Liberty and Culture Vol. 23, No. 2 Winter 2005

The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel

2005 Prometheus Award Nominees

Reviews of books by Bruce Balfour, Ken MacLeod, F. Paul Wilson, Mark Tier & Martin H. Greenberg, Jasper Fforde, William Gibson, Michael Z. Williamson Prometheus Volume 23, Number 2, 2005

like an alternate-reality fiction. eviews Nobody’s perfect. Gibson did forsee the pulsating-pixel The newsletter of the R shape of things to come in this landmark Libertarian Futurist Society Neuromancer work, which blends adventure, romance, By William Gibson murder, mystery, conspiracy, sex, drugs, Editor Ace Books, 2004: $25 rock ‘n roll and dystopian fable. Anders Monsen Reviewed by Michael Grossberg With its pellmell pacing and surreal in- tensity, Neuromancer was the first book Cover Artist Science fiction doesn’t have to predict to win sci-fi’s triple crown: the Hugo, Scott Bieser the future accurately to be visionary, Nebula and Philip K. Dick awards. Contributors but it helps. A clue to its enduring appeal can be Michael Grossberg In Neuromancer, first published in found within the title, which contains the Max Jahr 1984, William Gibson wove a glitteringly word “romance.” Despite Gibson’s gritty William H. Stoddard dark web of words that seduced readers tone and cautionary slant, Neuromancer Fran Van Cleave with a plausible vision of artificial intel- revels in its romance with technology— David Wayland ligence and the emerging world wide especially the possibilities of blending Web—where the boundaries between between man and machine. body and machine have been irrevocably Gibson also brilliantly explores the blurred. complex interface between technology Letters and Submissions: The 20th anniversary edition, which and psychology, politics and culture in Anders Monsen includes an amusing afterword by sci- his suspenseful story of Case, a “console 501 Abiso Ave fi writer Jack Womack about Gibson’s cowboy” exiled from a virtual-reality San Antonio, TX 78209 explosive impact on the “cyberpunk” Internet by a revengeful employer’s [email protected] movement, confirms Neuromancer as maiming surgery. one of the past generation’s most influ- Surviving by his impaired wits in Subscriptions & Advertisements ential books. a drug-infested Asian ghetto, Case is Libertarian Futurist Society More than any other author, Gibson tempted by the possibility of escaping the 650 Castro St. Suite 120-433 became the godfather of the Internet, “prison of one’s flesh” and reinhabiting Mountain View, CA 94041 which his novel foreshadowed as a the Web when he meets Molly, a beautiful [email protected] virtual-reality arena where hackers, hired assassin whose caress is dangerous Basic Membership: $25/yr. ($30 int'l) joyriders, entrepreneurs and outlaws because of the scalpel blades that slide Full Membership: $50/yr. can prosper—or die. from beneath her burgundy nails. Talk Sponsors: $100/yr. His gritty dystopian adventure— cas- about a femme fatale. Benefactors: $200/yr. cading through a computerized virtual- Beyond its cool characters and absorb- Subscriptions: $20/yr. ($25 int'l) reality network for crime, punishment, ing story, the novel has endured because All memberships include one-year redemption, fun and profit— boasts one of the “neon shudder” of Gibson’s lan- subscriptions. of the great opening lines in sci-fi history: guage. Even as human an act as sexual “The sky above the port was the color climax assumes an almost alien glow, Classified ads: 50 cents/word, 10 percent off for multiple insertions. of television, tuned to a dead channel.” “flaring blue in a timeless space, a vast- Display ad rates available. All checks (Gibson second-guesses that line in ness like the matrix, where the faces payable to the Libertarian Futurist his self-deprecating new introduction, were shredded and blown away down Society which apologizes to readers too young hurricane corridors.” to be familiar with the sight of 1950s-era Gibson’s later novels—including Prometheus © 2005 the Libertarian TV static.) Count Zero, Mona Lisa Overdrive, Futurist Society. The LFS retains a So what if Gibson confesses in the Burning Chrome, Virtual Light and non-exclusive license to republish introduction that he didn’t anticipate most recently, Pattern Recognition—fol- accepted articles on its Web site; all the ubiquity of cell phones or the col- low in the kaleidoscopic footsteps of other rights revert to the contributor. lapse of the Soviet Union, which now Neuromancer but don’t approach its Letters and reviews are welcome. arguably makes his novel seem more visceral impact. Bylined articles are strictly the opinion of the writer and do not Cover and back page art: Panels from The stream-of-consciousness style necessarily reflect the opinion of the The Probability Broach: The Graphic owes something to Prometheus Hall of LFS members. Novel. Reprinted with permission from Fame award-winner Alfred Bester (The the artist, Scott Bieser. Stars My Destination, The Demolished

Page 2 Volume 23, Number 2, 2005 Prometheus

Man), while the vivid street slang ap- Earth. Kendra joins the Freehold military, The Well of Lost Plots proaches the gang argot of Anthony and here Williamson turns neo-con. By Jasper Fforde Burgess’ A Clockwork Orange, a Hall First, on the military training, which Viking, 2003 of Fame finalist in recent years. most of the time seems designed to con- ISBN 0-670-03289-1 Nor did Gibson invent the now-ex- temporary specifications for people with Reviewed by Anders Monsen hausted term of “cyberpunk,” a literary little self-discipline. No, the drill sergeant style and movement that perhaps gener- doesn’t spray the troops with tear gas Jasper Fforde’s The Well of Lost ated more hype, debate and misinterpre- and make them sing the Marine’s Hymn, Plots (TWOLP) is the third novel in his tation than any other sci-fi trend of the but he comes insultingly close. Second, Thursday Next literary detective series. past generation. when they finally go to war—about a Readers who pick up this book as their hundred pages later—Kendra and her Meanwhile, his distinctive vision was first foray into the world of Fforde will fellow freedom fighters find themselves inverted and vulgarized by The Matrix find the going rough and confusing. torturing prisoners for information. film trilogy, which demonized the Web Experienced Ffordians will find TWOLP Apart from the fairly obvious point amusing and inventive, adding new lay- as something to escape from. that this is not libertarian, and an ex- Much of Neuromancer’s visual and ers to an already unique world. tremely unreliable way to obtain factual Following on the heels of The Eyre verbal vocabulary would be reflected information, is this something people and developed in the works of Bruce Affair (2001) and Lost in a Good Book will be “forced” to do hundreds of years (2002), TWOLP finds Next hiding inside Sterling, John Shirley, Lewis Shiner, Vic- in the future? When we have ships span - a book on a character exchange program. tor Milan (a Prometheus Award winner ning lightyears in a week, won’t we have Next’s book-jumping skills first surfaced for The Cybernetic Samurai) and Neal better truth-detection than torture? Actu- in The Eyre Affair, a wonderfully hu- Stephenson (a Prometheus finalist in ally, I would argue that we have better recent years for Cryptonomicon and truth-detection than that now. It’s called morous first novel. Fforde added to this up for consideration this year for the drugs and brain-scans. So this is worse alternate world in the sequel, Lost in a latest prequel novels in his Baroque than a failure of imagination, it’s either Good Book, where Next moved deeper Cycle), among others. (Vernor Vinge, willful ignorance, or a shameful attempt into the realities of fiction. She joined Ju- another Prometheus winner, also de- to justify inhumane treatment with an risfiction, which polices the BookWorld. serves credit for predicting the Internet, expired utilitarian argument. TWOLP delves further into the alternate for his novella “True Names” predates And if you think that’s bad, wait till reality of BookWorld, where literary Neuromancer.) you get to the part about Freehold nuk- characters are real and operate with Two decades later, though, the cy- ing Minnesota, along with other parts motives that sometimes deviate from the berpunk “movement” is all but dead. of the world. The reason? A weak plot expectations of the books’ readers. Nevertheless, long live Neuromancer. device to ratchet up suspense, married to There’s little here that directly deals (This is an expanded and revised review that the pathetic logic that nobody on Earth with liberty except for the meandering appeared in The Columbus Dispatch.) overthrew these grasping socialist rul- quest to discover who’s killing fictional ers, so therefore everyone remaining on characters and threatening Next’s life in Earth shares equally in the guilt of their BookWorld. Throughout this investiga- Freehold evil behavior. So we can nuke them all tion Next uncovers a possible link behind By Michael Z. Williamson with impunity. Interestingly, those set- the upgrade to the next Book Operating BAEN, 2004: $6.99 tlers who left Earth for Freehold because System to UltraWord™. ISBN: 0743471792 they couldn’t overthrow the grasping Reviewed by Fran Van Cleave Billed as a solution to the demise of socialist rulers seem to see no logical original fiction by adding a new sensory contradiction here. Freehold starts out promisingly, with literary experience, UltraWord™ is re- Finally, the “Freehold’s” awarding the heroine, Sgt. Kendra Pacelli, going vealed instead as “the power to change of medals at the end of the book, rather AWOL from her U.N. Peacekeepers unit everything” in fiction. As the architect of than land or other real property for heroic to the Freehold of Grainne after being this idea states, “I get one hundred per- unjustly accused of theft. She discovers behavior, is inextricably mired in the concepts of Napoleonic empire. cent control…No more Well of Lost Plots, life as a truly free human being: eco- no more Generics, no more Council, no nomically tough, full of disconcerting Hell will freeze over before I vote for more strikes by disgruntled nursery moments, and lots of fun in bed with this neo-con fantasy. rhyme workers…No more authors.” both sexes. So far, so good. And Next’s analysis of this? Why, the Though Williamson is hardly in Stephenson’s class as a writer, he tells quality of the books will suffer. Art will the story competently from a libertar- vanish, and look no difference from a ian viewpoint—until he gets to the war paint factory or manufactured goods. between the Freehold and the U.N.-ruled —Continued on page 9

Page 3 Prometheus Volume 23, Number 2, 2005 The Probability Broach: The Graphic Novel

Written by L. Neil Smith & Scott Bieser Big Head Press 2004: $19.95 ISBN 0-9743814-1-1 Reviewed by Anders Monsen

L. Neil Smith’s 1980 novel, The Probability Broach, stands as the archetype for libertarian utopian fiction. Political elements were not new to sf, but Smith stepped out of the traditional sf narrative by has gained an understanding of how achieves its goal of setting the mood and creating an individualist anarchist’s this world differs from his own, he is values of the two societies. Like movie dreamland. His novel took a no-holds attacked and nearly killed. We later learn directors coloring the light for effect and barred look at the possibilities of a society these attackers were the henchmen of narrative purpose, Bieser employs color, unfettered by regulations, yet not devoid the people in Bear’s world who killed tone of voice, and facial expressions to of order or legal institutions. Meiss. Armed with new-found friends differentiate the two worlds. Sixteen years after the first edition, Tor and lots of bullets, Bear and company Win Bear discovers another Edward reprinted The Probability Broach, first take on these enemies. Bear, who like himself is employed in law as a paperback, then a few years again Bieser’s draws Bear’s world in muted enforcement, but runs his own company. as a trade paperback with a superb new sepia tones, while the North American Smith’s ability to sketch colorful, three cover, to coincide with the hard cover Confederacy’s colors are rich and vi- dimensional characters gives us the publication of its sequel, The American brant. This is no mere affectation, but wonderful Lucy Kropotkin, an at times Zone (2001). And now, after more than two years Sketching Liberty: The Graphic Novel in the making, this classic work of fiction makes its debut as a graphic novel in a In 1991 a graphc novel nearly Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave way that extends Smith’s vision in living claimed the Prometheus Award. V Gibbons, is of interest in the depictions color. Artist Scott Bieser has converted for Vendetta, written by Alan Moore of the rise and fall of superheroes, and nearly 300 pages of dialog-heavy text into and David Lloyd, portrays a grim and the lure of absolute power. The theme a wondrous world of visual humor and totalitarian world, opposed by one per- now is somewhat worn twenty years power that is sure to be read again and son—the masked man known as V. The later, but in its time Watchmen was again by both fans of the original novel artwork in V for Vendetta is stark and highly original. No doubt there are and newcomers to Smith’s world. visceral. While there are few explicitly other book also worthy of mention. The graphic novel version of The libertarian graphic novels or comic The graphic novel is a work of dual Probability Broach follows the same books, this book and others contain effort. In fiction where only words ap- narrative trail as the original book. ideas of liberty worth exploring. pear, the reader creates images in his Lieutenant Win Bear is a tough-luck Batman: The Dark Knight Returns, mind from the text. In movies these cop in 1987 Denver, his world beset by Frank Miller, shows a darker side images are created for the viewer. In the by food and power shortages, govern- of the caped crusader. A grim decline graphic novel the writer must decide ment intruding into every aspect of the in morality grips the world. Compas- upon the greatest effect: the art, the people’s daily lives. sionate psychologists replace crime text, or both. The graphic novel has Working on the case of a slain scien- fighters in dealing with criminals, potential as a source of entertainment tist, Vaughn Meiss, Bear stumbles into and Superman is an agent of the state. blended with ideas on liberty. Imagine an alternate world, where history took Against this world stands an aging, the power of Ayn Rand’s Anthem as a sideways path during the Whiskey bitter Batman. Aided by a new, and a graphic novel, or the future emer- Rebellion, and calls itself the North female, Robin, the battle against evil gence of original works of liberty in American Confederacy. Before Bear becomes a crusade. the comic form.

Page 4 Volume 23, Number 2, 2005 Prometheus cantankerous but always passionate de- An Incredible Movie Experience fender of liberty. Other main characters include the healer Clarissa Olson, who The Incredibles they're all been retired, sent into witness becomes Bear’s love interest, and the Written and Directed by Brad Bird protection programs, and ceased their scientists who created the Broach that Pixar Productions/Disney, 2004 daring do life style. sent Bear into their world: super-sexy Reviewed by Anders Monsen Foremost of the once-admired su- Dora Jayne “Deejay” Thorens, and a perheroes is Mr. Incredible (Craig T. porpoise known as Ooloorie Eckickeck With it’s latest movie, The Incredibles, Nelson), endowed with superhuman P’Wheet. Pixar Animations Studios once again strength. When forced into retirement We encounter the evil Hamiltonian demonstrates the power of craft and cre- he becomes Bob Parr, an insurance agent Manfred von Richthofen, living in La- ativity in the animated movie world. The boxed in by rules and small spaces. His porte under his new name, John Jay company that began it’s feature length frustration is palpable, but out of love Madison, as well as his henchman from movie life with classic toys childhood for his wife, the former Elastigirl (Holly Bear’s world, the sinister Homeland brought to life, and showed us a jaw- Hunter), and his three kids, he lives his Security Policeman Oscar Burgess. dropping slow zoom toward ant island life of quiet desperation. The two oldest Smith has drawn the ire of non-lib- in A Bug’s Life, has moved from the children, Violet and Dashiell, aka 'Dash,' ertarians and some libertarians alike in world of toys (Toy Story and Toy Story also have superpowers. Whereas young his implacable and relentless focus on 2), animated bugs, imaginary creatures Dash chafes under not being able to use the right to bear arms and use of these (Monsters, Inc.), and sea life (Finding his super speed, the shy teenager Violet arms in self-defense as the way to bring Nemo) to that of people. tries to hide not just her powers (invis- about and maintain a free society. Some- The Incredibles was written ibility), but her physical person. one once wrote, “an armed society is a and directed by Brad Bird, best When Mr. Incredible gets a chance polite society.” Much like Henry David known for creating the won- at covertly using his superpowers Thoreau subverted Thomas Jefferson by derful animated movie, The again, he jumps at the opportuni- changing his statement, “That govern- Iron Giant (1999), where ty. Keeping this secret from his ment is best which governs the least,” a young boy in the 1950s wife proves more difficult, into “That government is best which befriends a powerful alien and when she suspects he’s governs not at all,” Smith brought about robot that a paranoid gov- having an affair she follows his peaceful society by arming every ernment agent seeks to destroy. him, only to discover a darker member of that society, including young The Iron Giant never attained threat. Someone is killing off the for- children. much popular success, and Pixar mer super-heros, one by one. Can the To Win Bear, a cop used to seeing hired Bird shortly thereafter. Incredibles save the day and defeat heavy hardware only on the hips of fel- Animated movies often are the person behind these murders, and low cops, this society is disconcerting. perceived as entertainment for what is the ultimate goal? Yet he warms quickly to the gun-toting children. Adults who see animated The question of merit and special anarchists who rescued and healed him, movies often attend the shows with abilities is one of the movie’s prime and discovers that perhaps there is some- their kids. Bird seems to discard themes. What does it mean to be special? thing to their philosophy after all. There this view. The Iron Giant portrays the Should you use your special abilities, are moments in the original book where narrow-mindedness and paranoia of and suffer slings and arrows when you debate takes over the narrative, where governments and their minions. The stand out from the crowd, where you Smith’s passion for liberty and hatred Incredibles offers an intensity and intel- feel their envy and anger? At what cost? of the state and it minions slow down ligence rarely seen in animated films. Merit certainly is lauded as a value, but the pace. In TPB: TGN, dialog like this The animated action is so fluid and the Incredibles do not see themselves as often crowds the panels, Clarissa Olson real, it’s hardly a coincidence that the superior; they simply seek to use what still has her John Galt moment, and the movie was a best movie nominee (mo- they’re given. Congress scene still drags somewhat. tion picture —musical or comedy) for Watching this movie I almost forgot It’s somewhat disconcerting to see the Golden Globe Awards, alongside live these were not real people. Special effects virtually every character lighting up action movies like Eternal Sunshine of has come a long way, as movies such as various forms of tobacco at every op- the Spotless Mind and Sideways. X-Men and the forthcoming Fantastic portunity. The medical technology of In The Incredibles, super-heroes have Four demonstrate. The abilities used by the NAC appears to have solved all the been forced into hiding among normal the super heroes in The Incredibles could health related aspects of tobacco, but people. Beset by lawsuits from people just as easily have been replicated with who don't want to be saved, or who are real humans. This is a movie going expe- —Continued on page 12 hurt when superheroes save their lives, rience for both young and old alike.

Page 5 Prometheus Volume 23, Number 2, 2005 Prometheus Awards nominations —Michael Grossberg

LFS members are invited to nominate a work for this year’s ago. This category is open to many things: novels, novellas, Prometheus Awards. All current LFS members have the privi- short stories, trilogies, series, anthologies, plays, poems, comic lege of nominating works for any of our awards. books, films, TV episodes and TV series. The LFS is looking for worthy candidates in two annual • Only novels may be nominated for the Best Novel category. categories: Best Novel, Best Classic Fiction (Hall of Fame) and The award is limited to novels published in English during also in our occasional Special Awards category (which covers 2004, or during the two previous months (November/De- anthologies, lifetime achievement and other achievements that cember 2003) if previously overlooked. fall outside the scope of our two annual categories.) • To nominate a novel for the Best Novel category, send The deadline to submit awards nominations to the awards the title, author, publisher and a short statement (or review) committee chairs is February 15, 2005. If you are aware of describing why you’re nominating it to LFS Best Novel judg- worthy candidates now, please notify us immediately. ing committee chair, Michael Grossberg (mikegrossb@aol. Warning: As always, there is no guarantee that a last- com, 614-236-5040). minute nominations made around February 15, will arrive in • To nominate something or someone for our Special time for the committees to have adequate time to obtain and Award, a bit more is required. Send a short nominating review the nominee before our voting deadlines. Especially statement identifying the nominee and why the nominee this year, since our annual awards are usually announced at deserves this rare honor, to LFS Board President Chris Hibbert the Worldcons but this year’s Worldcon will be a month earlier ([email protected]). (August 4-8, Glasgow, Scotland), we want to make sure that • To nominate something for the Hall of Fame, send the title, all LFS members have the usual three months to obtain and author and a description of the type of work (novel, story, film, read (or view) the finalists before voting for the winners. TV episode, etc.) to the LFS Hall of Fame judging committee chair, Lynn Maners ([email protected]). The eligibility rules: No Special Award nominations have been received yet this • Works may be nominated for the Hall of Fame category year. The lists of nominated works in the Best Novel and Hall if they were first published or broadcast more than five years of Fame categories (as of January 5) appear below. Prometheus Award Best Novel Nominees Prometheus Award Hall of Fame Nominees (alphabetized by author) (alphabetized by title, with first publication or broadcast date)

• State of Fear, by Michael Chrichton (Harper Collins) • The Artifact, novel (1990) by Michael Gear • For Us the Living, by Robert Heinlein (Scribner Books) • “As Easy as ABC,” short story (1912) by Rudyard Kipling • Anarquía, by Brad Linaweaver (Sense of Wonder Press) • Back in the USSA, novel (1997) by Eugene Byrne and • Newton’s Wake, by Ken MacLeod (TOR Books) Kim Newman • Marque and Reprisal, by Elizabeth Moon (Del Rey) • The Book of Merlyn, novel (1977) by T.H. White • Hostile Takeover, by Susan Shwartz (TOR Books) • It Can’t Happen Here, novel (1936) by Sinclair Lewis • Coyote Rising, by Allen Steele (Ace Books) • A Clockwork Orange, novel (1963) by Anthony Burgess • The Confusion, by Neal Stephenson (Morrow) • Let Us Prey, novel (1992) by Bill Branon • The System of the World, by Neal Stephenson (Morrow) • The Man Who Fell to Earth, feature film (1976) starring • Iron Sunrise, by Charlie Stross (Ace Books) David Bowie • Freehold, by Michael Z. Williamson (Baen Books) • That Hideous Strength, novel (1965) by C. S. Lewis • Crisscross, by F. Paul Wilson (TOR Books) • The Lord of the Rings, trilogy of novels (1954) by J. R. • Last Guardian of Everness, by John Wright (TOR Books) Tolkien • The Second Civil War, HBO Home Video movie (1997) • A Time of Changes, novel (1971) by Robert Silverberg • V for Vendetta, graphic novel (1997) by Alan Moore Moving? • We the Living, feature film (1942) of Ayn Rand’s novel • The Weapon Shops of Isher, novel (1951) by A. E. van Please send any changes in your mailing address to: Vogt David Tuchman 1364 Mapleton Ave Suffield, CT 06078 Email: [email protected]

Page 6 Volume 23, Number 2, 2005 Prometheus Brief Glimpses of Freedom: SF Anthologies and Liberty

Give Me Liberty novels, The Peace War and Marooned with a twist that might be perceived as By Mark Tier and in Realtime. The free state of Kansas is humorous, but on the whole achieves Martin H. Greenberg invaded by the statist Republic of New little. Murray Leinster’s “Historical BAEN, 2003: $7.99 Mexico, and a group of protection service Note” is somewhat similar: a new inven- ISBN 0-7434-3585-0 employees (including a representative tion brings about revolution behind the Visions of Liberty of the Michigan State Police, also a free Iron Curtain of the Soviet Union. Much By Mark Tier and market protection group) must defend in the same manner, Frank Herbert’s Martin H. Greenberg their clients and thwart the invasion. Re- “Committee of the Whole” also centers BAEN, 2004: $6.99 reading the story (yet again), made me around a radical invention , a super-gun ISBN 0-7434-8838-5 realize the timelessness of this work. with enormous power (for good and Reviewed by Max Jahr Of the other stories in Give Me Lib- evil), the plans of which are distributed erty, three of these make the book worth- world-wide and outside government Much like exotic creatures of the wild, while. Eric Frank Russell’s “And Then control, to the horror and anger of a libertarian short stories rarely appear There Were None” highlights a society Senate Committee. These three stories in the public eye. The first collection of deeply grounded in the civil disobedi- explore the effects of one major inven- libertarian sf stories appeared in 1980 ence theories of Ghandi. It’s an amusing tion, in a traditional sf-like “what if?” (The Survival of Freedom, edited by tale, and we all should take to heart the scenario. Grim reality casts doubt on the Jerry Pournelle and John F. Carr), while simple words, “I won’t.” A. E. van Vogt’s efficacy of such inventions in securing the second such collection came forth “The Weapon Shop” will cheer the hearts liberty, which instead must come from nearly twenty years later in 1997 (Free of all Second Amendment purists. A within individuals, not their tools. Space, edited by Ed Kramer and Brad shop arrives overnight in a small town, The last story in Give Me Liberty is a Linaweaver). The latter’s rarity was advertising its wares with this simple nicely written but somewhat out of place noted by the Libertarian Futurist Soci- sign: “The right to buy weapons is the tale. ”Second Game,” by Katherine Ma- ety, which recognized Free Space with right to be free.” No different from our cLean and Charles de Vet, opposes two a Special Award in 1998. And now, only current society, this offends and riles a different planetary species and cultures. a few years later, we get not one but two good portion of the populace, including One is the expanding human culture, libertarian sf anthologies. Fara, a devoted loyalist to the empress, which attempts to contact the reclusive Give Me Liberty collects eight clas- and hard-working bourgeois owner of culture of an alien warrior culture planet. sic works, the most recent of which is a manufacturing shop. His battle with The savage power of the latter implies Vernor Vinge’s “The Ungoverned,” the weapon shop leads him to a harsh defeat of the former in battle, but the and the rest dating from the 1950s and but honest voyage of discovery. warrior culture has a major flaw that 1960s. Co-editor Mark Tier describes the Another excellent tale, showing how appears to spell their eventual doom book in his introduction as “a book full crooked politicians scheme to take over and defeat. of favorites,” yet from my perspective desirable property, is related in Lloyd only half of these stories would fill my Biggle, Jr.’s “Monument.” At first this The second recent libertarian sf an- book of favorites. Certainly, “The Un- seems like a Christopher Columbus thology in question, Visions of Liberty, governed” fits this bill. The story falls tale, where advanced invaders arrive collects mainly newer fiction by more into the same future universe as Vinge’s and grab land from the simple natives. current authors. Interestingly enough, However, the story is bigger and more I find this book far weaker than the for- complex than this, as the natives work mer. Hardly a single story stands out as hard, but within the rules of nonaggres- memorable, and two are blatantly offen- sion, to retain their land (yet not neces- sive, unless they merely misunderstand sarily their way of life). the meaning of liberty. The other four stories are, in my Most of the stories use the plot device opinion, not as strong, nor as libertarian. of a narrator cast upon foreign shores Christopher Anvil’s “Gadget vs. Trend” who has the culture and philosophy is related in snippets from news-clip- of this new place explained by guides pings. It’s dry and one-dimensional, and natives. This is the case in James relating how a radical new invention P. Hogan’s “The Colonizing of Tharle,” granted incredible powers to individu- Jack Williamson’s “Devil’s Star,” Lloyd als, who now could oppose anything the state threw at them. The story ends —Continued on page 8

Page 7 Prometheus Volume 23, Number 2, 2005

—Brief Glimpses, continued from page 7 propaganda fiction. Along with ”The of his own fiction. Told in the style of a Shackles of Freedom,” they form the hardboiled detective story, “Renegade” Biggle, Jr.’s “The Unnullified World,” weakest stories of the book. Whereas deals with how law enforcement agents Jane Lindskold’s “Pakeha,” Mike Resn- ”Devil’s Star” simply is poorly written, in a non-government society might go ick & Tobias S. Bucknell’s “The Shackles Resnick and Bucknell pervert the mean- about capturing a criminal on the run. of Freedom,” and Robert J. Sawyer’s ing liberty in “Shackles.” A young doctor The story flows well, though the char- “The Right’s Tough.” That’s six of the arrives on a planet settled by apparent acters are sacrificed, and the two main nine stories all using the same basic plot Amish farmers, who see every event as detectives seem interchangeable. device to introduce us to their version pre-ordained by God, and thus medicine And so, what is the fate of the libertar- of free worlds. cannot replace prayer. But, by God, they ian short story? If these two books tell What then of these free worlds? sure have the freedom to let people die us anything, the past looks bright and Biggle’s “Unnullified World” deals with when medicine can save them. Where the future grim. Where are the modern asocial behavior, and how a free world are the shackles? In the culture that path breakers, the soothsayers of liberty? reacts. Instead of a lengthy jail sentence submerges people’s minds so that they Not in Visions of Liberty. While it’s en- or capital punishment, the offender is cannot leave to save themselves? I fail couraging to see this type of anthology simply shut out from society. This op- to see how it belongs in an anthology on being published, the immediate results tion gives the offender an opportunity the future of liberty. are mixed and disheartening. to reform or die. This same method was Hogan’s “The Colonizing of Tharle,” alluded to in Russell’s story “And Then is a decently written story, but seems There Were None,” as well as Linskold’s simply an echo of his much better novel, New Libertarian Redux: ”Pakeha.” In the latter story, hope and The Voyage to Yesterday. A group of The Science Fiction Issue forgiveness shows us a side not present settlers with ties to Earth is visited years in the other two stories. While the same later by a space ship, found lacking of Perhaps the first true libertarian methods are key to both “The Unnulli- all central government, and taken over. fied World” and “Pakeha,” their tone They respond by absorbing the brightest sf anthology, editor Samuel Ed- and voice are quite different: rough minds, and react to force by unveiling a ward Konkin III brought together and sharp in the former, more gentle in well-hidden super weapon. hard core libertarian authors in a the latter. The three remaining stories in Give special fiction edition of his New Sawyer’s “The Right’s Tough” also Me Liberty, Brad Linaweaver’s “A Re- Libertarian magazine in 1990. employs this method, though is too short ception at the Anarchist Embassy,” Mi- Sixth authors (Robert Shea, to shed much light on its implications. chael A. Stackpole’s “According to Their A group of astronauts return to Earth Needs,” and Mark Tier’s ”Renegade,” Robert Anton Wilson, Brad Lin- after a long voyage to find that society deal more from within their worlds. aweaver, Victor Koman, J. Neil now uses a new system of instant repu- Stackpole’s story deals with solving Schulman, and L. Neil Smith) tation points. Updates a murder on a world where contribute to the shared story, “The along this point-scale computers rule the social Prometheus Meltdown,” subtitled govern behavior and order by finding what mo- “A Tribute to Robert A. Heinlein.” social cooperation, and tivates people, and catering is quite alien to these environments best suited to L. Neil Smith and Øyvind Myhre astronauts. No one this. It’s a nice story, but if contribute additional short stories. explains this to them the idea of such a computer The issue contains features and upon their arrival, and is meant to be a creepy warn- tributes to Heinlein, and there’s a they fail to blend into ing of abandoning control of wonderful color cover of Heinlien this society, eventually one’s life, the story’s ending and a spaceship. sending them back into seems to undermine this. space and the unknown. Linaweaver’s entry contains some slap- This issue of New Libertarian Williamson’s “Devil’s Star,” on the stick humor, with two bickering twins long ago went out of print. Should other hand, seems a peculiar throw-back loosely based on the real-life peculiarities you come across a copy for sale, its to the days of pulp. The characters are of Sam Konkin, but all amusement aside, an investment well worth making. one-dimensional and the writing and the story never really moves beyond this This special science ficiton issue dialog rough and unpolished, almost one line joke. whould be a part of all libertians’ juvenile. This tale of a spy for the totali- In the last story, co-editor Tier steps tarian world forces intent on invading out from behind his non-fiction introduc- library, and is major part of Sam a renegade planet seems like Soviet tions to these anthologies, with a work Konkin’s legacy.

Page 8 Volume 23, Number 2, 2005 Prometheus

—Reviews, continued from page 3 analogy with the singularities at the piece has two singers portraying human centers of black holes. If this is true, beings as the Lovecraftian horrors of a Yet is this a battle cry for liberty? In than the old science fictional project, the machine world: some ways, yes. Thursday Next seems realistic description of future societies, to chafe under the constraints of fiction. is impossible to carry out. That does not sleep which dreams in the She alters book-endings and encourages Vinge’s later books, A Fire upon the deep. independent thinking among fictional Deep and A Deepness in the Sky, took We’re the Great Old Ones now! characters. up an alternative approach: writing fic- The Well of Lost Plots weaves a won- tion in a setting where the Singularity There isn’t as much intellectual sub- derful story along with meta-fictional either was not attained, or was attained stance in this book as MacLeod’s previ- somewhere else, comfortably offstage. ously published series; readers of those commentary on how novels are created, Other writers have done the same, in- two series won’t find many ideas they progress, and die. Puns and analogies cluding Charles Stross, in Singularity haven’t seen before. Newton’s Wake is to real-world details abound. The pace Sky and his new Iron Sunrise—and, effectively Kenneth MacLeod Lite. It is, often meanders and seems agonizingly and Ken MacLeod, especially in his lat- as it says, a space opera. But, precisely slow. As series, there is a great deal est book. The result is somewhat akin because of that, it may serve very well of potential in the world of Thursday to E. E. Smith’s Lensman novels, where to bring a larger audience to MacLeod’s Next, which mixes fiction and reality the superhumanly intelligent Arisians writing, and to what’s being called “new (inside a work of fiction in itself) with are kept offstage most of the time, oc- space opera.” It has the true MacLeod wild abandon. However, few readers casionally acting as plot enablers but not flavor with a lot of froth. Read it when will grasp the fullness of Fforde’s world fully revealing themselves; in fact, the you’re in the mood for entertainment; if they first arrive with this book as its goal of this approach is to create space you’ll find it here. introduction. One should read The Eyre opera—but a space opera of ideas as well Affair first, which stands as a remarkably as of action. Surprisingly and pleasantly Prometheus Road fresh work of fiction. often, those ideas often include a version By Bruce Balfour of libertarianism. Ace Books, 2004, $6.99 Newton’s Wake is set in the after- ISBN 0-441-01221-3 math of the Hard Rapture, a disastrous Reviewed by David Wayland Newton’s Wake: A Space Opera war that followed the occurrence of a By Ken MacLeod singularity on Earth, but left behind Bruce Balfour’s background lies in the Tor Books, 2004, $24.95 human societies scattered through the computer gaming industry, something ISBN: 0-7653-0503-8 galaxy. One of these human groups, the Reviewed by William H. Stoddard that strongly shows through in his third Carlyles, are entrepreneurs trading in a and most recent novel, Prometheus Over the past decade and a bit, a disturbing sort of merchandise: digital Road. Set in the near future, this novel new recurring theme has emerged in records of human personalities. The plot delineates a world much like the future science fiction: the Avoided Singularity. of this novel traces the consequences of of The Terminator and other techno-fear This is one of the major elements in Ken one of their expeditions finding more scenarios; one day, that which we create MacLeod’s new novel. than they bargained for. Its working out (robots, artificial intelligence) will turn produces a story filled with both amazing Vernor Vinge’s early fiction worked upon us and enslave or destroy us. out the idea that advancing technology technology and violent conflict—enough In Prometheus Road humans created would eventually create superhuman of both to more than justify MacLeod’s AIs which realized that humanity was intelligence, either by enhancing human subtitle. incapable of managing its own affairs. brains and minds, or by creating bet- This book also shows us MacLeod’s ter digital minds. But actually writing mind at play, notably in his portrayal of These AIs destroyed the cities on the US about worlds that contain such intel- future societies. There is, for example, the Pacific edge, such as Los Angeles and San ligence is arguably impossible. John W. playwright on one of his future societ- Francisco, and made everything west Campbell used to warn his writers that ies, who specializes in grand historical of Las Vegas off limits. The remaining no one could write about a superhu- dramas in the Shakespearean style about pockets of humanity on the West Coast man mind convincingly, because such events of the 20th and 21st centuries, they carefully control and change into a mind was necessarily beyond human such as a portrayal of the fall of the So- small farming communities, where inde- understanding or empathy. An entire viet Union in blank verse, with Leonid pendent thinking is punished, and access society (“civilization” may not be an Brezhnev as a tragic hero. Other scenes to technology severely limited. applicable word) of such minds could show the protagonist encountering a Tom Eliot is a teenager fascinated not be used as a setting for fiction in society that has adopted most of the busi- with the technology of bygone times. He any meaningful way. Vinge coined the ness practices of free-market capitalism spends his free time trying to explore the term “the Singularity” for the possible as socialist doctrine, while still invoking future emergence of such a society, by Marx and Mao to justify them. A fine set —Continued on page 10

Page 9 Prometheus Volume 23, Number 2, 2005

—Reviews, continued from page 9 Crisscross joined a cult some years ago. This cult, By F. Paul Wilson which goes under the name Dormen- ruins in the forbidden zone to find arti- Gauntlet Publications/Tor Forge, 2004 talism, and might be seen as a riff on facts. When he is discovered, his family Reviewed by Anders Monsen Scientology, with it’s emphasis on being is obliterated by the region’s governing instructed into higher levels of thought AI. It seems that Tom possesses a special Crisscross is F. Paul Wilson’s eighth through loyalty and financial sacrifice, quality, something the AIs fear and are Repairman Jack novel. The series began and eagerness to attack any person who desperate to destroy. For years his family with, The Tomb , first published in the criticizes the church, including former hid behind normalcy, but Tom’s natural early 1980s. Nearly two decades passed members and journalists. curiosity now endangers everything. before another novel, however Jack This Dormentalist group currently is never went away. He re-appeared in A hermit known as Magnus, who led by Luther Brady, whom Jack discov- occasional short stories in a variety of seems to know much about the workings ers working on a secret project connected anthologies. Then, 14 years later the of- to the Otherness: planting strange col- of the AIs and how to evade their sniff- ficial sequel, Legacies (1998), appeared. umns in nexus points highlighted on a ers, rescues Tom. Magnus seeks to teach Wilson cleaned up the original to wash map of the earth. Once these points all Tom how to walk the Prometheus Road, away the years and early 80s references. are activated, they will spark the return which appears to be a direct link into the Repairman Jack stands as the most of the Adversary. AI virtual reality world. Danger stalks through-going libertarian character in Jack learns more about this future this road, and Tom’s naiveté sends him fiction; he lives outside the state’s laws enemy, the supernatural being known as and his new found friends into deadly and regulations and adheres to a strict Rashalom (who played key roles in The encounters with the AIs. code of ethics. Keep, and the original Adversary trilogy In a plot that seems to mirror The Ma- There’s a the human and supernatural (Reborn, Reprisal, and Nightworld), trix (another tale of technology turning element in the RP stories. Jack deals with from the woman who hired him to in- upon its masters), Tom must confront the real monsters (human and otherwise), as vestigate the cult, a woman who seems AIs inside their world. Which side will well as forces of evil known as the Other- to belong to the same group as the old succeed? Is it possible to broker a truce ness. In the years between the original RP woman Jack met in Gateways. Accord- between the humans and the AIs, or must novel and Legacies, Wilson wrote several ing to these people, Jack is an ally in the one or the other be destroyed? novels dealing with an entity known as fight against the Adversary. Jack dislikes Prometheus Road breaks no new the adversary. These books, as well some any hint that his life may be outside his ground, and the behavior of Tom Eliot short stories and another novel, The control. But although he must satisfy a chafed my sensibilities throughout the Touch, later merged into what Wilson greater need, there’s still time for Jack novel. He seems to never learn from his calls the Adversary Cycle. In terms of to settle some personal scores. mistakes, and displays little common fictional narrative, the world will end Crisscross is a superb novel, com- sense. The key to the road which Tom in Nightworld, which looms in Jack’s bining elements of the detective genre, near future. In the meantime, Wilson fills must walk never really becomes clear, thriller, horror, and exposé, all wrapped in more of Jack’s life leading up to the and the climactic battle and environs of up in rich individualist colors. Hero or final battle. Each such chapter results in anti-hero? Jack is both, and renders the the AI virtual reality bears a strong sem- a new Repairman Jack novel, at the pace label almost useless. blance to current video games. In many of about one novel per year. The books arrive via an unusual pub- ways this book was a disappointment, The title of the novel refers to a pattern lication history. The first editions appear despite the interesting title. of lines in a map that Jack discovers has courtesy of Gauntlet Press (www.gaunt- ominous implications for humanity, and lepress.com), a superb Colorado-based also how two apparently separate jobs small press publisher. For around $50 Classified that Jack undertakes seem to converge you get a limited edition, signed by the and cross. After visiting his father in author, several months ahead of the mass Now unreduced print in The Florida (covered in the previous RJ market hardcover. Recent books also novel, Gateways), Jack is back on his (Libertarian) Connection, have included a small chapbook outline home ground, New York City. He is of the novel, a window into Wilson’s open-forum magazine since contacted about a simple fix-it job. A creative. Some months after the Gauntlet 1968. Subscribers may insert blackmailer threatens the life and future Press edition, Tor/Forge releases a nicely two pages/issue free, unedited. of a woman, who asks Jack to secure packaged mass market hardcover, and Lots of stimulating conversa- the photos hanging over her head. The some time after that, the paperback edi- job unravels disastrously, but Jack sees tion. Rabid Repairman Jack fans can look tion. Eight issues (year) $20. justice through to the end. forward to July, when Gauntlet releases Strauss, 10 Hill #22-L, Newark Another jobs crops up at the same the ninth RJ novel, Infernal. But order NJ 01702 time. An old woman hires Jack to dis- quickly: the 450 numbered edition is cover the whereabouts of her son, who almost sold out.

Page 10 Volume 23, Number 2, 2005 Prometheus Martial Arts Movies and Freedom—Movie Review

The House of Flying Daggers but also the lives of their pledged social values that aren’t usually espoused Directed by Zhang Yimou and amorous allegiances. The climactic in the genre.” Starring: Ziyi Zhang, Andy Lau, battle—a core feature of martial arts mov- The second implication in terms of Takeshi Kineshiro ies—spans seasons from fall to winter, liberty is the source of the movie. China, Sony Pictures Classics, 2004 like the battle of ancient gods. after all, is a totalitarian communist Reviewed by Anders Monsen The music, color, and pacing of the country, severely limiting speech and movie makes you forget you are watch- conduct. Imagine being an American Martial arts movies usually are dis- ing a period piece from China. Yes, there's director dealing with this. In the same missed by critics as little more than chop wire-work and flying through bamboo interview, Zimou alluded to what's socky revenge dramas. Poorly dubbed forests, but these tricks never trump the involved: 1970s movies have gained fame and story or the characters. “There is a censorship in place, and legend for oft-parodied bad transla- The implications of this movie to you have to submit the screenplay and then the finished film for approval to tions and contorted facial gestures. liberty and culture are two-fold. In the the government censors. With films The recent success of Crouching Tiger, element of plot this movie sets up a like House of Flying Daggers and Hero, Hidden Dragon (2000) and Hero which are both classical costume (2004) owe much to the infusion of dramas set in the past, there mainstream directors to the martial “[A] lot of the martial arts tradition isn’t much of a problem because arts world. The approach by direc- is based on a code of conduct. They there’s nothing really dealing with contemporary society that tors such as Oscar nominees Ang have their rules of the game and all Lee (Crouching Tiger) and Zhang they would deem inappropriate Yimou (Hero, The House of Flying the fighting and revenge has to be in or too sensitive. Usually, these things go fairly smoothly since Daggers) extend the story-telling accordance with it. However here, martial arts films are a very big aspect of action-centric martial arts we have a girl that betrays her code genre in China with not too many movies, while also refining their of ethics for love, pointing to a larger subversive elements.” style and look. rebelliousness and an individualistic On another note, thankfully, The House of Flying Daggers freedom.” Daggers is distributed by Sony opens with two police captains Pictures Classics, not Miramax. (Takeshi Kineshiro and Andy Lau) Miramax butchers the American tasked with tracking down the new versions of Chinese movies in the leader of a rebel group called the House confrontation between government and editing room. They delayed the Ameri- of Flying Daggers. They follow rumors an underground group that opposes can versions of Shaolin Soccer and Hero, that the new blind dancer at a local the current regime’s corrupt ways. The both major cinematic box office successes brothel might be the daughter of the old movie also explores constraints and in China, by two years. The American leader, whom they helped find and kill. rebellious conflict within the group version of the former ended up a shell They arrest this girl, Mei, played by the itself, with an autocratic leader and of its former self; view both versions on incomparable Ziyi Zhang. In a ploy to harsh rules of conduct and obedience. DVD and witness the horror. gain her trust, and perhaps lead them Director Zhang Yimou stated in a recent Fans of the Hong Kong (and Chinese) to the Flying Daggers’ headquarters, interview: martial arts movie genre long have be- Captain Jin (Kineshiro) “breaks” her “The film itself is a betrayal of tra- moaned this heavy-handedness. Such ditional martial arts films, because a out of prison. In order to prove himself movies need to be seen as intended by lot of the martial arts tradition is based Jin must reluctantly kill members of the the director in the original format, in security forces who pursue them. on a code of conduct. They have their rules of the game and all the fighting order to truly understand and appreciate Jin slips away from time to time and and revenge has to be in accordance the form. Given the relatively quick US reports to Captain Leo (Lau) as Jin and with it. However here, we have a girl release of Flying Daggers following its Mei head north. When they finally meet that betrays her code of ethics for love, Asian distribution, it seems that Sony up with the Flying Daggers we discover pointing to a larger rebelliousness Pictures Classics embraced this belief. hidden motives and identities. The three and an individualistic freedom. In I had great expectations before seeing days together spent by Jin and Mei forged the West, when you’re watching this, House of Flying Daggers. The movie you might not think of it as anything a fateful relationship with terrible con- succeeds on every level. If you seek unique or special. In China, it’s actually sequences. The choices that each of the adventure, suspense, heartrending emo- three characters must face will determine something very different from other martial arts, films because these are tion, and superb fighting scenes, go see not only their future and their own lives,

Page 11 —Probability Broach, continued from page 5 page 139 as a spectator at this self-same Congressional gathering; a painting on does that include the bad smell that Lucy’s wall matches Bieser’s cover of lingers around smokers? I suppose, Smith’s non-fiction collection of essays, since governments everywhere wage Lever Action. Friends of Smith appear yet another War on Something—in this as store-names, and even characters. instance: tobacco—smoking has become Former The Libertarian Enterprise editor an act of defiance. Dan Weiner replaces Jimmy Valentine in Bieser imbues Bear with numerous the safe and vault scene from the original and hilarious facial expressions. Even book (though the last name on the sign Bear’s hat takes on a distinct personality, is spelled Wiener). Kerry Pearson, to and accompanies him virtually every- whose memory the book is dedicated, where. The Probability Broach derives appears onboard the dirigible The San much of its success and appreciation Francisco Palace, where we also briefly not just from creating a believable, and see Kent and Fran Van Cleave. There are in some regards desirable, libertarian countless other such details, which add utopia, but also through its very human elements of interest to some people, and characters. True, they tend to talk a lot, never really detract from the story. but they all share a passion for life and This graphic novel incarnation of The liberty. Probability Broach will delight and Inside jokes abound in the book. The amuse you once again. Liberty needs its intruder who nearly stabs Win at Ed’s passionate defenders, the people who are house, Tricky Dick Milhous (aka Richard willing to throw all their creative effort Nixon), slimes his way onto the pages into the fight for freedoms. You may not with great effect. But wait, is that Jimmy agree with everything Smith presents in Carter at the Continental Congress, sell- his version of a free society, but I would ing “Peanuts! Pinons, Frahd grasshop- take the North American Confederacy pahs?” Smith makes at least one cameo over our present option any day. Three appearance, in the bottom right corner of cheers for Bieser and Smith.

The Newsletter of the Libertarian Futurist Society 501 Abiso Ave San Antonio, TX 78209

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