TBS&E Number 72 1

This issue was intended to bring you up to the end of my 2016 adventures, sadly another target missed, with some 2016 bits

and pieces left over and several January Still in Century Gothic! to March events written up and waiting. Produced by Garry Dalrymple as So, let us just imagine that I have written something brilliant and incisive in this his contribution to mailing No. editorial space. As ever, it is rather busy in 295, of the Australian and N.Z. my head, no matter how idle mu hands. Amateur Press Association. So far this year there have been record heat, followed by record wet spells, not Postal Address: 1 Eulabah Ave., very conducive to my getting up and out much. I wait for Amber to have another EARLWOOD NSW 2206 fit, she goes a week between them, then Home ph. (best after 7 pm) currently nearly a month. Does the heat, 02 9718-5827 cold or exercise help or hinder them? Several Freecon-ish projects are on the Email; [email protected] launch pad at the moment, as ever, their fatal flaw will be the need to rely on other people. The Great Coffee Bean saga may feature in next month’s issue (I already have enough to hand for TBS&E #73). So let’s start off the issue with …

The November 7, 2017, Sydney City Sky-watchers meeting; Speaker; Jesse Van Sande from Sydney Uni. Physics Dept., Topic; Dawn of the Red and the Dead.

Who was there? – 24 people, 15 M and 9 F.

Club News – The December meeting will be an end of year dinner at The Village SEE THE BACK PAGE Inn. There will be a talk by Fred Watson on (page 40) FOR INDEXES Wednesday November 23, Topic, John Tebbutt F.R.A.S.

1 TBS&E Number 72 2 Member’s Observations – comparison with what we can observe of Garry Dalrymple – Sunspots have been the other Galaxies of the Universe, their star absent or too small to be visible to a 76 mm populations and their state of evolution. diameter telescope. There will be a In about two Billion years our Galaxy and Gravity talk by Ian Bryce at the 2016 Sydney Andromeda (M41) will approach each Freecon. Much has been made of the other, and their outer envelope of stars will ‘Supermoon,’ a Full Moon coinciding with it interact well before an eventual collision being at a point in the cycles of it’s orbit and merger. By about 3.85 Billion years, which is closest to Earth. this will cause star formation due to the Monty Leventhal – Solar activity is down, compression of this dust and gas will ignite numerous sunspot free days recently. a period of star formation. By five to Activity limited to Solar Prominences, seven Billion years the mass of stars will be observed across the disc of the sun, or at so mixed as to form a giant Elliptical the Sun’s edge as hedgerow flares. Active (Football shaped) Galaxy. Thus, the Milky groups observed between the third and the Way is on its way to becoming ‘Red and fifteenth, with groups reducing down to Dead,’ as all the gas and dust of the isolated single spots. During this time, even galactic halo is used up, so that there can the Prominences and Filaments have been be no further new star formation resulting in faint and not very high. the remaining stars being only the smaller, longer lived and age reddened Stars. The Topic; Dawn of the Red and Present day Galaxies can be placed in an the Dead. age / development sequence called The speaker’s recent observing career has Hubble’s Tuning Fork. This graphically involved a Chilean observatory, with four summarises 14 Billion years of Galactic telescopes, 8 metre mirror etc. This array evolution, unconsolidated matter to Spirals costs about $100,000 per night to run. He and barred Spiral forms, do they selected five Galaxies to observe, spending necessarily proceed from Spirals to four to five hours observing. The results from Elliptical. The temptation is to expect these observations were that, from the more structure to emerge with time, spectroscopy of individual stars, that they however this is wrong, with groups of were moving turbulently, rather than in Galaxies being gravitationally bound, the ‘relaxed’ and orderly orbits around their process of merging will produce Elliptical Galaxy’s centre of Mass (A Black hole?). forms, after a very messy process, resulting Observation of Older and more distant asymmetrical / irregular forms, some which Galaxies revealed that they were more retain visible dust lanes from their previous compact than current day Galaxies, i.e. forms. they have already gone through a ‘fire sale’ The Process of Galactic Formation and period of converting dust and gas into short Evolution may be summarised as; lived stars. So, these Zombie Galaxies will Gas Rich to Dusty Active to Quenching to have to fill out the rest of their lives by Compact and Quiet (Zombie stage) to Dry consuming other smaller mass Galaxies. Mergers (For smaller ones) and Finally the

Early in the formation of the Universe, son end stage, homogeneous Elliptical form. after Matter became possible, Large First To study Galaxies is like studying forests, in Generation Stars formed out of the that the observer cannot observe the Hydrogen, but because of their size these whole live of a single Galaxy, but you may burnt brightly and quickly, exploding to observe many Galaxies at different stages produce the enriched matter that was to of life. The makeup of Galaxies differ, its form the Second Generation stars, of which constituent stars vary in age, size and our Sun and Planets are formed from. number, all of which may be plotted on a We are able to evaluate the history and Hertzsprung Russell diagram, setting out the future of our own Galaxy, The Milky Way, by likely past and future of these stars. By being able to identify similar stars in

2 TBS&E Number 72 3 different Galaxies comparisons of age and have to look forward to for the next ten distance may be calculated for some billion years of the Universe? Galaxies, but some Galaxies are recorded Not much, as most of it has already only images which are only several pixels happened and we will get to spend the wide. The SLOAN Digital Sky Survey, a single rest of Time with, in effect, a Universe Telescope covering 35% of the sky and populated by Zombie Galaxies! 225,000 stars, which allows greater detail of an average Galaxy to be generated from The November 23, 2016, Sydney this wealth of new details Observatory meeting, Galaxies are more than just the visible stars, Speaker; Dr Fred Watson. Dark Matter, dust and Gas are associated with and make up much of the mass of a Topic; The life of John Tebbutt. Galaxy. Who was there? – About 20 people.

The COBE with its image of the cosmic The Topic; The life of John Tebbutt. Microwave background, the first light after I attended the talk, but I decided not to the big bang, with slightly hotter and cooler take any notes, as after trove editing 2,000 areas, with these very small differences or more of his newspaper items, there being what gave rise to Stars, these cooler wasn’t going to be much revealed about areas allowing matter to condense into stars John Tebbutt that I wasn’t already well etc., then seeding Galaxies and greater aware of. This may sound conceited, but Universe spanning bubble structures. it proved to be true on the night. All of these observations are of a moment Also, I wanted to concentrate on what from the past that is frozen in time, distant unexpected points did emerge and what images arriving to us as the Speed of Light. Fred Watson’s approach to Tebbutt was This allows us to look out to distant objects going to be. and to see back into time. Since 1927, the Discovery by Edwin Hubble Fred is of course a professional / academic of a relationship between an object’s Astronomer (and these days a Keynote Distance and the Red shift of its light as Public Science Speaker), and his approach received on Earth. The higher the red shift was the marvel at the achievement of of spectral lines (to the Red) the greater its Professional level observations emerging Velocity and Distance. This effect was from an Amateur. A valid point of view, actually discovered two years earlier in a and necessarily a comparison with the Dutch Monk, but not his results were efforts of Sydney Observatory were made. unpublished. In light of the similar quality of work of W. F. Very distant objects can be very hard to Gale, C. J. Merfield, James Nangle etc., observe, being fainter and offering less and the other 1800s to 1900s B.A.A. N.S.W. resolution. Infrared wavelengths offer (and Victoria Branch) Astronomers, this was better observing prospects and the Hubble a bit naïve, but perfectly understandable, Space Telescope (H.S.T.), being above the not being a part of his tribe’s story.

Earth’s atmosphere, is able to observe Faults and complaints – This event was beyond visible light frequencies. The H.S.T. presented as a Tebbutt Tribute event, was aimed at a very empty section of deep marking the centenary of his death in 1916. space for over 500 hours. An image made And I believe this should have been a up of 2,000 stacked exposures revealed much celebrated event. I mean, the guy 5,500 Galaxies, with red shifts from 1 to 10. was a GOD of Amateur and professional So, even as early as three billion years after level Astronomy. The greatest fault with the Big Bang, Red and Dead Galaxies were this event was not anything that Fred already present, at about a quarter of the Watson was responsible for. That fault was current age of the Universe. So what do we the presentation of the event as a pay to attend cocktail party ‘Historical’ event,

3 TBS&E Number 72 4 which restricted the number of Sydney City negotiation, restrictions conforming single Skywatchers attendees and also reduced person orders, and a minimum the number of ‘strangers’ to less than a participation number for a $45 a head dozen. It would have been a better banquet at our table were organised. commemoration event to have been an Between the courses there were some invitational Sydney Observatory event open informal discussions about putting up some to all of Sydney’s Astro club members, not of my Trove based occasional papers as a just the Tebbutt appreciating historical set Historical Section page for the Club’s and some Sydney City Skywatchers who website. I.e. my leaflets on John Tebbutt, could make it to a second meeting in Walter F. Gale (and Mars), James Dunlop November. (All F.R.A.S.) and the discovery of Pluto. I do not fault Fred Watson’s presentation, One of our younger members, Rhys Davis the details he provided were about 95% has been awarded a scholarship to look correct, the images from Tebbutt’s life were into spontaneous Laser emissions, what I expected, but it was a professional particularly the density and separation of looking down approach, while my molecules needed for these events, for experience, looking up at a very superior Materials handling purposes. Amateur Astronomer. Only part of the NB this is likely to be Astronomy adaptable complexity of the man was presented, only Physics, as it is almost exact the opposite of the odd thorn of a very prickly character the procedure used by current were presented. Astronomical Laser and Maser emission In his observational career, Tebbutt more observations, where temperature passing frequently exchanged useful astronomical through opaque dust clouds and Nebula communications, Kiel Telegrams etc. with may be observed. Conversation the Melbourne Observatory. This was an revealed that there is now no easy way to absent dimension of this talk. Tebbutt’s commute between Sydney’s Beverley Hills interaction with Sydney Observatory was like and Macquarie University (A half hour a curate’s egg (Rev. Stiles?), a mixture of North–South transit), the linking bus service occasional cooperation and frequent having been terminated, this now requires conflicts / point scoring. a much longer journey, along the longer

What I did learn – That on the Powerhouse sides of a triangle, all the way into town, Museum’s website there is a substantial (one hour) then a trip all the way out to this body of correspondence between Tebbutt University (a bit over an hour). and Sydney Observatory to be read. The practical effect of this for our club Might get round to digitising this later? being that member’s participation in © Garry P Dalrymple, February 24, 2014. Macquarie University Star Nights, which finish at 10 pm, have become a bit more The December 5, 2016, Sydney problematic. Fred Watson’s recent John Tebbutt F.R.A.S. City Sky-watchers Christmas talk, as delivered at Sydney Observatory Party / Dinner meeting, held at and at Windsor, were materially different. Fortune Village, 209 Clarence The Windsor version featured some discussion of Tebbutt’s ‘Lady Helpers’, an Street, so no Topic or Speaker aspect not heard at Sydney Observatory.

The Absence of our President, Michael Who was there? – About 20 people present. Chapman, currently living in the New The award of Toner Stephenson’s Doctorate England area (Armidale?), who is now a (on Women in Astronomy) was celebrated Sydney Rent Refugee, was felt. His many with a cake. years of service being greatly appreciated. After the usual exchange of dietary Monty Leventhal, O.A.M., our senior Vice prohibition data (I’m a non-practicing President is currently Presiding, in Michael’s Photo-Breatherian myself) with some absence. As you might expect, instead of

4 TBS&E Number 72 5 giving out Christmas Cards, I handed out that SF is at its best when depicting the copies of TBS&E and Freecon related Future Societies that DID NOT happen, i.e. material. All present greatly appreciated blindness about mobile phones and Elizabeth Cocking’s organisation of this computers, leading to insights as to why year’s event. our current society is the way that it is, no flying cars or robot servants. His pleas for the inclusion of some ‘SF books with happy endings,’ were met with sympathy by some, but also with the stirring

of dark unspoken thoughts towards candidate books for a list of the ‘If you think that was an book with an unhappy ending, then you should try this … and these …’ type. All of this suggests to me a future Sydney Futurian SF Discussion Meeting topic of; ‘The Worst of all possible worlds, some Really Dystopian SF stories you have read.’ The simple answer to a need for ‘Happy SF’ would be … to read

only pre-1945 SF titles?

‘Fahrenheit 451’ - I enjoyed reading

this book so much … I burnt it! The Concord Public Library SF&F Discussion Group meeting of Monday, Talking about the book August 1, 2016, 2 to 3.30 pm. I did not re-read this book, I relied on my Book; ’Fahrenheit 451’, by Ray memories of reading it so long ago, Bradbury (US Dec’d.) refreshed by memories of seeing the movie, thus there is no review, my Present were – 15 people, 9 M & 6 F impressions, to compare and contrast with News what I could get down of the group’s A first timer to this meeting is Simone, who is impressions of the story. The feeling I am a part time / casual librarian who has just left with is, I must have forgotten a lot joined Concord Library. Lim thanked those about this book, as much of what was who attended last month’s Mural Launch raised sounded new to me. meeting, a report on which is on the council This story apparently started life as a website (with a mutilated representation of novella, that is to say a story much less the Artwork!) The event also featured in the than a standard novel length. The Book local paper (The Bayside Brief?) as did two version then, is the result of deliberate of Garry’s letters to the editor (Now ‘World padding with extraneous material to bring Famous in some parts of Rhodes’?). it up to ‘market’ size. There was a table of recently donated SF This book is not typical of Ray Bradbury’s books to pick over (priced at $0.50 each), writing, an American SF&F writer who wrote meeting attendees being given a first pick of the future and fantastic themes from a ahead of the general public. The ‘spread,’ small town America perspective, rather of things provided for afternoon tea this than that of the New York, Chicago or afternoon was more lavish than usual. Californian ‘Big City’ perspective of his An opinion was very strongly expressed by main rivals. one person present, motivated by a desire This book is probably not his best book, to introduce more Fantasy readers to good ‘Something Evil This Way Comes,’ where SF, that the list of books we have been the arrival of an itinerant Carnival brings discussing contains too many Dystopian or evil to a peaceful town, is better, and it unhappy ending SF books. He highlighted may not be his best SF, when compared to 5 TBS&E Number 72 6 ‘The Martian Chronicles,’ where Mars is emotions and experiences not available discovered and settled in episodes much any more from his wife who is heading for like the Mid-West was. His best writing, a a mass media, medicated nirvana. She style of Speculative Fiction that pre-dates ends up being killed, or possibly being ‘American Gothic,’ is best presented in short taken away to have her mind wiped. story collections, only some of which, such The Character of Beattie – A mentor or as ‘The Illustrated Man’ were easy to make Authority figure to Montag, a senior into movies. Fireman. He reads all the books but still Predictiveness – Several times during the destroys them. He quotes books freely, is discussion of this book readers stated that he a booklover who enjoys his reading as a they were surprise that Bradbury predicted private privilege that is his due, but not a aspects of how we currently live, depicting right for others? Was he once a hold-out, forms of social control through media and who had put his faith in finding the answers gadgets currently in use. His story was to Life The Universe and Everything (42) in written during the 1950s / the Cold War and books but been disappointed, or a perhaps he is describing a society living philosopher who believes that all that truly through Post Traumatic Distress from WW2, matters is the here and now, unrestrained Korea and looking towards the Cold War by debris of thought from the past hotting up? represented by books? What Bradbury The story raises the question of happiness might be hinting at, in his portrayal of (real or medicated) Vs Satisfaction and real Beattie is the thought that the actions of achievement. Is it better to be constantly Hitler, the mobilization of the German made happy / entertained, by whatever people, to do evil, is a fault of the power of means or is it better to be awake to a less words. Take away the words and evil is than perfect reality and perhaps be bored powerless to act, and we all could be as at times. happy as an Epsilon on Soma in ‘A Brave Bradbury predicted that most people will, as New World’? Or is he just a fully paid up they do today, if offered the choice, switch Establishment figure getting to know the out and disengage with what is happening enemy? Book burning and the destruction around them, in order to switch onto forms of the past, is currently a trait of ISIS, of electronic stimulation or entertainment destroying archaeology as they want their such as music or mobile phone games view of the future to be the only one rather ‘endure’ the momentary wasted time around. Ignorance is a strength to power, / boredom of a bus or train trip or heaven when no-one knows any different, like from forbid, engaging strangers in conversation. the past. The more disturbing point for Bradbury also sees that people will prefer a some readers is that the in this book society faux reality, the illusion of intimacy of one-to- not only consents to the destruction of media mass involvement over that of real books, but through a public confessional one-to-one intimacy or one off or individual box, it actively participates in denouncing experience. Social conformity, fake book holders. relation-ships with media being seen as What War, why the War? – No-one better goods than real experiences and knows why, who it is against, or talks about emotions. Popular is more important than it anymore, the populace being distracted real? The breakdown of real inter-personal by medicated Bread and reality TV Wall relationships or a real sense of community is Screen circuses, so no organised protest also included, easier to have a walk on role against it is possible because people on the inter-active wall screen drama than would not understand why, the skills to to start a family? reason and dissent having been lost with The Character of Clarissa – Clarissa, a the world of books. In the background Julia from ‘1984’ re-considered? Appears in (where THEY want it) is the fact that this the story to wake Montag up from his society is probably at war with an external emotional slumber, by offering him real force. There is also a war on the home 6 TBS&E Number 72 7 front, against the enemy of any memory of ‘Nineteen Eighty Four,’ by George Orwell, the past represented in books. where the Party is waging the war A book free future of citizens living purely in successfully against any inconvenient the moment, without reference to context is memories of the past, re-writing history and a gift of complete freedom from language on a daily basis and mass accountability to any government. producing pornography for the prole Some Loose Ends masses to keep their minds occupied. Women – The Women encountered in this ‘This Perfect Day,’ by Ira Levin (who also book seem to be poorly realised, even for wrote the better known stories; ‘The Science Fiction stories. They are placid, Stepford Wives’ and ‘Rosemary’s Baby’) back-boneless cardboard Barbie dolls at where the society is medicated and best, pre-Women’s Liberation 1950s indoctrinated to ‘love’ the dissident and archetypes? help them to recover their wellness and Suicide - Choice for Suicide as a result of conformity to society norms. Cyril Kurnbluth’s ‘The Marching Morons,’ decisions made in error. The deadness of where most of the population are illiterate happiness at all times, precludes deeper idiots, but society is kept marching by the thinking skills of a few with access to their bags of The Robot dog with the needles (The books. Terminator’s pooch?) a pheromones of fear Patrick Tilley’s The Amtrak Wars, features a sniffer, precautions taken to avoid, like a society which is anti-book, all texts on line. futuristic version of the bloodhounds used to Ready Player One, lots of 1980s references. chase escaped convicts (and slaves). Conclusion – In all, a surprisingly good MP3 and Kindle – Choosing not to re-read story, if not a ‘Great Book,’ as in reading, it the book, one member of the group was a bit padded at times. Surprisingly decided to listen to it on her MP3, while she prescient and an interesting command of did other things around the house. She how (American) society might choose to found that the effect of hearing the book order itself faced with existential threat offered a fresh approach to its content than similar too that experienced today. reading it off paper or Kindle. Reading it Almost like tripping to read, occasionally on a Kindle, allowed for frequent freeze synaesthesia where mixed up senses, frame and double checking of ‘did I really hearing colours, seeing smells etc. by read that’ moments. profundities and the current day loss of all The Graphic Novel – A bigtime reader of context in the pursuit of connected Graphic Novels compared the treatment of happiness leaving no un-plugged moment the story compared to the book as ‘so-so.’ spare to be ’bored’ or to smell the roses And unsatisfying. For example, the entire inclination. storyline of the Robotic hound, created to sniff out and anesthetise offenders, had So where are we going? The book ends been excised. with a big bang, the city bombed / nuked, someone won the war? It does however Teach This Book! – This book is a gift to suffer from the expectations attached to it School Teachers who want to get kids onto as a ‘Great Book’, it probably isn’t, but it Science Fiction, as it is SF, but without may be the best and most memorable Spaceships and it reflects something ‘Book Burning’ story currently screening on recognisable as ’real life,’ with (scripted) a Wall Screen near you. reality TV. © July 12, 2016, Garry P Dalrymple. Other books Mentioned ‘Deer Hunting with Jesus’, by Not Stated to The Concord Public Library SF&F explain the American mindset that Donald J. Trump is able to appeal to, while being a Discussion Group meeting of member of the class that is doing most to Monday, September 5, 2016, 2 to disadvantage this group of Americans. 3.30 pm.

7 TBS&E Number 72 8 Book; ’The Time Traveller’s Wife’, necessary survival training, and other by Audrey Niffenegger (US). things, without paradox issues Winfree Present were – 20 people, 8 M & 7 F. One reader claimed to have rad three time travel books in a row! This was the News easiest, less thought demanding. Sydney University Bookfest this year, on this Allegedly, some people enjoyed this book. weekend and likely to be second hand Too long and very repetitive at times. It dealer free. could have been edited down and still

NB This account is a review of the discussion retained it’s essential features (and faults) about the book, and I’m trying not to re- © January 30, 2017, Garry P Dalrymple. state my review the book, which may be found elsewhere. The Concord Public Library SF&F

This is a story of a Time Traveller, we meet his Discussion Group meeting of wife a bit later. He is a congenital Time Monday, October 10, 2016, 2 to 3.30 Traveller, we discover later that there is pm. Book; ’The Girl with all the gifts’, something to do with his DNA and his time by M. R. Carey (US.) travel bouts are like Migraines, sort of Present were – 16 people, 9 M & 7 F. predictable, and sort of stress generated. His MOD is to materialises sans clothes at News some place and time in his past or in his The World of this story occurs after the future and has to make do as best he can release of a fungus plague that turns until he flips back to the story’s continuing people into blood crazed Zombies. This present, naked again. This leads to the fungus is modelled on the one that takes assembly of a series of basically criminal life over ants and leads them to their doom as skills, as even if apprehended, poof, he’s part of the fungus’ reproductive cycle. gone before they get him to the police Some (very few) children are born part station. Zombie and the ones we meet are at a Many of his time flips are oriented around a very special school. The entire population girl (slightly creepy) who is to be his wife of London (11 Million) has resulted in these (and Widow). Not an entirely comfortable fifteen children! And the story focusses thesis, she is his because … well because he down to 8 flawed and mostly one keeps showing up, imprinting on her, and dimensional characters, under threat by grooming her for the future, so can her both the Hungries and the Junkers. The eventual choice really be a Free one? school is a Hogwarts for the infected As a young man, the Main Character isn’t zombie children, and their successful particularly likeable, but repeatedly arriving training is the last hope of a future for nude in America will do that to you. ‘human’ society, as, with special instruction This book was chosen as an Oprah Book they hope to will make something of them club choice, guaranteeing it a large by training them, against their zombie readership. It was also rated highly on nature to eventually take over things. ‘Good Reads.’ Many SF writers have They are it seems better than human, faster explored similar themes better, such as and smarter etc. as a result of their pre- Octavia Butler in ‘Kindred’. natal infection. Other, still uninfected The focus of the book shifts to being Her survivors have a different view, view of her time travelling husband, an extermination of the Zombies or Fatalism. easier option to trying to live through the The Children escape the school, and the non-sequential life of the MC. So, the story becomes a Road Movie Adventure book dwells on the relationship between the (but not such a great story), when it is two rather than the SF nalness of their under attack, and with the help of some of predicament. their surviving teachers wander around the The Main character meets his older self for post-apocalyptic scenery until their leader,

8 TBS&E Number 72 9 the girl with all the gifts, can make a Some Better treatments of ‘The End of the decision, which is basically ‘Stuff it, let’s just World’ issues include; ‘The Omega Man’ / end it all. The Italian name for this book is ‘I am Legend’, by Mathieson, (Worth more telling of the Author’s intent, being looking for the Vincent Price version of the ‘The Girl who knew too much’. The story movie) ‘28 days’, ‘28 weeks’ or even the starts with a demonstration of the Children’s Graphic novel to TV series, ‘The Walking brutality and essential nature, then goes flat, Dead.’© Feb. 7, 2017, Garry Dalrymple. until the Free Range Zombies are encountered. Another tribe of human Notes from the Sydney DWCA survivors are encountered, The Junkers who are much into End of the World Anarchy, meeting of Sunday October 23, and who are rather unkind to their women 2016, at the Burwood Club. An folk, ruling them out as a viable alternative. anniversary meeting with Kerrie Back at the school, the Doctor does not see her charges, the children, as people. She Dougherty and some films / sees them as lab animals valued only for the video footage. Present were – insights she may derive from their dissected about 40 people, 30M, 10F bodies. The book includes all the usual My first impressions were that the Whovian Zombie Apocalypse Tropes that you would crowd is getting older and wider. Pointing expect, but they are called ‘Hungries’ in this no fingers, but, time having been unkind to story and to some degree, the levels of many of us. Before the meeting I fitted in infection are relative rather than absolute, a visit to both Bing Lee (No catalogue!) and infection by some types of the Fungi and St Vinneys. results in different behaviour, i.e. standing still Saw the fourth episode of Tenth Planet, an or running and fighting? animation aided recreation of this missing As the journey rolls on, the ultimate end for episode, which features two firsts, the the infected, is revealed, to become one appearance of a form of the Cybermen, with the Grey Wall, a massive fungal super and the Doctor’s first regeneration. colony, purpose unknown. Also saw the trailer for the ‘Power of The Some were pleased with the End Times Daleks’ (not yet available) and an episode appropriate ethics and morality of the story, of the latest Dr Who spinoff (with minimal Dr i.e. under such circumstances is it better to Who content) ‘Class’, which was on TV last teach the children High tech salvations or week. ancient survival myths. Kerrie Dougherty had come down from the The story unrolls like a Road movie, with Central Coast to share with us her seemingly random encounters while experiences of the start to Dr Who fandom traversing the landscape ahead of arrival at in Australia, through the Sydney University the ultimate destination / denouement. SF Club. There was footage of Dalek Some, while finding the journey un satisfying, races, between Sydney, Melbourne and did however want to know what happens Adelaide University Daleks, with the Sydney next, after the conclusion of this story. one winning, because it had been better Some scepticism was expressed at the made as part of an amateur Dr Who movie feeding of the half Zombie babies, breast project. fed by the brave, or fed on raw meat Beyond the sandstone curtain, it was the milkshakes? protest outside the ABC, led by the Sydney Melanie, the titular Girl With All The Gifts, is Uni. Dalek which led to the ABC aware of her future, the Plague is the cure reconsidering its Dr Who contract for Earth or to be the teacher of a new, non- termination, a decision of ABC Director verbal primitive but sustainable form of Bland (no joke). This protest gathered a humanity. She has to decide to kill the great deal of attention, within the ABC Junkers who would otherwise kill all the building (Office windows popping open so children.

9 TBS&E Number 72 10 staff could see what was happening, and club members, was considered to be why the ABC was on TV) and even a visit by only a teaching exercise by the Film senior members of the Australian Federal teaching people, hence footage secured Ploice (who turned out to be fans in uniform was maliciously jettisoned in spite of the SF wanting to know what the protestors knew club member’s investment of time and about the future of the show. Subsequent to money. this, the ABC offered viewers some Dr Who Other Movies - The Sydney University SF themed cards and stickers, if they cared to Club had a guaranteed money spinner in write in for them, resulting in an enormous the form of Film Nights. Usually featuring public reaction. hired 16 mm copies of ‘Monty Python’ and The Public protest may be seen as the or ‘Flesh Gordon’, these nights held up to Genesis of the Doctor Who Club of Australia, six times a year, in those pre-VHS days, the DWCA, as the need for some sort of off were the SF club’s ATM. Screened on campus Dr Who group was needed. campus, using student’s Union facilities, Within the University, there was also a ‘push’ these movies, of unclear censorship from student politics / personality issues category, were untroubled by then requiring a a separation from the Sydney prevailing cinema audience restrictions. University SF Association. There were also There was a Dalek take-over of the Dalek appearances at on-campus SF Student’s Union Newspaper, ‘Honi Soir’, led conventions such as Unicon 2 (1976) and by Barlek the Dalek (also known as Unicon 5 (1979). The Sydney University George). The Club was used as the venue Dalek came into being around three for the infamous ‘paper plane’ launch of people, Kerrie, Dallas Jones and Tony Howe. the first issue of ‘Zerinza’, a Dr Who fan The construction was taken on by Sydney newsletter, where so many of the issue University’s engineering students, from plans were converted into paper planes and sourced from a Dr Who publication. returned to the Editor. Prior to this though, The Sydney University Dalek was mounted Van Ikin and Terry Dowling put out a on a child’s Dinky tricycle, due to a newsletter called ‘Enigma’ which misunderstanding, it was the new commented on Dr Who episodes.

Replacement one that was collected and So, Kerrie in time graduated in used, rather than the older Spare one that Archaeology from Sydney University, and had been offered. This was the basis of this then studied Archiving. Which turned out Dalek’s superior speed and to be useful, as on completion of this manoeuvrability. It was taken down to course she was skilled and available to Melbourne, disassembled on a roof rack. start as an archivist at the Powerhouse The half balls decorating the Dalek’s flanks Museum, initially working on the Sydney were initially sourced from a supply of Observatory’s records (1979) as a plastic bank promotional moneyboxes, but ‘temporary’ archivist and then worked later, painted Styrofoam balls were used to towards being the Powerhouse’s Curator of replace damaged ones. Spaceflight, until 2015. She did manage The Movie – At one point during the 1970s to insert some Whovian content into the there were up to five fan-made Daleks in Powerhouse’s collection and displays, and and around Sydney. Which led to the Club instituted Dalek Racing during each organising a movie project. The story of Blockbuster Special Effects Exhibition the movie being a Dalek plot to steel Beer season. and store it at the Sydney Opera House. It One ‘prize’ in the Powerhouse’s collection featured a stripper Dalek scene, an is an official BBC Dalek. This one came intoxicated Pink Dalek scene and even the out for a Sydney Easter Show, but as it Doctor travelling through time and space would cost too much to repatriate it (by with his Tardis’ chameleon circuit locked Air) it ended up in a Manly Video Shop, onto an outdoor dunny format. This and was pretty much trashed by exercise, which was taken very seriously by

10 TBS&E Number 72 11 customers. Other whovian material came the Zombie. There are also lots of from people who worked on Dr Who and Stories and Movies listed that have helped who subsequently moved to Australia and to form the pop culture of the Zombie. donated their Whovian mementos to the Diane has a new email account, with Powerhouse. The Powerhouse Museum’s bigpond.com. That is, her previous dodo SFX exhibitions included the 2002 Star Wars email with bigpond.com (no .au) exhibition, which was made up of material substituted for dodo.com from a 1999 US exhibition, and which came JF – Is currently reading ’15 Kinds of Desire’, to Sydney to coincide with the release of by Australian Writer Mandy Sayer, which is that year’s mostly made in Sydney Star Wars actually a collection of 15 of her short movie. stories. He has also been reading ‘Steve At one point Kerrie was contacted and Jobs, insanely great ‘, by Jessie Hartlass. asked to write the text for a Star Wars This is a Graphic Novel biography of Steve themed picture book, a Visual Dictionary, Jobs, mostly dealing with his perfectionism which has since been re-issued, repeating and a comparison with his rival Bill Gates. many of her contributions, so in some small John has a new email account, with way she has contributed to Star Wars bigpond.com. That is, his previous dodo ‘Canon?’ email with [email protected] (no .au) © Garry Dalrymple March forth, 2017 substituted for dodo. AR – Is currently reading something, but left it at home today and can’t remember the title (great recommendation!) she has read a few books recently and they are all a bit of a blur (she says). Notes from the Sydney Futurian DW – Is currently reading ‘The Man from SF&F Discussion meeting of Friday Atlantis sequel ‘. By Patrick Duffy (US). July 15, 2016. Topic, Open Mike, Dean told a long and elliptical story about how he acquired this book, a continuation any book that has impressed you of the TV series, written by the actor in the recently TV series. Galaxy Bookshop was going to stock it, but made the decision that there Present were – Garry Dalrymple, Diane were not enough ‘Atlantis’ tragics around Fox, John Fox, Anne Rankins and Dean to justify it, so Dean had to get them to Wheatley. Apologies were received from – import a copy just for him. It has some SF Stephen Bingle and Brian Walls value, but it is marred by a peculiarity of the writing, where all female characters in Our Recent reading; the story love with the Main Character / GD – Is currently reading ‘The Big Black Author (sounds like wish fulfilment?), Mark‘, a book by A. Bert Chandler (Aust. Dec’d). This is a SMSA Library copy, they still News have several of his books, this one, The Brian Walls’ Report – A week apparently a signed copy. A Bert before the meeting Brian phoned me, Chandler writes Space Opera SF, informed discussed a number of things, he is thinking by his life as a commercial Mariner, and of attending Conflux in Canberra this year inspired Ron Ward to write his Ammonia (Sept. 30 to Oct. 03). He told me about series, translating his experience in Industrial the Book launch at Gleebooks (which I life into SF. attended, see notes) and a number of DF – Is currently reading ‘Zombies, a Cultural other philosophical events. All other History‘ by Roger Luckhurst. This book details have faded into the mists of time. covers in great detail the Sociological roots of Voodoo, Zombie-ism and colonial era P07 SMH 12July16 - First find of water clouds racism that have framed our perceptions of outside of Solar System – WISE 0855,

11 TBS&E Number 72 12 discovery, which is unlikely to be a real ‘first,’ Fannish News but news of a future without fear of invasion A draft of the Program for Conflux in and planetary conquest by aliens wanting Canberra this year (Sept. 30 to Oct. 03) is our water! Such as ‘The Man Who fell to up on the website. A great deal of ‘For Earth,’ and ‘V’ etc. Writers’ material. NASA is extending the life of several of its There will be an Australian Book Expo at missions; The Hubble Space Telescope will Rose Hill Racecourse, October 8 and 9, lots run another 5 years, The Dawn probe to of not seen in chain bookshops books and Ceres is now re-tasked to encounter other publishers present. Asteroids, the Mars Rover New Horizons. A part of Garry’s review of Ron Ward’s And we celebrate the first anniversary of the book ‘A Shutdown in Ammonia,’ will be Pluto fly-by, a significant date, as about half featured in the production copies. the data from that encounter still has to Garry has had some recent newspaper trickle in. letter writing success, viz page 26, of the Space Elevator reality check. An expert ‘Inner West Courier’. on Carbon Fibre fabrication has announced TV and Movie News that the light and strong carbon fibres TV - Almost all the TV SF worth watching is suggested for use in a ground to orbit Space on late at night and mostly subject to Elevator structure, will at anticipated random and unannounced programming operating temperatures, suffer kinking which decisions. will create weaknesses likely to lead to ‘Community’ was on, for two episodes these fibres snapping. then has disappeared off the TV program. Recent analysis claims that Jupiter is more of ‘The Last Ship,’ a series that is going to a a failed star than a big planet. second series. The First series ended with Jupiter’s Red Spot is fading, the power of the a cure for the killer Red Flu (which was 95% storm that fuels it seems to be diminishing. lethal) and a US President has been re- Environmental studies reveal that in a quiet installed, but the US in anarchy and Europe but healthy forest, plants and animals are in under fascist control. Aftermath, re- communication at different sound building and post-apocalyptic frequency ranges. Forests with reduced opportunities abound. bio-diversity are ‘dead silent’ and spreading ‘Izombie,’ a Graphic Novel inspired (release the plague, kill all the feral pussy Zombie series, with the infectious Zombie- cats now!). ism initially caused by an overly ambitious As a result of the recent Federal Election, a experimental ‘energy drink,’ has just proposal for a Very Fast Train, linking Sydney ended. to Melbourne and Canberra, has re- ‘Brain Dead,’ a series with alien Brain emerged. This project surfaces as regularly eating Bugs taking over Washington during as Pauline Hanson seeking Electoral funding. the closure of Government brought on by This time, it is proposed that it will all be the US Republicans blocking supply in financed by Real Estate Value capture, Congress, has also dropped off the TV from creating new dormitory towns along program. it’s route, like they did in Japan, apparently. A new ‘Lost in Space’ series is being made The unfortunate thing about High Speed Rail for Netflix in 2018. This series will be truer is that it likes to travel in straight lines over flat to the campy original TV series. ground, precisely where people like to live ‘Constantine,’ is an Urban Fantasy series of and farm, but local people tend not to like some interest (see below), a spin off from the idea of a Jumbo Jet on rails running another Parranormal series we believe. through their farms or backyards on a half The not very engaging French made hourly basis. Politically the project will be ‘dystopian’ series ‘Trepallion,’ misery of the secured by a deal with the Greens, in underclass, dreadful behaviour of the exchange for guarantees of a spur line ruling elite, based on a true story I guess, service to Narnia. on SBS has gone to DVD. Some series of 12 TBS&E Number 72 13 the too enigmatic to engage interest ‘The manage than real women, until these Returned’ series also plays late at night. dog-women start to organise and agitate ‘Minority Report,’ a one season only series, for their ‘human’ rights from the Patriarchy. more police procedural than Dickian SF is This story ends with Win-Win situation of still screening, but given opaque sorts, the dog-women get their rights … programing decisions, to know when it is and then the men of the patriarchy start to being screened you need advanced ‘pre- turn into Dogs. Thus this world turns and cog’ skills. the universe is balanced! Except for the ‘Voyager’ episodes continue to be bit about the Grey Basenjis dog-woman, screened (four times a day) and are which is sooooo not Basenjis like at all. frequently worth recording to play back. John’s choice was ‘Steve Jobs, insanely Movies - The new Star Trek movie is erupting great ‘, by Jessie Hartland. This is a over screens all over Australia, the Graphic Novel biography of Steve Jobs, Independence Day sequel is … out of the mostly dealing with his perfectionism and a airlock and starved of oxygen. ‘Ghost comparison with his rival Bill Gates, who Busters,’ has gone ‘all girly,’ to the rage of also built a world changing business out of some misogynistic internet trolls, more a few ideas. reasonable minds debate whether it is a Ann’s choice? Lost amid fond memories sequel or re-make. With the ‘Star Trek’ of so many good books read recently. and ‘Ghost Busters’ action, another Garry’s choices were ‘The Left Hand of ‘Terminator,’ “I’ll be Back,” re-boot must be Darkness’ by Ursula K Leguin (US) which I coming soon. found to be far richer on re-reading than I had recalled. There’s the Society of Discussion of the Topic, Open Mike, people who have gender only briefly each any book that has impressed you year, each person having the potential to recently. be Male or Female, a Father or a Mother, Diane’s choice was ‘The Heart of a Dog’ by and asexual for the rest of the year. AND Mikhaile Bulgakov (©1925), which is a story it is a novel about First Contact, a reasoned set in just after the revolution USSR, where an approach, by a space going EU of worlds experimenter transplants a human heart into making contact. A refreshing counterblast the body of a dog, with the result that the to the near SF writers of the era (© 1969) dog begins to develop into a human. The who were writing UFO contactee Fantasies intention was to see if a dog could be about being approached by the ‘Universal ‘raised’ to a human level by organ Collective of Space Brothers’ with an transplantation. The Doctor’s discrete clinic important message for mankind (usually, and medical skills made him a privileged lay off the Nukes). and protected person by both the old and I was also impressed by ‘A Shutdown in the new regimes. Trouble emerges though, Ammonia,’ by Ron Ward (Aust.), for it’s use as the heart he used for the transplant of a SF setting to illustrate Industrial came from an executed petty criminal, and management issues. the doctor’s new ex-dog / lodger turns out Dean was impressed by ‘Drake,’ a book of to be a very nasty person indeed, who fits in the Burned Man series, by Peter Maclean. well with the nastiness of the regime’s secret This is an Urban Fantasy series, set in police etc. So, as an act of self- London, of the present day. There is preservation the Doctor drugs the once magic about, but the big question is who dog, now person, sticks in a dog heart, has control of the Burned Man talisman, which leads to a reversion to type. which confers powers, but contains a This book may be compared and demonic presence which if released will contrasted with Carol Ermsheweller’s burn the entire world. It is quite a bit like ’Carmen Dog’, about the revolution that Richard Kadrey’s ‘Sandman Slim,’ which is results when dogs start transforming into set in Los Angeles, with a main character Women, who the men initially find easier to who is the detective with the special

13 TBS&E Number 72 14 powers needed to solve crimes with a Recent reading; supernatural aspect. He was also so GD – Is currently reading ‘The Time impressed by a song he heard, that he Traveller’s Wife‘, by Audrey Neffernegger tracked down the Album, ‘Strange Trails,’ (US) for the Concord Library SF&F readers from ‘World Ender’ by Lord Huron, a bluesy group, and is upset that the covers are too Prog Rock style concept album in tune with far apart and that the Author got grant the above two books, and indeed money to write on a subject explored mentioned as such on Richard Kadrey’s better, earlier, by real SF writers (Like Kurt Blog / website. ‘Constantine’ is a UK Vonnegut Jnr. in ‘Slaughterhouse 5’). series about a stage magician and exorcist, DF – Is currently reading ‘Steve Jobs, something that the Demons really do not Insanely Great ‘, A Biographic Graphic like. He is dying of Cancer, but, having Novel by Jessie Hartlang (US). sold his soul to BOTH the Devil and a JF – Is currently reading ‘Seeds and powerful Demon, the claiming of his soul will Skeletons‘, a collection of Short Stories and create a civil war in Demon/Devil town, Poems by UTS staff and Students. Its John also, he gave his life to save that of another, West good, says John, his story having which makes him an offensive personality to been rejected. the Devil, so as ‘punishment’ and to AR – Is currently reading a book about an preserve the peace, they give him eternal Astronaut who is cyborg adapted to life, and all the grief that goes with that. survive on the un-terraformed surface of

This Month’s New ‘Science Fiction’ books at Mars. After his work is done, and the the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts Library, normal humans arrive to settle, he loses his level 2, 280 Pitt Street Sydney ($15 per year sense of connection with humanity, but for full membership, $10 for an annual then he is called on to intervene / prevent reader’s ticket) include; a war between Aliens and Humans. Has also been watching episodes of ‘Star Trek; ‘The Medusa Chronicles’ by Stephen Baxter Voyager‘, and finds that it has improved – SF, Fantasy? with time, being better than ‘Star Trek; ‘The City of Mirrors’ by Justin Cronin – SF, Enterprise’. Fantasy? DW – Is currently reading a book which has ‘The Twelve’ by Justin Cronin – SF, Fantasy? miraculously re-appeared. It is about ‘The Summon Stone’ by Ian Irvine – SF, Super Continents and Continental Drift, by Fantasy? Ted Nield (US), who was also involved in ‘A Blade of Black Steel’ by Alex Marshall – the ‘Future Tense’ TV series. To set things SF, Fantasy? up, introduce topics, the book starts off SF E-Book ‘Sand’ by Hugh Howey with SF stories before switching to Non- Items received for the Freecon Fiction. DVDs; Bunny The Killer Thing, Burial Ground, Fannish News The High Crusade, POD it’s here, Possession, Diane advises that the SMSA Library has a Razorback (Aust.), Sheitan, To the Devil … A new rack (wall) of Free Books, in the daughter and Waking Life, kitchen section of the Library, currently all Crime / Detective titles. Notes from the Sydney Futurian The New Harry Potter book is out and it isn’t SF&F Discussion meeting of Friday by J.K. Rowling but it is ‘Authorized’. It is August 19, 2016. Topic, Gravity the book of _the Play_, written by others, Next Gen. Hogwarts, Fan Fic style? as a character in SF&F Stories As a cautionary tale, John has bought a VR Present were – Garry Dalrymple, Diane headset, but has been defeated focus Fox, John Fox, Anne Rankins, and Dean issues. The NBN has arrived … at Wheatley. Apologies were received from Bullaburra, as Fibre to the node, Copper to Stephen Bingle and Brian Walls. the home. Still has a dial tone, even though a digital phone now works on the

14 TBS&E Number 72 15 line. barely break through this ‘Gravity’ The current late night TV series ‘Brain Dead,’ effect. explores the world of Washington D.C., A late starter, which we didn’t have time to where alien bugs have infested the brains of explore was ‘Characters with Gravity,’ Senators and other governmental types, stories featuring an individual whose ‘West Wing’ meets ‘Invasion of the Body character’s gravitas is enough to carry a Snatchers’ – quite good, says Garry and story … frequently over and beyond beware the Kale drinkers and Cherry gaping credulity gaps, such as James Earl Blossoms. Ray in the original ‘Conan The Barbarian’ Dean says that BBC4 is doing another ‘The Movie and Doc Savage?

Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, Radio Hal Clement’s ‘Mission of Gravity,’ features Play series. The Movie ‘Splash’, is to be an expedition on a spinning spindle remade, with the focus character being a shaped Planet, such that Gravity varies Merman (or Morman?), instead of a greatly between the Equator and the Mermaid (Why does this make me think of poles. Scorpion like intelligent aliens are ‘Fish Fingers’). enlisted to recover a fallen (human) Science News satellite. The various strengths of Gravity The Rosetta Mission has finally ended in July, experienced by the alien Argonauts are being too far from Earth and Solar Power described and contribute to the dangers being insufficient to keep it running. It will of the adventure. Ground breaking eventually crash into a Comet to provide a ‘Hard’ SF. plume of debris for spectral analysis. Bugs Bunny, Coyote and the Road Runner The ‘water’ Gullies observed on Mars, have and Looney Tunes cartoons awareness of proved to be formed by evaporating / gravity, in line with Heisenberg uncertainty, sublimating undersoil C02, as Radio where you have to be aware of it, for spectrographic observations of these sites Gravity to suddenly have any effect on have picked up non-water formed Silicates. you, seconds after you have run over the The claimed detection of Higgs Boson cliff. particles (at CERN?) have turned out to be The Planetary Bombardment threat, Moon an instrument glitch, as the energy spectrum chunks thrown at Earth by The Moon’s recorded did not match known Higgs Boson linear accelerator, during Moon’s particle characteristics. independence struggle against Earth, as A ‘Quantum’ satellite will soon be launched, depicted in Robert A. Heinlein’s ‘The Moon to communicate with earth in Quantum is a Harsh Mistress’. encrypted code. The Opening Credits Scene of the movie

Discussion of the Topic, Stories about ‘Barbarella’, featuring Jane Fonda’s zero Gravity as a character in SF&F Stories. Gravity striptease, before she can reach the ‘gravity on’ switch. Overview – Any attempt to do a search on The Domination of the internet by the line for SF stories that fit this topic runs into an movie ‘Gravity’, in spite of the Gravity in unsurmountable difficulty, in the ubiquity of question acting in ways that most physicists on line references to the Sandra Bullock would be unfamiliar with. Movie, ‘Gravity,’ which does peculiar things Greg Bear (really? or should that be Larry with its titular force of Physics, (Alternate end Niven’s ‘The Integral Trees’?) early story scene for this movie; On the beach, wet about a region of space where Gravity and in her undies after emerging from the was too strong to allow Planets to form, capsule, along the shore, Sandra sees a line instead the humans live on great big of horse hoof prints on the sand, running to orbiting trees. the horizon. Looking up, on the dunes Stephen Baxter’s ‘The Raft,’ a high Gravity above stands … an Ape with a gun sitting zone inhabited by the survivors of a space on a horse!). wreck, they mine burnt out stars by Even Hal Clement’s ‘Mission of Gravity,’ can

15 TBS&E Number 72 16 lowering down wheelchair bound miners, being accurate representations of their due to the multiple gravities on these Religious / Ethical / Moral point of view, asteroid sized star fragments? some, having given thought to the family SF stories making use of Neutron Stars (one history value of surveys like the Census, by Larry Niven), Black Holes (Fred Pohl’s thought it might be more useful to the ‘Hee Chee Saga’) and their event horizons purposes of a Census to include questions and Gravitational lensing. like ‘How frequently do you participate in a The Disney Movie ‘The Black Hole,’ was just religious activity’, ‘What colour are your Captain Nemo / Ahab chasing an event politics’ and ‘What do you read,’ question horizon. ‘Event Horizon’ was worse, an as most of us spend more time between incomprehensible Horror movie set in space, the covers of a book than under the roof of where black hole gravity holds shut the any ecclesiastical function. doors to hell or something, rather than a This Month’s New ‘Science Fiction’ books Science Fiction Story. at the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts The Star Trek Movie, the one with the Library, level 2, 280 Pitt Street Sydney ($15 Whales, where you just fly close to a star to for full membership, $10 for a reader’s go back in time, to find whales of course, ticket) include; not to kill Hitler, or to create Roswell. A Star Trek; Voyager episode where the ‘The Race’ by Nina Allen – SF, Fantasy? crew is trapped on a planet where time is ‘The Long Cosmos’ by Sir Terry Pratchett – speeded up by Gravity (somehow) and only SF, Fantasy? the Doctor could survive the necessary ‘The Waking Fire’ by Anthony Ryan – SF, Fantasy? No SF E-Books away mission to save them. ‘The Walls of the World’? Where manta like Items received for the 2016 Sydney aliens live among the upper clouds of Freecon, DVDs; All Monsters Attack, Jupiter. Disaster!, Fairy tale, Killer Mermaid, Rage of A short story, by Author not stated, about the Dinosaurs, The Possession, the discovery of intelligent life under the © Garry P Dalrymple, 19 September, 2016 Jovian clouds by the researchers of a Jupiter monitoring station – And they are Notes from the Sydney Futurian listening and they are very hostile, but no SF&F Discussion meeting of spacecraft could survive going through the Jovian Atmosphere! – A re-supply ship turns Friday Sept.16, 2016. Topic, up, the first to have the new Gravity Proof Appliances in SF Stories. force field hull! Thus, Humanity is doomed! Present were – Garry Dalrymple, Diane The Unobtanium / Upsydaisium anti-gravity Fox, John Fox, Anne Rankins, and Dean mineral that was the rationale for the blue Wheatley. Apologies were received from movie ‘Avatar’, as opposed to derivative, Stephen Bingle and Brian Walls. blue / porn movie of a similar name which is about the struggle to control a planet with a Recent reading; gravity defying Viagra like mineral?). GD – Is currently reading ‘The Fortean Times’ of Sept. 2016 ‘, and has recently Census Deviation – Much time was spent finished reading ‘Nebula Alert’ by A. Bert prior to the meeting discussing the Census. Chandler (Aust. Dec’d), 121 pages, ©1967 What religion to put, paper or electronic and ‘The Greks Bring Gifts‘, by Murray version etc., as most present did not fit into Leinster (US Dec’d), 143 pages, ©1964. the demographic of being ‘actively Both influenced by 1950s era pulp SF religious’ within any of the major brand Magazine story telling. names likely to be on offer in the Census JF – Is currently absorbed in his Art studies, document. While most of us could have with reading including titles like; expressed ‘Jedi Knight’ or ‘That Church they ‘Introduction to Acrylics‘, and ‘Light and have in Star Trek’ with some sincerity, as Shadow‘.

16 TBS&E Number 72 17 DF – Is currently reading that Steve Jobs Freddy Mercury in Space! – A small, biographical graphic novel (see notes from non-dinosaur threatening Asteroid has previous meetings). She bought for John, been named ‘Freddymercury’ (all one thinking he might like it. He read it and word). This was announced by Dr. Brian enjoyed it, He insisted that she read it. She May, Astronomer and Queen Bass player. is. Diane is also ‘studying the form’ of the Cure for Alzheimer’s is a few years off – a recent Archibald Prize winners, via a booklet gene based therapy, to undo the damage produced by the NSW Art Gallery. of progressive Alzheimer’s, the breakdown AR – Is currently reading a book so of myelin protein that sleeves brain wiring, memorable that she left it at home and has recently emerged from the lab in can’t remember its title or Author. She has Melbourne. It seems to work, but some been watching some of the (Sports) years of further safety and efficacy testing season’s crop of dodgy Science will be required. But, imaging a pill that Documentaries, such as one ‘proving’ that could make you remember EVERYTHING, a the Yeti is a Himalayan folk memory of truth serem where nothing ever said or another sort of human, now extinct, the done would be forgotten, perfect recall of flimsy proof supporting this – the claim that lessons taught! Sherpa’s high altitude adaption is the result Star Shaped Antibiotic – A new class of of common ancestry with Yeti’s. Another antibiotic, in the form of a star shaped proved that the Greek Island of Thera, North molecule is apparently effective against all of Crete, was Atlantis. drug resistant strains has been created / DW – Is currently reading ‘Invasion‘, by Luke discovered. Potentially a ‘Universal’ anti- Rhinheart, (US), who is an author who has infection treatment, it’s shape means that it apparently come back from the dead! This is unlikely that drug resistance could evolve book features an invasion by Aliens, who to it. resemble big hairy balls. They arrive as Proxima b – An ‘Earth-like’ Planet has been tourists, then start to interfere with human found around Proxima Centauri, four light society, righting wrongs in a socially years away, which is the star closest to our disruptive, Left-wing-Robin Hood sort of a own. At 1.3 Solar masses, rocky, close and way. They even show up at a ‘Furries’ tidally locked to its star, which churns out convention and their ‘First Contact’ lots of UV radiation, it isn’t that Earth-like, is experience is a bit disturbing. it? All this has been deduced from fleeting star transit light curves, and yet News there are ‘photos’ of the planet to be seen The Brian Walls’ Report - Brian is still not on TV and the net! feeling too great, restricted in his Star Trek: Discovery – Star Trek, but, not on movements by the broken foot, which is still the Enterprise, set a decade before Classic in a ‘Kicked-a-Bull Terrier’ style orthopaedic Trek, with a woman at the helm, will be boot, and not healing too fast, but he will screened 2017, but only on-line (initially). be going to Conflux this year, only a bit Sounds a bit like ‘Star Trek: Enterprise’ more slowly. doesn’t it? Brian has started a new online Romance, Admiral Akbar no longer speaks - The with an English girl who has a Japanese voice actor who spoke Admiral Akbar’s name. She might be related to Siri, but is immortal words ‘It’s a Trap!’ speaks no not a Scientologist? Brian alerts us to two more, having died recently. His passing is new SF movies that are due out soon. I commemorated in many middle-eastern think he said that both had a ‘First Contact’ countries by the frequently televised cry of theme (?) one is sort of a re-telling of the “Allah Hu Akbar,” by Jedi style robed Strugatsky brothers ‘Roadside Picnic’ story, individuals, where ‘Allah Hu’ is believed to but not credited as such. Some comments be his given name. about new TV and Graphic novels were also Pluto’s Moon Charon (Sharon?) has a Pink covered by Dean’s news. North Pole, an example of planetary

17 TBS&E Number 72 18 activism in support of Australian Marriage the re-imbursement of the organiser equality? This feature has been named and about $100 for the Short Story Prize ‘Mordor’ but Pink Eye or Gay Moon seem pool and for next year’s carry over fund. more appropriate? Additional participants can easily be SETI Not found again – The signal detected accommodated (up to 120?) as the room by the Russian Academy of Sciences, and we have used could easily accommodate claimed to be a possible ET signal, from the twice the number of people we usually vicinity of a star 95 Light Years away, has not get, and each additional person means been confirmed by other non-Russian SETI that the donated books on offer will researchers. It still could be alien based probably sell sooner and the higher computer hackers though? average prices than they would with fewer Deviation – There was a discussion of the people attending, as well as more Tea & therapeutic benefits of poo transplants, sick Coffee Money per head etc. people made well by healthy people’s poo, Crowd Funding – Freecons, as Free Entry Fat people made thin, thin people made fat events are effectively Crowd Sourced, on etc. This process will be made much easier the day, with the funding coming from when we have Star Trek like teleport those people attending. Currently technology, to the point of celebrity poo- available through Social media is a form of napping, the involuntary collection of the Crowd Funding where you appeal to the ultimate execrable celebrity collectible? altruism of strangers and asking them for

Thoughts on a 2016 Sydney Freecon – money to aid the consummation of something you plan to do. December 9, 10 and 11, 2016 In the case of a Freecon, these could be Last year’s Freecon, had in total slightly people who might take part, or they could fewer people attending than the previous be people who can’t come, but who like Freecon held at the same location, but the idea enough to support it being done. these people attended more days, so it Beyond the pre-event donations, any seemed fuller on the Saturday and Sunday. Crowd funding effort implies that a greater It also lacked the strong Friday Night turnout, number of people will be aware of the and the participation boost of holding the Freecon, irrespective of whether they send short story competition. The experience of along a cash donation. Some of these past Freecons is that a short story people may care to pass the news on to competition, with X number of entrants, will people they know who could participate. attract a bit more than X number of Even ‘Freeloaders’, who seeing the Sydney additional attendees, to see their own or Freecon Crowd Funding appeal, like it and other people’s short story writing. Thus, show up, without having made a donation even at a late date, it is worth pursuing a in advance, are on balance valuable, if Short Story competition at the 2016 Sydney their Paradox Auction and Tea and Coffee Freecon. money comes with them on the day of the Financially, Freecons are made possible by Freecon. the organiser swallowing much of the cost up front and then hoping for re- Aims / Objectives – To raise from $500 to imbursement from the proceeds. Support $2,000 in order to spend on daily and local from the Sydney Futurians and members of newspaper advertising and to raise the past Freecons also helps a great deal. Short Story Prize cash pool to (relatively) Most recent three day Freecons will cost astronomical heights! I.e. with the usual about $400 to $500 to put on, for the forty or Freecon breaking even each year, on 40 so people who usually attend and will end attendees, most additional money up contributing about$12 each through received from donations should end up as buying the donated books in the Paradox proceeds and build up the 40% of funds Auction, Coffee and Tea money etc., left after costs which will go to the short gathering in a bit under $600. This allows for story prize pool, 40% to the carryover to

18 TBS&E Number 72 19 2017 fund and 20% to SF&F linked charities. Discussion of the Topic, Stories

Gift Ideas? about Appliances in SF stories Crowd funding is most successful if you offer Overview – The classic SF story of the a scale of incentive prizes / gifts for recent past has been the discovery or donations. The trick is to balance the cost invention which empowers the creator or and effort of these gifts to the likely level of their society off on a ‘What-if’ tangent to donation, i.e. to efficiently monetarise some what is present day and familiar. of the existing slave labour already going However, most of the following examples, into the Freecon, rather than creating ‘new- which we discussed, are examples of work’ that distracts from organising or adaptions and make dos to life within promotion of the Freecon. extensive Sci-Fi universes and in the end After initially discussing the obvious idea of a we came up with a conflict, between a 2016 Sydney Freecon convention T-Shirt, it reasonable future, based on our own was discarded as being too much effort experiences of life and how the future and risk in fabrication, manufacture and tends to be depicted. postage cost, (i.e. how many size small Vs In Arthur C Clarke’s series which starts with size huge to order in advance?) to likely the original ‘2001’ story, the black monoliths financial return, act as an appliance for the unseen ghod-

Some more achievable options emerged; like aliens, through it’s interaction with Apes A donation of $5.16, gets you one recent 36 on Earth, raising them to Human page A5 format issue of TBS&E post-paid to consciousness and in the conversion of the an Australian address. planet Jupiter into a new star, and Europa A donation of $10.16, gets you a one book a new Earth. choice of the table Paradox Auction books In the movie ‘Barbarella,’ the enormous on the Sunday of the Freecon. ‘Orgazmatron,’ sexual torture device is just A donation of $15.16, gets you a one book the world’s largest private appliance – the choice of the table Paradox Auction books personal vibrator – just re-imagined? on the Saturday of the Freecon. The Wall Screens in Ray Bradbury’s A donation of $17.16 gets you a one book ‘Fahrenheit 451,’ where Television sets choice of the table Paradox Auction books have grown large, covering entire walls of on the Friday, pre-view Night of the houses and they absorb the citizen into a Freecon. non-Truemanesque universe of all day, A donation of $30.16, gets you five issues of virtual life soap operas? TBS&E (one year’s worth) post-paid to an The Harry Harrison short story about the Australian address. Gravity Powered Radio, a proof of a physicist’s breakthrough, electricity from A donation of $11.16 gets you a copy of the Gravity, and then the discoverer is killed, as booklet of the short stories of the 2016 unthinking collateral damage by an Sydney Freecon, post-free to an Australian ignorant and racist White Southern Deputy- address at, or after the date of the 2016 Sherriff, on a lethal ‘Coon Hunt’ during a Freecon. civil rights disturbance, because the All cash donations over $10 will received an physicist is ‘only’ an African-American in emailed ‘Freecon Share Certificate,’ the way of his pursuit of ‘southern justice’. acknowledging their share of the funds In Frank Herbert’s Dune series, a series that raised towards the 2016 Sydney Freecon, is very much against ‘thinking technology,’ and an invitation to attend the 2017 event. the personal body shield repels fast bullets, N.B. all cash donations should end in 16 but not the slow knife blade. The still suit is cents, so they can be identified as being a necessary piece of technology for life on donations to the 2016 Sydney Freecon. Dune, outside of the seitch, surely an appliance? The Bene Gessarit testing box, a box of almost unimaginable horrors, to

19 TBS&E Number 72 20 test whether a subject has ‘Human’ self- develops what he thinks is some sort of control, or just ‘Animal’ reactions to pain, is matter disintegrator. All is well, stuff in an appliance. The assassination ‘bee’, being disposed of, the lab sized version is used by a concealed Harkonnen assassin is being ramped up to Industrial / an appliance, while the Mentats, breed and Commercial sized, until a portal opens in trained for computer like uses, are not? the lab and the alien equivalent of a dead The Green Lantern’s alien conferred gift of a cat is thrown through it. The discovery green lantern, to do Good and to uncover wasn’t matter disintegration, but the evil, is an appliance, of the nature of the opening of a portal to an inhabited Lensmen’s lenses. elsewhere or parallel universe, and here’s Harry Potter – At Hogwarts, where would the all your stinking rubbish back! little Witches and Wizards be without their The TV series ‘Quark,’ was based on the Wands and Broomsticks? Might also adventures of the crew of the Universe’s consider the Owls (Speed of wings on a least glamourous star ship, an intergalactic Dark Night Communication Technology?), vacuum cleaner and space garbage like Hedwig, to be included as an collector. appliance. The Sorting Hat is also an Red Dwarf gives us the annoying talking appliance used at Hogwarts, but what if it toaster, great at bread based trivia had a ‘bad hair day,’ or maliciously questions, but not so good with questions decided to set loose some Slytherin worth about the meaning of life. little shit into Gryphendor or Huffenpuff to The Movie ‘Silent Running’ features the create terror and dissention? three (then two) walking, poker playing In ‘The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’, (cheating) air conditioner unit style walking the narrator, the Book, is an appliance. A robots (Ancestors of R2 D2.), who were case could be mounted for the Babel Fish programmable and were appliances that as well, in spite of it being a ‘natural’ became characters? product of biological evolution. Star Wars – The Light Sabre, the The cartoon series of the 1960s, about characteristic appliance of the Jedi / Sith, futuristic family, ‘The Jetsons’, lived in a was some degree of implied mind control house with all mod cons (Except personal necessary to use it? A Star Wars Christmas computers and mobile phones?) including Special includes a message to Mrs Wookie, appliances like a washing machine which where an all-purpose cleaning device is washed, mended, folded and wrapped in advertised, tooth brush to toilet bowl AND it cellophane. There were household robot advises you of your legal rights on all the servants of course, including one that did Empire’s jurisdictions, keeping you legally your homework! ‘clean’ as well. The Lensmen – the wrist watch like lenses of Classic Star Trek has the Tricorder and the E.E. Doc. Smith’s ‘Lensmen’ series, are both a flip screen personal communicator, which badge of office / club membership badge evolved into the com badge and a communication device between Star Trek: Next Generation, gives us a set of other Lens men or alien Lens things. The appliances which are likely to involve the few Lens women mentioned, received a same basic technology, The Transporter broach version, more equal opportunity (teleport), the Replicator and the than Midichlorian counts? Holodeck, involving the transport of matter The Ansible from Ursula K. Le Guine’s from here to there and it’s reassembly into ‘Ekumen’ series, allowed for instantaneous a signal designated form. Would burnt communication, bypassing the light barrier toast be seen as an artisanal product in this and making it an essential appliance future? knitting the Ekumen universe together. In general use it would give rise to There is the story, by Author Not Known, extensive copyright / data ownership about a researcher who is trying to find a issues. Also, as seen on Star Trek, it is a way to dispose of hazardous materials. He communal asset, while the history of the

20 TBS&E Number 72 21 twentieth Century is that once large and Not Appliances communal appliances inevitably evolve Hal 9000 in ‘2001’ isn’t an appliance. The into personal and private use items. Star computer system is ‘Plant and Machinery,’ Trek: Voyager has a Holographic Doctor inseparable from the spacecraft, the made ‘solid’ by a ‘bee’ hard light holo- problematic personality of the computer, is projector device (stolen from Red Dwarf?). merely a software issue, of irreconcilable On Red Dwarf, the ability of this device is programming objectives. The Psychic explained as being to do with the paper seen in Dr Who (a Jedi Mind Trick), polarisation of light, hard one way, isn’t an appliance, no matter how useful, It insubstantial at 90 degrees to that plane is still just ‘Stationary’. etc. The Scutters in ‘Red Dwarf’, they acted as The Elephant in the room is pornography the ship’s maintenance appliances, but and the drive that it has given to new forms they were also Characters. Similarly, In of improved image technology and Star Wars, R2D2 and C3PO were intended distribution. As long as we are human, we to serve as appliances, capable of all sorts will probably want to view material that we of general and specific skills and abilities, would prefer others not to know we are but we know them as characters, against looking at, in private, and without the details the mass of other not personalised droids? being disclosed, so originally the wealthy Dr Who’s Tardis – too big to be an could afford artists to draw or paint appliance, it is a Space and Time ‘images’, but technology has empowered a Machine, also, H. G. Wells’ ‘The Time democratisation of this need, with the Machine’ for the same reasons. development of Photography (Cheap Dirty This Month’s New ‘Science Fiction’ books Postcards anyone?), higher fidelity printing at the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts (Playboy etc.) Cinematography (the 8mm Library, level 2, 280 Pitt Street Sydney ($15 Blue or Stag movie industry), the Video for full membership, $10 for a reader’s Cassette, DVD and on-line porn industries, ticket) include; star farers of the future will probably want private and personal entertainment ‘Broken Homes’ by Ben Aaronovitch – SF, devices, rather than public ones? Fantasy, Paranormal Star Wars – The Light Sabre, the ‘Whispers underground’ by Ben characteristic appliance of the Jedi / Sith, Aaronovitch – SF, Fantasy, Paranormal was some degree of implied mind control ‘Dark Matter’ by Blake Crouch – SF necessary to use it? A Star Wars Christmas ‘Lord of the Dark wood’ Special includes a message to Mrs Wookie, by Lian Hearn – Fantasy where an all-purpose cleaning device is ‘Dragon Mark’ advertised, tooth brush to toilet bowl AND it by Sherrilyn Kenyon – Fantasy advises you of your legal rights on all the ‘Beyond the Aquila Rift’ Empire’s jurisdictions, keeping you legally by Alistair Reynolds – SF ‘clean’ as well. ‘Harry Potter and the cursed child’ Dr Who’s appliance of choice, the Sonic by Jack Thorne – Fantasy, Paranormal Screwdriver, is a Deux Ex Machina device AND, the E-Book of ‘Cloud Warrior’ by Patrick Tilley – SF that evolves over the series to provide all sorts of useful features as well as transitioning Items received for the 2016 Sydney from Sonic, to Lazer to Sunglasses! Also, Freecon, Graphic Novel – Swamp Thing: the Gallifreyan Time Lord’s ‘soul catcher’ Return to Earth. pocket watch. Is K9 an appliance or an DVDs; Mel Brooks’, ‘To Be or Not To Be’’ electronic companion animal? As a Sinbad and the Minotaur & San Andreas. Doctor is seen getting another K9 down off © Garry P. Dalrymple, 19 September, 2016 a shelf stacked with boxed K9s, so I am prepared to accept it as an appliance.

21 TBS&E Number 72 22 Notes from the Sydney Futurian (see ‘Morons from Space’, or perhaps not?) He is also reading ‘Supercontinent,’ SF&F Discussion meeting of Friday by Ted Neild, the guy who wrote the life on October 21, 2016. Topic; Nudity Earth after Humans (Cue scene of a forest and Dress up in SF&F Stories. dwelling evolved octopus, swinging from tree to tree.) It’s about Geology and the Present were – Stephen Bingle, Garry slow future movement of the existing Dalrymple, Diane Fox, John Fox, Anne continents, and a lot more engaging than Rankins and Dean Wheatley. this brief outline suggests. It would suit the Recent reading; more sedimentary reader though. SB – Is currently reading a ‘True Blood’ series book written by Charlaine Harris, provided News by GD ahead of the November Futurian There will be a Quantum Words Festival, at meeting. He is currently up to page 50. the NSW Writer’s Centre, Saturday GD – Is currently reading ‘Tomorrow When November 12, 2016, 10 am to 5.30 pm (cost the War Began‘, by John Marsden (Aust), for the day - Members $60, the unwashed, ahead of the November Concord Library $90). It features some SF writers, of the SF&F discussion group meeting. Finding it Climate Change variety, but mostly different in tone to the Movie and the TV Science Workers and Communicators. series, more feelings and coming of age November 11 to 13, 2016, the Sydney introspection than ‘Red Dawn’ type Museum of Contemporary Art, will have an teenage resistance fighter stuff. exhibition that includes some Science DF – Is currently reading ‘The Frog With Self Fictional art. Cleaning Feet‘, by Michael Brighton (UK?), a There was a season of Dystopic Films non-fiction book about curious creatures, shown at the Hurstville Civic Centre, the biology rather than SF. organiser might be attending the Freecon JF – Is currently reading ‘Ten Food to discuss this. Commandments‘, by Jay Rayner (US) the Garry Scored another SMH Letter to the food and restaurant review writer. Makes Editor, October 15, page 27 the case for ‘Thou Shall …’ type Garry is collecting OPAL cards for the use commandments rather than Leviticus’ many of ACT and interstate Freecon visitors. ‘Thou Shall Not …’ type commandments. Garry finally has a functional home printer Definitely No-Biblical and takes a decidedly again, see Travellers’ Tales for the full story. Non-kosher and non-halal stance, but Overnight accommodation for the Freecon please don’t tell anyone, last thing we need is on offer at the Campsie Hotel, $90 a are more anti-Semitic / Islamophobic style night twin share. Fascist Hipster Foodies. Is also reading a Garry has visited the Urchin Bookshop, 138 book by Newspaper Editor, Keith Marrickville road, and found it ‘Amazing’, a Waterhouse (UK) on Newspaper Writing lot like what the Galaxy Bookshop used to styles. be like when it was still at Castlereagh St. AR – Is currently reading ‘The Never Ending You really should give it a visit. Sacrifice‘, a Star Trek DS9 Novelisation, Garry posted a comment to Google Plus featuring adventures among the on an image of Chthulu’s re-emergence, Kardassians oops sorry meant Cardassians. claiming that this uninformed speculation DW – Is currently reading ‘Invasion‘, by Luke on Donald Trump’s post-Presidential Rheinhardt (US) a book about an invasion of Election form was unnecessary on this Earth by Aliens with hairy balls, I mean, forum – and was liked! Aliens who resemble hairy balls. They are SF&F TV news – mischievous shape changing tricksters, ‘Dead Heads’, the Alien bugs in your brain, usually a pain in the Trump for everyone a sort of Zombies take over Washington TV involved. This is a book with phasors set on program is over, did it make it make it to a Broad Satire, rather than Alien Invasion SF second series. The final series of Star Trek

22 TBS&E Number 72 23 Voyager finally makes it to Free to air TV (9), objects. looonnng after the series ended. NASA is working toward developing ‘Community’ (final season?) is back on TV briefcase sized probes, i.e. launch a (SBS 32), final season, afternoons Monday to handful and let them network observations Thursday, ‘Coalhill Public School,’ a Dr who among themselves, or to form an spin off, referring back to the very first Dr autonomous ‘Skynet’? Who episode, is also on TV. There is a Discussion of the Topic, Nudity and vaguely ‘Highlander’ type program just Dress up in SF&F Stories. started, ‘Outlander,’ featuring a 1946 Technically, ‘The Invisible Man’ is the SF American nurse mysteriously transported story that embodies tonight’s discussion back to Scotland circa 1745, for the topic. He lives with an ongoing Nudity / Jacobite Rebellion, where her chief Dress up dilemma. To be invisible, and do opponent will inevitably be her husband, the things he must do, he has to go about playing his 1745 ancestor. Not overly Nude, irrespective of the weather. To go compelling. This ‘Outlander’ is not to be out in a more socially acceptable manner, confused with the six episodes of the he has to dress and bandage up (or wear fictional (but based on a true story) a Burka?), and he is detectable under a Melbourne based Gay Geek Sci-Fi show of shower or in the rain as the drops cling to the same name, which has been playing his body. ) recently. Nudity - As a ‘different from real life,’ as Science – NASA lost contact with their seen through a usually against Anglo- Juno probe for a few hours as it went close American cultural mores, Nudity features in to Jupiter, all flyby data was lost, but several some SF gratuitously or as part of the plot more flybys are due shortly. to re-inforce the sense that ‘other time / The ESA / Russia Mars mission has been only other place’ rules are at play. Several a mixed success. A Mars surveying satellite written works of Robert A Heinlein feature is in orbit, but the Schiaparelli lander / Rover nudity, nearly to the point of being a lost contact (News on Saturday is that it fettish. For Australian Author A Bert. photographic evidence concludes that it Chandler (a confirmed and card carrying has in fact ‘tent pegged’ on the Martian Naturist) nudeness in stories came more surface, which is unfortunate, but it is much naturally, i.e. if the climate allowed it why better than it exploding near a Malaysian off earth not, in much the same way that civilian airliner?) lighter than air airships pop up in his stories, Antibiotic Tasmanian Devil Milk! Scientists when he could justify it. Hollywood’s studying the Tasmanian Devil genome have treatment of Heinleinian nudity in ‘Star Ship found a peptide that is effective against Troopers’ raises a laugh, with the Co-ed most known antibiotic resistant germs. shower scene, all those naked bodies, wet The study of Tasmanian Devils has found slippery floors and always groin and chest that some resistance to the facial cancer is height protruding objects in the way of the evolving, leading to hopes for a vaccine cameras – frankly an OH&S nightmare! applicable to non-infected devils. The East German Socialist response to Signs of resistance to the World wide Frog Capitalist Star Trek, a short series and a population killing (but not cane toads!) movie about a prime directive based on Chitrid Fungus is also emerging. their Internationalist duty, has a different A Montreal University search for Brown dwarf take on nudity. In a nation state where stars, celestial bodies with some Star and ‘Naturism’ was not only a recreation, but a Planet characteristics has just finished politically endorsed stance against mapping 28% of the sky. The found 165 of Capitalist inspired commercialisation of these ‘near’ Earth, more than they nudity, it seems natural for there to be expected. They were detecting items at unclad space-farers during their non-flight 3500 degrees (F or C?) as these are easier to deck hours, and any little private problems spot that warmer (Stars) or colder (Planets) 23 TBS&E Number 72 24 can be showered or danced away, nude, tub to turn people to evil. in the privacy of their cabins. Writing gave us the frequently off ‘Slash The Betazoid (Betamax?) marriage Fiction,’ un-authorized re-writing of familiar ceremony, frequently mentioned in Star Trek SF characters and stories. The endlessly Next Generation episodes (but not brought resourceful porn industry inevitably offers to the screen?) notoriously takes place ‘sky any successful movie a porn version rip-off, clad’, guests and marrying couple. Would only loosely based on the original story, Clothing Nudity really be a big deal on with slightly disguised titles, hopefully Betazoid the planet of mind readers, where played for laughs. Turn off your spell potentially everyone is ‘Mind Naked?’ or is checker and go find them if you want, at the ‘sky clad’ ceremony something more your own risk, but ‘Flesh Gordon,’ enough spiritually symbolic than just a ‘show and said? Sure to be nudity here! tell’ for the families of the Bride and Groom? A reasonable final question to ask is, “What In this light, consider the Religion of the do they wear _under_ their still suits on underground survivors found in the Second Dune?” ‘Planet of the Apes’ movie, at the height of Anything? Nothing? Nudity in the Sietch or their ceremony they remove their angelic another area for cosplay to investigate? looking face masks to reveal only to their Not wearing Much - There was a time Ghod, the Planet destroying Cobalt bomb, (late 1950s to mid-1960s) when nearly all their mutated and disfigured true faces. paperback Science Fiction was sold with Culturally, the Ferrenghi of Star Trek Next ‘brass bikini and alien landscape’ cover Generation, are offended by the sight of art. The contents never matched the women wearing clothing, perhaps a cover (except for Edgar Rice Burroughs’ response to some current Earth cultures that Barsoom stories). Hardbacks being for insist that a Woman Without clothes is Libraries pointedly didn’t feature this art culturally forbidden? work. It was perhaps inspired by the Dr Who, Science Fiction in Space and Time attention catching Bug Eyed Monster and since 1963, has managed to avoid nudity buxom Space Bikini girl artwork of the 1940s altogether, in spite of the perpetual pulp SF magazines? presence of sexually omnivorous Captain The Barsoom stories of Edgar Rice Jack Harkness, coz it’s a still at heart a Burroughs are set in a way-back-time Mars, children’s show. where Theosophical ideas, power of the The movie ‘Barbarella’ opens with a bit of eighth ray etc. rule. Clothing is light to harmless implied nudity, the very late 1960s non-existent, practical rather than simulated zero gravity strip, setting viewers covering, i.e just enough ‘harness’ to hand phasor on ‘romp’ rather than serious SF. your sword and keyring off. In the case of Star Trek Original series has the ‘Naked the (egg laying!) ladies of Mars, brass bikini Now’ episode, an emotionally naked type wear was common (think of Princess episode, which fails to deliver what it says Leia’s prisoner of Jabba the Hutt outfit), on the box, however there is That Star Trek with a diaphanous silk-ish cloak, with the Bloopers Reel, showing a naked Spock, metalwork more likely to come from a consequent to an alleged scenery jewellers than a foundry. A serious case malfunction. of otherness to early 20th century In the ‘Lucifer’ TV series, from the DC comics American readers? series, where the devil takes a holiday on ‘Aelita Princess of Mars’, 1927 Soviet movie Earth and opens a strip club. As it is non- with the Revolution sending a spaceship to cable TV, the ‘strippers’ don’t quite go as far Mars, local dress habits owe something to as usual industry standards imply. The Devil Edgar Rice Burrough’s Barsoom, or possibly is still interested in punishing the evil doer just intended to reflect the ‘beyond (rather righteous when you think about it flapperism’ decadence of the Martian isn’t it), but he has a ‘red hot’ demon Royal court. Aelita rather likes the idea of offsider who enjoys using nudity in the hot Revolution, if it brings Her to power.

24 TBS&E Number 72 25 Not Dressing Up – The Fremen Still-suits Masks, as Dress up – Joanne Vinge’s from Frank Herbert’s Dune were ruled not to ‘Snow Queen’ (The first ever ’Brick’ style be dressing up, as they were essential safety massive page count SF&F book?) features gear for the environment of Arrakis, like a World ruled by successive masked space suits. Summer and Winter Queens, known only to In Dr Who, recently, the previously rubber their subjects by their masks. A and fibreglass costumed aliens have been conspiracy to subvert the traditional replaced by head mask aliens wearing seasonal regime change depends on this. Overalls, the All-time favourite uniform of the In ‘The Moon Moth’, by Jack Vance, a rigid Galaxy apparently, Oods and MOLES. hierarchical society exists. Your status and This must be considered ‘dressing down.’ wealth / credit is determined by what sort The terrestrial and mundane explanation for of a mask you wear, only the contemptibly this is probably BBC cost cutting? low slave class go bare faced. Political With Star Trek of old, Aliens could expect to assassination can be effected by publicly wear exotic nose pieces (Bajoran) or, more unmasking a person. There is also a elaborately forehead pieces as with the suspiciously similar story by Michael Klingons and Cardassians. To my mind Moorcock, imitation or just Shakespeare’s though, it’s the Romulans every time for ‘borrowed feathers’? superior dress sense, their uniforms … and as Much of the royal presence of Princess for the Ferrenghi! … Basher Baker Dr Who Armidale, from Starwars (they have B&S era bad taste. balls is Space) comes from her elaborate Dress ups – Where would Super Heroes be costumes contrasting with and her plain without their dress up Uniforms. Superman brown dressed down ‘I’m just Padme’ is just Clark Kent without his, Womder clothing when she wants to go incognito or Woman (The newly UN endorsed action otherwise be parted from the ‘Royal We.’ figure to empower Women) even needs to Every new avatar of Star Trek, the Never wear glasses when she is out of uniform! ending Franchise, features a new Star Fleet Sci-Fi series usually differentiate Space Aliens Uniform. Given the diversity of species, from humans by the Dress Up process. We the uniforms must also be diverse? On Star are expected to take seriously Aliens with Trek Next Generation, there is even one space suits / uniforms covered in non- episode (presumably to sell the figurine) functional tat, as if the Universe beyond where Picard dresses up in a skirt (briefly) to Earth’s gravity is stuck in a perpetual Sydney welcome some visitors to the Enterprise. Mardigra costuming binge? The original series was famous for the short To some degree, Science Fiction Movies skirts of Yeoman Rand and Lt Uhura, with can be roughly dated by looking at the Star Trek Next Generation, attention was ‘futuristic’ style of their characters dress, just paid to creating a unisex uniform that was one example, the ‘futuristic’ world of the flattering to the male AND female Gerry Anderson series ‘UFO’ actually just Hollywood actor form, to the bane of Fan costumes and two gull wing cars, has the boys and Fan Girls of infinitely variable fab wear of the late 1960s continuing onto shapes, there being no Weight Watchers in the 1990s. More shame that it didn’t. Federation space. Movies and TV featuring Amazons Better Dressed, or more frequently frequently dress them for effect rather than changed, were the crew of ‘Blake’s with practical battle wear (see Persian Seven,’ their ship the Liberator having a websites for examples of how historically seemingly endless wardrobe of early 1970s real Women Warriors dressed.) Usually Avant guard coloured leather look vinyl? these fictional Amazons are dressed to defy This Month’s New ‘Science Fiction’ books men and re-inforce their Man Free Military at the Sydney Mechanics School of Arts and Militant status? Library, level 2, 280 Pitt Street Sydney ($15 for full membership, $10 for a reader’s

25 TBS&E Number 72 26 ticket) include; Well it’s not going to be quite my cup of

‘Foxglove Summer’ by Ben Aaronovitch – SF, tea (Darjeeling, strong), as it’s not hard SF, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance and in its tone and intended audience it is I ‘The Mammoth book of Best New SF 29’ by think really YA rather than Adult, as too Gardner Dozois – SF Short Stories many of the nastier sides of London and ‘Revenger’ by Alastair Reynolds – Space Colonial life are glossed over (see Opera SF Conclusion). It also does some rather odd ‘Stallo’ by Stefan Spjut – SF, Fantasy, things to some important Australian Paranormal Romance Historical moments, such as the ‘Necessity’ by Jo Walton – SF, Fantasy, contentious Eureka Stockade, which for Paranormal Romance, No SF E-Books overseas readers is the closest thing to an ‘Alamo’ event in Australian History. What is it about? Well a young woman, about Eighteen years of age, in a steam punk conception of Upper Class England, circa 1850s, is on the make, that is attempting to achieve an ‘advantageous’ marriage that will save her family from poverty, or becoming middle class, whichever is worse. She has a steam powered Heart of Brass, a ‘gift’ from her Father, who was quietly executed for his crime against nature and polite Society, leaving his Books Read & Reviewed family nearly destitute. The engagement fails, Emmeline is convicted of theft (she ‘Heart of Brass’ by Felicity Banks (Aust) needed the silver for ongoing ‘Reapers are Angels’ by Alden Bell (US) maintenance) and she is transported. ‘UnEarthly’ by Rebecca Bloomer (Aust.) Adventures and schemes on the high seas, ‘Nebula Alert’ by A. Bert Chandler (Aust.) with plans to escape, reach the Gold ‘Gestapo Mars’ by Victor Gisschler (US) ‘Orphans of the Sky’ Fields, amass great wealth and ultimately by Robert A. Heinlein (US Dec’d) save her family. But things do not go ‘Unreliable Memoirs’ by Clive James (Aust.) quite as planned. Emmeline helps a ‘The Greks Bring Gifts’ genteelly raised half Aboriginal Girl and by Murray Leinster (US Dec’d) her Bush Ranger, Irish Australian ‘Brother’ to ‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ escape from her parentally planned by John Marsden (Aust.) matrimony, via a hot air balloon equipped ‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’ carriage. They end up in Ballarat, in time by Audrey Niffenegger (US) for the injustices that sparked the Eureka ‘Langudoc (dot) Doc 1305’ Stockade uprising, escape with some gold by Gillian Polack (Aust.) and plans for further adventures. The ‘Vengeance 10’ by Joe Poyer (US) Eureka Stockade account is very different ‘With the Old Breed’ by E. B. Sledge (US from contemporary accounts (Tin Horses!) Dec’d) but it does capture some sense of the ‘Valkyrie’ by Philipp Von Boeselager (Ger. confusion of the experience I guess. Dec’d) Much of the story involves an embedded ‘The Martian’ by Andy Weir (US) seam of Alchemical like magic being associated with Metals and Alloys. The ‘Heart of Brass’ ‘powers’ of these metals and Emmeline’s by Felicity Banks (Aust.) ability to use them are essential to the story, Steam Punk YA SF/Fantasy, © 2016, 224 and is it’s major deviation from the pages, Read October 25 to 31, 2016. standard Steam Punk treatment, but this knowledge only emerges piece by piece,

26 TBS&E Number 72 27 rather than the reader being prepared years. She does however carry with about the world in advance of the her the burden of responsibility for the adventure. Personally, I don’t like the death, on the road, of her ‘brother’, personification of the adversary force of the biological or by adoption. The story starts story as being ‘British,’ as ‘British’ was at with her resident in a lighthouse, on an times a more unifying, progressive and island just off the coast. This island is egalitarian notion, I’d rather pinning the gradually being re-connected to the bully on ‘English’, ‘Ruling class’, ‘Toffs’, mainland by a sand spit, so it is time to go, ‘Colonial’ or ‘Imperialistic, ‘but these are before the walking dead can walk up to only my own personal issues. her refuge. Encounters with survivors Comment and Conclusion – I have follow, survivors of different social classes, recognised this book a Book of the 2016 all still living off pre-apocalypse supplies Sydney Freecon. It’s not bad, but it’s not apparently at one encounter, this virginal an Adult level book. It frequently presents teen is almost raped, but she succeeds in overly sanitised treatments of important killing her attacker, so setting up the major Australian themes (The Eureka Stockade, drama of the book, the relentless (and The Gold Rush and Convict Transportation), pointless?) pursuit of her by her attacker’s but I hope that Felicity’s treatment will brother, across most of Zombie infested encourage readers to look up the America (her escape car was fitted with a contemporary accounts of Eureka (via tracking device!). Along the way she TROVE) and to read accounts of the encounters ‘Hunters’ who live by killing, Voyage of the Lady Juliana, a female cooking and eating Zombies and a convict transport. I’m sure that my monstrous inbred-mutant family with Vandemonian convict ancestor, William delusions of World Conquest, who extract Roser (Burglary, ex-shoe maker.) who may and inject brain fluid from the zombies, as even have been on board the main a very un-natural form of vaccination (They character’s convict transport, would up turn grow to eight feet tall!). Propelling the from his rum bottle to spit ‘But it’s not true, main character is her need to get a it’s all made up,’ true, but it is an engaging ‘Dumbie’, an intellectually impaired man story, loosely based on the spirit of the to care of the last known address of his events of the time. If you wanted more surviving family, which sets up the climactic ‘Australia’ in your steam Punk than you scene, the main character’s death in found in Richard Harland’s ‘Worldshaker’ revenge (So the message of this book is and ‘Liberator’ series, then this might be “girls, just submit to your rapist, it will be so your book for Christmas? much easier in the long run”?). The Killer © Garry P Dalrymple November 2, 2016 then takes on the ‘Dumbie,’ and the main character’s obligations, on a tour of US ‘Reapers are Angels’ ‘Bucket list’ tourist sites (as you do?). by Alden Bell (US) Comment and Conclusions – I hope this will be a tail ender to the Zombie Zombie Apocalypse YA Fantasy, © 2010, 294 Apocalypse cycle of stories. The Plot is to pages, Read November 19 to 21, 2016. say the least ‘flawed’ by a string of ‘if you Yes, it is another Zombie Apocalypse story, think about it’ gaping chasms, with a road trip (Magical post-apocalyptic embroidered with the non-SF writer’s self-regenerating petrol supply!) and a defence of ‘because I said so’. For just coming of age / quest adventure. But this one example, if the US military has given is a slow sort of apocalypse, as the outbreak up and gone home, then what prospect is took place 25 years before the story’s and there for civilian survivors to just carry on, the main character was at first orphaned and 25 years into an end of a consumerist then institutionalised by this apocalypse, economy cars still work, the grass gets cut before escaping and living alone as an etc.? This is a Quest adventure Fantasy illiterate solo teen survivor for a number of story, a story in search of a plot, following a

27 TBS&E Number 72 28 fantasy premise, written by a Literary Author violent. What you choose to wear can who is probably unaware that ‘Genre get you in trouble. There are incidents of Fiction’ does actually need to make sense! life threatening sabotage. It finally dawn So, safe to give to intelligent 12 year olds, if on her that her boyfriend is a violent you are prepared to answer their ‘Why is possessive revolutionary zealot, who only that’ questions with a good Heinlein juvenile. wants her for … her mind. That is, for her Oh, and the title means nothing at all, it’s computer hacking skills, which are to be just a passing reference at the end. enlisted, by force if necessary, to bring © Garry P Dalrymple, December 31, 2016. about destruction for the Revolution by overriding safety the settlement’s ‘UnEarthly’ computer based safety protocols. He is one seriously sick puppy and an abject by Rebecca Bloomer (Aust.) lesson on making mistakes about the YA SF adventure on Mars. © 2011, 153 motives of people who want to befriend pages, Read November 16 to 19, 2016. you, but it ends well, for Mars and for her This book starts well, with an incident of family, changed and different, but well. cyber hacking that is an ‘up yours’ gesture Comment and Conclusions – Most to authority, by exposing environmental important lesson; Avoid the Home crimes that the Authorities would prefer to Schooled, because they are all Weird, keep private, an introduction that will Crazy and Dangerous, no seriously this appeal to target, YA readers. The main book and its sequel have a lot to offer character is a teenage girl who is exiled to reluctant readers. It includes an Mars, or rather, she goes to the new Mars adventure, fashion sense, a bit of romance colony with her family because Dad’s has a and a bit of growing up. Time spent great new job on Mars. On arrival she now reading this book is a bit more valuable a has a lot of adapting to do, new school, life experience than time spent on ‘Two new friends, new town, new planet. And Facebook’ or similar social media or online at the same time Mum and Dad’s marriage gaming (or trolling?) And, its main hasn’t been improved by the re-location to character point of view, is that of a young Mars and his dedication to the new job. woman. Who says that this Science Worst of all, the length of hot showers on Fiction stuff is only for boys? Mars is limited to a five minute maximum, © Garry P Dalrymple, March 15, 2017. that is, until she can hack the computer that runs everything at home! ‘Nebula Alert’ So, she meets new people, makes friends including an ‘interesting and dangerous,’ by A. Bert Chandler (Aust.), Rim home schooled boyfriend. Life on Mars is Runners Space SF, © 1967, 121 pages (half an Ace Double), Read Sept 03 to 09, 2016. very different to life on Earth. Everything is new and shiny, everyone is clean, There’s something odd about a lucrative educated and clever. The settlement on shipping contract, to repatriate a group of Mars is a bit like Canberra, of school 20 excess consular staff who are wanting excursions, used to be, it is well planned and to return home immediately at a time laid out, a sort of ideal community by between scheduled passenger space design, supported by loads of money from liners. What could go wrong? Well the somewhere else. Life on Earth, by passengers are Iralians and there are comparison is dirtier, corrupt, decaying and Space Pirates out there who know the much less functional. On Mars, everything value of Iralian slaves, and who will buy works well, but times are a changing. The them. The Iralians are a perfect ‘slave’ inhabitants of this Shopping Mall type race, being quick to breed, physically settlement are beginning to agitate for self- attractive, telepathic, sexy and tractable, rule and political Independence. There but after surviving a genocidal war that are protests, which get out of hand, turning depopulated planets, all Iralians are

28 TBS&E Number 72 29 conditioned from birth only to live on their central to settlement on Mars, she is a home planet, or to die, except for a very focal figure to be claimed by a ‘revival’ small cadre of ‘reconditioned’ Iralians who faction. It emerges that he has been serve as off Iralia Diplomatic staff. There resurrected by the ‘Resistance’, the Nazi may be traitors on board, or perhaps the resistance to the revisionists, but this soon whole trip is a set up specifically to attract changes, the ‘Government’ takes over his and destroy a slaver fleet? control, and his mission is changed to Flight from this Pirate fleet leads to sailing ‘Save the Martian Queen’. This is to be close to the Rim of Space, where reality first of numerous switches between his thins. Commander Grimes and his survey handlers, Regime to Resistance, as the ship, from an alternate time line, is regime unravels, in a sequence of encountered, as the ship is chased and ‘Valkyrie’ like coups and counter coups, under attack from a whole fleet of Pirates! and so on. This revolving uncertainty and To stop their flight and to turn round the mid-mission change becomes the only starship, would leave them ‘dead in the constant in his adventures. The story ends water’ and unprotected from missiles or with a regime change of sorts, and the boarding. The end of the story hinges on main character apparently exiting to deep an idea suggested by a Sydney Harbour space with a Starship of his own, but he Manly Ferry, from old Earth. Commander returns to Earth to the Freezer to sleep off Grimes orders a refit which places a space the next few hundred years. propeller at both ends of the ship, so they Conclusion – This was a difficult book to can instantly reverse, pass and destroy one give yourself over to enjoying, due to the pursuer, cripple the other lead the other into Nazi bits, it is a highly mobile adventure, a star. Conclusion - Classic A Bert lots of cute ‘toys,’ such as the fortuitous Chandler Space Opera! © Garry Dalrymple, arrival of a swamp striding SS cavalry Dec. 31, 2016. squadron, riding recreated Tyrannosaurus Rexes! So, if you can get over the Nazi ‘Gestapo Mars’ bits (a big ask in my view!) it was an by Victor Gisschler (US) entertaining Space Opera ‘romp.’ Space Opera featuring 25th century Nazis?, © Garry P Dalrymple, December 31, 2016.

© 2016, 224 pages, Read Oct. 10 to 14, 2016. ‘Orphans of the Sky’ The premise is that a deep frozen idealistic Nazi assassin is revived, 300 years after his by Robert A. Heinlein (US Dec’d) last outing, the Earth is in ruins, his revivers Generation Ship Space SF, © 1941, 111 pages, Read November 30 to Dec. 2, 2016. are under attack, his mission is to assassinate on off planet personality, an obscure This story is about a young man with a bit Martian Nazi Royal figure. The Nazis are no more curiosity than his fellows. He lives in longer racist, or their racist agenda has a settlement of civilised folk surrounded by been resolved by a lack of minorities left to mutants and barbarians, or at least that is persecute. In this ‘world’, factional civil war the official view of his tribe. While has rendered Earth an uninhabited ruin, exploring he discovers that the barbarians Human occupation has shifted to Mars, but know some truths as well. Both tribes a new and disastrous galactic civil war is in have part of the full story, that they are all the offing, (While the Galactic Reich is at descended from the survivors of a mutiny / war with a slime ball ‘Untermensch’ race) civil war on a generation ship hurtling So, he was revived because only his ‘old through space towards a destination that time’ implants and enhancements will get was decreed many generations ago. him in, close enough to the purist-Nazi cabal The first step in resolving the problem ‘Are around the Mars Queen. This Mars Queen we there yet’, an attempt to enlighten the is the last descendent of the legendary and powers that be about the true situation, time burnished Nazi Hardman who was ends in failure and a heresy trial, so an

29 TBS&E Number 72 30 insurrection and decapitation of the existing how something I know a little about, order is necessary. This is organised, and all Australian SF fandom 1939 to 1964, is seems to be going well, until a counter treated in this memoir, reveals … that it is a coup emerges, leading to a flight on the last very sanitised and shuttered view of what available spacecraft, by the cabal (and was known to be happening, i.e. there are their wives) to the target planet. only three very brief, very puzzling Destination achieved for these few, while references to the very active Sydney the generation ship flies on, on a now Science Fiction scene of the time, at purposeless and unending trip into the night Sydney University during the years that he of the galactic void. was present, so these stories are Conclusion – Written during WW2, and a ‘Unreliable’ indeed! story of its time, this story was surprisingly © Garry P Dalrymple, December 31, 2016. undated. An all-male cast of characters take part, except for magical crone ‘The Greks Bring Gifts’ woman, who manufactures knives, and by Murray Leinster (US Dec’d) ‘wives.’ The action is a bit bloodthirsty for First Contact / Invasion SF, © 1964, 143 modern readers, but still a worthwhile pages, read Aug 25 to Sept 02, 2016. excursion into Classic or ‘Golden Age’ SF storytelling. © G. Dalrymple, Dec. 31, 2016. This is a very short book, about a ‘First Contact’ scenario, just a little shorter and it ‘Unreliable Memoirs’ might have been half an Ace double? The story starts with a bit of a cliché, a by Clive James (Aust.), A Biographic bloke and his sheila in a car, going for a Memoir of Aust. suburban life, 1940-1961, © country drive, but, he’s a burnt out Physicist 1941, 111 pages, Read Sept. 26 to 29, 2016. and she’s a newly minted M.D., a Scully This book in several chapter length and Mulder combination? They are episodes, gives a view of Clive’s family life driving to the site where the Greks’ huge and growing up in Australia. From his Spaceship has landed and is now childhood to his University graduation and preparing to leave. Millions of Americans the year or so shortly after. It ranges over are on the road to the site, thousands get 1940s to 1961, ending the night before his killed in car accidents (!). It is the biggest departure for England, as a cultural show on Earth. The Greks have appeared refugee. The descriptions, of this the focus from outer space and over a year or so, is on his nonchalant view of his intellectual have freely offered mankind their Science gifts, growing up amongst the ‘savages’ of and Technology, through their Aldarian pre-Barry MacKenzie 1950s Australia. What underlings, and wonderful stuff it is, the is in the book is well described, but what is deserts will bloom, cars will run off left undescribed is possibly more broadcast energy and everyone is going illuminating, according to people I know to be RICH and work maybe one day a who lived through these aspects of week. That is, once the benefits of Grek Australian life that Clive James chooses not technology become universal. Hip Hip to cover. The names of the ‘guilty’ have and Hooray, and Ghod Bless the Greks! been changed, no doubt under sound However, the bloke has his suspicions legal advice, and selectively presented, about the quality and the fit of these

Clive does shine for his intellectual gifts! Emperor’s new clothes, and the Taylor’s Conclusion – I was born shortly after the intentions. Until the Greks showed up, he events depicted in this memoir, and grew was thought to be Brilliant and expected up not that far from where Clive James’ to win a Nobel Prize eventually. But he childhood took place. Some of these was rejected as being intellectually images do resonate with my own child insufficient by those teaching the new Grek hood experiences, a generation later. Physics, while lesser minds were accepted. However, applying the test of looking to see He has studied the Grek physics, which he

30 TBS&E Number 72 31 thinks is ‘screwy’. His plan in going to see arrive as long as the appropriate prayer the Greks’ leave taking of Earth, is mostly and radio rituals were observed. So, driven by suspicion. A group of based on a true story? A fault with this archaeologists have been set up to collect story is under-writing. We learn that the and investigate what they find in the Grek’s Greks are a slimy lot, not from within the rubbish pit after they leave. On the way to story, but from the cover notes, which the landing site though, there is a car repeatedly state what isn’t evident in the accident involving one of the Grek’s book. In spite of the many obvious Aldarian underlings. The couple take him anachronisms, this is a story that did not jar, to hospital, and the injured Aldarian hands and the image of planetary conquest, by her a mysterious alien device. After the other than spaceships and alien weapon Greks leave, the injured Aldarian is found, technology is still a fresh and valuable dead and tortured, in the Grek’s rubbish idea. © Garry P. Dalrymple, Sept. 4, 2016. heap, along with many other dead Aldarians and the dissected remains of ‘Tomorrow When the War three humans. So, the Greks lied to us Began’ by John Marsden (Aust.) about their relationship with the Aldarians Steam Punk YA SF/Fantasy, © 2016, 224 and so their benevolence to humanity is pages, Read October 19 to 23, 2016. questionable, but what are their plans for Earth, and how long before it goes into This book was read and reviewed as a effect? Meanwhile, as the World waits for Concord Library SF&F Book club choice, so Grek technology to come on line, the ’old’ better and more considered coverage of economy goes into a tailspin, as the this book will be found among those notes. availability of new Grek gear lags behind The story is the first in a series about the expectations, as the economy collapses. adventures of a group of current day Soon there are big public demonstrations young Australians who are at the end of demanding that the Greks return, to take their childhood. They have finished their control and set things right. So, there is a last year of high school, University, race to try to understand how Grek Employment and travel will soon split them technology really works, before the Greks up, so they decide to camp out together return and have dominion over the Earth one last time, before they must part to take handed to them by popular acclaim. The up their places in the adult world. Physicist AND his doctor girlfriend are However, things change. In their involved in the search and iconoclastically absence there is an invasion by an for SF of this time, it is the Girlfriend who unidentified foreign power, and the suggests most of the major leads, and it is residents of their town are all detained at the bloke who recognises and admires her the town’s showground. Finding themselves outside the wire, in the weeks intellectual gifts! that follow, they have to face adult Conclusion – This seems to be a book of decisions on their own, do they submit to influences of the times, UFO contactee detention, evade capture or even engage stories of the era were full of ‘The in acts of resistance? And so on. It is Benevolent Space Brothers,’ who were difficult to review this book, as read, willing to bring about Earth’s elevation. because there has been both a Movie and There were memories of how charmed a TV series about this, each adding new some sectors of the American population aspects to the overall story. were to welcome something like Nazi style Comment and conclusions – A rather good prosperity, and to ignore troubling signs of story about a ‘What If’ set in Australia with some of their social policies. There may believable characters, definitely a better also be some post WW2 experiences of the product than the similar US offering ‘Red emergence of the ‘John Frum’ cargo cult, Dawn’. © Garry Dalrymple, Dec. 31, 2016. where pacific Island economies collapsed in expectation that prosperity was due to

31 TBS&E Number 72 32 ‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’ by intense medical research and intervention, who CAN time travel like her

Audrey Niffenegger (US) dad, but she can travel to when and Sub-SF Speculative Fiction, © 2004, 518 where SHE wants, surely a more interesting pages, a SMSA Library book, read August 11 story, the unspoken of potential and to 18, 2016. backstory of Dr Who’s Granddaughter? Well, what do you expect, and What do you Could Henry’s condition been controlled? get? A story about the relationship But this would require a Science Fiction between two people separated by Writer to develop? circumstances. He is an inconvenient Time Comment and conclusions – Really, how Traveller, and she isn’t. Out of sequence DO they get away with it, these ‘Literary’ Absences and re-unions, all powered by the Writers? Grant Money and Residencies to Deux Machina Sub-Science engine of churn out a piece of fiction with rather less ‘Because I say So.’ This essential plot imagination than that found in most Slash device, distance between lovers etc., could Fan Fic, a partial treatment of a theme of have been accomplished by ways other chronologically displaced lovers / than the Science Fictional Time Traveller. companions that is usually much better We are told, and have to accept that Henry explored in any number of the Dr who has an apparently random but complicated episodes featuring the detestable Melody genetic abnormality which prevented him Rivers or left behind companions? Mix in from ever being born, which causes him to a bit of indulgence, i.e. write what you travel randomly in time. How he know on Paper Art and ‘the life I’ve lived’ managed to achieve this complicated 1980s Punk music scene. The only mutation is not explored at all, not even a satisfaction I get from reading all 500 family story to show the way. Is he actually pages of this is that after a week in bed alone in the world, or might there be others? with this book, I finally get to know ‘What It If so, how might they live? Would they help Is All About,’ but I’m still in the dark as to Henry or try to control him? Dunno, never what all the fuss was about. occurs to the writer who is busy trying to If you want to read what a competent write Nabokov Fan Fiction, an acceptable Writer could have done with this theme, Humbert Humbert? Henry faces having to then go no further than Kurt Vonneguts’ pop up naked and has to make his way in ‘Slaughterhouse Five,’ or his ‘Sirens of the world for a while (hours, minutes or Titan’. If you are looking for a love story seconds) before he flips back to the present that beats time, then there is that one he came from, but then we learn that he about a time machine letterbox next to a usually travels between several points in his lakeside holiday house, and if you just want life, so …. That’s another vault over a chasm to play spooky with time slip / time travel, of incredulity. from an Australian perspective then there is The story line is anchored to the life of Claire Ruth Park’s, ‘Playing Beatty Bow.’ Abshire, who appears to be a guilded lily © Garry P Dalrymple, December 31, 2016. version of the Author, with the visits of her visitor then lover Henry intertwined. This ‘Langudoc (dot) Doc 1305’ goes on, until the writer literally cuts off the Time legs of the main character to slow him by Gillian Polack (Aust.) down a bit and later has him assassinated Travel SF, © 2016, 224 pages, Read October 3 to 9, 2016. by his future in-laws, an entirely non-science fictional risk that American Nude Time A time travel story, set in an obscure time in Slippers would have to face in the Paranoid an obscure corner of medieval France, States of gun nut America. And so it ends, where France begins to run out and Spain a Time Traveller’s life focussed entirely within begins. What could possibly go wrong? the relationship between two people, but This story has two major characters, a yet, there is a child, possible only with much put upon Historian and a Knight, a

32 TBS&E Number 72 33 very minor noble, who has to make a career management style that made their decision. Largely unprepared and defeat so inevitable. unassisted, the Historian, attempts to do her Werner Von Braun and his people accept work, limited by the politics of the team and the role of Weapon builders with a view to the faculty politics back home, which has post-war space rockets, the A10, but in this greatly limited the number of effective story, they actually get to build the A10, people who are sent back in time, people which in reality only existed as unrealizable who fail to observe the sensible precautions plans and sketches. needed not to contaminate the results that Jan Memling, the British chap, is in and out they bring back. There are dramas both of action but sees his rocket expertise and sides of the time divide, the Knight, a royal advice sidelined and ignored, until the cousin, who is out of favour with his patrons final set piece, where he gets to be at must choose between Church, Templars, Peenemunde, killing SS Germans as the last Mercenary service or obscurity. remaining A10 is launched, manned, not The story ends, with a nearly disastrous at New York with a 30 tonne bomb, but as interaction with the local devil obsessed a one way moon shot, which is only peasants. The knight, on the other hand, located on the Moon, decades after the seeking personal advantage sets out on a Moon has been reached. course to denounce the Knights Templar, The adventures are a look into the long which leads to a very major historical turning dark night of Nazi ruled Europe, so you do point, the dissolution and extermination of not have to be Space Enthusiast to enjoy this wealthy and powerful medieval the book, you can just as easily read it as institution. an Espionage thriller.

Comment and Conclusion – This is a book Comment and conclusions – Ok, it is not worth reading, it encourages a clearer view brilliant Science Fiction, and at times it of how academia operates these days as strikes you as ‘Oh really?’ rather than ‘Gee well as representing a likely to be accurate Whizz!’, such as the suggestion that the survey of what could go wrong with a time Germans could build five A10 Lunar travel expedition. Gillian clearly knows Rockets under war time conditions, as a both the historical epoch and the likely side show to their V1 and V2 efforts, and trajectory of any major Academic project, have them ready to fly in five years, but it and can use both to weave an effective does embroider the know events and drama. © Garry Dalrymple, March 15, 2017. characters in a plausible enough sort of a way. After reading it, I do wonder at the ‘Vengeance 10’ short sightedness of the real WW2 players. by Joe Poyer (US) Alt History SF or a In reality, delivering bombs with rockets Techno Thriller, © 1980, 340 pages, Read costing more than Aircraft to build was November 22 to 26, 2016. never going to be economic (V2 production resulted in the deaths of more Not quite Science Fiction, more a Techno skilled slave workers than on Ground allied Thriller like ‘The Guns of Navarone’ but with civilian casualties) even in the twisted Nazi big Rockets rather than big guns. It tells the economic sense, but could no-one (until story of a small group of pre-WW2 Rocket Arthur C. Clarke) really see the potential enthusiasts, British and German, and how value of orbital height reconnaissance, they get on during the War. The British one given the human cost and value of routine gets into M16, S.O.E. and kills Germans. photographic reconnaissance missions? Werner Von Braun and his mates, get to build Rockets that kill Londoners. The Point Not Great SF, only one sustaining ‘What If’, of Departure is that it projects what might some curiosity value, better than ‘The Nazis have happened with a slightly more ‘with it’ had Flying Saucers!’ type fantasies. © Garry P Dalrymple, November 27, 2016. form of Nazi establishment, as opposed to the chaotic, inhuman and ad hoc

33 TBS&E Number 72 34 ‘With the Old Breed’ of the few involved in the ‘Valkyrie’ conspiracy to kill Hitler to survive the war. by E. B. Sledge (US Dec’d) Mostly the book covers his childhood and WW2 memoir of Peleliu and Okinawa his military career, as a cavalry campaigns, © 2008, 323 pages, commander, a skill that was still of great Read December 29 to 31, 2016. use on the Eastern front of WW2, in spite of This book is the memoir of a single US the war’s increased use of mechanisation. Marine, who entered the Second World War An ‘Honourable German’, of the old after the Cape Gloucester battle, where school, a career in the apolitical military Japanese land forces were first turned back was seen as an alternative to conformity to by US troops, and participated in the Pelileu Hitler’s Nazification of civil society. He was and Okinawa landings. It is myopically turned into a resistor by experiences of the focussed on the activities in the Pacific of inhuman (and militarily counter- the US Marine Corps, but it is an honest productive) Nazi / SS excesses committed account of the war as seen through the in Germany’s name on the Eastern eyes of a private, rather than a professional (Russian) Front. military historian. The Author was initially Comment and conclusions – As a single directed to officer training, but like many of officer’s account of his war, the work has his classmates, in the post-Pearl Harbour some value, in addition to its value as a last enthusiasm for immediate vengeance surviving insider’s account of the failed against the Japanese, he deliberately Valkyrie conspiracy and the light that this flunked out so he could fight sooner, as a shines on how Hitler’s inner circle were private. So, it is written by an author who viewed by the German High command. could have been an officer, who went on to © Garry P Dalrymple, December 31, 2016. become a Biology Professor in post war life. Comment and conclusions – This work was ‘The Martian’ by Andy Weir (US) used as source material for the HBO SF/Fantasy, © 2016, 224 pages, SMSA ‘Pacific’ WW2 drama series. It is a valid Library Copy, Read Nov. 27 to 29, 2016. account of this war’s campaigns, as seen from the battlefield, but the question left This is the Potato book. The story is of unanswered is ‘compared to what?’ as the survival on a near future Mars, where a war was a much larger enterprise than just resourceful survivor rises to meet each the efforts of the US Marines on these two successive challenge. The main island campaigns and of course, it is character of a first Mars landing suffers an permeated by the spirit of American injury during a storm which causes his Exceptionalism. colleagues to abandon the planet, leaving It is interesting to compare and contrast the him behind, thought to be dead. Then experiences of this Author with that of come the challenges, to survive and then Philipp Boeslanger, both of whom, during move across the face of the planet in time their war narratives, were fighting against to be rescued. The potatoes come in as ‘inhuman’ opponents. a means of avoiding starvation before a © Garry P Dalrymple, December 31, 2016. potential rescue. For communication, a previous Mars probe is recovered and refurbished. The habitat at one point ‘Valkyrie’ by Philipp Von bursts, and so on. All of these successive Boeselager (Ger. Dec’d) challenges are a result of the way this WW2 History of the German Resistance book came about. It started off as a series movement, © 2009, 176 pages, of ‘How Would I ….’ Online postings, Read December 25 to 28, 2016. effectively outsourcing his both problem

This book is an account of the war as and solution. This accounts for the ‘Perils experienced by one German officer, whose of Pauline’ nature of the story, cliff-hanger claim to especial fame was that he was one challenges each chapter and so on, a

34 TBS&E Number 72 35 succession of incidents linked by the main Out at 10 am, home at 4 pm. character’s internal dialogue. Monday November 19 – A day of Rest, re- Comment and Conclusion – It is not great typed a Short Story entry received that Science Fiction, as there is no glorious vision day. A Freecon Delivery, by Australia Post of the grand ‘What If’ where your courier, arrived after 8 pm, well after dark. perceptions of what is possible is Tuesday November 20 – Major effort of the challenged. The Science of the book is day, getting the mailing addresses of the also a bit flawed, you may read the details dozen or so most local churches, then on line at your leisure. It probably has most organising the contact mail out envelopes. value as a ‘problem solving’ text, for Wednesday November 23 – This morning younger readers to work through, pick to starts with Amber having another fit, then a pieces etc. © G Dalrymple, 14 March, 2017 morning visit by Stephen Bingle results in an explosion of Freecon related printing, to supply Stephen with stuff to give out and for my own purposes. Stephen has given me the details of a ‘Queen Bee’, an expert on Australian Native honey bees. Must follow up on this. Today I do about 200 pages through the printer at home, slow going. Also made up 12 mailings of Travellers’ Tales, or Religion and SF discussion invitations, to most local churches. Posted some, hand delivered others. Into town for a talk on What I tell my Mother. John Tebbutt, by Fred Watson covered November 2016 to Jan. 2017 mostly familiar ground, but from the

Friday November 18 – An afternoon and perspective of a professional Astronomer evening of action, Sydney Futurian Meeting looking in rather than my approach. It Night, topic, any book by Charlaine Harris, was an interesting experience to attend a took the Sydney Freecon banners in for a talk about a subject that I knew as well or show and tell / photo opportunity, better than the speaker. Afterwards I was Woolworths shopping. able to tell him some details that threw a Saturday November 19 – A morning and slightly different light on Tebbutt’s life to the afternoon of action! NSW Democrats AGM, view he had given. Bus home from Martin much improved over last year, signs of re- Place again, Broke journey home to shop growth. The venue was very near to at Coles, Earlwood. The ‘transfer’ bus ride Sydney Observatory, bit of a hike to busses home the rest of the way home was at no home. Delivered Freecon Flyers to Galaxy cost. On the bus to Campsie for a train Bookshop, found a place that might fix my into town I passed the latest Campsie HP laptop and that Officeworks has Crime Scene, Amy Street, to the shopping replacements for under $300, bought Kilo mall, was blocked off by police tape at bags of Jaffas, Minties and Fantales (352 ea each end, as was the ‘To Bankstown’ Jaffars per Kg). Produced and distributed platform of Campsie railway station (Trains a ‘just for Democrats’ Freecon flyer. Out at not stopping, bus from Belmore etc. A 8.30 am, home at 4 pm. bloke had knifed another bloke and them Sunday November 20 – Off into town again, made his escape. His escape plan, to to the (six times a year) Infinitas Writers catch the train home, while covered in group. Did up Freecon short story entry blood soaked clothing. Forward planning forms and a copy of TBS&E #70 for each deserving of a Darwin Prize, particularly attendee. Meeting went on past 2.30 pm. when you consider that the Campsie Bought 50 ea more foam coffee cups ($2) Police Station compound nearly backs for the Freecon. onto the Railway station!

35 TBS&E Number 72 36 Thursday November 24 – Today a day of coincide with the contact numbers doing things in the afternoon; A visit to associated with the ‘Personal Services’ Mother, a Land Tax Bill to pay, Mother’s advertisements in the local papers (I have watch needs a battery (installed and already noticed that many ‘different’ returned to her), a stack of Large Print Books advertisements give the same mobile to be delivered (Gathered by Stephen phone contact number. Bingle from the SMSA Library’s discards), Saturday November 26 – A day of $500 out of the ATM, JB hi Fi has under $300 movement and achievement? A. Haircut, laptops as well, TBS&E Issue #71 (minimalist!) $25 cost ameliorated by finding a stray $10 to be printed, folded and posted, Biscuit note on the pavement outside. B. scored shopping for the Sydney Freecon (From Aldis some Drugs ($44) Micardis and Zantac and Woolworths). actually, gave Freecon flyers to pharmacy I left home before 2 pm, got home just on 6 staff, suggesting they could bring a friend pm, home cooked spaghetti for tea. and leave with a better one. C Train into Mother asked me two or three times about town. D. Went the SMSA library, where I the dates of the Freecon, a heavy load to replaced the Freecon flyers left by Stephen bring home. Bingle with better looking ones and an A4 Friday November 25 – The Cat that’s never Mini Poster, collected some SMSA found - Rather looking forward to a ‘Big pay promotional material and borrowed ‘The day’ dividend which is due to reach my Martian’, by Andy Weir, the December bank account today, fingers crossed. If Concord Library book of the month. E. needed, this will cover Mother’s expenses went to the Computer repair place, to put well into the New Year and there will be the HP laptop in for a look and possibly a December Dividends, for Mother to add to fix, cost $40 plus? F. break journey home her bank account balance. at Earlwood to hand deliver more of the I spend all afternoon and 5 metres of light Religion invitations. G. decide not to go to rope putting eyelets and ropes onto the Coles (Crème biscuits on special) weaken three Freecon signs. Towards sunset I go and buy a week’s worth of KFC pieces. and tie them to the fence. While doing so, Home and lunch at around 3 pm. three passers by enquire. One, a lawyer Sunday November 27 – Concern of the day stops to ask if I’m going to put flyers on the – I want to place a weather proof see-thru electricity poles, I ask her if she has Aesthetic box, with a lid, for Freecon Flyers near the or Legally based concerns as her reasons for Freecon signs. What have I got / can find asking. In the conversation that develops I that will do the job. This might involve learn that she has been out for a walk, plastic milk bottles. Started reading ‘The pulling ‘Lost Cat’ signs off these poles. Martian’ by Andy Weir. Unkind you might think? No, she has a Wednesday November 30 – Finish reading reason. She shoews me one of the signs, a ‘The Martian,’ Started reading Robert weather proofed A4, cat picture and a Heinlein’s ‘Orphans of the Sky’. mobile phone number to call. No further Friday December 2 – Persistent phone calls details. No last seen … Return to no. X Y from the local paper (The Bankstown Street, or contact Fred for a reward. She Express). Interviewed over the phone and explains that these signs are in fact discrete they want to send a photographer. Being advertisements for a Brothel or Sex workers. of the post-analog book generation, he I.e. it’s not a case of a ‘Lost Cat’, it is a case was astonished at the number of books on of Cat House Found. I have no reason to the sun room book midden (for the doubt her point of view, probably arising Freecon) and the rest in the Garage. Not from her work experiences of encounters used to the concept of keeping and with people in the sex trade. Rather storing ‘analogue’ books I guess. Finished surprised that I didn’t know about this reading ‘Orphans of the Sky’. Also, quite before, will look out for further occurrences, impressed by Amber and Rusty. note the phone numbers and see if they

36 TBS&E Number 72 37 Saturday December 3 – Too busy doing stuff short order and secured at my place, to write down notes on what I had been before returning to the venue for what doing, first 2016 Freecon ‘void’ in my diary. should have been a seafood dinner, err a Monday December 5 – Concord SF&F hike to the shop, discovered that it was Readers group and Sydney City closed and abandoned (drifts of mail Skywatchers Xmas Parties. At Concord we piling up on the floor!). It looked perfectly discussed ‘The Martian’. At the Astronomy alright theweek before, from the 423 bus! Xmas party we learned of the Neanderthal So a retracing of our steps (retreat from DNA content of party goers (we have a 4 Hoth style) and it was Pizza again! So, a plus percenter among us!) and even second Freecon dinner is achieved, but Denisovan Blood in the family! ‘Young my knee – ouch! Rhyse has earned a scholarship to study Monday December 12 – Freecon Key Random Lasers, compounds that Handover and signs pulled down. Even spontainiously emit energy in a laser format after the usual cost swallowing and at room and industrial temperatures. Very creative accounting, it reveals that 35 ish Astronomy applicable! people taking part this year resulted in a Tuesday December 6 – Amber has another nett loss, (about $800 out and about $750 fit, at 1.45 pm. Soon over, no lasting in). We needed a few more people to change in her condition attend to break even or to achieve a Thursday December 8 – Freecon set up and surplus. However, on the plus side, we did key day ahead of the Freecon, I went on a have more people for two out of the three midnight to 1 am ramble, to deliver two days, and the Short Story display definitely trolley loads of cake tray crated books to drew in some people who might not have the venue. The search for a supermarket attended, so, if the Freecon had been held shopping trolley (eventually found on a front a month or so earlier, it definitely would lawn on Bexley road, way up the big have been better. Campsie hill!) does in my left knee for the Tuesday December 13 – Relivence duration of the Freecon and a week after! deprivation phase and Sloth season starts. In daylight, aided by Stephen Bingle and No shortage of things for me to do, much Luke Kendall. left unfinished from mid-November, New Friday December 9 – Freecon evening, Meri Year initiatives to be commenced? Amber performing, the David and Darran Could be a List, or perhaps not. Working show, 17 people attending, slightly down on through some post Freecon chores 2014, but explainable by the absence of Wednesday December 14 – Finally able to two family groups, so not that bad a result. read the December 2016 Fortean Times, a Up till 1 am, making up six loaves of cheese treat put off until the Freecon was over. sandwiches (only needed three & a half?) Thursday December 15 – Took out and took Saturday December 10 - Freecon Saturday, appart a wooden box, for its 5 square 19 people attending, a surplus of cheese metres of half inch ply wood, a Freecon sandwiches. In future, one loaf for every delayed project. This action frees up my five people on the Friday night? We had garage entrance and allows a shelving re- enough momentum to sustain an order in alignment that should make better use of Pizza dinner, with Lynda Calder as our floor space, i.e. clear a 4 by 5 metre area, Dinner speaker. A First for the Freecon! meeting space for 15 in the J.F.T. Dalrymple Sunday December 11 – Freecon Sunday, 15 memorial recreation facility? Progress on people, some Freecon people, we knew in the garden front, attempts made to advance, were at the final Dr Who event for transfer some stray African Violet (Actinic the year. Short story competition votes White Flowers) across the lawn to the noisy counted (no I didn’t win AGAIN!), by neighbour’s side driveway. Hopefully something of a landslide. Greatly assisted by they will provide weed denial Luke (and his station wagon) to get 85% of groundcover. the Freecon stuff out of the O.E.S. in very

37 TBS&E Number 72 38 Friday December 16 – My Niece Janene much longer than it should have, must Graduates as a Medical Doctor, she just try to systematise my ‘shiny things’ holdings. missed out on honours (too busy) and a Friday December 23 – Went berserk, University Medal, (one year out of six she actually bought something! A day of wasn’t best student) but she received her investment, additional quantities of ‘value first choice placement, the rather local St. for money,’ depressed cost shares bought. George Hospital, rather than the Aleppo Saturday December 24 – Back to work on style Zombie and Ice users emergency ward Trove, Kipling in 1917 continues, much was located at the crumbling fringes of the done last year. Stephen brought in a Woop Woop underclass containment and short banana stump (might sprout?). A urban conflict zone. The University really night of paper and sticky tape, wrapping stuffed this one up. They could teach Xmas presents. Amber has a bit of a Connex lessons on how to gridlock traffic stagger, not a good look, gunfire or flows and alienate ‘subscribers’. fireworks tonight also distresses her. Absolutely jaw dropingly inept traffic control Sunday December 25 – Christmas with the and event management at this very Deaseys. They want me to write a book! important event, the last opportunity to The book I have in mind to write may not make students who are about to become be the one they expected, time traveling big earners misty eyed about the ‘good old cyborg basenjis rule! alma mata.’ Last Sydney Futurian Meeting Monday December 26 – Dreams / of 2016 later. nightmares about the compulsion to go Sunday December 18 – A first post Freecon back to work persist (Why? They canned away mission to Marrickville and the Bower Me in 2013). Not so good news for Was able to do some Xmas shopping. Amber, clearly she has had another stroke Sunday Opal charges seem to be capped or whatever, she has lost much of the at $2.50 rather than the advertised $5. recovery she made earlier, brain plasticity Passing strange, but use it or lose it I guess. is pretty amazing. Will try to keep her Monday December 19 – Much of today going by giving her handfuls of human spent two holing the Freecon CD badges. grade raw mince and other preferential One sided Single holed ones only worked treatment. She picks up on the nature of half the time as they twisted. Towards 200 this special offer, accompanying me to the to hand for future Freecons. Visited the refrigerator. The Boat people up the newly re-furbished Campsie Library, which road, have moved their boat and trucks to now has SIX meeting rooms! Separate our end of the street, for a nocturnal re-fit. after hours exit possible, by negotiation, Tempting to phone the police with a ‘Tinny seems Freecon suitable to me. Terrorist’ sighting. Tuesday December 20 – Visited Mother, Tuesday December 27 – Will try offering Mowed the lawns, found that the Hurstville Amber Baked beans in bed, as breakfast St George branch has a coin counter supplement. This she likes! deposit machine, so I cleared the whole Wednesday December 28 – Oh dear, we post Freecon jar of change in one hit, rather are in the paper again! Stephen alerts than having to carry a pocketful of coins me to a Telegraph ‘Exclusive’ (Yes Really) and give correct change whenever I go where ‘Dalrymple’ is mentioned in a shopping, over the next few months. ‘World’s biggest Cocaine Import Bust’ (the Wednesday December 21 – Unloaded, same details were published in the SMH turned and re-loaded shelves, using the the next day). Yes, a boat called space created by the box’s exit. Bower Dalrymple (Home Port Launceston. i.e. Port Thursday December 22 – Most of the day Dalrymple, 19.79 m long Fishing vessel, spent in a search for a jar of 1 and 2 cent completed 1983, Reg. No. 850967) was pieces. I wanted to record copier / being used in the scheme to import tonnes printing use between cartridges, i.e. two of Coke. pages copied, $0.02 in the jar etc. Took

38 TBS&E Number 72 39 Thursday December 29 - The same details seated to find a dog-free place to emerge in the SMH, one is socially ruined, or place my feet and stand. might get a better table at some Sydney A and R both enjoy a chicken bone Restaurants? Also, my late father’s crunch-up, swarming me when I eat birthday, so I decide to do a dad thing, to chicken pieces. Thrown bones (One for try to fix the broken shutter blind. I works, him, one for her.), seldom bounce on the for a day. I discover the shutter’s wind up lino or carpet, but crumbs and chips might mechanism’s design flaw. be found. On one occasion I did catch Friday December 30 – The same details Amber attempting to crunch the bone emerge in the SMH, one is socially ruined, or coloured power cord of the peace might get a better table at some Sydney keeping electric heater (not plugged in!) Restaurants? but she accepted my advice that chewing Saturday December 31 – My letter to the this was NOT a good idea for a Basenjis. editor, distancing the family name from the So – A New Year – 2017, my Mother’s 90th implied drug dealing implication, is and THREE Freecons (Five days), can we published in the SMH (and the Telegraph?), do it? No Resolutions made, just delusions one last hit on the last day of the year. or disillusions in the making? Sunday The noise from New Year’s Eve fireworks January 1 – Not much done, Sloth city affect Amber and Rusty very differently. style. Haven’t got a 2017 (A5 Page to a The park across the street has been day), Diary yet, so I’ll record things here for annexed by the tribe who have overbuilt a bit. It turns out that there are two their own back yard. At 9 pm 11 pm and ‘Dalrymple’ boats on the Australian midnight, at each gunshot like report Amber Register, ‘Dalrymple Star’, 355269, 11.52m, flinches visibly and seeks a quieter place to completed 1966, home port Adelaide and hide. Rusty on the other hand is ‘Dalrymple,’ 850967, 19.79m, completed unconcerned. He grew up a colour bond 1983, home port Launceston (I.e. from fence away from Yatama Park, where such Dalrymple Bay Tasmania). The latter (and illegal and ad hoc firework displays were larger) appears to be the Cocaine boat. celebrated several times a year (Ethnic Monday January 2 - New Year’s Eve Post religious holidays, random Birthdays and Script – We Didn’t start the Fire … drive-by shootings?). Amber, having been The morning was cool, so at 7 am I opened brought up at rural Round Corner Dural, just up the house to the breeze from the South. isn’t used to the noise. I observe the post Noticed a smell of smoke. Was it Bushfires fireworks carnage, beer bottles littering the to the south, or some idiot firing up the neighbour’s driveway and two dead bats Barbie at 7 am, possibly? on the powerlines at the corner. I.e. dazed Later, at around 9.30 am I’m taking a and disoriented by the noise and fireworks break from typing up the Basenjis related lights, they reach for the wires to roost on notes above, to pull some weeds etc., I and get zapped to death by the potential wandered across to the park to pick up difference between wires. So, how many the bottles and drink cans that I can see, bats died for your backyard fireworks? and I see whisps of Smoke! Approaching, Generally – A discarded seat cushion, the I find that a fanned by the breeze from the type you tie to wooden kitchen chairs, has South, a patch of the soft-fall material become the new priority sun room sitting (chipped pine bark?) is smouldering along spot for both A and R. First to claim it hogs it’s edges and radiating considerable heat it until the other gets up for twinkles or (think damper time?). drinkies. As I type the other one is most It had excavated below the surface by likely to be asleep, pressed up against the completely burning a square metre or so wheels of my office chair. To dismount down to sand and ash, all without showing these days, I can no longer just ‘push back’ a flame, in spite of last night’s half mm of in the chair. I have to rotate while still rain. I.e. it had been initially ignited by a firework a day and a half ago and was

39 TBS&E Number 72 40 now slowly burning Underneath the damp surface of the soft fall material. If I left, it would be continue to be fanned by the South breeze and would probably burn out the whole of the soft fall pit (200 square metres, 15 cm deep), making in a big stinky, call-the-fire-brigade type event. So, An A to Z Index by Author of Books borrowing a hose from Number 2, I soaked Read and Reviewed for this issue. the entire area, putting it out, but will have to keep an eye on it. No Mail Rec’d. Pages 25 & 26 - ‘Heart of Brass’ Afternoon – mostly spent reviewing and by Felicity Banks (Aust) deleting superfluous post Freecon emails, Page 26 - ‘Reapers are Angels’ 200 unread down to 140 ea. My Dec. 31 by Alden Bell (US) letter has had two replies published. Page 27 - ‘UnEarthly’ Started reading ‘The Mummy’s Tale’ non- by Rebecca Bloomer (Aust.) fiction, about the development of scientific Pages 28 & 29 - ‘Nebula Alert’ investigation of Egyptian Mummies. by A. Bert Chandler (Aust.) Page 29 - ‘Gestapo Mars’

by Victor Gisschler (US) Issue Index for TBS&E #72 Pages 29 & 30 - ‘Orphans of the Sky’ Page 1 – Editorial and index by Robert A. Heinlein Pages 2 to 5 and 6 – Astronomy; November Page 30 - ‘Unreliable Memoirs’ Sydney City Skywatchers and the John by Clive James (Aust.) Tebbutt anniversary Sydney Observatory Pages 30 & 31 - ‘The Greks Bring Gifts’ meetings of November 23, 2016 by Murray Leinster Pages 1 to 3 – Dawn of the Red & the Dead Page 31 - ‘Tomorrow When the War Began’ Pages 3 & 4 – Life of John Tebbutt F.R.A.S. by John Marsden (Aust.) Pages 4 – Sydney City Skywatchers’ end of Page 32 - ‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’ year dinner, December 2016. by Audrey Niffenegger (US) Pages 32 & 33 - ‘Langudoc (dot) Doc 1305’ Pages 5 to 25 – Sydney SF Meeting Notes; by Gillian Polack (Aust.) Concord Library, Sydney DWCA Anniversary Page 33 - ‘Vengeance 10’ and Sydney Futurian meetings by Joe Poyer (US) Concord SF&F Readers Group meetings Page 34 - ‘With the Old Breed’ Pages 5 to 7 – ‘Fahrenheit 451’ by E. B. Sledge (US) Page 8 – ‘The Time Traveller’s Wife’ Page 34 - ‘Valkyrie’ Pages 8 & 9 – ‘The Girl with all the Gifts’ by Philipp Von Boeselager (Ger.) Pages 9 to 11 – The Anniversary of the start Pages 34 & 35 - ‘The Martian’ of organised Dr Who fandom in Australia. by Andy Weir (US)

Sydney Futurian meetings, July to Dec., 2016 Pages 11 to 14 – Open Mike, Book choice End of issue #72! Pages 14 to 16 – Gravity as a character in SF Pages 16 to 21 – Appliances in SF, and Some Thoughts on 2016 Sydney Freecons Pages 22 to 25 – Nudity and Dress up in SF

Pages 25 to 35 – Book Reviews (14 ea!)

Pages 35 to 40 – Traveller’s Tales, from November 2016 to January 2017. Page 40 – Index to this issue & Book Reviews

All finished now, time for bed.

40 TBS&E Number 72 41 citizens, dividing the eccentric and the cat people from the potentially dangerous.

Tony wasn’t an idiot, unlike the usual unwashed attention seeking yob you see at the end of a protest placard or in the shade of a hastily painted banner, but he looked the part.

He had a job in IT. When he wanted it, as he had turned a Godparent’s small legacy into a decent private income, by applying a type of clear headed investment analysis that seemed to apply to no other compartment of his life.

All through his life, Tony had just wanted to find something big to believe in. Some greater Truth, inscribed on the altar but unseen and held secret from the congregation. Maybe something had happened to him, to make him want to (A World Exclusive, by a special question his upbringing, which like my own, was standard and unremarkable arrangement with the Author/s) suburban.

Re-the Asteroid, All the passing fads and fashions couldn’t pass him by. Tony was like a John Wayne by Nemo - 661 words bronco busting bare back rider, a leaper

If you had just met him, my friend Tony, you onto any bull err rumour, hypothesis or would imagine him as someone who was conjecture. He was a Sponge Bob in on the run from something. cammo pants, ready to soak up any secret He had long, fast food fed greasy features, or devious ‘leak’ from the greater powers brown eyes that avoided a direct gaze, that be. unfashionably long and unwashed brown I was meeting up with him a couple of hair. His cammo pants, t-shirt and a line of times a year. He was genuinely interesting slogan decorated designer hoodie jackets, to talk to, on occasion, as he represented were always new-ish, but seemingly they an embodied survey of the current came looking pre-stressed. zeitgeist, but you wouldn’t want to be He had mastered the art of dressing trapped in an escape proof lift, or on a casually and systematically but just three hour interstate bus ride with him. managing to avoid having a style. This afternoon, over Coffee and school He had been like this, even at school, a tuckshop type fare, in the small café near moody teenager, but now in his early forties. his flat, with an all-day breakfast menu, I sort of resented that his hair was still brown, which he treated as an extra kitchen, he while mine was breaking grey. laid bare to me his latest new discovery, a

In fact, he never ran away from anything. ‘True’ explanation for all the well-funded He ran towards things. He pursued and Climate Change denial news items you promiscuously embraced new causes, in a see on some commercial TV channels, way and at a rate that must have deeply Free to Air and Cable. troubled the archiving sections of those He confided, ‘’A friend of mine says she government agencies that are always has seen a posting on shadow the looking for patterns among our edgy internet,’’

41 TBS&E Number 72 42 ‘’Apparently the world's only protection from Asteroid Strike is to wrap around the Earth a massive shell of CO2 and other Greenhouse gasses. As, you know, Diamond is made up of Carbon? Just like in C02 and Methane, so, when the Asteroid hits, under the intense heat and pressure, it immediately converts into a massive Diamond studded Shield, bouncing the Asteroid back into Space”.

He added the clincher “You see, apparently, the reason why all the Dinosaurs died out, on the other side of the KT boundary, was because they didn't mine and burn enough Coal! They had invested all their money in iridium futures or something”.

‘’And that's why the Koch brothers are lobbying so hard on Climate Change Denial, they want to save the world (and their investment in fossil fuels), just like Bruce Willis does in the movies!”

I left him, with visions of spent Diamonds falling from the sky, a Crystal Sphere cracked, but I look forward to hearing what he has to tell me next time we meet.

Afterword / Comment – This story was placed last, by an optional preferential vote of those attending the 2016 Sydney Freecon. Was it really that bad? If so, don’t you could do better? Why not enter the Short Story Writing Competition of the 2017 Sydney Freecons?

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