend, Kathy, again become involv¬ print, would make a most welcome ed with aliens, this time from dif¬ In 1980 came a breakthrough: A gift. ferent planets. The BLACK SUIT ali¬ two-way conversation between William ens had acquired the Diefenbacher O'Neil, an electronics technician, place from Calvin's real-estate-ag¬ and the discamate Dr. Mueller, was ent mother, who was glad to unload analyzed by several speech and elec¬ the lonely, marshy country place. tronics experts and found clearly to THE GHOST OF 29 MEGACYCLES be two separate voices. A 1982 sto¬ Calvin and Kathy, to satisfy By John G. Fuller ry carried by United Press, publish¬ their curiosity about the use of the Signet, 07/86, (c) 1981, $3.95 ed after a press conference with property, pedal their bikes out to REVIEWED BY PAULETTE MINARE' O'Neil, began "...man may some day the weed-choked acreage. There, in be able to have televisionlike con¬ the apparently deserted house, they Scientists have for years pro¬ versations with the deceased..." see curious marks in the dust under¬ claimed that when the brain dies, foot, hear sounds like dogs' toe¬ there is no means left with which to In January, 1983, German elec¬ nails clicking on the bare floors, perceive, but now they are reconsid¬ tronics engineer, Hans Otto Konig, and smell a peculiar swamp-sweat od¬ ering. Nobel prize winner. Sir John 1without pre-testing or rehearsal, or. After a frightening encounter Eccles, Wilder Penfield, and others, 1made clear auditory two-way contact with invisible aliens who conmuni- after years of neuro-physiological 1with spirit entities; these experi¬ cate by squeaky sounds, they leave studies, now maintain that the mind 1ments were repeated later. the eerie place and meet a yellow, is separate from and also independ¬ What does Spiricom communication ent from the body, the mind serving ] long-haired, friendly cat named hope to accomplish? Accumulated wis- Dandelion. The cat is not only in¬ as a link to the physical world. dom of history can aid immeasurably telligent but is capable of speech, Human bodies and the material in saving the earth from ruin and and instead of claws, has retract¬ world are not as solid as they seem, destruction. In addition, the know¬ able fingers. but are composed mostly of empty ledge that life and learning go on On a later visit, they discover space. Since hundreds of TV and ra¬ after death, will deter a good many the strange marks and sounds are dio signals, carrying music, speech, crimes, including murder and suicide made by a green, five-foot, lizardy- and pictures, are able to travel There is no escape, if one is destin¬ looking creature who is first invis¬ through solid walls and through hu-
get to a ship that is only going to wait LETTERS there for brief instants -- wasn't there something about this being a contact mission? 'I wonder what Elton T. Elliott thinks about the current near-civil war # LETTER FROM IAN COVELL in Israel based on a swimsuit advert? 2 Copgrove Close, Berwich Hills, Fundamentalist Jews objected violently Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS3 7BP to the ad and burned it, painted it, United Kingdom July 6, 1986 and reviled it; subsequently, their tem¬ ples were daubed with Nazi slogans by ’Thanks for SFR #59 -- another good "thuggus testiculus." I suppose "people" is close other Jews. The poster has been with¬ ish. Especially for the interview with drawn, but thousands of people -- espec Powers and Blaylock; neither of whom I t all, they are violent raind- ially the younger Israelis in the up-an< 'P.S. Has anyone pointed out that # LETTER FROM DARRELL SCHWEITZER Anderson's GAME OF EMPIRE is a straight ard and the recipient. 113 Deepdale Rd, Strafford, PA rewrite of Kipling's KIM?!' 'No Karl Hansen (Carl to his friends 19087 Sept 25, 1986 on the program-printing committee) and no 'Now I find myself writing my very Lucius Shepard. Ouch. I would actual¬ ((I can understand Powers' feeling ol last LOC to SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW, and ly go to a panel to see these guys, you I find I don't have that much to say. It hating his characters by the end of is truly the End of an Epoch, and it is a novel; sometimes characters don't 'Amy Thompson's amazement at finding not much use continuing the running argu¬ come to life and it's a drudgery to a whole roomful of people at a con who ments. The folding of SFR will have a ma¬ keep them alive in your mind and on actually read magazines. jor impact on the other magazines in the paper. As the author you simply 'A wonderful masquerade -- wonderful field as the outflux of SFR refugees be¬ tire of them, don't like them, want gins to take up residence elsewhere. I suspect THRUST will become very crowded to get shut of them as soon as pos¬ and Steve Brown's new EYE ON SF will be¬ sible, yet there they are in chapter 'I feel myself moved to reflect. come a major successor, with perhaps ev¬ 34-35-36-37... And sometimes a novel About a year ago, you published a letter en some of the familiar SFR columns. I goes on too long-—is plotted too am well taken care of, my book reviews of interest in fanzines among members of in ABORIGINAL SF, fantasy commentary in loosely—or is beyond the writer's the Baton Rouge SF fan club. About two FANTASY REVIEW and small press magazine natural length, and the story becomes weeks ago New Orleans won the 1988 World- reviews in a new zine Orson Scott Card a drag to finish. con. About seventeen years ago, I wrote is starting. (He signed my Speaker to ((A writer has to have empathy, from Baton Rouge to the Ghodlike editor the Dead to "a fellow SFR refugee.") of SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW requesting know¬ has to be able to get inside the skin ledge of any other fans in the state of 'But I am sure the final issue will of a character—male or female— Louisiana, and he published the plea! be filled with regrets about the passing and see the world from his/her point (Wow! I mean, my name and everything!) of SFR. One irony is that in #60 I be¬ of view. Difficult, but not impos¬ I got one answer, from a guy in Shreve¬ gan to realize what a good columnist Neal Wilgus has become. He does very well sible. port with whom I corresponded for a bit before the draft (you remember the draft with real and bogus news reporting. I ((American foreign policy, based -- that's how Rambo got his big chance) hope he will continue elsewhere. as it is in hidden and disreputable sucked him up into the USAF, and he van¬ 'But we will all miss you and the priorities and serving similar inter¬ ished. Now there is a fan club in Ba¬ distinct personality SFR has always had. ests, appears non-rational and ad-hoc ton Rouge. Another Nolacon. Goodness. Your other small zines don't make up for and at times insane. There is proba¬ 'If SFR has to go, Geis, there at the loss. I suppose, though, that a run bly method in its madness but the least ought to be a wake. of SFR #63 onward will only be found in the library of John Charteris, that public face of it (which its critics 'P.S.: I'm enclosing a review of character from Cabell's books who collect¬ never get past) is admittedly irrmoral, Gibson's BURNING CHROME. "Now's the time ed great, unwritten works such as THE illegal and, probably,fattening. To to strike," I said to myself, "since the AMBER STATUETTE by Lucian Taylor (from me, the media and the politicians certain sign of death is on cyberpunk: Machen's THE HILL OF DREAMS), Milton’s the Cyberpunk SF panel is as firm a fix¬ are all playing a highly paid game of KING ARTHUR, etc. He reputedly has a ture at conventions as the Worldbuilding copy of THE LAST DANGEROUS VISIONS, and Fool the Publics.)) panel." Nothing can survive that kind now, in his periodical copy section, a bound set of SFR beginning with issue #63 right there with the 1980s issues of GALAXY and the post-World War II UNKNOWNS 'I suppose I can put in a final, op- # LETTER FROM HOWARD COLEM/W POB #8712, Austin, TX 78713 mongers argument: Rambo is betrayed for Sept 14, 1986 political reasons. This is significant. 'I just returned from the Worldcon It is true that Americans are forgetting a couple of weeks ago, where once again, some of the experience of Vietnam. But people who read only novels prevailed in this is, to some extent, dictated by the awarding the short fiction Hugos. I world we live in. After all, in a world don't know who prevailed in awarding the full of armed robbers, one must go armed. semi-prozine Hugo. A nomination list No one objected in the early 19th cen¬ including SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW, LOCUS tury when the British cleared the Carib- and INTERZONE, fer Chrissake, should probably have included the Atlanta tele¬ either killed on the spot or hanged with phone directory, since that publication only the briefest formality of a trial. lists SF bookstores and is read by the It needed doing. Similarly, the bombing requisite number of readers. of Libya needed doing and I would have to put myself in with the majority whose 'What I'll remember from Confedera¬ only regret is that we didn't kill Khad- tion (not necessarily in order of impor¬ affi. tance, but maybe so): 'But at the same time, I don't think many people would like to be sent into everyone of the sets from ALIENS. # LETTER FROM ADRIANA I. PENA battle by the sort of military that sent 'An excellent piece in the Atlanta Annapolis, MD 21403 08/29/86 hundreds of marines into Lebanon to do JOURNAL (by the political guy, not the nothing except sit around and be targets. one by the Lifestyle nitwit), which cov¬ 'One thing that I can say for your You'll know the real cultural danger ered Congressman Newt Gingrich's address zine, it is never boring. Some of your signs: the movies and TV shows (prob¬ to the fans and their reaction before he ably not books) which tell us that war is "beamed back to Clayton County." some of them I agree with, reluctantly, good and glorious if we follow the good and some I luxuriate in. Which means and glorious leader and ignore (or elim¬ 'A pizza shop owner who caught on that you are doing your job well. inate) those cowardly traitors in our real fast to fandom and stayed open on midst who dare protest. If this attitude Sunday, when everybody else was closed. 'I specially enjoy Orson Scott Card's column in short fiction. Even though I prevails, then the world is in deep trou¬ 'Michael Whelan's obvious discomfort have not read over half of the stories he ble. But right now, Americans don't at winning his umpteenth Hugo in a row. trust their leaders. Rambo is betrayed lot of the craft of writing by following by the politicians. The folks in ALIENS 'Jim Bums, sitting more-or-less un¬ ( which is very much an outer-space Ram¬ noticed at the Forbidden Planet table in him. The man is a natural teacher. Specially like his insistence that writ¬ bo) are vilely fucked over by "The Com¬ the huxter room, signing copies of his pany," which is a vaguely-described Big outstanding art book, LIGHTSHIP. ing well-crafted, safe stories is not enough, that you have to take risks, try Corporate Government. The attitude in 'A lump in the throat at the lesson to do what you have not done before, even that movie is quite typical of what the delivered by a Grand Old Man, Mr. Lester if you trip and fall on your face. As people seem to want to believe: the com¬ del Rey, that these Hugo things are not Niesztche says: "What does not kill you mon soldiers are noble, good, and brave, ust pats on the back, they are awards but the government that sends them into or work of special merit, and that to battle is a bunch of incompetent crooks. present them for any reason other than 24 I imagine many of the marines in Lebanon felt the because they can and would fight ((It does seem that the prozines 'John Shirley hasn't quite grasped back and impose unacceptable casual¬ are a dying breed. I suspect that (to tum to the darker side of all this) ties. Instead, for unexplained reas¬ newsstand distribution is a losing that Governments are seldom interested ons, this president offers subsidized option. Subscription-only has a in the well-being of people in war zones, especially when they're a bunch of for- wheat sales to Russia(a reward for high-cost structure, alas. I don't Russia's own subsidies to terrorists, know if there is a solution to the state. The United States government has its war in Afghanistan, its subsidies problem.)) no concern for the people of Nicaragua to Cuba, Nigaragua, etc.)! And of any more than the Soviet Empire does. course new loans are in the works for Both sides are playing strategy. It was quite inevitable that, faced with Ameri¬ the USSR. There's a reason for this can opposition, the Sandinistas sought schizophrenia, but you won't find it in the public media. aid in the other camp. It is the old # LETTER FROM ALEXANDER B. NEDELK0V1CH familiar story. In Cambodia, the Khmer ((Reagan and his cohorts lie and Romanijska IB, 11080 Zemun, Yugoslav. Rouge were surely the most destructive lie and lie, and the American public July 14, 1986 government in history, but the U.S. ab¬ stained from any serious opposition to smiles and nods and doesn't care. 'The Greg Benford article on academia them because they were at war with a So¬ Okay. We'll get more of the same.)) vs. SF is partly right, but partly horrib¬ viet client, the Vietnamese, and support¬ ly wrong. "We want your praise and we ed by the Chinese, whose strategic in¬ are not getting enough of it and that's terests somewhat coincide with those of because all of you inside the Louvre are the Americans. Did anyone make the wel¬ tal crap and ours out here are betttt- fare of the Cambodians an element of pol¬ # LETTER FROM GEORGE H. SCITHERS icy? Of course not. OWLSWICK PRESS, Box 8243 errrrlll" No, Mr. Benford, that is not Philadelphia, PA 19101 08/10/86 the right way to get that praise. I rec¬ 'Wilgus is quite right about the ommend, as a perhaps better way, to ques¬ state of fantasy (Ozma’s complaint). 'I am very sorry to read of your tion (gently, kindly, concernedly) the Indeed, most of it one sees in the slush troubles with arthritis. I am very lucky academic credibility and worth of the of¬ pile (at AMAZING we got medieval fantas¬ that my arthritis is -- so far — control¬ fending critic who has no idea how good ies about three-to-one to anything else) led by Tolectin DS. I trust that this literature that and that and that has is that it is strikingly unimaginative. is one of the many drugs that you've al¬ been proved to be, mentioning Huxley, Much of the published stuff is too. ready tried? Again, my sympathy. Orwel, Vonnegut, LeGuin, Bradbury, Keith Good work is being done, but this minor¬ Robert’s PAVANE, Philip Dick's MAN IN ity is hard to find among the great mass 'It's nice that Platt has no hot gossip about my departure from AMAZING, THE HIGH CASTLE, etc. etc. and taking the of ordinary stuff. Similarly, there is especially since he's been willing to fight to our ground which we know, so a certain amount of good fantasy publish¬ make up his own in the past. Perhaps that the offending critic can easily be ed in the mainstream, as there always has Harlan Ellison's ineffectual attempt to shown to be talking generalities about been. That too, takes some searching out. strangle Platt has frightened him into a field in which he is an ignoramus. Try Perhaps in fifty years someone will do an civilized behavior? that way and you will probably defeat equivalent of the Ballantine Adult Fan¬ those who really are talking generalities tasy series from this period, and in ret¬ 'In fact, doubling AMAZING'S sub¬ about the field in which they Teally are rospect the '80s will look almost as scription list wasn't at all difficult: ignoramuses. Explode the reputation of fruitful as the 19S0s, when Tolkein, 1 started with about 750, and reached such an attacker (civilly, in the polit¬ White, etc. were publishing. But — I'm around 2,500 by the time I left. Unfor¬ est language). After a dozen years of sure REBECCA (DuMaurier) took a lot of tunately, what the magazine needs is to that, it will become known in academic imagination to write. The subsequent increase that 2,500 by 20 or 30 times. circles that a blind overall charge at gothics took none at all. The original Pat Price may well succeed in doing just the SF hedgehog is harmful to the attack¬ elements became a formula, which served that -- I certainly hope so. He is, by er. Embrace Sturgeon's Law really and the needs of an audience, then passed the way, doing exactly what I recommended defend just the best SF. And do not at¬ away when the audience shifted to some¬ throughout my tenure as editor -- only tack Literature as such. Yes?' thing else. he is doing it at the company headquart¬ ers in Lake Geneva, WI, where his sugges¬ 'When we complain about all the drab, tions cannot be ignored. The results of dull fantasy out there, let us remember: his first test mailing should be getting This too shall pass away. I only hope back to him by the time you read this. that the good stuff will be remembered.' 'By and large, relations among profes¬ # LETTER FROM ALAN DEAN FOSTER sionals in the science fiction field are THRANX, INC. 4001 Pleasant Valley far more friendly than among other sec¬ Drive, Prescott, AZ 86301 08/07/86 ((The bombing of Libya and the attempt tions of the publishing business. I re¬ of Khadafi's life was essentially a member Joel Davis's initial surprise at •One of the biggest hits in current how well science fiction editors through¬ Soviet cinema involves a courageous eld¬ cowardly, bullying act by an adminis¬ er Russian agent who foils a dastardly tration needing a "victory"—a cheap- out the field get along with each other. Platt's behavior, luckily, is an irrele¬ CIA plot (there is also a TV series with shot, an easy kill. This president vant exception to that tradition of good a similar theme). Upon being made aware will not do anything about Syria or feelings and good manners. of this, Sylvester Stallone suggested mak¬ Iran which are far more responsible ing a Rambo vs Roshinski film with two 'My own contributions to the tradi¬ endings -- one where Rambo wins and the for terrorism than was/is Khadafi, tion of editing SF have been an extraord¬ other in which he loses, for the two dif¬ inary high percentage of individual re¬ ferent audiences. jection letters, the practice of showing authors galleys, the practice of return¬ •After ROCKY, Stallone made a couple ing manuscripts after their contents have of interesting films; one in which he been published, really fast turn-around plays the manager of no-talent wrestler of rejected manuscripts,...and an awful and another which documents the rise and lot of first sales in the two magazines fall of a Jimmy Hoffa-type labor leader. Both were critical and commercial flops, though both are watchable. No fool, Stal¬ 'Now, along with Darrell Schweitzer lone promptly went back to giving the and John Betancourt, I am trying my hand audience what they wanted fTom him. at being a literary agent, specializing in the four genres of category fiction. 'Cyperpunk-schmyberpunk -- as Billy (Inquiries welcome; but pleasel, ask be¬ Joel says (almost), it's all science fic¬ fore sending any samples. We take 104 tion to me. As for it appealing to the of domestic, magazine/book sales, 204 ov¬ next generation, this member of this gen¬ erseas or movie/TV; our contract permits eration (wherever the hell that is) finds any client to quit for any reason, with NEUROMANCER to be engrossing and well no waiting period.) Nothing special to written, as did a lot of others. It's report yet in the way of sales, but we're not rebel SF at all; just good old nuts- and-bolts science fiction. If it makes some old fogies uncomfortable with its •Stay wicked language and suggested social setting, that's great. Isn't that what SF's sup- 25 's easier to fail at writing contemplate a future without SCIENCE FIC¬ TION REVIEW -- that’s the grimmest world view you could offer! SF will be poorer de several unsuccessful attempts to do over the past ten years. What stops is the inherent ridiculousness of ience fiction itself. As a reader, I n suspend disbelief sufficiently to en- y a reasonable range of SF. As a writ- ((Sorry about last issue: your ((Those movie spots would have , however, 1 find myself immobilized by card was misplaced. If I have en¬ been far more effective on TV, I he central contradiction of the category: riched lives because of SFR/THE would think, since most movie audi¬ n one hand it pretends to be plausible, ALIEN CRITIC/PSYCHOTIC, etc., then ences are too young or indifferent hile on the other hand, in real terms, I will not have lived in vain. I t cannot hope to be. Is it plausible to vote, whereas the TV audience is o describe people fifty years in the fu- am indeed a noble person and I de¬ substantially over age 21.)) ure talking and acting exactly like peo- serve a footnote somewhere. But, le in the 1980s? Obviously not; so how no. I'll probably.be known as the an I believe in such work while I write man who wrote ORAL DAUGHTER or t? Even if a story is set just a couple f years in the future, it is impossible one of the other of my pornies. o evaluate every trend, on a global So it goes.)) cale, in order to write with true auth- rity. Maybe I'm being literal-minded.
out to disappear. I'll miss it greatly. # CARD FROM JOEL ROSENBERG 'Being unable to take science fic¬ 1477 Chapel, B-4 'Don’t send me any refunds or re¬ tion seriously, 1 naturally tend to wr New Haven, CT 06511 August, placement magazines. You’ve been send¬ satire, and plan to continue doing so. 'Schulman still, alas, equates ing me these things free for almost twen¬ There is good reason to believe that L ty years, and I'm grateful. I think I've not spending hours upon hours writi THAN HUMAN will not be the only novel pages upon pages refuting him point said it before: it was most flattering Robert Clarke to see print; his classi to be getting SFR that way, back when I CHILDHOOD'S TROOPERS, long thought to badly needed the ego boost. have been lost, may yet be published.
from others, even absent a prior agree¬ ment on specific terms; the social con¬ tract is merely one aspect of that, ap¬ isn’t likely to be a lot of ((You can always write fantasy. plied to the society as a whole. w he wants to publish inde- The contradiction in SF is real and 'Schulman rejects the idea of the so¬ e should publish a collec- a Problem for a writer: too much cial contract, saying that if he didn't hese articles to date, while sign an agreement, he ain't agonna pay. e with another magazine, extrapolation and the present-day Well, then, I'm sure he'll now avoid us¬ your competitors is bound reader won't accept the story, too ing the facilities provided by others’ little and the writer feels like a adherence to the social contract — the fraud. That may be why Elton and highway system, to name one -- since he I write near-future novels—usually avers to being unwilling to pay for them as the rest of us do: through our income about 10 years.)) find the future looking a little bright¬ tax, without cheating. He's going to er. (But if the Big Depression cuts our find it a bit awkward, alas, getting ar¬ defense funding enough, we'll be a Soviet ound without using the taxpayer-provided ("public") roads. dictions come through. And they're sex¬ ual ly repressive.) ' the other hand, he continues to use the taxpayer-provided benefits (and the pub- ((The coming Depression will kill lie roads are only a minor one) without the Russian economy as much as ours acknowledging any concomitant responsib¬ (maybe more) and will force the USSR ility -- and let's be clear; that exact¬ to shelve defense/offense plans as ly what he's doing -- he’ll continue to be a social parasite, a welfare libertar¬ well. They won't be able to sell ian. Remember: Schulman isn't merely their oil, gas or gold, and will claiming that the present demands are un¬ likely have rebellions on their hands reasonable; he's claiming that since he among their satellites. hasn't signed a contract, he's not oblig- ((I suspect a disarmament deal will be made Real Quick when the in¬ ternational economy turns sour.)) of mine ... after having observed his niake the American people do anything of logic and language in his rather re a p/N)t >' \ if it is wrapped in the cloak of markable SFR missives. I'll have to de cline; I suspect he’d be getting the (ASbY) "public safety" and "protect the ——J children". t/ytfgE- I ((Take my advice: stay in the cjoUCX)CXiUlP AM» military and ride out the Depress- ((We have no choice in re the A OF 10n» if they will keep you. When 'social contract.' We don't make the Democrats get in they will cut the rules and short of disobeying |J ZAFAJOl^. the 0efense budget drastically, and and spending lots and lots of time H the armies in Korea and Germany may in jail, we are forced to live as 9 be brought home and disbanded.)) others decree, in the main, in the public sphere. You really can't beat the system; better to learn all the rules and use them to your best advantage. That way you can live free in the private sphere.)) LETTER FROM FERNANDO QUADROS GOUVEA 18 Robinson St. *12, Cambridge. MA, 02138 August 18, 1986
s regards Heinlein’s some editor should at the garbage. for family economic/medical/housing sup¬ port during your predicted world reces¬ thy and many crying sorrows concerning sion/depression scenario. However, I our health conditions and the final must now decide whether it is in my fan- sic) issue of SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW. ters department, and book reviews give give little or no thought to those of u what protects them from younger, leaner, me my money's worth (as well as the occas behind the scenes. And, Ellen adds, li more efficient competitors. Look at any ional "Viewpoint" article). I'm afraid tie or no thought before putting his fO' law which regulates business in a dracon¬ that, these days, I'd much rather read ian fashion and you’ll find some "big¬ about science fiction than read current wig" who has already made his fortune examples of it. That, I suppose, can be protecting his capital (i.e. wealth, listed as a Minor Vice. ‘ i-e. power). 'John Brunner’s department is also 'Unless A/Lers can figure a way to saddening. Although I cannot accept his reduce the political power of the Money political views. I've always found his Elite around the planet and/or change opinions interesting to read; and I shall certainly pray for his beloved spouse, is as likely as a logical argument from Jimmy Lee Swaggert, et al. 'Remember that when the next "liber- cure for the ills of society. Check in¬ he's not belaboring his personal Devil, side the can, you'll find the primary in¬ Hugo Gemsback, he comes across as very gredients are force, power, privilege, sensible indeed -- and I also appreciate and plenty of cushy secure government jobs. The war on poverty, by and large, didn't help the blacks, other minorities ((I have good days and bad days and poor whites, but it did provide em¬ on the pain/arthritis front. The ployment for scads of sociology majors and ways for the Power Elite to siphon cod liver oil and alfalfa tablets off dollars from their sworn enemies: food additives to my diet seems to the Middle Class and New Entrepreneurial have taken the edge off the extreme Money. They are also adept at raising symptoms, but even if all pain/dis¬ bogymen. The drug scare is a current ex¬ comfort were gone I'd still not res- drug testing will be mandatory for every surrect SFR; writing fiction is what I want to do with the rest of my 'Another problem is the more virulent life. Doing Mailings is a DRAG. forms of Statism; Fascism and Communism. Answering mail is a DRAG. In short, True, given World War II, and Hitler's at my age I want to do only one thing —tit Ht tttit write novels. May¬ form of State, we'd all be eating sauer¬ kraut. I would like to hear how the A/ be I'll write novels about eating Lers would have defeated Hitler without ice cream.)) large State-operated armed forces. It how. Remember, Statism is insidious. As long as you have even one reason for it, it'll be an eternal fight to control # LETTER FROM SHARON JARVIS it. George Washington recognized this; SHARON JARVIS 6 CO., INC. it's why he warned us about government Authors' Agents. 260 Willard Ave. # LETTER FROM ELTON T. ELLIOTT Staten Island, NY 10314 08/11/86 1899 Wiessner Dr., NE 'I'm not arguing that an entirely •In the interview with Victor Roman, Salem, OR 97303 August 1, 1986 Statist society is inevitable or desir¬ able, I'm pointing out that a total Anar¬ John Cleve's SPACEKAYS and Jarrod Com¬ 'I find the recent Anarcho/Libertar- stock's THESE LAWLESS WORLDS are mention¬ cho/Lib society is doomed to failure be¬ ian debate between Joel Rosenberg, et al cause it doesn't take into account human ed in the same paragraph. I'd like to quite interesting. Maybe my background in set the record a little straighter and nature. We are a warrior, mostly omniv¬ politics gives me an unusual perspective, orous, race. Rapaciousness is in our explain the connection between the two. but I find both sides wanting. 'I was the then editor at Playboy obey social contracts when they eat food Press who conceived the idea of the derived from killing. You are what you SPACEWAYS series. I went to Andy Offutt involved in politics at the grass-roots and asked him to create a space adventure and state level. I've observed the play- that combined STAR WARS, STAR TREK and sex. Andy -- if you'll excuse the pun -- seamy, underhanded, hypocritical back- performed admirably. stabbing and all the rest of the slimy 'This doesn't mean that I think side of what is America's dirtiest spec¬ Anarcho/Lib is wrong. 1 believe it's 'For the first half-dozen or so books, tator sport. No better argument can be the most moral view of human society yet I invented most of the titles (especial¬ made for the Anarcho/Lib worldview than articulated. (There are some other in¬ ly *1, OF ALIEN BONDAGE; I can't remem¬ the influence peddling (i.e. "kiss me" stances where it just wouldn't work, the ber who thought of *3, ESCAPE TO MACHO) on this issue and I'll "pave it gold" on Hanford Nuclear Waste Dump controversy, your land variance), bribes (campaign for one.) I'd like it to work. I try 'Perhaps a year later, I conceived of contributions) and the various and sundry to observe certain of its precepts. I another adult SF series, THESE LAWLESS other corrupt practices that are the stap¬ think, by and large we should fight the WORLDS, and sold the concept to Pinnacle. le of day-to-day politics. encroachment of the State at every turn, The books, published under the pseudonym 'Yes. The Anarcho/Libs are right. Jamd Comstock, were entirely written A state is inevitably corrupt and ought A/Lers are as dogmatic on politics and by Ellen Kozak, who says she is not Andy to be feared by all who would be free. religion as Statists and fundamentalists. Offutt nor would she want to be. My personal experiences are proof enough I dislike labels and distrust any philo¬ 'I invented the titles and wrote the for me. sophical system other than the ones I cover copy (and I take full credit for think up myself — and most of the time 'They are also the reasons preventing I don’t trust those either. the immortal line; "When a robot blows the Anarcho/Lib world from ever happening. your circuits, is it sex or is it sabot¬ Why? Simple, there's too much money to I guess that's why, in theory, I age?"). Ellen and I certainly did not be made -- or protected -- in a control¬ like Science Fiction. It doesn't have, have Andy in mind when we created the led society. Power and Force are the or lend itself to, any real definition bio for Jarrod Comstock. If Victor Ro¬ last refuge of the incompetent. or boundaries. It's the same with my man spotted a connection between the two politics; don't fence me in, don't label series, the connection is probably me... me. Most things that are labeled, are for all the hard work you' the years in pubbing SFR ai something of mine in each ' , we all thank ilma Wright, outhfork -- and
((Gee, I'm sorry to see it end, too, Elton. But I'm also glad it's ended. ((We share a similar view of Libertarianism. You see the logical impossibilities and improbabilities of the dogma, while I also see the instinctual element in mankind's social makeup, and I don't see any true libertarian societies in the past, none in the present, and thus think there never will be one in the future because if mankind hasn't had one so far, the conclusion is we won't, because it isn't possible for us. ((And I'm inclined to think that the Libertarian society is to Capitalism what the perfect Comnunist state is to Social ism—-wishful thinking.))
TO ALL: I see lots of blank spaces left in this issue, and realize that I should have accepted that inter- vew, those reviews, that article after all... But it is now October 14th, the frost is on my nose in the mornings as I ride the bike to the post awful, and I'm too lazy td do any moee typing, and Paulette is too wiped out... So I will fill in with some of that artwork I have languishing in the file. Have a great holiday season. GDbrad m.-foster • I9B2. I'm going to have a pepper this year. Didn't like the oregano I had last year. I can't believe I wrote that. HERE'S A TYPED REVIEW I ALMOST OVERLOOKED.
etheus's Ghost," by Chet Williamson (in which, no, not every ghost story has been Edited by Pamela Sargent and Ian Watson written!); the frightening "Of Space- Vintage/Random Hse, 1986, 494 pp., $5.95 Time and the River" by Gregory Benford, in which earth's invaders restore a for¬ REVIEWED BY ANDREW M, ANDREWS mer earth previously unknown, and subject It is obvious, from the very begin¬ the meek to it; the bizarre (convincing! ning, of the editors' conviction to the convincing!) "In Frozen Time," by Rudy short story form; and, although many Rucker, in which the space and time makes could be "put off” by a collection of the man, quite literally; and wherein ev¬ stories about the nature of death itself, en death must be faced head-on, in Harlan and the burning question of, could there Ellison's long and arresting "The Region be an afterlife?, it is rewarding to know Between." the intent is sincere; the production a This is a book you want to read slow¬ thing of love. ly, given plenty of time, without dis¬ What does AFTERLIVES mean to the tractions or interruptions. I think the reader? What is its effect on a reader's authors intended it that way. sensibilities? Former ANALOG editor Ben Bova once wrote that a story most con¬ vincing and most enjoyable to read is a genius piece; handsome, delicately bound; crafted with the pain of experience and wonder; a treasure of blatant sincerity. There is J.G. Ballard's classic 'Time of Passage," in which life is liv¬ ed in reverse; the sure and sublime "Prom¬
29
FOUNDATION
THE OZOIDS from numerous long distance calls DEMON WITH A GLASS HAND LIMERICKS IN OZ and personal friendships in fan¬ By Harlan Ellison By Neal Wilgus dom and prodom. He knows all the DC Science Fiction Graphic Novel Juxtapedia Press dirt, and knows under which dirt $5.95. Box 2577J the bodies are buried and the Graphic Adaptation by Marshall Albuquerque, NM 87125 skeletons lurk. This is must- Rogers. reading for those who want an The enthusiasms of people always DC Comics, Inc. inside look at sf and fantasy. amaze me. My own weird obsessions 666 Fifth Av., NY, NY 10103. are normal, of course. So for those It's been a long time since who m ay share Neal Wilgus's love I read the original shooting script for Oz and for limericks, here is a of Harlan's DEMON--- but this graph¬ STARDATE NEWS double treat. ic story rendering seems to contain 10-13-86 STARDATE magazine is One hundred rather clever and every word. alive, again. So sayeth Leo A. workmanlike limericks which deal As a result the story is com¬ Frankowski, new Editor. A new with the major characters in the plete and powerful and enhanced publisher. Reluctant Publishing, L. Frank Baum Oz books. And by the imagery. Marshall Rogers Ltd., 7732 Aubum Road, Utica, through the limericks you gain a solved dialog-presentation and MI 48087 (313) 739-9552, has knowledge of the action in the scenic problems with some very acquired rights from the previous books. ingenious techniques, and the publisher, accepted subscription For me, the limerick is a lim¬ rendering of the old Bradbury responsibilities, and announces ited artform, and page after page of Building where most of the action all previous subscribers to STAR- them is like a monotonous drumbeat. takes place is marvelously done. DATE may claim their subs by But this effort is in its way a This script (edited, altered) sending sane proof of subscrip¬ marvel and an event. was originally used in the legend¬ tion, such as a cancelled check. Too, some of these limericks ary OUTER LIMITS TV show in Octob¬ The magazine wall shift back are funny character sketches which er, 1964. Here is the original to be a gaming magazine. The transfer in the mind to people we script, pure Ellison, very well previous publishers tried to make all know. For instance: illustrated by Marshall Rogers. it into an SF magazine, says Frankowski. There once was a large Wogglebug The new STARDATE publishers who kept giving himself a big hug. are interested in trading advertis¬ Highly magnified ELLIOTT'S BOOKLINE #2 ing with other zines of significant and puffed up with pride This issue is even juicier circulation. but he'll pass off good sense with and wordier than the initial a shrug. issue, since Elton has switched to a gothic micro-elite (15 char¬ Gems like these are frequent acters per inch) which is not too THIEVES' WORLD #3 and make reading this booklet a small and which adds about 25$ By Robert Asprin 6 Lynn Abbey rewarding experience. more in the way of reviews, Artwork by Tim Sale, Edited by I have an advance copy of the commentary analysis and.letters. Laurie Sutton. page proofs and have forgotten (if As with all new periodicals, Starblaze Graphics/The Donning Co. Neal told me) the price for the this is in the shakedown period, 5659 Virginia Beach Blvd., book. I advise writing Juxtapedia and is improving dramtically Norfolk, VA 23502. Press for that info. with each new issue. This third graphics story of The prime aspect of inter¬ the Thieves' World series is well est in ELLIOTT'S BOOKLINE is Elt¬ and dramatically done, and at $3.95 on's inside information gleaned a good buy. Large-size 64-page format, color cover, b/w interiors. The stark black and white rendering actually enhances this storyline since so much of the story occurrs at night, in dark rooms, dungeons, RICHARD E. GEIS etc. 33 small Baptist girls' business college in GILLILAND: Well, he's still doing that; Roanoke, Virginia in 1983 after the rest it's kinda submerged in the rest of his of the con had gone home for the evening. I think that Alexis, Scott Card and I stuff. You were asking about how I got PHILLIPS: Ah, yes. Is he serious about involved with Geis. I think mainly Geis' that sort of thing? were the only ones to actually stay over¬ format permitted him to use cartoons be¬ night at the con, and I had a tape record¬ cause at about the same time I was also GILLIL/WD: I would say, yes, he is. This er -- and I suppose that this is all you sending cartoons to LOCUS, sending them is what he believes, this is what he's could need for an introduction to this always believed. interview with Alexis Gilliland. all over; Andy Porter got some and used them, but both Porter and Charley Brown PHILLIPS: And he's never just having moved away from using cartoons that were more than just a decorative spot on the PHILLIPS: How did you first become as¬ page, that is something to break up the GILLILAND: No, he's not having the fans sociated with Richard E. Geis and SCIENCE monotony of the type or to fill up the FICTION REVIEW? bottom of a page. PHILLIPS: You don't mind if I quote you GILLILAND: A long, long time ago back in PHILLIPS: The fanzines you've cited have the late sixties I was doing book reviews all moved from very amateur productions GILLILAND: No, not at all. Geis knows for the WSFA (Washington Science Fiction to what one mist at least call "semi- he has a strange world view. If you told Association) Journal and he wrote me and pro" productions now. him that he has a strange world view asked would I like to send him some book he'd say, "Yes, yes, it's true." When reviews. I was kind of conmitted for GILLILAND: Yes, well, that's inevitable when you have someone who's doing some¬ you read what he's said about himself, all the reviews I could write for the you'll see that I'm being very restrained WSFA Journal so I wrote back and said, thing for love and he stays with it a long time and it's bound to happen that and polite. I don't agree with his para¬ "I'm sorry," and sent him some cartoons noia and I don't agree with his conspir¬ and he published a few of them; much lat¬ yes, they develop a semi-professional. Most of the people starting out to pro¬ acy theories -- the problem with the er I got in touch with him again. I saw conspiracy theory is that you're looking one of his SCIENCE FICTION REVIEWS or duce a fanzine have a great deal of dif¬ ficulty with very simple things. I still at something you have, God, thousands of maybe it was his PERSONAL JOURNAL and I people involved in and ... started sending him cartoons. This time see the mistake where you put a picture in the middle of type and you have to (At this point a photographer came by to I was doing captions; sonewhere between take a couple of shots.) 1967 and 1972-73 the cartoons started read, "There was a beautiful...", and talking. Once he began using more and you skip across the page, "...young lady Anyway, the thing is when you're more I eventually became a regular con¬ standing at the edge of a forest..." talking about a conspiracy that's big tributor. But it didn't just happen, I skip across the page, "cornua, looking at enough to do what Geis is talking about, didn't burst in on him and say, "Geis, a bear..." That's very distracting and you have got to have an incredible com¬ here are fifty truly excellent cartoons." it's a mistake that's not that uncommon. munications network, you've got to have I sent him a cartoon, sent him more car¬ PHILLIPS: What other fanzines do you an enormously large number of people in¬ toons, he sent sane of them back; lately contribute cartoons to at the moment? volved in the conspiracy, it becomes very he's been buying them all unless I send difficult to inform them all with every¬ him one that he doesn't understand. GILLILAND: Cartoons? Let's see -- WEB¬ thing they need to be informed of, you BER WCMAN'S REVENGE in Australia, and have to coordinate all this tremendous PHILLIPS: Oh, he'll love that, (laugh¬ there were a couple of other Australian amount of stuff and ... ter) Does he ever send any back with the fanzines I sent cartoons to during the canplaint that it's simply too far out, time I was running for DUFF. PHILLIPS: You could be describing fan¬ too bizarre for SFR? dom or a worldcon. PHILLIPS: How about some of the smaller GILLILAND: Oh, yeah, he’s sent sane back. zines like a guy like me would do in GILLILAND: No! I'm not describing fan¬ I sent him a cartoon in which two guys his basement? dom or a worldcon comnittee, I'm describ¬ were in a bar talking and one was saying, ing international banking which is domin¬ "And then there was the administrator GILLILAND: They tend to be local people ated by the late Nelson Rockefeller, who who was so crooked and so stupid that Nix¬ who come by and ask me; I don't get many has got this ring, and you pull it out on made him a federal judge." And the letters saying, "Would you please send a and he speaks oracularly from his sarc¬ other guy was saying, "That was Kunseig, cartoon;" I get lots of stray fanzines ophagus and the people there listen to wasn't it?" I told Geis that Kunseig was but most often, you know, just a fanzine what he says and write it all down and the administrator of the General Services in the mail. They have my address and run out to do his bidding. I mean you Administration while I was there and that they send it to me and sometimes I send simply can't keep a conspiracy that big Nixon did make him a federal judge; Geis them two or three cartoons and sometimes together. The conspiracy is successful said, "Well, ah, we don't really want a I'll send them a letter of ccmment and because nobody has ever cone out and de- lawsuit or anything," so he sent that one sanetimes I say, "Gee, this is strange," back and I don't really blame him (but, and I don't send 'em anything. ya know, nasty, nasty political dig, you PHILLIPS: You’re most closely associat¬ know, looking up the ladder at all the ed with SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW, at least TERKoRisr FOR administration and GSA, they should have in my mind. Do you think SFR would be as CFtxo s been in jail, or actually indicted. They successful as it is without cartoons, par¬ had some awful things going on there und- ticularly without your cartoons? GILLILAND: Well, you look at the written part of SFR and it tends to be rather PHILLIPS: Yes, so we've heard. stiff. It doesn't have inch humor in it. You'll occasionally get a good interview: GILLILAND: Kunseig's successor, Sampson, Dave Langford was interviewing someone, gave Nixon all sorts of stuff after Nix¬ it might have been Chris Priest, I don't on was out of office and the reason was know; Dave Langford is an excellent in¬ that Sampson was a homosexual and Nixon terviewer. That was entertaining read- knew it, and was blackmailing the head ing, but so nuch of your review tend to of the GSA to get special favors. After be rather heavy and Geis, when he gets he was out of office, he was still wired to talking about paranoia and the way the into the apparatus. world is heading, tends to be predictable
Conducted by Curt Phillips 34 FOR SALE The books have dwindled down, to a precious few... Interesting This publication that Richard E. Geis sex novels would sell so well. There are a is available few left. As before, the number of in microform. copies of a given title is in brackets. * Denotes a Geis pseudonym. These books are $5.00 each, autographed if you wish.
SLUM VIRGIN, 1963 (1) ODD COUPLE, 1968 (2) Peggy Swenson * OFF BROADWAY CASANOVA, 1966 (1) Robert N. Owen * DRIFTER IN TOWN, 1966 (2) Robert N. Owen * RUNNING WILD., 1969 (3) Peggy Swenson * TIME FOR ONE MORE, 1969 (1) Peggy Swenson * YOUNG TIGER, 1965 (3) EASY, 1962 (1) Peggy Swenson * THE PUNISHMENT, 1967 (2) SEX TURNED ON, 1967 ‘(5) it University Microfilms ;’s fault. DISCOTHEQUE DOLL, 1966 (1) International Ann Radway * THE THREE-WAY APARTMENT, 1964 (2) are only two good uses fo•r Peggy Swenson * ier is sleeping^"^ ^ ^ -:- AMATEUR NIGHT, 1965 (1) 1 d Peggy Swenson * SUZY AND VERA, 1964 (1) - Peggy Swenson THE THREE WAY SET, 1965 (2) xis Gilliland is the crea' Frederic Colson * N LAW OF BUREAUCRACY, Looi .95 300 North Zeeb Road 30-32 Mortimer Street THE GAY PARTNERS, 1964 (3) Dept PR Dept. PR. Ann Arbor, Mi. 48106 London^WIN 7RA Peggy Swenson * LESBIAN GYM, 1964 (4) Peggy Swenson IN BED WE LIE, 1967 (1) ROLLER DERBY GIRL, 1967 (1) Frederic Colson * BEDROOM BLACKLIST, 1966 (1) GtlVB IT TO MET ^s,_ ___ THE PASSION THING, 1966 (2) STfVUWn 30C- / ALLeftG-fC TO 3 Frederick Colson * AMI... Am I*--? , / VIRGINS? J THE LOVE TRIBE, 1968 (1) Peggy Swenson * DEVIL ON HER TAIL, 1969 (3) Peggy Swenson * ORALITY '69, 1969 (3) ORALITY '70, 1970 (6) THREE WAY SWAP, 1970 (2) DADDY'S HARLOT, 1969 (1) Sheela Kunzer * THE TWINS HAVE MOTHER, 1972 (1) Peggy Swenson * THE UlUISECTOR BY DARRELL SCHWEITZER
I still can't quite believe that this is ray very last column for the very last SCIENCE FICTION REVIEW. We all knew the End was coming, and there are times in this life when we must bow to the in¬ evitable. From the sound of things, as our Noble Editor described his increasing
OTHER VOICES OTHER VOICES
REVIEWS BY ANDREW ANDREWS
FlfTlREDAYS By Isaac Asimov novels and short stories, as he becomes loads of fresh speculation thrown it at Henry-Holt 6 Co, 1986, 96 pp., $12.95 driven to placate the terrors in his every angle, for good measure -- and a Devotees of Asimov, along with prac¬ pleasurable read. ticing futurists will, despite this book's "I have always had tremendous What, altogether, is TERROR about? steep price tag, uncover a mountain of feelings of aggression that it curiosities in this "Nineteenth Century seemed necessary to cover up, to For one, it's a melodrama about the Vision of the Year 2000." hide. And ray writing was a clear weapon "to end all weapons" and the bomb "to end all wars." History rings with FUTUREDAYS is a collection of "il¬ channel for that -- I think that that is why there is so much de¬ the myth. Is reagan's "Star Wars" anoth¬ lustrations (created in 1899 by Jean Marc er A-bomb, in which it becomes a "force Cote, a French comnercial artist) for a for Deace?" DeeD in Hawaiian waters BROTHER JONATHAN.
T>£ WANDER 1 ARCHITECT OF SLEEP By Steven R. Boyett or ouse
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