The Reluctant Famulus #124

The Reluctant Famulus 124

July/August\ 2018 Thomas D. Sadler, Editor/Publisher, etc.

Contents Introduction, Editor 3 The Off Center Viewpoint Joe Napolitano 7 BVIania, Eric Barraclough, 10 Mysterious Kentuckiana, Al Byrd, 14 The Crotchety Critic, Michaele Jordan, 19 NAE, Gayle Perry, Part One 23 NAE, Gayle Perry, Part Two, 27 NAE, Gayle Perry, Part Three, 31 Letters, 36 Artwork, Pictures Front cover, Kurt Erichsen Brad Foster , 35, 40 BVIA, Eric Barraclough, 10, 12, 13 Pulp covers, Internet, 41 ABK, 9, 38 Al Byrd, 14—18 Back cover Collage, Ed. The Reluctant Famulus is a product of Strange Dwarf Publications. Some of the comments expressed herein are solely those of the Editor/Publisher and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts of any sane, rational persons who know what they are doing and have carefully thought out beforehand what they wanted to say. Material not written or produced by the Editor/Publisher is printed by permission of the various writers and artists and is copyright by them and remains their sole property and reverts to them after publica- tion. TRF maybe obtained by The Usual or in return for written material and artwork,

postage costs, The Meaning of Life, and Editorial Whim. Or a ton of Hershey’s Special Dark chocolate. 3 Introduction

From One World to Another Not the same as THERE AND BACK AGAIN

One of the major subjects of Science fic- polar region known as Planum Australe by a tion that we SF fans and writers know and ground-penetrating radar instrument aboard with which we are almost obsessed is: Is the European Space Agency’s Mars Express there intelligent life on other planets. Along spacecraft, which has been orbiting Mars with that are spaceships and starships of all since 2003. The lake is about 20 kilometers kinds. Then there is a planet which captures (12 miles) wide and is buried about 1.5 kilo- our attention. A planet that has its Princess. meters (1 mile) below the surface, according The Sands of . . . . The god of war, Outpost to an analysis of radar readings made be- of . . ., An odyssey , its chronicles . By now tween 2012 and 2015. I’m sure you know the planet and are aware In a written statement, Roberto Orosei, an of a recent article about it. If not, here it is. astronomer at the University of Bologna and Various outlets have passed along infor- the study’s lead author, said, “It is an excit- mation: Researchers revealed that a large res- ing prospect to think there could be more of ervoir of liquid water has been found deep these underground pockets of water else- beneath the frozen surface of Mars near the where, yet to be discovered.” The newfound planet’s south pole, according to a new pa- lake is likely to be extremely cold and salty, per by Italian researchers published in the “This is just one small study area.” journal Science. The discovery adds to dec- Kirsten Siebach, a planetary scientist at ades of debate over whether such bodies of Rice University in Houston, told the Associ- liquid water exist on Mars today and is sure ated Press, “Those are not ideal conditions to fuel speculation about the possibility that for life to form,”. Then she added, life exists on the Red Planet. “Microbial life has been found in such envi- Scott Hubbard, who is a professor of as- ronments on Earth.” tronautics at Stanford University, Said, Scientists have long believed that water “Water is considered an essential ingredient flowed on Mars billions of years ago, when for life. I think the chances now of finding a the planet was hotter. It’s well established place to look for current life have gone up, that large deposits of water ice exist there "and, he called the discovery “thrilling and still. Recent research showed that complex exciting.” organic molecules—the building blocks of The sub-glacial lake was detected below a life as we know it—are present there. But 4 this is the first time a stable body of liquid As it turns out, there was another UFO water has been detected on Mars. crash in New Mexico. one of a somewhat greater impact. News outlets stated that “On The Italian scientists spent years analyz- or about this site on March 25, 1948 a space- ing the data to make sure the radar readings craft of origins unknown crashed or landed indicated liquid water but not everyone is on this mesa. It is alleged the Los Alamos Ra- convinced. dar Station in nearby El Vado, New Mexico “Jeffrey Plaut, a research scientist at tracked the errant landing to this site. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasa- A high security recovery operation lead dena, California, who isn’t involved in the by the Air Force and 5th Army Division was new research, told Science. “I would say the responsible for the removal of this craft. The interpretation is plausible, but it’s not quite a recovery operation took approximately two slam dunk yet.” weeks with all the remains being taken to Scott Hubbard called the researchers a Los Alamos Laboratory for scientific study “careful group” and said that he found the and evaluation by some of the worlds' lead- new research convincing and a likely prel- ing scientists. Later it was rumored to have ude to additional research. “I think this find- been taken to Wright Patterson Air Force ing will stimulate other science groups to re- Base in Dayton, Ohio. examine radar data of Mars “to see if they The recovery of this craft by the U.S. Gov- missed anything.” ernment and Military was one of the most Lets leave Mars Behind and return to secretive recoveries of a spacecraft with ori- Earth gins unknown since the similar recoveries in Roswell, New Mexico eight months earlier. In the real world there is a subject shared by both Mundanes and Sf fans. a subject that The space craft was approximately 100 ft has appeared in news articles everywhere in diameter and eighteen feet tall. It was one over the years. By now you should have al- of the most intact crafts that the Government ready guessed. UFOs. But not just plain had recovered at that time. sights of them in the sky also ones that Sadly, all occupants, as many as sixteen, crashed. died as a result of this crash, making the full Most people are aware in various news disclosure of both purpose and origin all but articles about a UFO crash in Roswell, New impossible. Mexico. It wouldn’t surprise me if many of This plaque has been placed here to you astute and curious readers already know bring awareness to an event that has been there have been others over a long span of kept secret for fifty-nine years, and is a sig- time. 5 nificant part of our Nation’s history.” windmill and went to pieces with a terrific explosion, scattering debris over several If that’s not enough, here are two others: acres of ground, wrecking the windmill and From the Nebraska Nugget water tank and destroying the judge's flower garden.” It continues with, “The pilot of the About 35 miles northwest of Benkelman, ship is supposed to have been the only one Dundy County, on the 6th of June [1884] a aboard, and while his remains are badly dis- very startling phenomenon occurred. “It figured, enough of the original has been seems that John W. Ellis and three of his picked up to show he was not an inhabitant herdsmen and a number of other cowboys of this world.” were out engaged in a round-up. They were Mr. T. J Weems, the U.S. Signal Service startled by a terrific whirring noise over their officer at this place and an authority on as- heads, and turning their eyes saw a blazing tronomy, gives it as his opinion that he [the body falling like a shot to earth. It struck be- pilot] was a native of Mars.” According to yond them, being hidden from view by a the story the remains of the ship were the re- bank.” mains of the ship were composed of a The article, from the Nebraska Nugget, strange metal that seemed a mixture of alu- goes on to say that the rancher found minum and silver. The townspeople came to “fragments of cog-wheels, and other pieces view the wreak and pick up specimens. The of machinery lying on the ground. The heat pilot was buried the day after the article was was so intense that “as to scorch the grass for published. a long distance around each fragment and Other people say, “So what can we make make it impossible for one to approach...” of these crash stories? Was 19th century The group found the main part of the wreck Earth visited by extra-terrestrial beings with and one of them “fell senseless from the gaz- superior (but apparently faulty) technology. ing at it at too close quarters. His face was In viewing any article from 19th century blistered, and his hair singed to a crisp.” newspapers we must be aware of the abun- The second story appeared in the Dallas dance of hoax journalism during that period. Morning News on April 19th, 1897: Newspapers didn’t just report news, but also “About 6 o'clock this morning the early provided entertainment. Much of this was in risers of Aurora were astonished at the sud- the form of books that were serialized of a den appearance of the airship that had been number of issues. Some of it was in another sailing throughout the country. It was travel- form that is little regarded now: The hoax ing due north, and much nearer the earth news story. Both of the above are probably than before. The article describes how the air examples of this almost forgotten tradition. vehicle “sailed over the public square and How do we know? Mainly because they lack when it reached the north part of town col- any collaborating evidence. In both cases no lided with the tower of Judge Proctor’s 6 follow up stories were ever written which be found on the Internet if anyone feels like seems strange if events of the magnitude taking the time to check them out. suggested did really occur. Also no pieces of I can’t help myself. Just a short musing. the spaceships have ever shown up in local Even if Mars has that lake and maybe others museums or historical societies.” which are appealing I think people shouldn’t The Texas incident was investigated in make plans to sit on the beach of that lake the late 1960’s. Then residents of Aurora who and others any time soon. But wouldn’t it be were there in 1897 were still alive. None re- fun to take a boat cruise on that 12 miles ported that they remembered the crash. Sev- wide Mars lake. Wouldn’t it be interesting to eral stated that Judge Proctor never had a go fishing there if fish live in it. Hmm... windmill. One confirmed that the T.J. Weems What would Mars fish look like? Would one mentioned in the story was not a signal offi- make a good trophy to hang on a wall? Or cer, but the town blacksmith. Most were of what it would taste like? the opinion that F. E. Hayden, who had writ- I’ve blathered enough for now. I did an ten the story, was just trying to get some online search for pictures of crashed UFOs publicity for the town. In addition, a search but the pickings were slim. of the alleged crash site with a metal detector revealed nothing. The story might have remained dead except for a writer with the Dallas Times Her- ald. In 1973 the newspaper did a series of sensational stories about the “crash.” Despite faulty evidence and questionable witness accounts the stories managed to attract na- tional attention. The excitement reached its peak when an Aurora cemetery was dese- crated. The cemetery had kept meticulous records showing just who was buried where An underwater crash and there was no “man from mars” on the roster. Despite this a plot, that some claimed was the Martian's, was dug up and the tombstone stolen. According to some accounts the tombstone had a picture of an UFO carved into it.” ” Well that’s all, folks. There are other such accounts but I think the preceding ones are sufficient. More such claims can, of course, Above a mountain 7 The Off Center Viewpoint by Joe Napolitano A Demon Encountered

While walking into the library entrance lack of a better word could maybe be de- just recently I noticed a gray fold up table scribed as fanaticism. I tried to ignore the nearby piled high with stacks of used books. guy and kept looking at the books. But after The sign said free. I stopped and started to a couple of minutes of his rant about books look through them. Most of them had no in- being evil I told him to stop talking to me. I terest for me but one of them caught my eye. had no interest and let him know that but he It was a book about the supernatural which kept right on talking. He said that he incidentally I never got around to taking let was going to take “action” against the gov- alone reading. As if on cue I suddenly heard ernment and that everybody would be better a gravelly voice taking to me. I looked off if there weren’t any books, that most of around and saw a unshaven disheveled man them should be burnt! dressed in dirty clothes standing close by. At that point I told him that if he didn’t The man asked me why I was going through leave me alone I might just take some the free books but he didn’t give me a chance “action” against him. But the fanatic kept on to respond. The next thing I know he talking. This went on for a another half launched into a lecture about how books a minute but finally he got the idea and left were evil and the work of the devil. and I went into the library. I was a bit agi- At first I wasn’t sure what to think. Was tated for the rest of the day. But a bit later I this homeless man just another nut cake or started to wonder how common were people was he under the influence? At first it sure like that. I’d heard about book burners in the seemed to be the case he was one or the past but they were in positions of power and other. But I am no expert on these things but I never thought I would encounter one in the a bit later I came to the conclusion he was flesh or a would-be one. But a little research neither. He seemed to be suffering from showed that this type of person is a bit more some type of spiritual possession that for common than one might think. In fact, his- 8 tory is full of examples of people who again! He explained his decisions by saying: thought like that, such as for example Julius “If these writings by the Greeks agree with Caesar . the Book of God, they are useless and need Normally you don't think of Julies Cae- not be preserved; if they disagree, they are sar in that way. Wasn’t he suppose to be a pernicious and ought to be destroyed.” Ac- “great” Roman leader? That’s what most his- cordingly, all the books were burnt and used torians say. But was that really true? Wasn’t to heat bath water. History does not record if he just an evil warlord? During his conquest Caliph Omar could read and write but gen- of Egypt he ordered the Library of Alexan- erally historians think he could. ( BTW I dria burnt! Funny how all these “great” his- found that quote somewhere on the Inter- torians don’t seem to take that into consid- net. ) eration. That one thing is enough to exclude Speaking of libraries, in the United States him from the ranks of civilized people. But we have the example of the burning of the to be fair to the Romans they partially re- Library of Congress by the British in The paired the damage by giving the Egyptians War of 1812. The British invaded, conquered book donations. Nevertheless, many thou- Washington D. C. and then proceeded to sands of books were destroyed and Caesar, burn the Library. Later it was partially re- as far as I know, had nothing to do with the stored by a large donation of books from partial restoration or maybe he was assassi- Thomas Jefferson. nated by then? Now we know one of the rea- In more modern times we have the exam- sons why he was murdered by his own people of Hitler’s demon, Joseph Goebbels, who ple or maybe we don’t? Obviously the peo- conducted many book burnings using his so- ple who assassinated Caesar weren’t moti- called Nazi “Ministry of Enlightenment.” We vated by revenge over the burning of the li- all know what happened to Goebbels, after brary. But at least after he was “executed” he killing his wife and children he killed him- can’t burn any other libraries. self and then their bodies were burnt. Not to be outdone was Caliph Omar who And lest we forget in more current times conquered the Egyptians in 640 AD and then there is the example of ISIL which burned ordered the books in the same library burnt 8,000 rare books from the Mosul library only 9 a short time ago. because of the Internet and the fact that al- I begin to wonder is there a word for this most all books are stored somewhere at least kind of person? Usually people who burn or in electronic form on giant server computers destroy books are referred to as book burn- kept underground who knows ers which is actually a descriptive term. But where, which makes it almost impossible to what is the word for such a person? There wipe them out completely. So maybe the age actually is such a word but you probably old problem has finally been solved? Well won’t find it even in the most unabridged maybe, but I wouldn’t be too sure about that. dictionaries because it’s so rarely used. It’s Something tells me that the book burners bibliophtbor which means book destroyer. might just try some other tactic that just Not all bibliophtbors are motivated by might work. But what that might be is any- fanaticism or conquest, some are motivated body's guess. Maybe some “demon” or troll by vanity. A British book collector thought will figure out a way to erase these electronic he owned the only copy of a very rare book versions or maybe just make them unavail- but as it turned out he was wrong. Upon able? Highly unlikely but I wouldn’t put it hearing about a French collector who had a past them. The demons just have to learn copy he visited the man and paid him a huge computer code? The history of technology I sum of money for it. After the deal was done think shows that if something is possible the British collector burned it so that he sooner or later some demon or troll will fig- could boost he had the only one. Later on it ure out how to do it. But at least we can take turned out the Frenchman's copy was a for- heart in the knowledge that with each pass- gery. So I guess in this case the book burner ing generation it’s getting harder and harder got what he deserved. for them to do it. Obviously, there’s not much chance the “demon” I encountered will carry out his threats and I didn’t even report the incident to the librarian let alone the police. Be- sides what would they do? In this modern age trying to destroy books wouldn’t work 10 11 12 13 14 MYSTERIOUS KENTUCKIANA Eskippakithiki: Lost Settlement of the Shawnee Alfred D Byrd

If asked about Kentucky’s ori- what’s now central and eastern gin, most Kentuckians, maybe in- Kentucky, but became in time dis- fluenced by an at times fanciful placed from here through a shad- television series starring Fess owy set of events called the Beaver Parker, would tell you that Boones- Wars. These, fueled by French hun- borough was Kentucky’s first set- ger for American fur in the 1600’s tlement. Kentuckians who’ve gone and the 1700’s, pitted Iroquois in to Old Fort Harrod State Park could the east against Algonquians in the tell you from the vantage of supe- west and ended in the Iroquois rior knowledge that the first settle- Confederacy’s hegemony over the ment in the Commonwealth was present-day Har- region between the Alleghenies and the Tennes- rodsburg. Those who’ve gone as far as to read see River. During the wars, the Shawnee were Thomas D. Clark’s History of Kentucky may shed displaced from their ancestral lands along the their Anglocentrism enough to admit that, before Ohio River and began an Israelite-like what’s now Kentucky had any settlement of Eng- “Wandering in the Wilderness” through the Deep lish colonists, the French had set up outposts on South—a wandering recalled in place names like the Ohio River and in what’s now the Jackson Suwannee and Sewanee all variants of Purchase [Footnote One]. “Shawnee” [Footnote Three]. Meanwhile, the Iro- All of those Kentuckians overlook that what’d quois Confederacy decreed that what’s now Ken- become Kentucky had been continuously inhab- tucky be a hunting reserve for the confederacy’s ited by non-Europeans as far back as the last Ice allied nations. Those who wanted peace with the Age. From about 1000 B. C. to 500 A. D., the Iroquois followed their decree. land hosted the mound-building Adena Culture; In time, the Shawnee began to filter back from about 1000 A. D. to 1500 A. D., the mound- north and found settlements in a part of their an- building Mississippian Culture in the west and cestral lands roughly bounded by the Ohio River, the palisade-building Fort Ancient Culture in the the Great Miami River, and the Scioto River in east [Footnote Two]. When Europeans came to what’s now southwestern Ohio. Around 1711, North America, epidemic diseases that came here however, one band of the Shawnee, heading north with them led to the collapse of both the Missis- through what’s now the Bluegrass, saw this as sippian and Fort Ancient Cultures. In the west, their promised land (many of us who live here see the successor culture of the Chickasaws kept liv- it as that, too) and, defying the Iroquois decree, ing on Mississippian land. founded a settlement in what’s now Clark In the east——things got complicated. At County, southeast of what’s now Winchester, by first, successor cultures of the Fort Ancients— a creek (I’ll reveal its name and that name’s ori- notably including the Shawnee—kept living in gin in time) by which there were salt licks. Be- 15 cause these looked blue to the country (bear, bison, deer, etc.) of their Shawnee, they called their settlement hunting grounds. The Iroquois, maybe Eskippakithiki, which means in finding “Eskippakithiki” as difficult to say Shawnee “blue-licks-place.” Eskip- as we find it (I pronounce it with accents pakithiki shouldn’t be confused with on the second and on the penultimate syl- present-day Blue Licks, the site of lable, but could be wrong), gave the set- “The Last Battle of the Revolutionary tlement a name in their own tongue: War” (please note the quotes), far to the north- “Kenta-ake,” which means “level meadowland.” west of Clark County along the banks of the If that’s the origin of “Kentucky,” it’s ironic, as Licking River en route to Maysville. there’s little “kenta-ake” in Kentucky. Still, as Eskippakithiki got to stay where it was awhile I’ve mentioned elsewhere in TRF, there are other because of a changing political situation. The Iro- origin stories for the Commonwealth’s name. quois had to share power in Kentucky (note that There’s also an alternate origin story for I’m no longer writing “what’s now”; I’ll say why Eskippakithiki. Kentucky’s as notorious for alter- in a moment) with two European powers, France nate origin stories as DC Comics is. Before we and Great Britain. France claimed the Ohio River get to Eskippakithiki’s alternate origin story, let’s Valley because, the French said, it had first been look at the settlement itself. According to a explored by a French-Canadian former Jesuit French census conducted in 1736, it held 200 priest and minor nobleman, René-Robert Cava- male Shawnee heads of family for a total popula- lier, Sieur de La Salle; Great Britain claimed the tion of 800 to 1000—sizable for a Native Ameri- Ohio River Valley because, the English said, La can settlement in the Eastern Woodlands at that Salle had mistaken another river (the Wabash in time. The settlers cleared trees from about 3600 what’s now Indiana, if you must know) for the acres of savannah (the Bluegrass’s natural state) Ohio, which, formed by the confluence of the Al- and planted the cleared ground with the three sis- legheny and Monongahela Rivers, flowed out of ters (maize, beans, and squash) of the Iroquois British land. The French and the British would along with local crops such as sunflowers and fight three wars in North America (they’d fight may grass. The Shawnee used the trees that several other wars elsewhere, but they lie beyond they’d felled to build a palisade around a council this article’s scope) to settle their claims to the house and wigwams arranged around an open Ohio River Valley. Wouldn’t you know that it’d plaza marked by a ceremonial pole that may’ve end up with the United States of America? Quelle been a remnant of Fort Ancient woodhenges. ironie, n’est-ce pas? If only we could read past There were also outlying wigwams and tipis the end of our history books to learn of the cole- along nearby streams, especially the one with the opteran species that’ll replace us humans, accord- salt licks (keep reading to learn the stream’s ing to “The Shadow out of Time”… name). The palisade provided Eskippakithikians Aroint thee, Lovecraft! In any case, the with protection against large wild animals and Shawnees of Eskippakithiki welcomed both enemy raiders, but would prove in the end useless French and British traders to the new town. It also against the latter. welcomed Iroquois, who came to see an advan- Before we move on to Eskippakithiki’s end, tage to themselves in a settlement in the rich fur let’s look at its alternate origin story. According 16 to this, it was founded by Pierre Shawnees from Eskippakithiki met him Chartier, a half-French, half- and invited him (some allege at gun- Shawnee chief of a band of point) to bring his goods home with Shawnees driven out of Pennsyl- them. Unpacking his goods in Eskip- vania for his opposing the sale of pakithiki, he threw away protective hay whiskey to Indians, in the time’s made from Poa pratenis, then called usage. After wandering through common meadow-grass back in Penn- the Deep South, the teetotaling sylvania. The hay contained viable Chartier’s band reached central seeds that rapidly germinated in Kenta- Kentucky in 1745 and founded ake’s limestone-enriched soil and Eskippakithiki. How Chartier’s would soon displace native cane. Now, band founded a town that had had we call what grew from Finley’s hay at least 800 residents nine years before it was Kentucky Bluegrass. I told you that Finley was its founded is more than deponent knoweth, but so origin! the story goes. You can take it with a grain of Trading for furs, he stayed at Eskippakithiki salt—maybe, blue salt from the licks! until 1753, when the Shawnee there were at- Pierre Chartier’s story shows a limitation of tacked by a band of the Ottawa, a rival Algon- our present knowledge of Eastern Woodlands In- quian nation expanding from a homeland in dians: as they left few written records of their what’s now northeastern Ohio. Some allege that own, most of what we know of them comes from the Ottawa band was on a “scalp-hunting expedi- observation by Euro-Americans or from accounts tion” [Footnote Four], but the motive of the Ot- related by natives to Euro-Americans. Most of tawa's’ attack has never been conclusively ex- what we know of Eskippakithiki comes from two plained. In any case, the attack shook Finley, who colonial British sources: Christopher Gist and lost all of his furs and one of his assistants in it. John Finley. Both of these men, as things turned He left the settlement, still standing, for Pennsyl- out, became good friends of Daniel Boone. Gist vania. As far as we know, no Euro-American was the first to visit Eskippakithiki. Leaving the would see Eskippakithiki again. Its end is as mys- Yadkin River valley in North Carolina, where he terious to us as that of the Norse Greenlanders was Boone’s neighbor, in 1750, he reached cen- (but read Jane Smiley’s Greenlanders for an im- tral Kentucky in 1751 and put Eskippakithiki on pressive fictional account of this). the map, both figuratively and literally. Finley hoped to return to Eskippakithiki, but As for Finley, he left his mark on the Blue- life, in the form of the French and Indian War, grass. You might even say that he was its origin. intervened. In 1755, he became a wagoner for Maybe motivated by Gist’s map of the Ohio Lieutenant George Washington on his expedition River Valley, Finley set out for it with trade to Fort Duquesne near present-day Pittsburg. On goods from Pennsylvania in 1752. He went as far the road there, he met a fellow wagoner, a young as the Falls of the Ohio (present-day Louisville) man named Daniel Boone from North Carolina, to meet with Shawnees, but none showed up and filled his ears with tales of Kentucky. Wash- there. When he reached the mouth of the Ken- ington’s expedition to Fort Duquesne ended in a tucky River on his return trip up the Ohio, fiasco that would’ve wrecked a lesser man’s ca- 17 reer, and the French and Indian War only learned the origin of the creek’s dragged on to 1763. name, but also gotten a report on the Even after its end, it took financially Bluegrass’s first sf convention strapped Finley until 1769 to try to return [Footnote Six]! to Eskippakithiki. Entering Kentucky In time, Americans settled Eskip- through Pound Gap [Footnote Five] in the pakithiki’s fertile fields, which they company of Boone and other adventurous named Indian Old Corn Fields, a name men, Finley reached the Bluegrass’s edge often given by pioneers to places like at Pilot Knob, a dramatic vantage with majestic Eskippakithiki. Over time, the pioneers’ name views to the north and to the west. From Pilot was reduced to Indian Old Fields and then to In- Knob, Boone got his first glimpse of the Blue- dian Fields, the name that the place had when it grass and fell in love with it. He needed none of briefly also had a post office. Only once, as far as Finley’s urging to head on. we know, did a Shawnee born in Eskippakithiki All of the men on the expedition were eager return there. In the War of 1812, at the disastrous to trade with Eskippakithiki, but, when they Battle of the River Raisin in Michigan, a man of reached its site, the town was abandoned, burned Indian Old Fields named Leonard Beall was cap- to the ground. They assumed, maybe correctly, tured by a Shawnee chief named Cathecassa that, at some time after Finley’s departure from (“Black Hoof” in English), who adopted Beall as Eskippakithiki, a second Indian raid on it had fin- his son when he learned that Beall had been born ished what the Ottawas had begun. Today, some in Cathecassa’s hometown of Eskippakithiki. In offer an alternate explanation of the town’s de- 1816, after the war was over, Cathecassa visited mise: Eskippakithiki’s own Shawnee inhabitants his birthplace, where he pointed out to its current burned it to the ground in a religious ritual of inhabitants many points of interest—which, abandonment. Why did they abandon it — for thanks to the wonders of amateur archaeology, fear of further raids on it, for diminishing fertility you can’t see today. Enthusiasts dug up a ring of of its soil, for exhaustion of firewood and game in charred timbers—the town’s palisade—that con- Eskippakithiki’s neighborhood? We may never firmed Boone’s observation that Eskippakithiki know. had been burned to the ground. Enthusiasts also In any case, as Indians were still about, dug up the Shawnees’ burial mound, one of Finley’s party hid out from them along the creek nearly all of Kentucky’s Mound Builder sites to with the blue salt licks. There, Boone read aloud be destroyed in historical times. As I like to write, to his companions from one of his favorite books, “To see Mound Builder sites in Kentucky, you Gulliver’s Travels. When he reached where Le- must go to Ohio.” muel Gulliver is carried by his young Brob- Thus, if you get off of the Bert T. Combs dingnagian master to the town of Lorbrulgrud for Mountain Parkway these days and head east on display on market day, one of Boone’s listeners Kentucky 974, you’ll see no trace of Eskip- suggested naming the creek with blue licks Lul- pakithiki at Indian Fields. Still, you will see John begrud Creek. (Clearly, the listener belonged to Finley’s discarded hay growing in Kenta-ake. the Andrew Jackson school of spelling.) So the Bluegrass is the kudzu of the Bluegrass… creek has been known since. Now, you’ve not 18 Footnote One: The Jackson Purchase is the America after the French and Indian War. I write part of Kentucky between the Tennessee River “allegedly” because it’s growing disputed that and the Mississippi River. The Purchase, geologi- British Governor Henry Hamilton of Detroit de- cally called the Mississippi Embayment, was served his nickname “Hair-Buyer.” In time, Chickasaw land bought for the United States by scalping spread to Plains Indians, from whom, the guy on the twenty-dollar bill. If he hadn’t ironically, it spread back to Euro-Americans: in bought it, he’d likely have conquered it, but I di- the last year of the Civil War in Kansas and Mis- gress. The Purchase, as far from Lexington as my souri, white guerrillas gleefully scalped their native Detroit is, is often overlooked by the Blue- white victims, as I mentioned in “Quantrill and grass’s residents. Certainly, I’ve never been to the the Lawrence Massacre, Part II,” in TRF #102, Purchase, though I hope to go there someday for pp. 26-30. a Civil War site and for a Mississippian Mound Footnote Five. Pound Gap is a pass on the Builder site. border of Kentucky and Virginia — the gateway Footnote Two: You can learn more about to Eastern Kentucky. Historically, Pound Gap is Kentucky’s pre-Columbian settlements in overshadowed by Cumberland Gap, though “Kentuckiana X: Mound Builders of Kentucky 1. Daniel Boone passed through both gaps. My an- Dawn of the Adena,” TRF #77, pp. 9-14, and in cestors entered Kentucky by Pound Gap. No “Kentuckiana XI: Mound Builders of Kentucky wonder you’ve never heard of them. 2. Heights of the Hopewell,” TRF #78, pp. 13-17. Footnote Six. I’m aware of the controversy Footnote Three: “Shawnee” wasn’t originally over which is the first true sf novel. May I cast a the Shawnees’ name for themselves, but, meaning vote for Jonathan Swift’s signature work? “southerners,” was imposed on them during their exile from the Ohio country. It’s not uncommon for us Euro-Americans to call Native Americans by names imposed on them by strangers. For example, “Cherokee,” roughly meaning “hillbilly,” was imposed on the Ahniwiya, “the distinguished people,” by their Creek (could this name really be of Creek origin?) rivals. Still, it may be late in the day to hope that we’ll start to get names right. Footnote Four. The origin of scalping is con- troversial. A possible explanation of its origin is as follows: According to archaeology and Native American lore, scalping occurred rarely in venge- ance-based wars in pre-Columbian times. The practice became common in the Beaver Wars, in which French authorities demanded scalps as proof that Indian allies of the French had killed their enemies. The British allegedly kept demand- ing scalps when they took over French North 19 The Crotchety Critic By Michaele Jordan

I tried, Friends, I really tried. I’ve followed In Alternate Routes, Mr. Powers has made Tim Powers for years, and almost always liked, if only barely enough changes to protect himself not loved his every book. (Okay, The Stress of from plagiarism charges. The two are no longer Her Regard was unfortunate, but everybody has a partners. He is a former Secret Service agent. She bad day. I used to think that Stress was just a very is a current agent of the TUA, an ‘X-files’ branch early work, but much to my surprise, it turned out of the FBI. (Except her people are not burdened to have been published in 1989, following four with legalisms or ethics.) much better works.) And maybe he felt bad about Vick, as he is now called, lost his job four it, too, because he tackled the concept again years years previously when he overheard a message later in the excellent Hide Me Among the Graves. (not a meaningful one, just a message) from a The point of the above rambling paragraph is ghost. This prompted the TUA to arrest him im- that I was deeply disappointed in Alternate mediately. (No, they never gave a reason.) He Routes (Baen Books, 2018). And that comes im- escaped and has been on the run ever since. The mediately on top of his other book I didn’t like, TUA has long since lost interest in arresting him, Medusa’s Web. I don’t believe I told you about and is now trying to kill him. Don’t ask why. Medusa's Web; at least I don’t see the title in any They just are. of my old columns, although I did write up some Castine—who is frequently accused of having notes. (I keep a sort of literary diary. It troubles a conscience, although it doesn't seem to have me when I can’t remember a book. Names, dates stopped her from working for these thugs—has and faces may slip through my mind as through a learned that the TUA has a lead on Vick, gar- sieve, but books I need to remember.) I noted that nered from his late wife’s ghost. (The wife com- Medusa's Web was flat, forgettable, and formu- mitted suicide back when he was still with the laic. Basic story minimums were provided, but it Secret Service.) So Castine decides to warn him had a rushed, unfinished quality to it, as if Mr. off, and ends up killing a fellow agent, con- Powers had drawn up an outline, and then never science or no. Neither does the aforementioned bothered to fill it out. conscience prevent her from lying to and betray- The same is true here, only more so. If it had ing Vick on multiple occasions been anyone but my dear Tim Powers, I would And there you see the primary difference be- never have made it through the plodding, heavy- tween Castine and Agent Scully. Castine is an handed first chapter. He starts with mock-ups of idiot. She is entirely given to rash decisions de- Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. The association is signed to make matters worse. Vick, on the other too obvious to ignore—the cover art even looks hand, moons constantly about his late wife’s sui- like them. Plus the villain they are up against is ‘a cide, which seems to have been the result of their smoking man’. I don’t actually object to authors childlessness. (He'd had a vasectomy years be- borrowing a popular image. (Hey, I’ve done it fore. You’d think they’d have discussed all that myself.) But when authors do so, they must then before they were married.) We would sympathize claim it and rework it. 20 more if we’d ever met the living wife, but she and magic flowed freely back and forth among appears solely as a ghost, them. In fact, most of the influential people in this Magic is a living thing, in its way. It hungers book are dead. Not just Vick’s late wife, but also and feeds, and sometimes loves. It can shelter or Castine’s fiancé (who was alive at the beginning destroy, it can serve, and it can balk. It lives in of the book, but doesn’t appear until after she gets the blood or, in some cases, it is the blood. him killed). The smoking man’s father floats In the London now called black London, the around, too, along with an assortment of unidenti- magic engulfed the users and consumed them. In fied spirits. Since they no longer retain any per- a desperate act of self-protection, Red London sonality, and speak mostly in garbled poetry, it is slammed all the doors between the worlds shut. difficult to distinguish one from another. Now only the Antari can pass between worlds, The saddest part is, Mr. Powers had the glim- and they pay for their passage with blood. In the merings of a good idea. Suppose psychic force past, almost anybody could use magic. Some was analogous to electrical force, and moving more than others, but magic was everywhere and vehicles served as ‘particles’ of free will. Their as long as it was plentiful, it was accessible, even movement along fixed lines past motionless parti- to those with little talent. But not anymore. cles would create a ‘current’, just as ions con- That’s all still true in Red London of Arles. strained to move in a regular fashion constitute an Magic is visibly in the air, and technology is un- electrical current. And so, freeways become known because it’s completely unnecessary. Of haunted places, with little enclaves (created by course, there are still some with less talent than vehicles out of sync with the flow) clustered others. Red London is blessed with the genuinely along the berms, creating ‘probability amplifica- benevolent queen Emiria. Her truly good-hearted tion’ nodes. son, Prince Rhy, will inherit after her. They do The old Tim Powers—the one who wrote Anu- their best to see that all citizens are provided for. bis Gates and Last Call—would have wrapped a On the other hand, Grey London, of England wonderful story around this idea. I hope he comes (seen here in the Regency) has virtually no back to us some day. magic. There are legends. There are believers So moving right along, searching for fun, let (Enthusiasts, they are called, always looking for a me offer up to you A Darker Shade of Magic, by trickle of power) and Collectors (who know of or V.E. Schwab (Tor, 2015). It’s not a bad book, if suspect the existence of other Londons, and will nothing hugely special. A straightforward action pay well for other-world trinkets.) But such per- fantasy, with a nice, solid magical system. sons are not taken seriously. Because it’s obvious The basic color associations are not what you there’s no such thing as magic. Perhaps it was all might have expected. White is evil and red is drawn out when the doors slammed. Or perhaps magic. In every world there seems to be a Lon- most of those with any talent were killed in the don, located on an island off the northeast coast aftermath of the disaster. of a continent we will agree to call Europe. They And then there’s White London. If magic is a rule different countries in different worlds. They living thing that Red London has nurtured and have different histories, and they speak different Grey London has starved, then White London has languages. Even so they were once all connected, enslaved it. All three of the worlds retain a mon- 21 archic political system. But in White London, the now—irritated me no end. The protagonist Offred king or queen is always the most vicious and didn’t even have a pencil with which to write powerful person around. The current rulers, King down her lengthy—very lengthy—musings. Athos and his sister Queen Astrid are not just Other than that, I didn’t remember much about it. cruel, they seem incapable of any emotion other But fandom carries its responsibilities. I than sadism. Most of their magic is bone magic, watched the series. First and foremost, I was or physical compulsion, the enslavement of oth- struck by how unfamiliar it was. Aside from the ers. It’s the one magic forbidden in Red London. general situation, I recognized nothing. Not the Although White London was once the richest dramatic flight through the woods, Aunt Lydia’s of the realms, magic is now dying out there sadism or the bizarre fertilization Ceremony in (possibly because anyone who has any talent for which the wife participated so as to claim owner- it tends to get killed in the endless wars for ship of the offspring. I was sure that the men’s power). club, and Offred’s friend’s service there as a So how much magic you can do definitely de- prostitute had all been made up to instill some pends on which London you live in. Except for action and drama into what I remembered only as the Antari. The Antari ARE magic. No matter a long, dull monologue. where they go, they carry magic with them, in Still, there was so much that I didn’t remem- their own blood. They are marked with one black ber, and so much of it did mesh well with the eye, which generates respect in Red London, sus- concept, that I decided to read the book again, picion in White London, and distaste in Grey and see. London. The Antari are rare, and getting rarer. Ms. Atwood didn’t really have the option of No one knows what makes them Antari. It’s not permitting Offred to keep a journal. In her future, inherited. It can’t be taught or bestowed. The the handmaids were not even allowed to read, and Antari just are. books were rare. And while I still don’t like first A good set-up. And Ms. Schwab clearly in- person, present, I saw plainly why Ms. Atwood tends to tell more stories in it. This tale involves a had chosen it. She was trying to explore Offred’s dangerous relic from Black London, and an in- mindset. Even a very intimate third person would trigue by the rulers of White London to take over have left distance enough to unbalance Offred’s Red London. It's not great literature, but it's enter- struggles to perceive and reinvent herself. taining and I enjoyed it. The big surprise for me was that all those I hope you won’t be surprised that I should things I didn’t remember when I saw them on TV write about a book as old as The Handmaid’s were in the book. Offred had frequent flashes of Tale by Margaret Atwood (McClelland and Stew- memory—sometimes a bit different from those in art, 1985), since it’s been made into a very glossy the show, but similar. The book didn’t include a TV series on HBO. dramatic flight through the woods, but it con- I had read it before, back in the day, and I have tained a determined—and in a quiet way, equally to admit I didn’t care for it much at the time. The harrowing—attempt to escape. The handmaids general situation Ms. Atwood laid out—a future were not ordered to stone one of their own. Unex- extremist Christian state—was intriguing. But it plained disappearances were more than unsettling was told in first person present, which—then as enough to establish control. 22 In fact, the book gave slightly more detail Many people like to pretend they would have re- about the beginnings of the new regime The TV sisted. But they wouldn’t have. And why did as show cut a great deal of the history (which would many millions and more Germans turn their have been difficult to present quickly. And the backs on what was happening? Why did slaves history didn’t really matter much. The changed submit to slavery, and millions of smug Southern- world was there, to be endured. . . or not. ers trust that slavery must be all right because The only major additions occurred late in the everybody did it? Why did Jim Jones’ followers story, Offred hiding packs of letters and a little drink the Kool-Aid? We’ve seen it so many Resistance sub-plot about passing on a package. I times, and failed to notice it even more times. suspect the producers backed away from Offred’s You get a bunch of people together and put a passivity, as too alien, too unacceptable for a leader in front of them, and—for better or for modern audience. Which was a shame, as I sus- worse—they do what they’re told. pect that passivity was central to what Ms. At- Kazuo Ishiguro wanted to know why, and wood was trying to say. wrote a book about it. So did Margaret Atwood. The novel version of The Handmaid's Tale is Neither of them really found an answer, but both about mental surrender, about cowed unresisting came upon a hard truth. Consensus trance is pow- masses. So much so that it reminded me of Never erful. Let Me Go. I saw the 2010 movie version first, and found it bewildering. I wondered, as I was supposed to, at the protagonists' apparent passive acceptance of their lot, their total failure even to question it. I wondered if it made more sense in the Kazuo Ishiguro's original 2005 book. It did, and it didn't. It did in the sense that in the book was obviously an attempt to explore that passivity. History plainly displays that human beings— social creatures that we are—follow leaders. Most of us would claim that we choose our leaders, if not rationally, then at least consciously and conditionally. We believe that this or that leader is guiding the group to a good end, and that we are capable of changing our minds if that leader disappoints. But that's not really what history in- dicates. Followers serve their leaders without question. They do not hesitate to perform vile acts on command—or to assent to their own de- struction. The obvious example is Nazi Germany. Why did millions of Jews submit to the gas chambers? 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 The Letters

Dave Rowe, 8288 W Shelby State Road 44 citizen scientists of Rescue Global and Zooni- Franklin In 2112018-July-22 verse started pouring over Before and After satel- Dear Tom, lite photos of the islands, to determine where the Re: TRF123 greatest damage was and where temporary shel- Thank you for a very informative, if not down- ters were. And right in the middle of that, a sec- right educative, ish. ond hurricane hit! Apparently the C.S.s didn’t And thanks, very much, to Al for an entertain- turn a hair but just kept going with the new pho- ing and elucidative article on Kentucky's meteor- tos. ite craters. Am embarrassed to admit to having It is said they did in three weeks what it would skirted Jophtha Knob Crater a couple of times have taken an agency three years to do! without realizing it was there. [Oh ho!, Dave! A word few people know. “eulcidative” By the way, Middlesboro, KY, is NOT the Have you been diving into your Funk and Wagnalls or Websters International Unabridged Dictionary” Better be only town in a crater. Nordlingen, in Bavaria, careful; you’re in deep water and you might drown. Was Germany, holds the same distinction. Maybe they that your first chance to use that word in a conversation? should become sister cities. You shouldn’t go around slinging such big words. You Jerry wishes that he could get his hands on one might injure somebody. Just say explaining more clearly. Forgive me for what I’m about to write. I’s kind of comical. or two of the pulp magazines whose covers you I remember when you wrote about a couple of people were reproduced. Same here. But they are just wishes. “pouring ” over something. Did you mean they were cover- Used to buy some individual pulps to read uncol- ing something with water? When people look closely at lected stories by certain authors but the prices something, they are “poring” over a document or article. a” started to reach towards astronomical so the verb”. :Directing one’s attention on something.” That’s a tricky little word and people are easily confused and using search was abandoned. pour (cause to run) instead. Unless they’re crying over it. Nice list of obscure words on your part. Floc- I’ve seen that other people have written pouring instead of cinaucinihilipilfacation (or however you spell it), poring Before you send me a rebuttal. I’m just having fun being the act of describing something as unim- with you. No malice is intended. I think I might have used portant, is a word that could be used time and the wrong word or words in the past. I’m not perfect like some people claim they are. Enough of that. Regarding my time again in fandom but you forgot to say what not explaining the word comestible. I’m so familiar with "Comestible' was (= eatable, edible). that word that it I didn’t think of explaining its meaning. After reading Eric's recollections of the British Shame on me. On the other hand, when I come across a Virgin Isles, can almost believe Dirk Gently's dic- word I’ve never seen before, I grab one or the other of my tum that all things are connected. Remember that dictionaries and dive into it. Trusty old things. They make good doorstops (Something that keeps open doors from Eric did a piece on Zooniverse and its ‘Citizen moving.) I have a feeling some people may say that’s all Scientists’ not so long ago? Well, when the super I’m good for]. hurricane hit the BVI and Caribbean last year,

37 From Brad Foster cal, odd drawings that make me smile. Then there Greetings Tom~ are the artworks of Kurt Erichson , Steve Stiles Latest issue arrived this past week, and cer- and others. Some people think they have seen tainly feel there is no need for you to apologize such things and convince themselves what they for a "late" issue, considering how regularly you saw was real. Yes some of the things they come have been getting The Reluctant Famulus out all up with are silly. So you have found the truth. these years. Everyone is allowed a little breathing That makes more sense than what those other space for real life now and then, especially when people claim what is on the Moon. Things left it comes to putting together a fanzine. This behind by some kind of alien beings from a dis- should, in the end, be something you do because tant planet who fought a war on Earth’s moon. you enjoy it. If things cause it to be delayed now That’s really silly. About those words you recog- and then, we're all grownups, and we'll slide with nized . . . Knowing those words shows you’re it! ? smarter than you think. Your recognizing those Two new/old fillos attached for your consid- five words just goes to show how intelligent and eration for next issue. Rescued a few more from discerning TRFers are. Super brains and all.] the “sent long ago, and clearly that zine is never TRF readers are going to publish another issue” file, so looking to stay happy~ find them a fannish home at last with TRF. Brad Someone thinks they found an alien battle Brad W. Foster - [email protected] tank on the moon? How silly can people get??? PO Box 165246, Irving, TX 75016 USA Clearly, that is a photo of one of the photon-class- www.jabberwockygraphix.com C Destroyer Tanks from the Third World War. Most of the debris were cleared up after the Bo- [From John Purcell livian Space Force kicked everyone else’s butts, Okay, ladies and germs. It is time to play and established their secret control over the "Loc That Fanzine," the game that gives and planet. But looks like a bit got overlooked, and takes. We will start Real Soon Now. Like right now people think it is “alien”? How soon they now, in fact. forget . . . [From ye olde Ed. Pardon me for interrupting Got a grin from Schirm’s comment that, now that he is retired, the one thing that will keep him your loc. We’ll get back to it shortly. What are drawing is his wish to not waste the pencils that you doing, auditioning for the part of a game he still has on hand! show host? Starting out with “ladies and germs” Hey, I actually recognized five of the words That’s kind of a worn out opening. But I’ll play in your list of “obscure words” at the end of the along with you. I’ll play the part of that of that ish. Not sure if I should be happy about that, or learned philosopher, Curley Howard. “Hey I re- worried. I'll go with happy! semble that remark.” “Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk. Hey, [Your first paragraph makes good sense and I Moe, where are you? He called me a germ. Nyuk, agree with you. But sometimes it seems as if too many people fail to practice politeness among nyuk.” ] Back to you, John. themselves. I’m not perfect regarding that but I Many thanks for the newest issue, Thomas. It strive to show at lease some politeness; “please is greatly appreciated, as usual, and arrived in a and thank you”. When I first think about doing spurt of paper fanzine activity. In the last week another issue of TRF I’m not sure I want to. and a half (ten days, to be precise) our mailbox Then, once I start I find myself enjoying it for the has received five fanzines, so if I delete the two most part. But when I get Brad Foster’s whimsi- weekends since the latest BCSFAzine arrived, that 38 means five zines in eight mail days, for an aver- Perry delivers on the latest discoveries in paleon- age of .63.zines a day. That’s not bad! Almost a tology. Some of these critters are truly bizarre, zine-a-day keeps the doldrums away. This pace but that's okay since her contributions are always reminds me of those halcyon days of your (late interesting and entertaining. 70s and through the mid-80s) when I really did Overall, I don't have much else to comment get a fanzine every day, sometimes two or three. on each of the assorted articles herein. That does Ah, those were the days, my friend; we thought not mean I didn't like them. Heck no! Everything they’d never end . . . in this issue is fun, especially the old pulp maga- *slap!” zine covers you reprint from your internet [Ed. Again. “Slap”! Ow! That really hurt. I searches. Those are always good. Once in a while outta pound you so hard that your eyes will be you publish one that I actually have in my admit- where your kneecaps are and you could look face tedly small pulp magazine collection. That didn't to face with a Munchin. Lucky you. I lost my happen this time, but to see old sf magazine art pounder somewhere and still can’t find it. Let’s actually makes sense since TRF is a ‘science fic- go on to something serious. The rest of the way is tion’ fanzine. Who knew? Zines are notorious for yours, John.] their range of subject matter. Just look at this is- Okay, I am back to the present so I can make sue’s contents: travelogues (British Virgin Is- some coherent comments on TRF #123 before land), American history (Kentucky), book re- nap time, which is apparently very much needed. views, dinosaurs, Schirm writing about drawing Great cover by our friend, Brad Foster, whom artwork, and then the letter column. A nice bal- we will be seeing in less than two weeks at Arma- ance of subject matter. Well done, lad. dilloCon 40 just over in Austin, a mere two hour So on that note I shall call this a wrap because drive from home. In fact, I assume you also get it is time for a nap, Oh, look! The cat just leaped Bob Jennings' zine Fadeaway: his latest issue into my lap. Burma Shave. (#55) features a lengthy interview with Brad and All the best, John Purcell 3744 Marielene Circle a ton of Foster illustrations, and it's all delightful. College Station, TX 77845 USA You ask readers to closely examine that im- A note regarding the tank. It was claimed to be on age on the bottom of page 3: you know, the re- the Moon and was a relic left over after a battle mains of a tank that some ancient alien left to rot there. Admittedly, Mars would seem a logical on Mars after a heated battle on the plains of the location where a battle occurred and junk was left red planet. Yeah. Uh-huh. No matter how I look behind. So many SF stories take place there. at it— turning it all around and even using a mag- nifying glass— to me this looks like a picture of a big honking pile of calcified dinosaur turd. Hey, my theories are just as sound as Giorgio Tsouko- lous and his compatriots on Ancient Aliens. This train of thought reminds me of Keith Laumer’s book Dinosaur Planet. I may have to reread that some day. Speaking of dinosaurs, once again Gayle 39 Lloyd Penney British wit, which can tell you where to go, and 1706-24 Eva Rd. wish a happy voyage. Retirement…Yvonne is Etobicoke, ON happily retired, and yet… She has taken a short- CANADA M9C 2B2 term job with a casino just to the north of us, and she was told the job would be four months long, September 6, 2018 which would help to finance the aforementioned Dear Tom: return trip to London. That changed to 4-6 months, and today, it looks like the job is hers full Many thanks for issue 123 of The Reluctant time-time, for as long as she wants it, and three Famulus. I know this is very late, based on the weeks off to go to London is just fine. The situa- date of the issue itself, but better late than never. tion with the casino gets a little stranger every Here goes with some comments. day, but at least what she can do is in demand, Washington is one of the world’s biggest cir- which is more than I can say for myself…the re- cuses, and the government is the exact opposite sume stream out every day. of the one it succeeded. What a madhouse…the My loc…the new premiere Ford has indeed vast majority of Americans must be wondering done many thinks to save money and hurt the what’s going on. Before anyone can tell me to people of the province, but he is spending a lot of mind my own business, the current trade discus- his time being sued by the groups and people he’s sions with all the North American countries, and hurt. Also, Elon Musk sued the province for one the demand for American entry into our cultural of Ford’s sudden policies, and the government industries makes it my business. There must be has been forced to backtrack. We are governed by many who are missing the relative quiet and the ignorant, and I can only imagine who is advis- friendly efficiency of the Obama administration. ing Ford and his cronies as far as legalities go. I admit there isn’t much in the Caribbean that The interview with the major account9ing form would attract me to go down and visit. I am not went nowhere. the type that would like lying on a beach all day. Considering words…it’s good to have an ex- With that in mind, Yvonne and I are planning a tensive vocabulary, but there are some words you return trip to London late May to mid-June 2019, would never use. I’d say that the word ‘otiose’ is where we will have lots to do, and have some fun. rather otiose in itself. (Hey, spellchecker likes the Great pulp covers throughout! A true blast word.) from the past, and the reminder that Amazing This coming weekend, Yvonne and I will be Stories has been revived yet again, and the first vending at a magical festival down the highway issue looks fantastic. The Oz covers are great, in St. Jacobs, Ontario, so we will be very busy too. Recently, I saw how many Oz books there soon. Take care, thank you for this issue, and are, and they are still being written and produced. please do send the next. Oz has become its own genre, a blank slate where fantastic adventures can take place. Yours, Lloyd Penney. The locol…I have always appreciated the dry [On time or late, brief or prolix, locs are al- 40 ways welcome and appreciated. For me they are works as well as the first one it might outlive me. connections with the outside worlds of other fans. Also, locs provide me with new things to learn that I would never have known about. Re- garding Washington being one of the world’s biggest circuses> Real circuses are far more entertaining, enjoyable and not nearly as chaotic. True, there are elephants in both real circuses and the otherbut the elephants in the former are more intelligent, amenable and work together. I could say more about the current administration but other people far smarter than I am have said it all. It’s better for me not to continue with that. The rational and reasonable Americans are perplexed by all that has been happening and nothing has been done to return to normal—or whatever it is. The leader of the mob seems to be doing his best to alienate everyone he can in every nation in the world. Damn. I’ve gone on too long. My apolo- gies. I suspect a great many people long for the Obama administration. But not every one feels that way. For example, while browsing through an Edward R. Hamilton book catalogue I encountered the following item which I scanned and saved to include in my minor rant. Those pulp covers are wonderful and fascinating, displaying and adding to the writers’ imaginations of the stories inside. The Oz covers are also great. I also looked around to see how many OZ stories there were. I haven’t read any of the later OZ stories by other writers but I surmise none of them will have the same “flavor and atmosphere as Frank Baum’s. Below is my new stapler. A Bostitch If it

So long. Heading for home. It’s too cold on this planet. Mars? Never heard of the place. Oh you mean that big rusty globe?