CANBERRA CONFERENCE ON AUSTRALIAN SF It’s Rast Present anN Future From left to right; David Grigg, Lee Harding, George Turner, Wynne Whiteford and Damien Broderick at the conference on SPECULATIVE FICTION: THE AUSTRALIAN CONTEXT held in the A.D.Hope Building, Department of Humanities, The National University, Canberra July 18th to 19th 1981

Writers, readers, librarians and academics were amongst the seventy or more attendees at the conference, organised by ANU Librarian Colin Steele as part of the Humanities Research Centre programme. A comprehensive report commences on page three. . AUSTRALIAN PROFESSIONAL NEWS INTERNATIONAL NEWS DAMIEN BRODERICK was runner up in the ninth annual John W.Campbell Memorial Sphere Science Fiction ARTHUR C CLARKE has sold a new novel, Award, with "Dreaming Dragons". The 2010: ODYSSEY TWO, a sequel to "2001: A Volume 1 in The Rim World series winner was Gregory Benford for "Timescape". Space Odyssey", fora record advance in Damien has confirmed that Pocket, who did excess of a million dollars. Clarke did announce his retirement after the public­ Dragons in the USA, will publish a new THE RIM OFw**1 novel, "The Judas Mandala". He will be ation of "The Fountains of Paradise", attending The World SF Convention in but he has apparently been bitten by the Denver next month. writing bug again. Ballantine are to publish it in the USA and we believe JACK WODHAMS has been having quite a Hodder and Coronet in Britain. (Locus) deal of success recently with his writing, according to his agent Paul LARRY NIVEN and JERRY POURNELLE have Collins. "Big Time Operator" has been sold a new novel"THE FOOT" to Fawcett. taken up by Martin Greenberg for his They reported that the advance was anthology "Incredible Locked Room higher than the $500,000 Robert Heinlein Mysteries". (A profile on Jack appears received for "Number of the Beast". It in this issue.) PAUL COLLINS and WYNNE would seem that their triumph was short WHITEFORD have sold a story, "Occupation lived as Arthur Clarke has topped them. Thaumaturge" to owlflight in the USA. Negotiations were not completed,Locus reported in their August issue. Carl Following publication of "The Rim of Sagan topped them all with his advance of Space" by A.BERTRAM CHANDLER in Sphere, $2,000,000 for an as yet untitled novel. all the Ace titles in the series are (Locus) due to be reprinted in the USA. We presume that Sphere will be publishing ROBERT HEINLEIN has completed a new the rest of the series also. Captain sf novel tentatively titled FRIDAY Chandler we remind you is the Guest of (after the lead character). The Honour at the 1982 World SF Convention, final version runs 500 pages in man­ to be held in Chicago. uscript and 131,000 words -- much shorter than his last few books. Angus and Robertson are to publish a new Heinlein recently celebrated his 74th TPB edition of "Out of the Silence" by birthday (July 7th). . . ERLE COX, first published 1925. tend my apologies to GREG HILLS, LEANNE It will help me greatly to make some of FRAHM, MARC ORTLIEB, FRITZ LEIBER, the decisions about content of the news, shawna McCarthy , michael tolley , tony the checklist and so forth if you, my JOLLYE, LEIGH EDMONDS, DERRICK ASHBY, readers, will write to me and let me DENNY LIEN and CATHERINE CIRCOSTA. In know your opinions. some place the spelling was correct and in others wrong. I hope I have not Although I have mentioned them in the missed anybody else, but if I have I "Happenings" in this issue, it is unlikely hope they will accept my apologies also this issue will be out before TOLKON and and please let me know so that I can get PHANTASTACON, but if it is, well and good. it right next time. DENVENTION, this years World SF Con is being held in Denver, Colorado, USA , I have one basic problem at the moment It would help for a start if readers 3rd to the 7th of September . I had and that is a lack of cash. Business could indicate what they consider are the hoped to be there myself, to see perhaps has been bad at Space Age over the last most important features of ASFN. News, Australia win the bid to hold the World few months and I have been putting too reviews (these I will endeavour to Con in Sydney in 1983, but it is now much time into ASFN, which has tended reduce in size in many cases and we most unlikely I will be make it. We have to induce me to neglect Spage Age Books, will concentrate on the newer and the had a hard battle against Baltimore which after all is my bread and butter. more important titles), the letter in the bid, but they have had the edge. While I have been working on the News column, convention reports and advance Being on the spot, with adequate funds I have been paying staff to do jobs I information, and of course the book to spend on advertising and PR, has could be doing myself. To make matters given them a decided advantage. The worse I have been paying staff to type lists. You can help me to decide what to drop, if anything,or at least reduce Australian committee however has come in up material for the News. This I would in size. One thing I am strongly con­ for a bit of criticism, for not doing not mind if we were doing well business­ sidering is dropping the book list by more and doing it better than they have. wise, but due to changes in trends in publisher and only including reports I could add my own criticism, but I do sales, the city of Melbourne slowly on new books, the important ones, as believe that even if we had put on the dying, increased running costs and lack news. I am also considering reducing best ever bid, we would still have been of stock due largely to strikes and the size and descriptions therin of up against it to win. Not that we have lost mail sitting on the docks for the last Space Age Newsletter's sf§ f listing. I at the time I am writing this . A lot of two months, we have problems. would then produce an FtjSF Checklist, people have done a lot to help us try and which I have been threatening to do for win this bid, Jan Finder, the Haldemans Consequently I must consider the some time, three times a year if possible, and many more, not the least myself with possiblity of stopping publication of which would cover every f§sf and related ASFN, I only wish I could have been at ASFN. Advertising has helped a lot,but book I can discover in minor detail. last year's and this year's World Cons, as you will see there is very little in and I personally want to thank those people This is more cost of course but I think this issue. We have more subscriptions both here and overseas for their efforts. that the people who want this information than ever, but I have been forced to increase the size of recent issues and should be willing to pay for it. There You may have heard rumours that fans in we are just not getting enough revenue are a number of overseas publications Melbourne will be putting in a bid for in to cover the cost of producing it. that give lists,details and reviews of 1985, in the event of us losing the 1983 new books being published, but not one bid. This may be so, they have not seen of them can be relied on to cover every fit to take me into their confidence, so Therefore I am forced to increase the book. My intention is to compile this I do not know for certain. However as a subscription rate to $6.00 and the cover checklist, which will not take any more world con has already been held in this price to $1.00. Subscribers are virtu­ time than I am putting into the book list city, Melbourne, I am inclined to favour ally getting copies post free and this for the News and the SAB Newsletter now, Sydney for the second Australian World is all I can offer in the way of any but will not need to be produced to a Con, whenever it is held. To be quite advantage to them. It is costing close tight schedule like ASFN, and I will be honest I believe that either city can put to $1.00 to produce per copy. able to concentrate on getting ASFN out on a good and well run World Con. If it on time. The news content of ASFN is I do enjoy producing the News and I am does come to opposing bids for '85, a bit of little value if it is stale. I do aware that many people do appreciate my of healthy rivalry will do no harm. not expect to cover every book in the efforts, but I do need to get my prior­ Australian fans will flock to either city, checklist either, but my intention is ities straight. It will help me greatly although they most likely will support to list as many SF, fantasy, horror if I can get some help from people who the city nearest to them initially. I and associated titles as I can trace honestly would like to see ASFN continue. simply favour Sydney because Melbourne has and by cross reference to the six or My problem is basically a matter of time already had a world con. Whatever, if it seven sources of information I now and if I can get some help typing up comes' to an Australia in 1985 bid, we am using, I am not missing very many. reviews,letters and articles that I do will all get our act together. A gradual coverage,in part,each issue not actually have to compose myself, it of all back titles and specialists such would leave me free to work on news and as art, film and various series, is also MERV BINNS. reports and put a bit more time into my intention. actually earning my bread and butter. I have appreciated the help of Daryl Mannell with his fanzine listing and the AUSTRALIAN SF NEWS ISSN 0155-8870 is edited and published by MERVYN R.BINNS art work. Also my reviewers including under the sponsorship of The AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION Paul J., and of course what an even worse FOUNDATION mess ASFN would be without the proofread­ ASFN is registered for posting under Australia Post regulations category 'B'. ing of George Turner. The address for all correspondence is 305/307 Swanston .Melbourne,3000,Victoria, AUSTRALIA I will ignore the rather unkind remarks by some readers regarding the mispelling SUBSCRIPTION. $6 00 Australian for 6 issues .Please make payments to the editor of people's names in the last issue: Mervyn R.Binns. Air mail and overseas rates quoted on request.Our that it was a deliberate "couldn't care American Agent is LOCUS BOX 3938,San Francisco,CA 94119 ($6.00 less" attitude. It was quite simply American is near enough and $12.00 for Air Mail .Please remit to caused by the fact that when writing up LOCUS or Charles Brown as above.) Our British agent is Gerold Bishop reports one does not always remember AARDVARK HOUSE, P.O.Box 10, Winchester.Hants., SO22 4QA, U.K. the correct spelling of some people's names. They are usually picked up when ADVERTISING: Professional Rate - Full Back Page $60.00 Interior $50.00 proof reading is done but mistakes are Quarter page or multiples thereof $12.50. Full page copy ready not obvious unless you know the correct size is 275mm Horiz. x 360mm Vert Half page is 275mm H x 180 mm V. spelling of the name in the first place. Quarter page is 135 mm H x 180 mm V . 10% discount is applicable on In other words it is entirely my fault. adverts placed on a regular basis. A 50% discount applies to all Needless to say more care will be taken fan adverts for conventions , publications and activities. on this in the future and I can only Classified rates on request. 2 SPECULATIVE FICTION: THE AUSTRALIAN CONTEXT A CONFERENCE PRESENTED BY THE HUMANITIES RESEARCH CENTRE OF THE AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY - CANBERRA A Report By Mervyn R,Binns

With some reservations, I must truth­ largely about his own personal interest as literature we can judge it on how fully admit, I journeyed to our nation's in Science Fiction. well it presents hypothetical human capital, Canberra, to the Australian situations, with good examples being National University to be exact, over Like many of us, his introduction to "Mission Of Gravity", which is a similar the weekend of July 18th and 19th. I Science Fiction was through the pulps concept to "Gulliver's Travels" and had been invited by COLIN STEELE, and comic strips - ASTOUNDING, BUCK "Case Of Conscience" by James Blish Librarian at the University, to take ROGERS and SPEED GORDON (the Australian which clearly relies on the basic part in a conference on Australian name for FLASH GORDON. Censorship? ) principle of society being more Science Fiction. The conference was As a country boy it was not easy to important than men. This is evident being organised by the Humanities find the magazines, but a copy of in most SF. Research Centre as part of a series AMAZING stories introduced him to the genre, popular mechanics and flying of discussions. , Touching briefly on the subject of ACES later led to H. G. Wells and Science Fiction writing in Australia, The formal title of the conference Kipling. "Out Of The Silence" by Erie Dr Brissenden said that we will achieve SPECULATIVE FICTION: THE AUSTRALIAN Cox made a lasting impression. Even an image of Australian life in our CONTEXT, indicated to me the probability after getting his degree his interest writing just as American images are of long,boring discussions by people in SF was still strong and he evident in films such as "Alien" and in the main who probably knew little endeavoured to get his colleagues "The Body Snatchers". about what they were talking about. interested in it. How wrong I was.' A short but interesting question time In the 1950's things started to happen followed and a significant point was made The subject of Australian science fiction in the SF field. ASTOUNDING reduced its by George Turner, when he said that was most efficiently laid bare, in the size and improved. Fanzines were when man landed on the moon the very comfortable Reading Room of the appearing and SF clubs came into emphasis in SF changed from what man Humanities Research centre, located in the existence. By the 1980's some critical could do, to what man is. A.D.Hope Building. The winter landscape interest was beginning to appear on of the ANU was bathed in bright sunshine the subject. Dr Brissenden found The second morning session was chaired for the whole two days of the conference. little time to read SF from here on by MALCOLM PETTIGREW, who introduced All Australian sf's problems were aired and his interest wained. His main love, VAN IKIN who spoke on THE AUSTRALIAN by speakers who knew exactly what they ASTOUNDING , had changed and L. Ron SPECULATIVE IMPULSE BEFORE 1950. He were talking about and who responded Hubbard's article,'Dianetics', was an mentioned books from the last century with great enthusiasm to questioning. indication of this. He became such as "The Germ Growers" by Robert disenchanted with SF. Perhaps the Potter from 1892, which dealt with Over seventy names were included on the scientific advances of the 1950's aliens breeding plague germs; " The list of participants handed out with also helped to temper his enthusiasm. Last Lemurian" by G.Firth Scott,from other details, which incidentally 1898,dealt with the Queen of Lemuria had been prepared as could be expected The basic motif in sf had always been who sucks the souls from her subjects, in a most efficient way, and although space travel, taking the readers out but is eventally destroyed by a vol­ I did not actually count the heads in of the normal world, enabling the attendance, at a guess I would say cano ; "Anno Domini 2000; or Woman's writer and reader to look at our there were around seventy people or Destiny", published in 1889, dealt world from a different vantage point. more there. with women ruling and a plot to gain Following the advent of space travel the Emperor's throne. His palace was the emphasis began to change. SF has situated on the banks of the Yarra! No report that I can put together from always seen itself as the fiction of the scribbled notes I have taken, could the future, but it has relied on the most do justice to the conference. All I can primitive story telling themes and is "A Woman of Mars; or, Australia's say is that all those people who are rooted in fantasy. In fact today's Enfranchised Woman 192?", which apart genuinely interested in the advancement SF may owe more to Lewis Carroll than from complaining about the way French­ of Science Fiction writing and publishing H. G. Wells, with much of it being men treat their women did little to in this country, who did not attend, both scientific and whimsical. SF owes explore the feminist point of view missed the most significant and much to the epic saga and this may explain important symposium of the art yet held any more than than did the previous the interest shown in Lord of the Rings in Australia. I will attempt to give you novel mentioned;"Colymbia" by "Clotilda"- by SF readers. (Fantasy and SF overlap some of the basic details, but I do 1873, is a Utopian tale about an inder- in more than 50% of the books now being hope that at some future date the full water country linked with the Pacific published. Ed.) text of the conference may be made Islands, and is the oldest known in available by the university. the Australian field; "Melbourne and The label of 'Science Fiction' is somewhat Mars: My Mysterious Life On Two Planets" inadequate. Science Fiction now becomes Michael Tolley from the Department of -1889, by Joseph Fraser, is a classical fact quite quickly. As a tool of English at Adelaide University as and dignified utopia, that perhaps futurology it helps us look at possible other Frasers might take note of; Chairman of the first part of the futures. A case in point is ecological programme, introduced Dr R. F. Brissenden "The Coming Terror:A Romance of the subjects as covered in "Dune", "Monument", C20th by Samuel Albert Rosa -1894, I was reminded later, when I inspected "Left Hand Of Darkness" and others. a display at the University Library of was about a more revolutionary utopia Australian 'Speculative Literature', Sociology is a subject well covered by by a man who was a Sydney anarchist; including an opened copy of a very early SF. The literary value of SF however "The Electric Gun" by Harold Johnston- issue of the Melbourne Science Fiction is still hard to assess. The principal 1911, was an explicitly anti-socialist Club' s magazine ETHERLINE , which I importance of character in other utopian novel, in which the son of had helped produce in 1953, that literature does not necessarily Australia's leading socialist leads a R.F.BRISSENDEN was a subscriber. hold for SF. There is less emphasis revolt, armed with - you guessed it - Dr Brissenden's knowledge, views and on narrative and human situations, the Electric Gun. appreciation of the genre were more as in the epic. People hunger for Other utopian novels mentioned were than evident and his opening speech these aspects of story telling and the "A Visit to Blestland" by W.H.Gallier - delighted the attendees, although it film "Star Wars" is a good example of, 1896 and "A Visit to Topos, and How did not quite cover the subject, this old epic style. the Science of Heredity is Practiced "The Image Of Australia, Past, Present There" by William Little , 1897. Some And Future", that the organisers The literary value of SF is in many cases novels with a racial theme were "The expected him to talk about. He spoke very thin, the writing of Arthur C. Coloured Conquest" by Rata (Thomas Clarke for instance. To justify SF Roydhouse), 1904, ’’The Australian Crisis” In other words it does not amount to by C.H.Kirmess, 1909, ’’Fool’s Harvest" much, but despite it’s embarrassing by Erie Cox, 1939 and "The Invasion" by aspects it is our heritage. John Hay, 19??.

OUT OF The afternoon session began with GEORGE THE OUT OF THE TURNER talking about Australian Sf SILENCE 1950-80. VAN IKIN was chairman. In ERLE COX SILENCE his opening remarks GEORGE TURNER said that sf is just another type of writing which should be treated as such. The greatest influence on Australian sf he added, came from URSULA LE GUIN'S visit and the workshop she presided over in 1975. He said that he thought that DR PAUL LINEBARGER (CORDWAINER SMITH), although he created a unique world in his stories, which used a pseudo - Australian background, had no influence at all on Australian sf. Among major writers, DAL STIVENS and PETER CAREY have written fringe sf, but they have not influenced the main thrust of Australian sf production. With those comments out of the way he went on to give the history of sf writing in Australia since 1950.

SF which originated almost entirely from overseas was pretty hard to get in the postwar years. Monetary restrict­ Two landmarks in the field were Erie ions were the main problem (British reprint Cox's "Out of the Silence" (which magazines and those horrible novels by incidently is being reprinted by Vargo Staten were about all we could Angus Robertson in a trade pb edition get. Ed.) Atlas and Page publishers were soon ) and "Vandals of the Void" by reprinting American sf, while VOLTAIRE J.M.Walsh. "Out of the Silence" was MOLESWORTH was writing original novels published in 1925 and covers such for Currawong publishers. A "History of subjects as racial speculation, utopian­ Australian Fandom 1935 to 1963" by ism and scientific marvels. (This was Molesworth,which was recently reprinted one of my earliest experiences with sf, by Sydney fan RON CLARKE, mentions the when I listened to it as a radio serial. work Molesworth himself and other writers I later read the book which was a little did in the context of the fan activities. bit of a let down, but it still contain­ He wrote about a dozen novels including ed a sense of wonder element that despite "Blinded They Fly" and "Let There Be it's inherent 'corniness' makes it an Monsters", as well as editing The interesting read. Ed.) "Vandals of the Futurian Society's magazine. Void" is a typical space opera with alien races, a federation of worlds, the inter­ THRILLS INCORPORATED may be regarded as planetary guard and marauding space the first Australian SF magazine. It was pirates. As stylish as some of todays juvenile in presentation and indications thrillers in it's own 1930's way. are that all its contents were plagiarized (stories were rewritten with characters Two other items of note from the 30's and authors names changed from overseas are "The Hidden Kingdom" by M.Lynne magazines. Ed.) Doug Nicholson made Hamilton - 1932, which is an updating of a valiant attempt to get a magazine the lost kingdom theme and "The Woman going with FORERUNNER, but not enough On The Beast" by Helen Simpson, 1933, interest existed to support an Australian which is ba sically about mans desire to pro-mag at the time. AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL help his fellow man but committing the and AUSTRALIAN MAGAZINE were publishing worst atrocities to do so. The last stories by authors like FRANK BRYNING part of the book is set in Australia in and WYNNE WHITEFORD. Wynne incidentally 1999, when Australians are nomadic, Sydney had his first story published in 1933. is attacked by gas and The New Gospel Paperback novels in magazine format is all the rage. were prolific but of little value M.Barnard Eldershaw's "Tomorrow and during this time. Tomorrow" was published in 1947. VAN IKIN said that this novel could be reg­ Our most prolific and best known SF author arded as good literature and perhaps is CAPTAIN A.BERTRAM CHANDLER, who settled unique in SF. It is set in the 24th here after numerous trips from the UK century and the main character has as a ship's officer. His stories have written a book about the 20th century, been the most consistent in Australian which gives the author the opportunity atmosphere and content. The very to make comments on his own time as he popular author Nevil Shute wrote two saw it. The action of the novel takes novels, that must be regarded as SF, during place in the 24th century with the main the post-war period, "In The Wet” and character reading his book and discussing "On The Beach". They concentrated more it. on the people than the science. JOHN IGGULDON produced a number of books In summing up early Australian sf Van also during this time. (I regard these said that it was in many ways juvenile, as straightforward SF perhaps leaning more that it ignored such things as the exis­ to the JOHN WYNDHAM style than NEVIL tence of the aborigines, it gave the SHUTE as George intimated. Ed.) usual impression of an Australian adventurer, who is a tame womaniser and .politically naive, and unsophisticated. In 1967 Bert Chandler's "GRIMES" series Australian Sf itself. The workshop her "Brin" novels. Amongst the estab­ was doing very well in the USA in Ace however,helped a great deal and kicked lished writers JACK WODHAMS has had Books. (All are being reprinted in a number of writers into action,including notable success, WYNNE WHITEFORD has September this year. Ed.) LEE HARDING PHILLIPA MADDERN. In 1977 KITTY VIGO kept at it and A. BERTRAM CHANDLER has was being published regularly in the organised a workshop with VONDA MCINTYRE, without a doubt been the most successful. British magazine NEW WORLDS, edited by CHRISTOPHER PRIEST and GEORGE TURNER DAMIEN BRODERICK,besides his Horwitz JOHN CARNELL, while JOHN BAXTER , DAVID himself, which was a useful venture, collection "A Man Returned", edited BOUTLAND, JACK WODHAMS and DAMIEN but not as spectacular as the Le Guin the best collection up to 1977, called BRODERICK with others were achieving workshop. A third workshop was held,led "The Zeitgeist Machine", for Angus and some sucess. by TERRY CARR and GEORGE TURNER, which Robertson. His novel "Sorceror's World" These writers were beginning to establish was notable mainly for the discovery of was published by Signet in the USA in a movement away from the overseas types of LEANNE FRAHM. Workshops can be costly, 1971. His most notable effort to date sf. JOHN BAXTER'S "First Pacific Book of but we badly need another one soon, is no doubt "The Dreaming Dragons". Australian SF" was welcome on the scene, basically on editing. Pocket, who published the US edition of but left something to be desired. It was Dragons,has also bought "The Judas So much for the development of Australian basically in need of the criticism he Mandala". SF writing, but what about the publishing?> gave it George said, but he would look Shortly after the 1975 World Convention at it in a different light now. (DAMIEN LEE HARDING edited "Beyond Tomorrow" in PAUL COLLINS started 'VOID' magazine. BRODERICK'S collection, "A MAN RETURNED", 1976, which was a mixture of original After a few issues he switched to book was published by Horwitz, who under the stories by local and overseas authors, format and received assistance from the influence of American immigrant RON SMITH as was "Rooms of Paradise". The former Literature Board. Most, but not all of published sf books by Baxter, Boutland, published by the now defunct Wren the stories were by Australian authors. Chandler and others. They were not publishers and the latter by Hyland The opinions vary greatly on the inpressed with the sales of their sf House and Quartet in a joint venture. quality of the stories, but Collins titles however and Horwitz did little to Harding has also done a number of juvenile has helped fill a gap. Besides SF novels and two radio serials for young further the publication of sf in publishing four collections of stories, Australia. Ed.) ABC listeners. Three of the stories "Other Worlds", "Envisaged Worlds", "Alieni published in "Rooms of Paradise" were Worlds" and "Distant Worlds, VOID or as picked up by TERRY CARR for publication Also,in the late 1960's,JOHN BANGSUND they are now called CORY § COLLINS, in his annual 'Best Of collections. started his magazine Australian sf have published three novels, by WYNNE Harding's major achievement so far is review and in so doing moved the WHITEFORD, DAVID LAKE and JACK WODHAMS "Displaced' Person" which won the Children's focus on Australian sf from Sydney to and they have more planned. Book Award for 1980. Melbourne. (The move started long NORSTRILIA PRESS also came into before that. Ed.) From 1956 to 1967 existence soon after AUSSIECON, and Angus and Robertson publisher's Australian fan activities were as much their first publication was a critical contribution to the Australian SF is not in the doldrums as the professional review of the work of "Philip K.Dick: insignificant. They published, George aspects of sf. The lack of support for Electric Shepherd”. They then Turner reminded us, the two "Pacific Books fan activities after the Fourth published the stories resulting from the of SF", "The Zeitgeist Machine", "Moon Australian Convention in Sydney in Ursula Le Guin workshop under the title Baby" and "The Luck of Brin's Five". 1953, when Sydney fandom disintegrated, of "The Altered I", edited by Lee also had some bearing on the writing Harding, the reprint rights of which A lot of other points were made by George and publishing of sf in Australia. were sold to Berkley in the USA. They in summing up and answering questions ASFR contained articles by Harding, then published "The View From The Edge" from the audience - fanzine's contribution Broderick, Foyster and Chandler, one which was a collection of stories to Australian SF; the backing of the of whose stories first published in resulting from the second workshop Literature Board - not a lot to show ASFR was anthologised in an English with VONDA MCINTYRE and CHRIS PRIEST, but a good beginning; writers should collection, plus letters from overseas edited by GEORGE TURNER himself, but write about what they know, speak with pros. ASFR was making its presence the result was not as good as ALTERED their own voice, forget all they know felt. Writers contributing articles and EYE. ROB GERRAND then edited an about overseas SF and write what they reviews wrote well and interestingly original collection which was published like; Literature Board funding is sparse about what they read. By 1969 however by Outback Press , "Transmutations". but achieving positive results, Dr ASFR was losing steam and BRUCE (The other Norstrilia Press people by the BRISSENDEN said; PAUL COLLINS has GILLESPIE'S SF COMMENTARY took over. way are CAREY HANDFIELD and BRUCE shown a growing ability as an editor, GILLESPIE. Ed.) "Moon in the Ground" he is creating a market for young SF COMMENTARY featured contributions was next; a prize-winning novel by writers and giving them a chance to from such writers as STANISLAW LEM KEITH ANTILL. They followed learn even if the stories themselves and FRANZ ROTTENSTEINER. A strong base that with this year's DITMAR winner, have little value; fanzine editors for SF criticism in Australia was "Dreaming Dragons" by Damien Broderick, who want to publish better stories established by ASFR and SFC. Meanwhile which has also been published by Pocket should ask established authors for RON GRAHAM published "VISION OF TOMORROW" Books in the USA and Penguin here. stories and they should send back any in England, which for various reasons, Their latest effort is "The Stellar stories that are not up to scratch; complicated by Ron being here in Guage" edited by MICHAEL TOLLEY and is can we get more financial help from the Australia and the magazine being a collection of essays on well-known literature board or other authorities? edited and printed in England, saw sf authors. We must thank these two Possibly, but not for critical only ten issues and folded. (Ron was publishers for the current development publications such as SF COMMENTARY or reported to have lost $60,000 on this of Australian sf. The Literature ASF NEWS; funds are hard to come by. venture. For a while VISION provided Board however supplied the fuel that an outlet for Australia's SF writing was set alight by the Le Guin workshop A very worthwhile session of the talent. Ed.) spark. conference ended there. ( GEORGE TURNER himself has made a great impact on In 1971 "The 2nd Pacific Book of SF" was Other features of the Australian sf scene Australian SF with his 'no holds barred' published and it was a great improvement that GEORGE TURNER touched on were the reviewing and criticism, his workshop on the first collection. Following that, contribution of VAN IKIN'S magazine activity and his own writing. . Before little was happening apart from the SCIENCE FICTION. Also the other fan tackling SF with "Beloved Son" he was activities of LEE HARDING,who was fiction magazines CRUX, nexus, a very well known figure in the rapidly establishing himself as a full OMICRON and FUTURISTIC TALES. One of literary establishment. He has a second time writer. In 1975 Melbourne hosted these, CYGNUS CHRONICLER, edited by SF novel, "Vaneglory" due for the WORLD SF CONVENTION, with the NEVILLE ANGOVE, has potential as an publication in a few months and a third associated writer's workshop led by outlet for local writers. Amongst the to be published in 1982. Ed.) Ursula Le Guin. The Literature Board up and coming writers he said we should began to show their interest by helping take special note of PETRINA SMITH, The second afternoon session had to finance this workshop. The LEANNE FRAHM and PHILIPPA MADDERN. DAVID BRUCE GILLESPIE, editor of Convention itself was a delight to the 'TS* LAKE is of considerable note. CHERRY SF COMMENTARY and one of the founders _ fans but contributed nothing to ' ^WILDER has impressed particularly with of 'Norstrilia Press', speaking about H the 'Contemporary Perspective'. Bruce Short reviews are not the perfection must be achieved, but he endeavoured to explain the position of place to go into great critical detail does not expect this. He can read Australian SF by likening the SF field on a book, but long critical reviews a story and enjoy it for what it is. to a plain in which overseas SF fills are merited if the criticism is viable. Australian SF must try to be itself and the area above the horizon and Australia "Dreaming Dragons" and "Displaced Person" below. The area above the horizon is The last session on Saturday dealt with are certainly showing an emergence of full of activity, the area below is almost this aspect. "Dreaming Dragons" is empty but slowly filling up with the THE PLACE OF AUSTRALIAN SF IN THE GLOBAL CONTEXT - the speakers being somewhat tongue-in-cheek, anti- efforts of Norstrilia Press, Cory § Collins, authoritorian and intrinsically Wild & Woolley and others. MICHAEL TOLLEY , VAN IKIN, GEORGE TURNER and others. GEORGE TURNER said that Australian in attitude. It is a much Australian SF was not worth a tuppeny better book than "Moon in the Ground" The publishing scene is growing but damn on the world scene. At best there and uses Ayers' Rock much more effectively it has distribution problems. The are about a dozen authors who have even It is a high-tech thriller, as Australian audience is there but publicity is been noticed outside the country. Some in its field as "Woman of the Future" needed to let readers know that talent has been found in the workshops, and instantly Australian without effort. Australian SF exists. SF publishing but more workshops are needed to teach "Displaced Person" is meticulous in is unlikely to get the backing that criticism and editing. We should learn to building themes and it is carefully the film industry has received, and recognise quality, as the main problem put together on a sociological level. even then it has not produced any great in Australian writing. Not the grammar It clearly illustrates attitudes in films, so it may be some time before we and punctuation, that is ok, but the Australia of the young, attitudes see any great Australian SF. writers are unable to write from a per­ that are quite importantly Australian. sonal point of view. They write like If Australian writers are to be Australian SF writers must learn to computers,cliche following cliche. They Australian they must do it effortlessly, take criticism. It has been lightly they do not need to push it with criticised in the main, but friends need to be told and we need to train editors to keep telling them. Australian cliches. Considering that must criticise friends. Do not soft Australian SF has only been progressing pedal. Personally BRUCE GILLESPIE since 1975, worthwhile strides have been has been disappointed in PAUL COLLINS made. Australia's position in the 'World' series and all the novels MICHAEL TOLLEY did not agree with GEORGE 'Global Context' now is to be itself. except WYNNE WHITEFORD'S. Speaking TURNER . He said that there is too of the Norstrilia Press publications, much criticism of Australian SF. ANNE BREWSTER compared Australian SF with "Moon'In The Ground" he said received "Stellar Gauge" he said is even being Russian, and the third world countries. good reviews from the general press criticised for not being critical of The social and political alienation but not from SF sources. the writers covered. Writers do not themes do not appear in Australian need to be original he said, they can writing, but the idea of being forced The novel he said he would like to see copy other authors but produce original into another time and way of living is would be one set in an alternate versions. This brought howls from quite evident in both Australian and Australia, not the cliched one so many of the audience. He tried to Russian SF. There is very little often used and not just a different justify this statement and said that social awareness in Australian writing. version of things as they are: "Woman it is easy to identify writers who It tends much more towards the personal of the Future" by DAVID IRELAND is read a lot of other people's writing. level. similar to the type of fiction he would DAVID LAKE, who he said has been unjustly like to see. "Displaced Person" by criticised here,is being compared to NORMAN TALBOT - The SF genre always Lee Harding comes close but could be P. J. Farmer by overseas critics. WYNNE had a bad name, but 90 % of everything improved; Australian SF may yet have WHITEFORD'S style is very similar to is bad. Characterisation in SF is not something to offer; LEE HARDING commented overseas writing but in Australian necessarily bad, but it is handled that he has benefited from Bruce's and settings and why not have ideas like differently and sometimes experimentally. other reviews. DAVID GRIGG said he CHERRY WILDER'S marsupials ? Is DAMIEN If you must use 'Australianess ', use it would like to see a lot more harsh, BRODERICK'S writing related to CORDWAINER well, like PATRICIA WRIGHTSON does in cutting reviews of his writing. JULIA SMITH'S? LEE HARDING is perhaps her fantasy novels. Reviewers should CURTIS said reviewers must be honest Australia's H. G. WELLS. I was wondering review books as they come. A bit of because writers will learn from honest at this stage if Michael was being humour in reviews should be more criticism. It may hurt at first but serious and then he added that GEORGE evident and point out the good points, without it writers will never get TURNER clearly belongs to the anti-Pohl not only the bad. anywhere. PETER TOLUZZI said that school and I realised he was pulling workshops should teach writers to our legs. He added that he would be On Saturday evening the conference take criticism. GEORGE TURNER added terrified to be writing in Australia attendees were the guests of JEAN that no writers like misguided praise; now as the criticisms would be terrible WEBER at her Canberra home. Every­ they prefer appraisal from a reviewer to take. body enjoyed the party and I would who knows what he talking about. like to thank Jean on behalf of "Dreaming Dragons", for instance could VAN IKIN said that there is a lot of everybody for a good night. take a great deal of critical attention, good things in Australian SF. GT and but the short review could do little BG are attempting to make the point that more than encourage people to read it. Jean Weber’s party. Photos ASFN© On Sunday morning DR BRISSENDEN use the term SCI-FI and treat SF reviews of VOID publication (now Cory £ Collins) chaired the panel on the subject, as odd-spot interest. In the main SF and the books they have published. He DOES SF RECEIVE THE CRITICISM IT gets the reviews it deserves as most of said that Cory § Collins have a lot of DESERVES? He introduced speakers it is just escapist literature. energy and great potential. It was who have contributed reviews to not easy to get stories worth publishing newspapers and the critical publications. VAN IKIN, editor of SCIENCE FICTION, early on and many had to be completely He said in his introduction that we speculative fiction review magazine, rewritten. cannot force an Australian SF. It said that he is interested in promoting has been predominantly American up to SF. He tries to find something good PAT WOOLLEY of Wild And Woolley Publishers now, but as more is written in in reviews of Australian books, but he gave a brief history of her venture. She Australia it will develop naturally. writes for himself,not publishers. He said they had a strange range of books Let us hope that a future such attempts to aim his reviews at a wide and what little they had approaching SF conference does not just cover the range of readers, but he tries to make it did not sell well. 1500 copies was the Australian context. Conference clear at the start at what level a best they could do of a DAL STIVENS organiser COLIN STEELE added that review is aimed and distinguish between book. (Not really SF at any rate - reviewers are the avenue for telling just reviews and criticisms. This fantasy perhaps. Ed.) They had to the general reader about books. They can be a problem at times. set up their own distribution and they are the main source of information are now handling other small publishers for libraries. The inference being of DR BRISSENDEN then said that this idea both local and overseas. They expect course that these reviewers have a of reviews and criticism being the publishers themselves to do their great influence on what people will buy separate is a lot of rubbish. All own promotion. Their biggest step into and read and what they will not. reviewers are being critical. Extended the SF market is the science fiction/ reviews can give more detail but you fantasy art/film title, "COLORVISION” GEORGE TURNER said that the problem with cannot review one type of book with by RON COBB. 8000 have been sold to SF criticism in Australia (and in one hand and another type with the the USA and it is selling very well fact overseas, Ed.) is that most of other hand. He uses the same standards in Australia. There is an opening for the reviewers are writers themselves. for all literature, the basic critical Australian SF publishers to produce They have these in-group ideas about requirements. Unless SF is judged books and sell them to big houses to the uniqueness of sf and criticise it as works of literature we might as well print and distribute. They would do the as though it is something apart. This is. forget the whole business. editing and deal with the author but wrong, as all the important themes the big publisher would handle printing have been dealt with in the mainstream. Points made in question time by various and distribution. SF is not doing things that have never speakers included the observation of been done before as these writer-critics DR BRISSENDEN that newpapers need good JACKIE YOWELL, Penguin Books editor was claim.Most reviewers praise the books journalists for reviewers, writers able to give the point of view of a mentioned, going against the principle who will make the reviews themselves major publisher and distributor. She that ninety per cent of everything entertaining to read. GEORGE TURNER said that SF did not sell in all that is crud. In a year George said he said that he was originally asked by big a quantity. can usually only add one or two THE AGE newspaper to do SF reviews, but worthwhile books to his permanent he now reviews a wide range of books PENGUIN,of course, have no distribution library shelves. Many books are and looks at them all on the same level. problems but it is hard to get book­ praised for the good aspects only When ’’Beloved Son'1 was reviewed by SF sellers to take larger quantities of and their bad points ignored. An reviewers they missed the point of the SF. It is hard to promote paperbacks example of bad reviewing is "Capella’s story completely, but reviewers outside in general. Reviewers want hardcovers Golden Eyes" by C.D.EVANS which the field got it. JACKIE YOWELL, and we should be trying to create more has been well reviewed, but its Penguin Books Editor, said that interest in paperbacks by the press and scientific concepts are false and it newspaper reviews are necessary to the media. We need to get more people to could have been set on Earth just trade to attract the readers who are read SF but Penguins are not sure how to as easily as it was set on another not true initiated readers, those who market their SF titles. They would prefer planet. Criticism should take a much will buy the books whatever. She also not to categorize titles. This brought sterner look at itself. said that reviews should be more up a problem that received quite a lot innovative. LEE HARDING said that of discussion and widely differing NORMAN TALBOT said that he disagreed criticism so far of Australian SF is views. JACKIE YOWELL said that she with George Turner in that reviewers too subdued and that further strong thought that ’labelling’ restricted need not be good critics. He does criticism is needed. Other people sales. Booksellers in particular were not like reviewers who tell you the disagreed with Dr Brissenden regarding still against SF. Many librarians did whole plot of the book, but they different levels of reviewing and not want to know anything about SF but do not have to comment on the style criticism. Reviewers only need to others would take all they could get. and the prose either. In SF the ideas give the basic details on a book, but are important and should be looked at, critics need to give more details. To add my own comments here, and I can but this does not mean that a book is This division is a necessay evil. only talk from the point of view of good or important just because of what a bookseller who has sold SF and other it is about. Reviewers have a harder The next session was the PUBLISHER’S books for the last thirty years, I job than literary critics because PANEL on SF in Australia. It was insist that all types of books on sale they have to say whether a book is good introduced by Brian Clouston and the or in libraries should be categorized. or bad in a few words, where critics first speaker was CAREY HANDFIELD of That is if you want to sell them, and usually have a lot of space to go Norstrilia Press. He said that although that is what booksellers are in into detail about good books at any SF publishing in Australia is very small business for. Librarians may wish to rate. it is hard to get it into the shops. hide their science fiction, because it They have a wide range of SF and there might embarrass some of them having it DAMIEN BRODERICK said that reviews is a lot of competition. Australian SF on their shelves, but booksellers who such as the Bester critique in ’Stellar needs more publicity. Books do not are in business to make a profit make Gauge’ are justified. They liked sell themselves despite what many a big display of all the SF books they Bester and they are entitled to say people think. The prices need to be can get their hands on. After all,why what they like about him. He said that competitive with overseas books. should SF be hidden amongst the general he submitted some reviews to the National Buying into overseas print runs or books any more than mysteries, westerns Times newspaper, but they were cut. What selling rights to Australian editions or romance? The idea of categorizing they and most newspapers want is just will help, We’re at the stage now however by publisher went out with the T model for the review to say that the books when we can start to compete. Ford; or at least it did with the are a good read. They do not want progressive booksellers. The name to allow space for the reviewer to say WYNNE WHITEFORD,representing CORY £ of the game is to help your customer why he does not or does like a book. COLLINS publishers, pointed out that find what he is looking for as quickly If you criticise a book too harshly at Paul Collins has done more to put as possible and the better range he any rate you may upset the publisher and Australian SF on the map than anybody has to choose from the more he is -y not get any advertising. They like to in Australia. He outlined the progress likely to buy. If authors are / embarrassed about writing SF why don't and improve their ideas. They should they get out of the field? Apparently concentrate on problem solving rather they do not feel they have made it than style. C Obituaries j unless they are accepted by the mainstream. This attitude is to me very A comment was made about the term shortsighted. I admit there could be 'mainstream', regarding what it means GEORGE 0.SMITH , sf writer and former very strong arguments put forward by and how it came into existence. engineer, 70,was found dead in his some authors, but entirely to their The general opinion was that it is a Rumnson, New Jersey home on May 27th own ends. bad term invented by SF people in the from an apparent heart attack. Smith USA to distinguish what is written by lived alone and had been dead at least Over the lunch period on Sunday, a authors in the field from what is several days. book signing session was held at written by writers who do not usually George Oliver Smith was born April 9th, Dalton's Bookshop in Canberra City. A write SF. This again brought up the 1911, in Chicago. He spent one year at good crowd of people attended. A good subject of the SF ghetto and the the University of Chicago in 1929. He number of books were sold and the efforts of a lot of people to break down became a radio engineer in 1935 . His attending authors were kept busy signing this wall, which has been built largely radio engineering background was quite books. by the SF people themselves. Quoting obvious in his best known stories in URSULA LE GUIN, JUDITH HANNA said all the "Venus Equilateral" series. The first I chaired the final session on Sunday fiction is a metaphor for life. Perhaps in the series "QRM--Interplanetary" was afternoon, which tended to become a SF has been a new set of metaphors. published in ASTOUNDING October 1942. little fannish and lighthearted. This GEORGE TURNER said that general fiction Arthur C.Clarke said that Smith was "the AUTHOR'S PANEL gave the authors a chance had covered many subjects better than SF, first technically qualified writer to to tell the attendees what they are such as alien contact in FENIMORE COOPER'S spell out(space stations) for communic­ currently working on. LEE HARDING was "The Pioneers”, where the white man meets ations." He acknowledged his debt to non-committal and gave no details on the American Indian. Smith for some of his own ideas on syn­ current work. He did say that he had chronous orbit communications satellites. enjoyed editing very much and that the Taking another angle on the difference anthologies he had done gave him great between SF and other fiction BRUCE His best book was THE FOURTH "R" which satisfaction. WYNNE WHITEFORD spoke GILLESPIE said stories do not happen was published by Ballantine in 1959, mainly about his involvement with Cory to people in SF. It relies more on but readers will remember well stories and Collins. DAMIEN BRODERICK was not situation and ideas. Characterisation such as PATTERN FOR CONQUEST (Gnome 1949), prepared to give anything away and quoted though should be better in sf. This is NOMAD (Prime 1950), HELLFLOWER (Abelard from the biographical book on various the point, both GEORGE TURNER 1953), HIGHWAYS IN HIDING ( Gnome 1956), TROUBLED STAR (Avalon 1957), PATH OF authors, "Dreammakers" edited by and LEE HARDING agreed; writers should attempt to focus on the characters UNREASON (Gnome 1958), and LOST IN SPACE Charles Platt. DAVID GRIGG said just as much as they do on the place (Avalon 1959).Ballantine are due to he has not had a great deal of time or the events. NORMAN TALBOT said that publish a collection of his stories to devote to his writing recently, not all novels need have strong late this year. (SFC) but by no means has he given up. characterisation and GEORGE TURNER GEORGE TUNRER was the most vocal and KIT PEDLER, 53 died suddenly of a sus­ agreed, but although the plot is very he told us how he had been induced pected heart attack at his home near important in SF this is no excuse to have to write SF by JOHN BANGSUND. Writing Canterbury, Kent, England,on May 27th. poor characterisation. MICHAEL TOLLEY, SF is not simple. It presents a series Christopher Magnus Howard Pedler, was finishing on a question that leaves us of problems to be solved. He was not• a qualified pathologist. He began to some food for thought, asked should entirely satisfied with "Beloved Son", write for TV with Gerry Davis in the science fiction continue to grapple but it has established a background he 1'960's, contributing episodes to Dr Who. with the problems confronting mankind can use for further novels. He wants When he started writing novels they rather than the individual? to cover some of the most common dealt with scientific disasters; MUTANT themes from new angles. "Vaneglory", 59:THE PLASTIC EATERS (1972), BRAINRACK So ended a very worthwhile two days which is due to be published soon by (1974), and THE DYNOSTAR MENACE (1975). discussion from which I hope Australian SF Faber, deals with extended life, with He lectured and appeared on TV talking will benefit a lot and take a further emphasis on real biology and what it about his scientific beliefs, (SFC) step up the ladder. would be like to live three hundred years or more."Yesterday's Men" will LOU TABAKOW, well known fan and conven­ probably be published also by Faber mid tion attendee died May 17th. He was 66. 1982. Drawing on his own military He had been confined to hospital with a experiences, GEORGE TURNER has written rare disease for a few months prior to an SF novel about war, from the point his death. He was a life long resident of view of the boy next door who of Cincinnati, and a member and for the joined up. He said that most authors last 7 years head, of the Cincinnati hardly ever convey the real military Fantasy Group. (SFQ mind and he has endeavoured to avoid the stereotypes usually depicted. ED CAGLE, another well known American Before everybody shot off to catch sf fan died May 26th. He wrote letters 6 their planes late in the afternoon a articles for fanzines and edited various lively question time was held which zines himself. was just too much for me to try and ¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥¥ cover in detail. Some comments made A scholarship fund has been established included:- LEE HARDING replying to in the late SUSAN WOOD'S name at Carleton a question on possible films from University in Ottawa, Canada. It is Australian books, said that he had been being administered by DOUGLAS WURTLE approached regarding "Displaced Person" who was Susan's teacher while she was COLIN STEELE said that a problem to be at Carleton from 1965 to 1970. Further dealt with is telling authors how and details can be had from Mr Wurtle at where to get their stories published.. Department of English, Arts Tower, GEORGE TURNER said that we need a Carleton University, Ottawa ONT K1S 5B6 workshop on editing which could Canada. benefit authors also. (The Australian (SFC) SF Foundation is currently investigating this possibility and a workshop will SPECIAL NOTE: I WILL NOT BE ATTENDING THE most likely be held early in 1982 Ed.) A Malian Press small magazine WORLD CONVENTION IN DENVER, UNLESS A MIRACLE MICHAEL TOLLEY endeavoured to justify featuring reprints of American LIKE WINNING THE LOTTERY TAKES PLACE.MAYBE his earlier statements, saying that stories and a cover by the outstanding NEXT YEAR. I AM VERY SORRY THAT I WILL NOT authors should learn from other authors sf artist STANLEY PITT. (Mid 1950s) SEE ALL MY FRIENDS OVER THERE IN THE USA. 8 AGAIN THIS YEAR. Merv B. full adult edition will be published by BEAVER Books, the Hamlyn Juvenile pb HUTCHINSON. JUNIPER TIME by Kate Wilhelm series , are reprinting THE WHITE was published in July and in August we MOUNTAINS, THE POOL OF FIRE and THE see SIGHT OF PROTEUS by Charles Sheffield, CITY OF GOLD AND LEAD by John plus reprints by Harry Harrison and P.K. Christopher in August. Dick. BERKLEY publishers published in June, PUBLISHED & ANNOUNCED An April release in trade edition from the terrible British original novel This column,this and future issues, AVON was A TREASURY OF MODERN FANTASY THE CABAL by Philip(Saul) Dunn, along will cover the highlights of what the edited by Terry Carr and M.H.Greenberg. with Charles L.Grant's sf novel publishers have published and announced. A new sf novel by SUSAN COON was a June A QUIET NIGHT OF FEAR. They also did a release, THE VIRGIN, along with fourth We will not attempt to cover every reprint of Piers Anthony's GOD OF THE book, as this is taking up more space in the series, WANDOR'S FLIGHT by Roland TAROT and a fantasy, KING OF THE SEA than we can allow. As noted in the Green. Another fantasy is the first pb by Derek Bickerton. July saw the second editorial we hope to produce a separate edition of Shirley Rousseau Murphy's in the Phoenix Legacy series, SHADOW OF publication which will list all titles THE CASTLE OF HAPE. In August we see THE SWAN by M.K.Wren, BLAKELY'S ARK by by author, title, publisher and other the first pb edition of a book that is Ian MacMillan and THE BERKLEY SHOWCASE details. a collectors item in he, THE BLACK WHEEL. Volume 4, edited by Victoria It was an incomplete novel by A.Merritt Schochet and John Silbersack. Barry The following titles listed have which was completed by artist/author Longyear's THE CITY OF BARABOO, plus been published or announced up to Hannes Bok. TALES OF PIRX THE PILOT by OTHER STORIES AND ... THE ATTACK OF THE and including August 1981. European author Stanislaw Lem is another' GIANT BABY by Kit Reed, NEW VOICES 4 August release. edited by George R.R.Martin and a new printing of THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING Art publisher ABRAMS (USA) have ann­ by T.H.White are August titles. In ounced PHANTOMS OF THE IMAGINATION by hard cover BERKLEY/PUTNAM announced a A.M.Hammacher, which covers fantasy art collection edited by Frederik Pohl and literature from Blake to Dali. They FREDERIK POHL'S FAVOURITE STORIES, but also have a title on the art of Walt we believe it has been delayed till Disney, WALT DISNEY'S TREASURY OF SILLY next year. Their he schedule has been SYMPHONIES. Plus WITCHES by Erica Jong curtailed overall, but they intend to and two calendars, GNOMES FOR ALL SEASONS, start a new trade pb series soon which and WALT DISNEY'S CLASSIC CALENDAR 1982. will include GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE by ABBEVILLE PRESS (USA) have announced Frank Herbert and DEMON by John Varley. another volume in their Walt Disney series, DISNEY ANIMATION. The. publisher of mainly reference works, ACE Books titles for June start off R.R.BOWKER published in June a new edition with Fantasy award winner Jessica Amanda of ANATOMY OF WONDER by Neil Barron, which Salmonson's TOMOE GOZEN, based on the is a critical guide to SF. They also did mythology of Japan. SYSTEMIC SHOCK by HORROR 6 SUPERNATURAL LITERATURE: A core Dean Ing is a post holocaust novel. A collection Reference Guide edited by collection of sf war stories edited by Marshall B.Tymn. Gordon R.Dickson was published called Due for mid-1981 publication by CAMBRIDGE COMBAT SF. As-part of their programme UNIVERSITY PRESS was THE LIFE AND WORKS to reprint all of H.Beam Piper's works OF DAVID LINDSAY by Bernard Sellin. Ace have done LORD KALVAN OF OTHERWHEN. Gordon Dickson's double, ALIEN ART with BALLANTINE/DEL REY continue to be one A May publication by JONATHAN CAPE was ARCTURUS LANDING also was published in of the most prolific producers of F5SF. HELLO AMERICA by J.G.Ballard, which is June,and in July they did his TIME TO New titles between June and August inc­ set in a post energy crisis/disaster TELEPORT with DELUSION WORLD. A new lude : DRAGONSLAYER a fantasy by Wayland USA. title by Arsen Darnay, THE PURGATORY Drew, THE SEVEN ALTARS OF DUSARRA, a fantasy by Lawrence Watt-Evens, SPACE CORGI have three titles which are reprints ZONE deals with a future zen society. of US editions; THE HIGH CRUSADE and THE Reprints include titles by Andre Norton, DOCTOR by Lee Correy, THE VAMPIRES OF NIGHTWORLD by David Bischoff, GIANT'S HORN OF TIME both by Poul Anderson and Fred Saberhagen, Robert E.Howard and AGENT OF CHAOS by Norman Spinrad. Fritz Leiber. August will see the small STAR by James P.Hogan, THE HOUSE edition of NITROGEN FIX by Hal Clement. BETWEEN THE WORLDS by Marion Zimmer The June releases from CORONET were A new title by G.C.Edmondson is TO SAIL Bradley, THEIR MAJESTIES BUCKETEERS by THE FACE by Jack Vance, the fourth in the THE CENTURY SEA and is a follow up to L.Neil Smith and STELLAR #7 edited by Demon Princes series and CATFANG by THE SHIP THAT SAILED THE TIME STREAM, Judy Lynn-Del Rey. Reprints by Brunner, Nicholas Fisk, in his 'Starstormers' which is also reprinted. PARATIME! is Tenn, Foster, McCaffrey,Silverberg and series for young readers. August is a collection of H.Beam Piper's Paratime and Sturgeon were evident. The 1982 Robert Silverberg month at Coronet with Police stories. The latest issue of J.R.R.Tolkien Calendar was due about THE BOOK OF SKULLS and three reprints in DESTINIES , Volume 3 #2 edited by Jim now, with art work by Darrell K.Sweet. UNFAMILIAR TERRITORY, SHADRACH IN THE Baen was also done in August along with BANTAM released two new sf titles in FURNACE and THE STOCHASTIC MAN. reprints by Sheckley, Norton, Davidson, pb in June; UNDER THE CITY OF ANGELS by CORNERSTONE Books (USA) published last and Bellairs. Ace also announced a whole Jerry Earl Brown, about a Los Angeles year a book by Robert Siegel entitled series of boxed sets. that has sunk beneath the sea,and Jack ALPHA CENTAURI and this year they have Williamson's sequel to his 1950's book done his WHALESONG. ADVENT:Publishers Inc. published "The Humanoids", THE HUMANOID TOUCH. FOOTRPRINTS IN THE SAND by L.Sprague and LORD VALENTINE'S CASTLE, the Hugo DAW titles from June to August include: Catherine Crook De Camp in July. It is a nominee by Robert Silverberg was a BLOOD COUNTY , a horror novel by Curt collection of writings, essays, poems and July release along with Harry Harrison's Selby; THE MAGICK OF CAMELOT, a follow stories plus tributes to the authors by last novel of the trilogy, STARWORLD. up to "A World Called Camelot" by Arthur other writers. It is a joint publication A new title in the Micronauts series H.Landis; THE ROBOT IN THE CLOSET, another with the Milwaukee Convention, X CON 5. by Gordon Williams , THE REVOLT OF THE tin man comedy by Ron Goulart; HORN CROWN MICRONAUTS was an August release with by Andre Norton, a new fantasy; BANNERS OF CENTURY'S END by Russell Griffin and THE SA'YEN, another world fantasy by B.R, ALLISON § BUSBY have finally published,we Stateham; WAVE WITHOUT A SHORE, a new sf believe after a long delay, A.Bertram THE NEBULA WINNERS 13 edited by Samuel Delany. novel by C.J.Cherryh; THE YEAR'S BEST Chandler's novels, THE RIM OF SPACE HORROR STORIES IX edited by Karl Edward and WHEN THE DREAM DIES. A.S.BARNES 8 CO. INC who specialise Wagner, plus reprints by Clayton, Farmer, ARROW Books published THE TIME BANDITS largely in cinema books, published Dick, Phillifent and Alan Burt Akers. early in the year WHO'S WHO OF THE by Charles Alverson, a book based on The tail end of DELL Publishers sf pub­ the new Monty Python movie, in their HORROR AND OTHER FANTASY FILMS by David J.Hogan. lishing programme is SONGMASTER by Orson SPARROW series for junior readers. A Scott Card and SPACE PRODIGAL by Carl Q Sherrell. And we almost missed their June this collection of P.K.D's stories. SALLY by Daniel Keyes, WEAVERS OF DEATH releases of KINSMAN by Ben Bova, AN by Ras Rymas, THE DEATH BEAST by David INFINITE SUMMER by Christopher Priest and FAWCETT (Including Gold Medal 8 Crest) titles from June to August include: Gerrold, ASHES by Audrey Peyton, IF IT'S TIME MACHINE II, a sequel to H.G.Well's BLUE IT'S PLAGUE by L.P.Reeves, HOMO "Time Machine" by the late George Pal and a new edition of NIGHT OF MASKS by Andre Norton, AND NOT MAKE DREAMS YOUR TELEKINS by Eric C.Williams, THE LUCIFER Joe Morhaim. MASTER by Stephen Goldin, KEEPING TIME EXPERIMENT by Adrian Cole, THE ETERNITY by David Bear, CATASTROPHES edited by MERCHANTS and THE FIVE DOORS by Jack Asimov, Greenberg and Waugh, FIRE AT Rhys, DEEP SPACE WARRIORS by Julia THE CENTER by George W.Proctor, A WALK Riding, CHINAMAN'S CHANCE by Harry J. IN THE WOLF WOOD by Mary Stewart, THE Greenwald, ESPER'S WAR by Roger Perry, SURVIVAL OF FREEDOM by Jerry Poumelle THE LEVELLERS by Peter J.Grove, STAR and John F.Carr (eds), GREEN MONDAY by GOD by Allen L.Wold, THE SPELL OF THE Michael M.Thomas and an historical HANGED MAN by Rosemary Timperley, novel by Andre Norton, FOLLOW THE DRUM. GENSIS II by David Wiltshire, THE MAN WHO KNEW TIME by Ronald A.McQueen, The June release by FUTURA/ORBIT books SHAKEHOLE by R.W.Mackelworth, A QUESTION was a new edition of Ursula LeGuin's OF REALITY by D.A.Barker, MARVELS OF SF THE LEFT HAND OF DARKNESS and the novel of by Isaac Asimov, THE ALUMINUM MAN by the film THE CLASH OF THE TITANS by Alan Dean G.C.Edmondson, CALIFORNIA DREAMING by Foster. PRIESTS OF PSI by Frank Herbert Nicholas Garlick, SCORPION by Neville was listed for May along with "The Snow Kea, THE SECRET SEA by Thomas F. Queen" and "Ringworld Engineers" but Monteleone, and AN EXERCISE FOR MADMEN has not been seen here yet.FIRESTARTER by Barbara Paul. by Stephen King is an August release along with THE SENDAI another horror fantasy The only significant title from HAMLYN by William Woolfolk. Two more Joan VinJe paperbacks is WATCHTOWER by Elizabeth books due are EYES OF AMBER and THE Lynn. They have a number of fantasy OUTCASTS OF HEAVEN BELT. and horror titles but no other sf. CROWN OF THORN is by Louise Cooper and GALE RESEARCH CO. published in July a WALBURGA'S NIGHT is also by her writing comprehensive volume by David Cowart and under the name of Elizabeth Hann. Thomas L.Wymer (eds) on TWENTIETH A June title from HARCOURT BRACE (USA) CENTURY AMERICAN SF WRITERS, in two is MORE TALES OF PIRX THE PILOT by volumes at $116.00 (US). Stanislaw Lem. The VICTOR GOLLANCZ releases for early 1981 previously not mentioned, include: Two titles of interest from WILLIAM FIREBALL by John Christopher,a fantasy HEINEMANN (UK) are THE UNBORN , a for young readers; LEESE WEBSTER, a scientific horror story by David Stobin In July ANDRE DEUTSCH (UK) published a story book for young children by Ursula collection of stories by Anne McCaffrey; and an 'historical fantasy' by Gore LeGuin and illustrated by James Brunsman; Vidal, CREATION. THE WORLDS OF ANNE McCAFFREY. THE COOL WAR by Frederik Pohl; SCIENCE The following titles have been announced FICTION HALL OF FAME ed. by Arthur C. MICHAEL JOSPEH published THE BEST S1DRT by DENNIS DOBSON publishers (UK), but Clarke, the fourth in the collection of STORIES OF RIDER HAGGARD edited by Peter some may not be published till late this past Nebula Winners. Haining and MEDEA by Miranda Seymour. . year or 1982. THE PRISONER #3 by David GRANADA - PANTHER Paperbacks from June JUNCTION BOOKS (UK) are given as the McDaniel, THE SPACEJACKS by Robert to August: THE VERY SLOW TIME MACHINE publishers of J.R.R.TOLKIEN: THE SHORES Wells, THE SPACE ANGEL by John Maddox by Ian Watson in it's first British pb OF MIDDLE EARTH by Robert Giddings and Roberts, GIVE WARNING TO THE WORLD by edition along with a reprint of his Elizabeth Holland. John Brunner, SPACELING by Doris THE EMBEDDING. In August Panther has Piserchia, THE BEYONDERS by Manly Wade mainly reprints by Bradbury, Asimov From WILLIAM KIMBER (UK) we see some Wellman, THE LIFE BUYERS by E.C.Tubb, and Aldiss. The MAYFLOWER imprint list fantasy collections including DEAD OF THE WORLD'S BEST SF 6 edited by Donald is all Michael Moorcock: SAILOR ON THE NIGHT edited by Peter Haining, JEWELS A.Wollheim, THE TIMEWINDERS by Colin SEAS OF FATE, WARLORD OF THE AIR, THE OF WONDER edited by Michael Ashley, a Kapp, RIGHT-HANDED WILDERNESS by Robert ETERNAL CHAMPION and MOORCOCK'S BOOK OF collection of heroic fantasy, and TALES Wells, OMEGA TO ALPHA by A.N.Raine, THE MARTYRS. Some of these are reprints and OF DARKNESS by R.Chetwynd-Hayes. All he. MINDS OF DELTA by Terry Cockburn and the others new editions and first time ALFRED KNOPF (US) published THE HAUNTED ZARTHOR'S BANE by Andre Norton. publications by Granada. COMPUTER AND THE ANDROID POPE, a collec­ DOUBLEDAY (USA) published in July and American specialist and limited edition tion of poetry by Ray Bradbury, in July. August the following bound volumes: publisher DONALD M.GRANT has announced ALLEN LANE published in April what TRANSFER TO YESTERDAY by Isidore Haiblum , a very impressive list of titles. Those might be called a fantasy adventure UNIVERSE 11 edited by Terry Carr, out or due immediately include: EALDWOOD in CONGO by Michael Crichton,the TWELVE FAIR KINGDOMS II: THE GRAND by C.J.Cherryh, HEROES AND HOBGOBLINS author of "Andromeda Strain". JUBILEE by Suzette Haden Elgin, THE BEST by L.Sprague De Camp, which was origin­ OF TOM SCORTIA edited by George Zebrowski, ally announced by defunct publisher Two titles only from LEISURE books in AIR GLOW RED by Ian Slater, YOYAGERS by Heritage Press, THE WONDERFUL LIPS OF the f&sf line; TIME QUEST #3: NEMYDIA Ben Bova, BRINKMAN by Ron Goulart and THIBONG LINH by Theodore Roscoe, YELLOW DEEP an sf novel by William Tedford WHISPERS III edited by Stuart D.Schiff. MEN SLEEP by Jeremy Lane and SCARLET and WINGMASTER, also sf , by David Houston. DUTTON (USA) will publish BEST SCIENCE DREAM by C.L.Moore. FICTION STORIES OF THE YEAR edited by GREGG PRESS library and collectors MACDONALD (UK) published THE EYES OF Gardner Dozois. editions for recent months are THE GREEN AMBER by Joan D.Vinge, an sf novel and BRAIN by Frank Herbert, BEYOND THIS DANSE MACABRE by Stephen King, which is EERDMANS Publishers (USA) have issued a non-fiction survey of the fantasy and another two volumes in their pb series horror field. of George MacDonald's fantasys; LILITH HORIZON by Robert A.Heinlein, THE DIPLOIDS and PHANTASTES. by Katherine McLean and under the MAGNUM paperback publishers published in TWAYNE imprint a biographical, critical May the book of the movie DEATHWATCH Between May and June EYRE METHUEN (UK) survey of FRANK R.STOCKTON by Henry L. by D.G.Compton, which was originally published a non-fiction survey of the Golemba. called "The Continuous Katherine fantasy field simply called FANTASY, Mortenhoe" or "The Unsleeping Eye". The most prolific publisher of he sf by Rosemary Jackson. They also did the Philip K.Dick's collection,THE GOLDEN in UK has been ROBERT HALE, but word is first bound edition of the Arthurian MAN was a June release along with Thomas that they will be cutting down from now story, HAWK OF MAY by Gillian Bradshaw. Bontly's Faustian fantasy CELESTIAL CHESS. on. Meanwhile titles announced for pub­ Followed by THE GOLDEN MAN by Philip K. ICARUS by Peter Way is of passing Dick, again the first he edition of lication up to July include: THE FIFTH IO interest. WILLIAM MORROW (USA) published in April Roger Zelazny and OATH OF FEALTY by the SF Special series, which includes Leonard Wibberley's THE MOUSE THAT SAVED Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, both in the one volume PRELUDE TO SPACE and THE WEST. In their QUILL TPB series they in limited $35.00 US editions. CHILDHOOD'S END by Arthur C.Clarke. published RADIX by A.A. Attanasio in PLAYBOY paperbacks for the period are: SIMON L SCHUSTER published early in the August and the he THE KEEP by F.Paul year, before they started their "Time­ Wilson. NIGHTMARES edited by Charles L.Grant - hfa, IMAGE OF THE BEAST and A FEAST scape" series, KING DAVID'S SPACESHIP SIGNET/NAL from June to August titles UNKNOWN both by Philip Jose Farmer - by Jerry Pornelle -sfn (rewrite), and THE include: THE LAST COMMUNION by Nicholas sfn-rps, THE SUNDERED REALM by Robert E. DREAMERS by James Gunn -sfn. Yermakov, ISLANDS IN THE SKY by Arthur Vardeman and Victor Milan - sfn-rp, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY PRESS have C.Clarke, THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SKY also HORROR HOUSE by J.N.Williamson - hf-n, recently published THE FANTASTIC STORIES by Clarke, FIRESTARTER by Stephen King, DOC SAVAGE by P.J.Farmer -fn-rp, THE OF CORNELL WOOLRICH Edited by Charles TODAY WE CHOOSE FACES doubled with BRIDGE DESECRATION OF SUSAN BROWNING by Martin G.Waugh and Martin H.Greenberg, a OF ASHES, both by Roger Zelazny, SWORDS Russell -hfn, NIGHT SCREAMS by Bill facsimile reprint of the first issue OF THE HORSECLANS by Robert Adams, and Pronzini and Barry Malzberg -hfn, and of THE MAGAZINE OF FANTASY 6 SF, April THE EVIL IMAGE:The literary art of terror TARZAN ALIVE by P.J.Farmer -fn-rp. from Daniel Defoe to Stephen King, a 1965, that Edward L.Ferman edited, and Meridian imprint title by Patricia Skarda THE BEST SCIENCE FICTION OF ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE edited by C.G.Waugh and and Nora Jaffe. M.H.Greenberg. NEW ENGLISH LIBRARY paperbacks include: A BRILLIANT NEW NOVEL BY THE HUGO ANO SPHERE Books releases for the period ZONE 4: SKY STRIKE by James Rouch, AND NEBULA AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF DREAMSNAKE up to August include: THE RIM OF SPACE MICRONAUT WORLD by Gordon Williams, HOTEL A STAR TREK’NOVEL by A.Bertram Chandler, SOMEWHERE IN TIME TRANSYLVANIA by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, jnMn.mdnwRE by Richard Matheson^ THE AVATAR by FAIR WARNING by George Simpson and Neal Poul Anderson, SCHRODINGER'S CAT by R.Burger, WOLFCURSE by Guy N.Smith, THEEHTROPV R.Anton Wilson, THE TUNNEL WAR and CACHALOT by Alan Dean Foster, DRAGON'S THE NORTH CAPE both by Joe Poyer, THE EGG by Robert L.Forward, CONDOR MAN EFFECT PRODIGY by Jay Livingstone, THE FUNHOUSE by Heather Simon and THE HAUNTING AT by Owen West, WARP 2 : LEMMINGS ON THE WAVERLY FALLS by H.C.Rae. EDGE by Neil Oram, MASTERS OF EVERON N.E.L, Hard cover titles inlude two by Gordon R.Dickson, ZOMBIE by Peter occult fantasy novels, BEYOND FOREVER Tremayne, THE DEVIL YOU DON'T by Ron by Bradford J.01esker and THE WATCH GODS Moody, and reprints of Gordon R.Dickson's by Barbara Wood. Three new editions of DORSAI'., SOLDIER ASK NOT and THE TACTICS Robert Heinlein Novels saw the light in OF MISTAKE. July, THE PUPPET MASTERS, MAGIC INC,, In STARBLAZE books WEB OF DARKNESS by and REVOLT IN 2100. Marion Zimmer Bradley is due along with THE NEW ENGLAND SF ASSOCIATION published WE ARE ALL LEGENDS by Darrell Schweitzer. a collection of stories by Tanith Lee early this year called UNSILENT NIGHT. STARMONT Publishers issued in April a thick paperback, THE SCIENCE FICTION ODDYSEY PUBLICATIONS latest pulp reprint REFERENCE BOOK edited by Marshall B. volume in pb format is ACTION STORIES. Tymn.(This is a handy volume but some OVERLOOK PRESS did a new edition of of the contributors would have done the highly regarded early sf classic, well to get their facts straight.) LAND UNDER ENGLAND by Joseph O'Neill, POCKET BOOKS § TIMESCAPE Series starts A July title from TAPLINGER Publishers in May in he. off with the third in the Schrodinger's (USA), was ALIEN ENCOUNTERS edited by Cat series, THE HOMING PIGEONS by Robert well known sf fan Jan Howard Finder. PAN Books output of sf is extremely Anton Wilson -fn, Vonda McIntyre's "Star limited now and we only have CLONE by In their Writers of the 21st Century Trek" effort, THE ENTROPY EFFECT -sfn, Series the volume on PHILIP K.DICK Richard Cowper, WAR GAMES by Brian NEW DIMENSIONS 12 - edited by Marta Stableford and the juvenile, in Piccolo has apparently made it at last. It is Randall and Robert Silverberg - sfa, edited by M.H.Greenberg and J.D.Olander. series, DEATH WINGS OVER VEYNEA by LIMB TO LIMB by John Russo -hfn, (THE JOY Douglas Hill. MAKERS by James Gunn -sfn, is cancelled) . The new sf imprint TOR which is being PELHAM Publishers released a new LIFESHIP by Gordon R.Dickson and Harry distributed by Pinnacle has some very Nicholas Fisk juvenile, ROBOT REVOLT. Harrison -sfn-rp, WHEN MICHAEL CALLS by good titles: FATHER TO THE STARS by John Farris -hn, TIMESCAPE by Gregory Philip Jose Farmer -sfn(?), A TRANSAT­ From PENGUIN and associate imprints we Benford - sfn, TEN MILE TREASURE, a LANTIC TUNNELL, HURRAH! by Harry Harrison see: VICE VERSA by F.Anstey-fn, THE mystery novel, juvenile by Andre Norton, reprinted, WINNERS by Poul Anderson - BOOK OF THE DUN COW by Walter Wangerin RETIEF OF THE CDT by Keith Laumer - sfn f§sfc- we presume. -fn, SEVEN STEPS TO THE SUN by Fred and -rp, THE VOYAGE OF THE SPACE BEAGLE by Geoffrey Hoyle - sfn, HEROES AND VILLAINS A.E.van Vogt -sfn.rp, THE BEST SF OF THE June releases from TOWER Books were and THE BLOODY CHAMBER, an sf(?)n and a YEAR ed. by Terry Carr - # 10 in series, THE MARK OF THE DEMON , the second in fantasy collection both by Angela A DREAM OF KINSHIP by Richard Cowper - John Jakes Brak series, and SKYCLIMBER, Carter, DR JEKYLL AND MR HOLMES by sfn, AT THE EYE OF THE OCEAN by Hilbert an sf novel by Raymond Z. Gallun. John Watson - a horror mystery n, a Schenck-sfn, FANE by David M.Alexander- The latest in their series of critical triple volume by Stanislaw Lem containing sci/fa n, THE CITY OF THE SINGING FLAME books on sf$f authors from FREDERICK SOLARIS, CHAIN OF CHANCE and PERFECT by Clark Ashton Smith -fSsf c, and a UNGER publishers is URSULA K. LE GUIN, VACUUM, SPLIT SECOND by Gary Kilworth - new translation of 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER by Barbara J.Bucknail. sfn, ISLANDS IN THE SKY by Arthur C. THE SEA by Jules Verne. Clarke - sfn -rp, along with his OF TIME In the RANDOM HOUSE/VINTAGE series, AND STARS,sfe-rp, THE ENNEAD by Jan Mark ST MARTINS PRESS (USA) published a non­ Doris Lessing's SHIKASTA and THE MARRIAGE - sfn-j, RUSSIAN HIDE AND SEEK by fiction volume TWENTIETH CENTURY SF BETWEEN ZONES THREE, FOUR AND FIVE were Kingsley Amis - a future thriller, WRITERS edited by Curtis Smith. It has due for August publication. a cover price of $65.00 US. They also CITIZEN OF THE GALAXY by Robert Heinlein WARNER Books only association with f&sf - another Puffin rp/n along with the published PATH OF THE ECLIPSE by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, a fantasy novel. now seems to be through film tie-ins and Clarkes, and THE DAY OF THE TRIFFIDS only their second book this year is by John Wyndham -sfn-rp. SECKER § WARBERG (UK) published an CLASH OF THE TITANS by Alan Dean Foster. historical novel by Michael Moorcock in PERIGEE books have done mainly illustrated Specialist publisher ROBERT WEINBERG June, BYZANTIUM ENDURES and in May THE novels and art books, so we presume published in June THE COMPLETE INDEX TO LAST DAYS OF AMERICA by Paul Erdman. INTER ICE AGE by Japanese author Kobo ASTOUNDING/ANALOG 1930 -1980. A hard Abe will be an illustrated edition. SIDGWICK § JACKSON (UK) published cover with a $29.95 cover price. Limited and First Edition publisher Charles Sheffield's non-fiction book on Their latest pulp reprint is PHANTASIA PRESS are doing MADWAND by satellite surveys of the Earth, EARTHWATCH. INCREDIBLE ADVENTURES featuring Ray . In August they are doing number 36 in CONTINUED Col.2 page 19 • SPHERE SCIENCE FICTION Galaxy Murder Mystery & BOOKSHOP A Manhunt In a SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY SPECIALISTS Mining Colony on Jupiter's Moon Io WHOLE NEW A Movie WORLD OF BOOKS Thriller Starring Sean

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CIRCULATION ONE will be held in Canberra °n Saturday August 8th. A little more 3rd to 4th October, at The Ainslie Hotel, co-operation between the Society and Enquiries and bookings P.O.Box 544, other associated interest groups in Civic Square, ACT 2608 Publicity simply Melbourne would have helped. states "Fun, Frolics and Serious Discussion". TSCHAICON is the 1982 Australasian THE CONVENTION OF THE GREAT KLINGON National Convention. (Australasian EMPIRE is to be held in Adelaide on because of the new affiliation with Un the off chance that you are reading October 24th and 25th. For details New Zealand Fandom.) It will be held this before August 22nd I will mention contact, SASTREK on (08) 2556569 in Melbourne at Easter, at the Melbourne the two conventions being held that Townhouse Hotel, 701 Swanston St., weekend. Before I do,I might add that I DENVENTION: The 1981 World SF Convention Carlton. Memberships up to Tolkon will be do not consider that either convention's is being held in Denver Colorado, USA $16.00. For further details contact attendance would be effected at all by from September 3rd to 7th. Quite a few Justin Ackroyd, P.O.Box 2708X, the other one being held the same weekend. Australian fans will be attending, but Melbourne 3001. JACK VANCE is G.O.H. There have been a number of conventions although I planned to, it is most un­ and such this year and people cannot be likely that I will be able to make it. MEDTREK is a Star Trek Convention expected to attend them all. The two The voting for the site for 1983 will organised by ASTREK in NSW and being conventions in question also will appeal be announced and if you have not voted held at the Hydro Majestic Hotel to a different audience at any rate. for Australia in 1983 by the time you Medlow Bath, in the Blue Mountains. TOLKON will be held at the New Crest read this, you will be too late unless The date is February 13th § 14th. Hotel, Kings Cross, Sydney on August you are attending Denvention. The 1982 Further details from 12/207 Birrel 22nd to 24th. It is this gear's University, World Convention will be held in Street, Waverly, NSW 2024 Chicago, and our own A.BERTRAM CHANDLER convention and is fantasy orientated, WELLCON C is the name of the New and in the usual form of previous will be the Guest of Honour. More Zealand Convention that will be bid­ Tolkons that have been held by the details later. ding for the National Australasian Universit)'of Sydney Tolkien Society. SWANCON 7 is the next convention to be Convention in 1983. I will be printing PHANTASTACON 81' is being held at the held in Perth, Western Australia, on a letter from GREG HILLS stating the Melbourne Town House Hotel, 701 the Australia day weekend, January 27th position of NZ fandom in relation to Swanston Street, Carlton August 21st to 30th. Details to be had from P.O.Box the national convention bid and more to 23rd. It appears to have a little 318, Nedlands, 6009, W.A. in the next issue. of everything but leaning towards The FANTASY FILM SOCIETY will be holding OCTOCON 182 is a New Zealand convention games and comics. There will be a a small CINECON in 1982, but the date to be held in 1982. Details can be film programme, auction and masquerade. has not been decided. Meanwhile screen­ obtained we believe from TOM CARDY, Enquiries telephone: 848 7623 or ings will be held this year. The only 137 Richardson St., Dunedin, New Zealand. 874 7475 date confirmed is at the STATE FILM STAR TREK Screenings in Melbourne COMICON III , the 1981 Australian Comic CENTRE on November 15th. More details Dates for screenings at the National convention will be held in Sydney at later. A minicon to honour RON COBB Mutual Thedtrette will be October 10th The New Crest Hotel, in Kings Cross was a disaster due to the fact that and December 5th. October 3rd to Sth. Details from other functions were being held on that Gomicon III, 7 Perry St., Leichardt, day, and only 19 people attended the N.S.W 2040 gathering held at the Victoria Hotel 13 work it has featured on it's covers over GEORGE TURNER'S new sf novel VANE GLORY People and Publishing the years, which will be published as a is due to be published by Faber in the Nelson Doubleday book. L.SPRAGUE DE CAMP U.K. late this year. It will not be MARION ZIMMER BRADLEY has sold a giant has sold a new 'Krishna' novel, THE published in Australia, by the new new fantasy novel to Ballantines for PRISONER OF ZHANANOCK along with all representatives for Faber, Penguin paperback and Alfred Knopf for hard the earlier titles in the series. Books until next year. This is going cover. Total price was $60,000 for the (SFC) to make things awkward for getting novel called MISTRESS OF MAGIC. No date Ace Books have bought the rights to VANEGLORY nominated for this year's of publication is yet announced. The twenty four "Conan" titles. Including Ditmar Awards. As it will be published story is the Arthurian legend from the eighteen they already have published and this year it will be eligible to be womanl-s point of view, with Morgan LeFay six previously published by Bantam.How­ nominated, but nobody here will be able as the heroine. (SFC) ever Bantam will do the book of the to buy copies until early next year, "Conan" movie. RON COBB, artist, set­ perhaps only a few weeks before the PHILIP K.DICK has sold two new books designer and budding director of films, National convention at Easter. To get recently. THE OWL IN DAYLIGHT and BISHQP was in Australia recently publicising over the problem we are endeavouring to TIMOTHY ARTHUR to Timescape. Del Rey his book COLOURVISION, which is published obtain advance copies,which we will loan are re-releasing DO ANDROIDS DREAM OF by Wild and Woolley. He made numerous to people who are genuinely interested ELECTRIC SHEEP, to coincide with the appearances on television and radio, did in nominating and voting in the Ditmar making of a $25-million dollar movie. a book signing at Space Age Books and Awards. More details later. (SFC) made a brief appearance at a convention THE HILDEBRANDT FANTASY COOKBOOK by organised in his honour by the Fantasy TERRY CARR has obtained three title for Rita and Tim Hildebrandt and THE BOOK Film Society in Melbourne. his new Ace Specials project; PALIMP­ OF MERLYN written by Rita and illus­ (SFC +) SESTS by Carter Scholz and Glenn trated by Tim Hildebrandt, were both Harcourt, A WORLD OF SMALL COMPASS by bought by Bobbs Merrill. NICHOLAS The new Berkley Trade Paperback line Donnan Call Jeffries and THEM. BONES by YERMAKOV has sold the sequel to his LAST will be simply that, with no special im­ Howard Waldrop. ORSON SCOTT CARD is COMMUNION to NAL, EPIPHANY. (SFC) print. They will do GOD EMPEROR OF DUNE doing a major rewrite of his "Worthing first plus new editions of the earlier The hardest hard science sf novel pub­ three "Dune" novels. They have cancelled Chronicle" series for Ace. SINGLE COMBAT is a sequel to SYSTEMIC SHOCK by Dean lished for some time must be DRAGON'S their hard cover line (pity!), but a few Ing for TOR. HARRY HARRISON has completed EGG by Robert L.Forward. It was pub­ still to be done are: THE UNREASONING THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT FOR PRESIDENT lished by Del Rey early this year and MASK by Philip Jose Farmer, CRUISER DREAMS for Bantam. WALTER TEVIS has turned in N.E.L. will be doing the British edition by Janet Morris, THE SARDONYX NET by his new novel BELSON REBORN to Doubleday. late this year. Elizabeth A.Lynn, and the WOLVES OF Because of insufficient advance orders MEMORY by George Alec Effinger. The title THE LORD OF THE RINGS was broadcast as FREDERIK POHL'S FAVOURITE STORIES has Pocket Books have cancelled THE BEST OF a 26 part radio series from March 8th WILSON TUCKER. Shame! Shame! Shame! definitely been cancelled in he but will last. Some of the actors taking part be done in the TPB series. Other future were Michael Horden as Gandalf, John CHRISTOPHER PRIEST who married LISA TPB titles include LYONNESSE by Jack Vance, Le Mesurier as Bilbo and Ian Holm as TUTTLE recently, will be visiting Australia DEMON by John Varley, THE DREAM MAKER'S Frodo. for the Adelaide Festival of Arts in ENCYCLOPEDIA by Charles Platt, and a new March next year. It is hoped that he The Times-Mirror Company of Los Angeles edition of the ONCE AND FUTURE KING by will also be visiting other capital has sold New English Library to the T.H.White. (Locus) cities, but we do not know if Lisa will British publisher Hodder and Stoughton. be accompanying, him. It will be retained as a separate com­ While Berk ley/Putnam are cancelling their pany. They have a very strong SF list hard cover sf line, Pocket Books will in paperback with ROBERT HEINLEIN and not only continue with their Timescape the "Dune" series by FRANK HERBERT series, but are launching a new line among others. NEL incidently gained with a new editor, not DAVID HARTWELL the paperback rights for GOD EMPEROR OF who handles Timescape, but ANN PATTY. DUNE for 37,500 pounds at an auction A dozen books will be published during a held by Gollancz. (SFC) year and marketed as mainstream. FEVRE DREAM by George R.R.Martin is the first Futura will publish JOE HALDEMAN'S new title announced. novel WORLDS, which was also sold to a (Locus) German publisher, Moewig. Futura will CARL SAGAN'S as yet unfinished sf novel also publish BARRY LONGYEAR'S novels will have the title of CONTACT. A movie MANIFEST DESTINY and CITY OF BARABOO. option has been taken on GEORGE R.R.MARTIN'S A.E.VAN VOGT was awarded an Italian Hugo for the body of hi,s work and FOREST J. story "Nightflyers". IAN WATSON, recent­ ACKERMAN one for his career while they ly stood for parliament and although he both were in Rome at the Fantascience lost he captured a higher percentage of Film Festival. (SFC) Labor voters than any qther candidates in the surrounding district. His new Farmer's THE MAGIC LABRYNTH had 350,000 novel DEATHUNTER will be published in copies in print in paperback after a October by Gollancz. ,, . second printing before publication. (Locus) As a matter of comparison Space Age Books FRED POHL has finished his novel SYZYRGY sold 250 copies of the Panther edition for Bantam and he is working on a novel MAGAZINE NEWS in a few weeks and the distributors, of his short story "The Gold At Star­ Gordon and Gotch, are out of stock.( See bow's End". He has also sold a third The cover designs for the DAVIS public­ DAMIEN BRODERICK'S review this issue.) "Gateway" novel to Ballantines. ation's magazines analog and ASIMOV'S L.SPRAGUE DE CAMP has completed his (Locus) SF magazine seem to be steadily deter­ biography of ROBERT E.HOWARD, but as iorating. The August issue of the of July it had not been sold to a pub­ former shows some slight improvement, lisher. THE WINTER BEACH is a new novel with the dropping of the boxed in by KATE WILHELM to be published by FOREST J. ACKERMAN has completed a bio- logo. The August and September issues ography of Lon Chaney. CRYSTAL GRYPHON Houghton Miflin in the USA. A sequel to of ASIMOV'S are the worst covers they by Andre Norton will be published by IN THE OCEAN OF THE NIGHT by GREGORY hive ever produced.They are simply too Fawcett. DONALD KINGSBURY'S novel BENFORD, which was originally sold to plain and unimpressive. As a matter of COURTSHIP RITE, which was orginally Dell, is now being considered by other contrast, THE magazine of FsSF covers bought by Dell, has been sold to Time­ publishers. JACK WILLIAMSON has written recently have been particularly good. scape. STEPHEN DONALDSON'S next title THE QUEEN OF THE LEGION for Timescape. The new magazine from Davis publications in the "Covenant" series, THE ONE TREE EVANGELINE WALTON has also sold a novel will be called SCIENCE FICTION DIGEST, will be published by Del Rey in Spring to Timescape, THE SWORD IS FORGED. The SF although for a while it was going to be '82. No date on the British edition. Book club is to do a collection of art- SCIENCE FICTION/FACT DIGEST. The first (Locus) 14 issue will be published in September. JACK UlODHnmS: flustralian SF Author Profile ★ ★ ★

ASFN: How many stories have you had inviting Old Pro George Turner for published Jack and where and when? guidance, in a general way. He was, as memory serves, jolly decent, and del­ Wodhams: I am my own worst publicist. I ighted to oblige. I have no recollection don't care whether you believe it, but at all what his advice was, it went in I am simply not interested in beating one ear and straight out the other. my own drums. Other bibliographers have Truth is, no two writers speak the same written me requesting nunbers, the what, language. Take any bunch of scribblers, when, and where of my stories, but my and give them all the same spark to attitude is this:- if it is worth while puff into flame, and they each will blow compiling such a catalog, then someone differently, to produce everything from else can do it; if it is not worth glowing embers to fireworks. If two while compiling such a list, then I writers write the same, one is imitating. don't want to waste time doing it myself. The only advice I have ever taken has Still ...... My first stories sold been in regard to the mechanics - - were fairly close together, to ANALOG, double spacing, one side of the page and then to NEW WRITINGS IN SF. John W. only, adequate margins, and, aw, maybe Campbell was the most encouraging,poss­ maybe the pained hint to suggest an im­ essed a most engaging absence of con­ provement in my grammar. descension, and distinctly must be re­ garded as the lifeline that hauled me ASFN: Well finally Jack, you have a up to obtain whatever footing I may number of short stories due to be pub­ have in the sf field today. lished, can we expect another novel soon? ASFN: What is your own favourite story? Wodhams: Presently I am engaged on the Wodhams: The story of mine that I like third novel I have started this year. best is always the one that I am writing Just now it is going reasonably well, at the moment. If a tale, it's prospects and hopefully this is one that will and possibilities, did not initially keep my attention engaged until it is entertain me with some element of nov­ furthered to completion. INTRODUCTION elty, I would be too bored to make the paper dirty. by Paul Collins ASFN: Whom if any, other sf writers have My thanks to Jack Wodhams for the above Considering Jack Wodhams' law regarding influenced you in your own writing? "interview". I will be including more editors: 'One who regards his writers such Profile/Interviews with other Wodhams: Other writers who have influ­ as the necessary manure he has to Australian authors in future issues. shovel if he wants grow the best roses', enced (?) beguiled me into some attempt at emulation have been authors of humour, and his philosophy that he is 'willing Merv Binns Ed. to accept an editor as equal, but not rather than sf. Among others, W.W.Jacobs, as daddy', and preferring to be 'pub­ Evelyn Waugh, Damon Runyon, James Thurber, lished complete as I have writ, warts the outrageous Thorne Smith, and the in­ THE ECONOMICS AND TRENDS OF and all', Wodhams does remarkably well. comparable Ernest Bramah. The writings of So much so he is undoubtedly Australia's these fellows, though, oft do have wild, CURRENT F&SF PUBLISHING top selling sf short story writer. His even sf, elements. And 0.Henry, of course. sales alone to analog far outreach other John Wyndham might be the author I would honour most, in sf, closely followed by ANDREW PORTER reporting the Annual local writers' selling capacity — his American Booksellers Association confer­ recent sales confirm his popularity . Ray Bradbury. Throw in Keith Laumer and Edgar Wallace. More recently I have been ence held in Atlanta recently, noticed In just six months Wodhams has sold pleased to acknowledge the tales of a trend in that a wider range of pub­ stories to ANALOG,OMEGA , TWILIGHT T James Tiptree, Junior, who is, so I have lishers are publishing the odd sf or ZONE, the new prestigious QUEST/STAR heard, really a girl.( I am sure she associated title. More publishers are (Horace Gold recently said of a Wodhams' would love being called a girl at this apparently realising the potential in story "it is superbly written... should stage of her existance. Ed.) the f 6 sf field. There were not so be at least nominated for a Hugo"), many large format, gift type books, and Marty Greenberg's anthology SEVEN But there are so many, and I, as many the ones that were shown were those pub­ CARDINAL VIRTUES OF SF, my DISTANT another reader, may enjoy a story, yet lished with a sink-or-swim mentality WORLDS anthology, a new anthology yet fail to bother to turn back the pages that are so evident when editorial dep­ to be published locally (untitled), to discover, and commit to memory , the artments are at odds with sales depart­ name of its writer. Writers are 100% AMAZING, plus stories currently being ments. Another trend was the increase anonymous. There has to be an awful lot translated into Hungarian and German. in prices, particularly hard covers.( I of focal vocal before a writer can am glad you noticed that Andy. The trend One remarkable feature of Wodhams' believe that he has become recognised is worse here. Books are getting that material is its originality. If ever to exist. expensive that people are buying less a science fiction author could maintain and a recent report said that library a cult following, it would be Wodhams. ASFN: After a break you seem to be back on the writing trail again in earnest. business has gone up considerably recent­ It is safe to say in print that it will ly, which is not surprising.MB) Andy be Jack Wodhams who will, if anyone Wodhams: Yes, according to my agents, said also said and I quote: " at what does locally, claim a Hugo for Australian Rowena and Paul, (Cory § Collins) point do irresistibly rising prices meet fiction... there should be more work of mine coming immovable hands stuck in empty wallets?" out here and there, from time to time. Paul Collins (See Paul Collins introduction, above. Also to be added to the list is "Big As a bookseller, that is a question I ASFN Interview Time Operator" to be included in M.H. have been asking myself for some time. Greenberg's INCREDIBLE LOCKED ROOM Andy added that if the US economy MYSTERIES. ED.) improves we may at least see an end Well as Jack himself puts it, "Publishers to the cutting back in sf publishing. with vested interests should be forgiven ASFN: What advice can you give to new The Australian economic situation is a their exaggerations", so we asked Jack writers? mess, and it is obvious that our present for a few more details on himself to Wodhams: If you need advice, then don't government is leading the country to somewhat temper Paul's glowing contrib­ write. Way back near the beginning, at disaster. (SFC +MB) ution. my first Melbourne con, I remember 15 On the other hand there's bloody old basics of life are provided free. Sin Philip Jose Farmer's endless Women's enters at once. Greed, lust, aggression, Weekly cruise up and down the River anxiety (you didn't know anxiety was of Cosmic Meaning. Endless? THE MAGIC a sin?), suicide. Yet suicide is no LABYRINTH is advertised as the concluding longer a sin, for self-destruction merely volume of the Riverworld series proper, triggers another rebirth. Ultimately, but bloody turgid old endless Philip the Riverworld series suggests, one ought Jose Farmer has publicly threatened to live for passionate intensity. The us with more, little stories and higher the passion, the fiercer the flame, snippets and doubtless mighty documented the greater will be one's respect for novellas and encyclopedias of addenda those other conscious beings who and marginalia, and apart from that share one's physical and psychic universe. Ethics emerge from ripenessf VALIS there's the last three sentences of not staleness, not constriction, not by Philip K. Dick LABYRINTH which just beg... cry out... for a sequel. cowardice and self-restraint. And the Bantam; $3.25; 213pp 5 appendix final goal and reward of true ethical Review by Damien Broderick What?? Do your ears deceive you?? Isn't passion is transcendence. The developed it the case that THE MAGIC LABYRINTH soul/mind/body passes out of this Everyone's yacking his head off about is the hottest property on the sf world into the mysterious and unknowable God these days. Let's take Philip shelves, the book above all books which Bosom of God. Dick. Otherwise known, in his latest brought constant inquiries from eager theological fiction, as Horselover Fat In short, the Riverworld series contains would-be purchasers? Oh please, (a sort of Greek-German translation of assertions (or speculations) about the Mr Bookseller, when oh when is the next his name). Old Horselover had a nasty nature of humanity, about our purpose Riverworld book due? Is it not true, shock some years back, when a vision in a blind universe, and it contains as the blurb on the back page states, of Absolute Evil was vouchsafed him. as well a full-blown multi-level that it's "the most heralded science The Three Stigmata of the devil. metaphor for those speculations. Yes, fiction event of recent times... the Entropy rode the range, sucking there's also an "explanation" at the culminating achievement of the epoch- everything down into gluey oblivion. end which ties all the mysteries up in making Riverworld Series which has been Life wasn't easy for Horselover in a dingy bow, forcing the loose ends those days. Happily, a good-guys pronounced the most daring, wide-ranging under in the hope that they won't pop revelation showed Mr Fat that he could and speculative in the annals of science back out until the book is closed, but fiction"? be snatched out of the fire. There's that explanation is not really actually a sort of., spirit or... Force important. It too is a metaphor, and watching over us, imbueing us, hinting Yes. All these things are true, and it's dragged in at the end with such have come to pass. that after all, in the face of all speed that I think even Farmer that grim evidence, It's All Right. considers it marginal. Basically, (Has anyone ever noticed how much Something went badly wrong. After the its meaning is this: the universe Darth Vader resembles Palmer Eldritch, first volume of the series (TO YOUR produces complexity of all kinds, but the demon-soaked pilgrim of Dick's SCATTERED BODIES GO) appeared in book something extra-physical is needed to hallucinatory novel?) form, I read a close analysis of the ignite reality into meaning. Farmer improvements Farmer had wrought in postulates a wathan, or soul; personally, Horselover Fat meditates on the nature language and character since its I find this as unnecessary and distaste­ of the world, and human misery, and earlier magazine publication. The author ful as Von Daniken's argument that we that stuff, for most of these 213 pages. of that careful and reasonably admiring need to invoke extraterrestrials to In between the meagre narrative events, scrutiny was none other than John Foyster, explain the great human deeds of in which a species of Messiah or Anti- the killer critic. It is difficult to the past. (For anyone who is interested Christ or something is bom to a pair imagine John paying the same kind of in pursuing this question of the origins of clean popstars, Horselover mulls over, attention (or any at all) to the last of consciousness in a world of matter, bit by bit, the jottings he's made in two volumes in the series. Farmer I'd recommend Douglas Hofstadter's his diary. They look like this: visibly thumps this stuff out like a book GODEL, ESCHER, BACH.) Entry 30: The phenomenal world does cook in any army camp hurling bangers not exist: it is a hypostasis of the and mash onto tin plates as fast as he The real problem, I suppose, is that the information processed by the Mind. can, while the hungry troops march Riverworld books propose a literary Now that might strike you as a fairly muddily past, endlessly. (I do not project far beyond Farmer's powers. All old fashioned idea, but how about this, wish to imply that Farmer has abandoned his characters, despite some embarrass­ from Entry 48: his previous artisitic standards for ingly heavy-handed attempts to define The Godhead is impaired; mercenary motives.) them through speech, clump about the some primordial crisis occurred in it stage like zombies. The background data which we do not understand. Plainly, the flaws in writing and is ladled in with astounding clumsiness. thinking which I'm complaining about (It's a pretty hard trick to pull off, By a stroke of luck, the twelve pages of will not disturb the great majority admittedly, when your stage is so of Farmer's enthusiastic devotees. this insight-packed revelation are not broad; even Tolstoy strikes the modern SF readers are generally word-blind. As just left scattered incoherently reader as ham-fisted in this regard.) through the rest of VALIS. They are evidence, recall Mervyn Binns' recent stomach-churning verdict, in these neatly reprinted in an Appendix at the VALIS annoyed me, but stung my interest: end, for easy reference and worship. pages, on Joan Vinge's best-selling I want to read the promised sequel, Barbara-Cartland-in-space emetic THE DIVINE INVASION. But THE MAGIC I might have given you the impression THE SNOW QUEEN: "If I had read it LABYRINTH bored, bored, bored.... that I didn't enjoy VALIS. This is not without knowing the author," confessed quite correct. VALIS is a rotten novel, Mervyn, "I would have said it was by *********** but it's fascinating as a casebook in Ursula Le Guin." In any reasonable THE SCIENCE FICTION OF JAMES BLISH the disintegration of a mystic science court, that assertion would be grounds fiction writer. I keep wanting the for damages and horse-whipping. But V.O.R. Arrow; $3.20 mad author of UBIK and DR BLOODMONEY sf readers generally can't tell the GALACTIC CLUSTER Panther; $4.95 to come back home, but that's obviously difference between Vinge and Le Guin, GET OUT OF MY SKY Panther; $3.50 impossible, and an unfair request. or between Farmer on those rare occasions MISSION TO THE HEART STARS Dick has moved into stranger habitats when he gets it shockingly, brilliantly Panther; $3.50 since then. Treat VALIS as a by-product right, and Farmer most of the time Reviewed by George Turner of the California Mindfuck Trip and you when he flops down those emending piles might enjoy it. As I did. Sort of. of burnt sausages. When one considers the extraordinary THE MAGIC LABYRINTH I mentioned God, though. Whafs the range of themes treated by James Blish by Philip Jose Farmer Riverworld series all about? It's and the philosophic acuteness of much Panther; $5.95 496pp about the meaning of life. Everyone of his work, it comes as a surprise to 16 Reviewed by Damien Broderick gets resurrected on a world where the recall that from beginning to end he was appearance since its publication in Tadhg forgets his beliefs as a creator a product of and practitioner of the ASTOUNDING in 1957. It is a 30,000 of music, and lover of beauty, as the Campbell/Analog school of sf. His first word novella dealing with stand-off Hunter's hold on him grows. He leads published story was also the first politics (similar to the US-Russia the men of Ireland in battle. Death cyborg story in the modern sense and situation) and the possibility of and destruction please the hunter, who THE DAY AFTER JUDGEMENT, published a new mode of communication to nullify was in Tadhg's time the one who towards the end of his life (1975), propaganda and mass hysteria, and is battled the Goddess at the end of would have fitted, despite its immensely definitely worth the rescue from forget­ summer for the right to bring six superior sophistication, into Campbell's fulness. Included in the book is months oppression to the land. Only now pre-war magazine, UNKNOWN. another Blish rarety, the quasi-sf there is a dark beast that has aligned werewof novella, 'There Shall Be No itself with the Hunter, and feeds off His stories belonged, generally, to Darkness' , which dramatises the destruction. the 'hard science' category, yet with possibilities with more perception than the theoretical science so clearly most horror specialists have brought to Maire is sent to the insane ward at presented and so neatly fitted into the theme. the local hospital — the problems which the text that one absorbed it not beset both of them as they adjust are only without difficulty but also All these books are worth having, though quite logically and entertainingly without noticing. Most of his stories, I must recommend the collection, developed -- the goddess takes possession even the juveniles, also featured 'hard GALACTIC CLUSTER, as far superior to of her, helping her to escape. philosophy; always in the background the other three. Meanwhile, CITIES IN hovered such problems as predestination, FLIGHT (the full 250,000 word volume) When Maire and Tadhg are finally reunited, the nature of time, entropic history, is promised for republication in the it is in the guise of the Hunter and moral responsibility, cultural symbology near future. This group of four novels, Goddess, in a confrontation between and the ambiguities of religious belief. though uneven, contains some of the good and evil. The latter half of Always his ideas were grounded in solid most considerable ingenuities in all the novel is worth reading. The author understanding of modern philosophic science fiction, from the marvellously shows a keen understanding of the thought and always they were presented conceived bridge on Jupiter to the psychology of a divided country. with a neatly fitted dramatic background final spectacular death of the universe which both framed and explained them. as another one is bom. I hope to write at greater length of this when THE HANDS OF ORLAC by Maurice Renard He took the Campbell formula, shook the it appears. Until then, anyone can Translated from the French by Iain White more offensive nonsense out of it and do worse than read any Blish he comes 301 pgs, Souvenir Press $19.50 adapted it to some of the widest ranging across. He rarely gave less than a Reviewed by John Alderson science fiction of our day. A number of lesson in how to do it properly. his volumes are now being republished. Originally published in 1920,this book *********** concerns the worries and some horrors The earliest of these, V.O.R., is of a favourite pianist whose hands probably the least of his published TOO LONG A SACRIFICE having been destroyed in a railway accident works but still not uninteresting. It by Mildred Downey Broxon has grafted in their place, the hands is the story of a supremely dangerous Dell, $2.50 Reviewed by Rowena Cory of a supposed murderer guillotined robot visitor to the solar system and the next day. He is unable to play its defeat by brains when brawn becomes At first this seems to be another the piano and becomes obsessed with the useless. A weakness here is an uneasy traditional barbarian story set in idea that the hands wish to murder, and handling of the human interest area 4th century Ireland. Maire is a when murders do occur is uncertain that of the tale. According to Peter Nicholls healer, and her husband Tadhg is a he may well have been the murderer. (ENCYC. OF SF), Damon Knight had some bard. Life is good for them, until Spliced to this is the story of a hand in the novelisation from an original Tadhg hears the music of the Sidhe. blackmailer who claims to be the novella; the result will be more He can't rest until he sleeps on the guillotined murderer whose head was important to the Blish completist than Faerie mound, and the Sidhe return a sewn back on and who now wants a to the reader seeking excitement; still, changeling in his place. Maire payment of one million francs for his it has that, too. refuses to give up hope, and consults hands. the great Trout who lives in the By the time of publication of GALACTIC magical pool. I thoroughly recommend this book. It CLUSTER, only one year later (1959), is an unusual and gripping story, told Blish had accumulated a train of But when he leads her to the land of much differently from the Sf we are novellas and short stories second to none Sidhe, at the bottom of the lake, used to, with interesting and appealing in that day and second to few in 1981. she discovers that Tadhg is the characters. This collection, published today, would Queen's lover, and has forgotten her. **** make any sf writer's name overnight. Before long, lost as she is in despair, It contains such gems as 'Common Time', the lure of the Sidhe reaches her, WILD SEED by Octavia E. Butler 'A Work of Art', 'Beep' and 'This and she becomes the King's lover. 248 pgs, Sidgwick S Jackson $19.50 Earth Of Hours', and makes a complete Many years pass, thus breaking the answer to those critics who have usual plot line until the 'sky' over Reviewed by John Alderson suggested that his handling of human the lake darkens, and all the Sidhe A highly implausable and chauvinistic view beings was cold blooded and unsympath­ are terrified. of a 3,700 year old male who breeds etic. Cool it certainly was, and telepaths etc (for no real explained unsentimental, but never unsympathetic; Their time is passing, a great evil reason), and his meeting with a 350 he was one of sf's few creators of prowls the land. And all the folk year old female who is all goodness people. of Faerie are fading away. Maire pleads for she and Tadhg to be released. and light and whose descendants would make a nation. If you like stories MISSION TO THE HEART STARS was written The Queen grants this, and gifts them where the man is made to grovel and as a juvenile, but the description with the power of invisibility, fey weep before the woman and is accepted infers only some youthful characters sight, and the ability to understand when he reforms his ways, then this is and some very minor simplification strange speech. the book for you. The author could be of style. Its scientific and philos­ a good writer. ophic content are as carefully wrought Here events are hastened. As they as in such major works as A CASE OF surface in the lake to the accompanying ********** sound of gunfire in the near town, they CONSCIENCE and SEEDLING STARS, and the More reviews will be found on page 19 are separated; the rest of the novel book is as adultly readable as either. following Paul J.Steven's column. It concerns a journey to the galactic deals with Maire's attempts to find centre and the nature of the culture Tadhg. The Local Releases list is not in this discovered there. issue,but will be included in the next This is complicated by the fact that issue and will include titles up to The fourth volume, GET OUT OF MY SKY, being touched by magic they are September. is I think that story's first susceptible to possession. Gradually STAR RIGGERS WAY by Jeffrey A Carver of a female security agent to liven Arrow PB $4.50 up the plot and get Kirk's gonads working overtime shows the paucity An interesting way of travelling to of ideas that the Star Trek genre the stars has been figured out by Mr has come to. Even hardened Trekkies Carver, but his hero grates on the should pass this one up. Perhaps nerves and made me wish he would get the new series of Star Trek novels ...ofrecenf- Pantos/ + S F killed off in the first ten pages. coming from Pocket Books will give new He moans, whines and generally feels life to the desiccated corpse. By ffai. J. STfuews so sorry for himself the entire book that when I got to the last page I THE SHROUDED PLANET by Robert Randall SKYROCKET STEELE by Ron Goulart threw the book onto the floor and Starblaze PB $4.9Sus jumped up and down on it a few times. Pocket Books $2\ 25us Frustrating reading. Out of print for far too long, this The author obviously intended to have series first saw publication in the STORMQUEEN by Marion Zimmer Bradley a lot of fun with this book but pages of Astounding during the 1950s Arrow PB $5.50 somehow the promised fun does not and was an immediate hit with the eventuate and the thin plot peters out readers. It has been published in the Yet another in the early history of into a bit of a bore. Ron Goulart can USA in book form in limited edition Darkover and the uses and abuses of do far better than this. The cover by and was also seen in British Mayflower the matrix power in bloody feuding Carl Lundgren is the best thing about paperbacks. The team of Bob Silverberg and civil war. In this story Dorilys, the book. and Randall Garrett make up the daughter of Lord Aldaran has a power persona of Robert Randall and in this THE MAN IN THE DARKSUIT by Dennis R. Caro to call down lightning on those she series of two novels (THE DAWNING LIGHT fears, but with this power comes Pocket Books $1.95us is to follow) they produce a classic madness, a growing insanity that must science fiction work that should be on be conquered or all of Darkover could Here is a definite candidate for the every school library shelf and in be destroyed. How this problem is Pat Terry Award for humourous science every collection. fiction. It has a private eye hero, ladies finally resolved makes for 364 pages of exciting reading. Once again in distress and a villain in a Darksuit The basic plot of the series is a Marion Z. Bradley proves that she is who is slowly going mad from its effects. backward planet called Nidor where the a good storyteller and Darkover one I won't tell you any more about this sky is always covered by cloud and of the most fascinating planets in except to say that it is worth reading where ignorance and superstition reign. science fiction today. and it is a good giggle. Recommended. Into this peaceful and stagnant society come the god-like Earthmen who set up SOVEREIGN by R. M. Meluch THE RESTAURANT AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE a school to teach and who in doing so Arrow PB $4.75 by Douglas Adams destroy the old order to enable a Pan PB $3.50 new and questioning one to take it's I must admit to some disquiet when place and so join the Earthmen as equals. reading this novel, as if something If you have never heard of Arthur Dent, was missing from the narrative, some Ford Prefect, Zaphod Beeblebrox or SAVAGE EMPIRE by Jean Lorrah vital spark that could give it life Marvin the paranoid android then you Playboy Press PB $2.25us but by the time I finished its 264 had better get a copy of HITCHHIKER'S pages, I had decided that this book was GUIDE TO THE GALAXY and read that before Yet another sword and sorcery series a waste of time and the author a opening this book. If however you with a good, wise and beautiful failure. A boring bunch of manure. have read the aforementioned publication, sorceress saving her people from or heard the radio play, or listened destruction whilst the dumb and stupid DEATH'S ANGEL by Kathleen Sky to the three record set then you can hero tries to figure out if his years Bantam PB $2.2Sus take up your towel and once again of teaching are true or false whilst embark on the improbable adventures his wounds heal. When the last page When I panned the previous Star Trek of our heroes as they face the menace of the story arrives the reader is book I was being unfair, as this story of the Frog Star, are thrust into the left with a sinking feeling of yet is one of the worst pieces of crap I Total perspective vortex, or go to the another one of those damned series have read in a long time. The author end of the universe whilst looking for novels has been foisted onto him/her. panders to a sick preoccupation with a good lunch. After this I need a drink I had a feeling someone has done this Kirk's sex life on the part of some ... how do you mix a Pangalactic all before, a number of times. frustrated Trekkies and then attempts Gargleblaster? a weak murder mystery that fizzes out ★*★*★★*★ NINE PRINCES IN AMBER by Roger Zelazny and telegraphs itself long before the Sphere PB $4.50 final denouement. The introduction At long last it looks like Sphere have bought up the Amber series and we will see them all in paperback in British editions without having had to chase after the Avon editions. As there are five books in the series let us hope they publish them all within a few months and not take several years as is the norm with the Brits. I don't have to sing the praises of the Amber series but only have to say it comes highly recommended and by one of the best sf and fantasy writers in the world.

THE HUNTING OF SALYUT SEVEN by Guy Alimo Corgi PB $4.95

A good, taut thriller of the space race and political terrorism and hatred. A US space shuttle has to stop a hate- filled Arab astronaut turning loose a particle beam weapon on Israel and starting World War 3. Would make a good movie. I wish I could write as appreciatively BOOK REVIEWS Continued October 7: Each person attending will of 'Enemies Of The System'. It is, be asked to talk about a science fiction A VOYAGE TO ARCTURUS by David Lindsay unforgiveably for such talent as short story for 5 minutes. 287 pgs, Sphere, $5.50 Aldiss's, a clumsy story. He has November 4: European SF, starting with Reviewed by John J. Alderson chosen to satirise systems of thought, the brothers Strugatsky and moving on to choosing communism as his specific French, German, Italian etc., SF. From this book a series of vivid target, in a deadpan comedy which December 2: The Nova Mob Christmas Breakup. images remain, nothing of the characters. never manages to amuse. The opening The meetings all start at the Danube For truth to tell they are not characters chapters - in which two exemplars of Restaurant, Acland Street StKilda, before at all, but names upon which to pin a 'the system' carefully explain to each moving to the Foyster residence at 21 discourse. Consider the book then as other in endless dialogue what both Shakespeare Grove, just around the corner. one of those dialogues from older times, have known from birth and which the when such abstractions as Pride, Truth, reader also knows if he hasn't just Virtue were given parts to speak and arrived from the Capellan boondooks are unbearable. actions to perform. As a novel this THE ROBERT E.HOWARD UNITED PRESS book falls badly. No characters ever ASSOCIATION is looking for more spoke like these characters, or for that There are some interesting switches members . They would be pleased to on evolutionary theory later on but matter, acted like these characters. hear from any Australian fans. little of interest in the plot and You can write to Graham Flanagan, P.O.Box What then is this book? even less in the flat narration. It 1029, Canberra City, ACT 2601 or direct all reads uncomfortably like a first to Brian Earl Brown, 16711 Burt Road,no.207, draft. It is an examination of the problem of Detroit, Michigan 48219 USA. Members pain. But it is a non-christian view include Glenn Lord, L.Sprague De Camp, of the problem of pain in a non-christian and Karl Edward Wagner . Graham is also looking for contributions for his own universe. Consequently it lacks the BOOKS Continued fundamentals of the Christian philosophy. fanzine. A LIST OF TITLES PUBLISHED UP TO AUGUST. Trifling matters like hope, faith, and THE AUSTRALIAN DR WHO NEWSLETTER is ethics, are absent, for these three Cumming's INTO THE FOURTH DIMENSION. available from Dallas Jones, c/o things are the essentials of the WYNPHAM/STAR Books titles from May on Box 191, Gordon, NSW 2072. Subscription Christian ethic, in particular the is $2.00 existence of faith and hope. One may include: FIGHTING SLAVE OF GOR by John search all other religions, but to find Norman, SHATTER, a horror novel by John SPACE AGE BOOKS celebrated ten years in these missing. In the Christian Farris, HISS by Andrew Laurence in the business in July. A small gathering was philosophy God/good are finally all same category, THE TOLKIEN QUIZ BOOK held in the shop to mark the occasion. by Nigel Robinson and Linda Wilson, powerful, and evil a negative thing. MICHAEL HAILSTONE editor of CRUX A STEP FURTHER OUT by Jerry Poumelle, In this book evil is not just a negative has changed his address. It is now Part one and part two, SATAN WHISPERS thing nor is it limited in power, nor another hn by Clarrisa Ross along with P.O.Box 193, Woden, ACT 2606. Michael is good triumphant.... nor can it be. Frank Coffey's SHAMAN, and only two reports that he badly needs more sub­ scribers. A subscription costs $6.00 A VOYAGE TO ARCTURUS is a product of DR WHO titles, both reprints, DR WHO AND THE CYBERMAN and THE TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN. Cash is needed to get both issue number the Great War and its shattering of 4 paid for and get number 5 started. faith and much of hope. As one of the very few places that Australian sf is being published, CRUX How does this metaphysical book appear does merit your support. to be part of science fiction. They OF THINGS reach Arcturus in a spaceship'. That NEW ADDITIONS TO FAN FAMILIES that occupies several sentences! have arrived or are due include: FANISH . . . KAREN ELIZABETH ANGOVE to Neville aid It is however a thought provoking Perhaps it is because people in some Peta Angove at 5.15 on August 2nd. book. An illustration of what happens quarters regard me as a "dirty pro" David and Sue Grigg are expecting tfieir when one swallows plausible if false or they see ASFN as more a professional first child in December. Mark and Jenny argument s. news magazine rather than fanzine, but Lawrence are expecting their second I am getting very little information child. about fan activities. However THYME is PERILOUS PLANETS Ed. by Brian Aldiss POLISH SF FANDOM would like to hear from Futura 367pgs; $4.95 a newszine edited by ANDREW BROWN Australia. I hope I have this address ENEMIES OF THE SYSTEM by Brian Aldiss and IRWIN HIRSCH (See Daryl Mannell's right, but it is rather hard to read. Granada 124 pgs; $3.50 Fanzine column for details), which is ROMNALD P.SZOKA, w LIEBKNECHTA 5 m 6, Reviewed by George Turner. covering the local fan field. They have a few details on THE FAN FUNDS which 91 - 819 LODZ, POLAND. Romnald is very keen on exchanging fanzines and would Aldiss's series of anthologies, drawn we will pass on, in that JOHN BANGSUND like any interested Australian fans to inexhaustibly from the pulp magazines is not standing for DUFF. We can add write to him. The sf club he belongs of sf's adolescence, are for me an that GREG HILLS will probably not be to publishes fanzines and belongs to unfailing delight. He has the magic standing either, but DARYL MANNELL most likely will be. I have not heard a group of about a dozen clubs finger which falls unerringly on in Poland. the right tale to illuminate an era of even any other possible nominations, or flesh out a theme. Or is it just and they close for 1982 by Denvention (September 3rd to 7th.) JAN FINDER and We did not receive any reports on the that his taste in antiquities New Zealand SF convention this year, BILL BOWERS are considering standing for coincides with mine? NORCON '81, at which A.BERTRAM CHANDLER for 1982, and the nominations close by was GOH, but we hear it went quite well. What we get are stories, so much more September 3rd (The date of the Denvention solid than the literary exercises World Con.) JAN HOWARD FINDER and BILL pretending to be fiction which infested BOWERS are considering standing for The British SF Association Awards the 70s and are only now dying out. the trip to Australia in 1983. We will The Annual BRITISH SF ASSOCIATION They are not wildly important to the report on the TAFF and GUFF funds when AWARDS for work published or distributed genre but they do record the develop­ more definite details are known. in the UK in 1980 were voted on by mem­ ment of one area of sf; many of them The deadline for nominations for GUFF bers attending -the 1981 British National we believe is September 12th. Candid­ might have been written in 1980 as SF Convention. The winners were .Novel: ates require nominations from three easily as 1950. TIMESCAPE by Gregory Benford. Short Australian fans and two British. Agent, Fiction: "The Brave Little Toaster: A is JOHN FOYSTER, 21 Shakespeare Grove, The Aldiss anthologies - 'Space Odysseys' Bed Time Story for Small Appliances" by StKilda 3182, Victoria, Australia. 'Evil Earths', 'Galactic Empires' Thomas M.Disch. Media: "The Hitch-Hiker’s (2 vols.) and this one - form a show NOVA MOB. Dates and topics for discussion Guide to the Galaxy" second series. -case of the booming magazine era. at the meetings in the near future are: Artist: PETER JONES . September 2: The recent works of Brian (Joseph Nicholas SFC) W.Aldiss (FRANKENSTEIN UNBOUND and after). BULLETIN DU SFFAN No. 35. Dec. '80. listings. Available $US1.00, $A1.00 ( Special critiques. ) See previous as well as trade. comments. GEGENSCHEIN 41. May 1981. BULLETIN No. 35 INFOS -Dec. '80. Editor, Eric B. Lindsay. C/- 6 Hillcrest Special Cine. Again, see previous Ave. Faulconbridge. N.S.W. Aust. 2776. comments. 12 pages. Personalzine. 17 pages. Mimeo. Rating B,2. Often very interesting. May be BULLETIN FROM THE BRIDGE. Stardate limited in scope for some. Available 8104.12. Editor, Jill Curtin. 32 for the usual. Jetty St. Grange. South Aust. 5022. Clubzine of SASTREK. Photo-copied FORERUNNER. Vol 3, No.8. Jan.'81. cover, remainder mimeo. 10 pages. Editor, Jack R, Herman, 1/67 Fletcher A QUICK LOOK AT FANZINES BY TINY DARYL Rating C,3. No info on availability. St. Bondi. N.S.W. Aust. 2026. Club­ MANNELL. zine of the Sydney SF Foundation. 18 BUNYIPS IN THE MULGA. No. 3. pages, mimeo. Rating C,3. Available for Merv has been recieving quite a few Editor, Graeme Flanagan. P.O. Box 1029 the usual or $A3.00 for 12 issues. fanzines of late, so naturally the idea Canberra City. Aust. 2601. APA-zine. of a fanzine review column, ( similar Photo-copied. 36 pages. Rating B,3. FORERUNNER. Vol 3, No.12. May '81. to the one Leigh Edmonds once did for Possibly available for the usual, but As above. 12 pages. Rating C,3+. the news ) became a viable proposition. not too sure. Reproduction has improved. These days I spend a lot of time at Space Age books working on the Fantasy THE CAPTAINS LOG. 46. FORERUNNER. Vol 4, No.l. June '81. Film Society, the Foundation etc. so Editors Andrew Bauld/Tracy Adamczyk. As above. 10 pages. C/- AUSTREK, 5206aa Melb. 3001. Club­ being in the wrong place at the wrong THE MENTOR 31. June 1981. zine for AUSTREK. Mimeo, 10 pages. time I find myself as the News newly Editor, Ron L. Clarke, 6 Bellevue Rd., Rating C,4. Again possibly available for appointed fanzine editor. Will I ever Faulconbridge, NSW Aust. 2776. Fanzine. the usual, but not too sure. learn! Because the reviews have to be 26 pages. Mimeo. Rating B3. Interesting brief, I have decided to " Borrow " article from John Alderson and Bertram THE CAPTAINS LOG. 47. a point system similar to what Marc Chandler on Gor books. Available for See above. 13 pages. Rating B,4. Spoilt Ortlieb's set up in THE WEST OF $1.00 per copy or the usual. MINSTERS LIBRARY. The set up is as by bad reproduction. follows. THE MENTOR 32. August 1981. CRABAPPLE 18. Same details as above. Rating B3. OVERALL QUALITY. Editor, Ken Ozanne. 42 Meek's Crescent Faulconbridge N.S.W. Aust. 2776. Fan­ MUNICH ROUND UP. No. 151. Dec. 1980. zine. Mimeo. 26 pages. Rating B,2.Avail, A. Excellent. B. Very Good. The satirical fanzine of the Munich for the usual. C. Good. D. Poor. SF group. Unfortunately I can't read E. Forget it! German, so I can't comment on the THE CYGNUS CHRONICLER. March 1981. fanzine's quality. There is a brief Editor, Neville J. ANGOVE. C/- THE REPRODUCTION. English summary, but still limited to EPEREX PRESS, P.O. Box 770, Canberra Aryan friends. Possibly off-set or City. Aust. 2601. Semi-prozine. Off-set 1. Excellent. 2. Very Good. Photocopy repo. US agent is Andrew and type-set. 24 pages. Rating A,l. 3. Good. 4. Poor. Porter, P.O. Box 4175, New York. 10017. 5. Impossible to read. Beautifully presented with some excellent contributions. Available for $A5.00 for NOUMENON. No. 41. Additional information . four issues or $A1.50 per issue. Highly recomended.' Editor, Brian Thurogood. 40 Korora Rd. Oneroa, Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf, Name 8 address of editor. DATA. No. 38. New Zealand. Australian agent is Cary Type of reproduction. Handfield, P.O. Box 91 Carlton, Vic., Number of pages. Type of zine. Editors, Ron 8 Sue Clarke. 6 Bellevue Rd. Aust. 3053. Fanzine. Off-set and type­ Method of availability. Faulconbridge. N.S.W. Aust/ 2776. Clubzine for ASTREX. Mimeo. 11 pages, set. Outstanding quality. Rating A,1. rating B,3. Possibily available for the Available for $NZ 5.75 for 10 issues. So with the guidelines laid down, let's $AUS 7.00/10 issues ( seamail ). get underway. usual as well as ASTREX members. Recomended! ************************************ DATA No 41. As above. 16 pages. Rating B,4. Reprod­ Q 36F. uction has fallen down at bit. Editor, Marc Ortlieb. 70 Hamblynn Rd. AUSTRALIA IN 83 BULLETIN. April 1981. Elizabeth Downs, S.A. Aust. 5068. Editor, Shayne McCormack. P.O. Box Hunorous fanzine. Mimeo. 44 pages. A491, Sydney South, 2000. Australia. De Profundis. 125. Editor, David K.M." Starchaser" Klaus. Rating A,3. Harry Andruschak's puns Update bulletin on A in 83 worldcon are delightful agony! Available bid. Mimeo reproduction. 8 pages. C/i LASFS, 11513 Burbank Boulevard, North Hollywood, California. U.S.A. for the usual. Also includes The Rating C,3. Available for subscription West of Minster's Library ( fanzine at $3.00 for 4 issues. 91601. Mimeo. 10 pages. Clubzine of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Soc. review section ). Highly recommended. AUSTRALIAN COUNCIL OF DIVERSE WORLDS. Rating B,3. Good guide to happenings with U.S. West coast fandom. Available SHANGRI L'AFFAIRES. No. 77. Editor, Debra Mi Isom. S54 Cross Rd. Editors, Marty Cantor and Mike Glyer. South Plympton. South., Aust. 5038. for the usual, members of LASFS or $US5.00 for 12 issues. Clubzine of the Los Angeles Science Clubzine. Photo-copy reproduction. Fantasy Soc. 11513 Burbank Blvd., 19 pages. Rating C,2. No obvious FANTIPODEAN No. 3. North Hollywood, CA 91601 USA. infomation re availability. More Mimeo. 22 pages. Rating B,3(-). fantasy orientated than SF or fannish. Editor, Graeme Flanagan. P.O. Box 1029 Canberra City, Aust. 2601. APA-zine. Reproduction poor in places but the 12 pages. Rating B,4. Mimeo and photo­ contents are very good. A good guide BULLETIN DU SFFAN. No. 35. Dec '80. to US West coast fandom happenings. Editor, Jean Milbergue. 17 sq des copy. Mimeo reproduction poor in places. Possibly available for the usual, but Available for $US1.00 per copy or Carrieres, La Clairiere, 78120 the usual. Also known as SHAGGY. Rambouillet. CPPAP 59538. Clubzine not sure. of the SFFAN. Photocopy reproduction. FANZINE DIRECTORY 3. TWLL-DDU. No. 19. 28 pages. Rating 4. Written entirely in Editor, Dave Langford, 32 Northumber­ French. Can not comment on stories, Editor, Allan Beatty, P.O. Box 1906, Ames, IA. 50010. U.S.A. Directory of land Ave., Reading, Berkshire. RG2 7PW. as I can not read French. Available to United Kingdom. Fanzine. 20 pages. members of the SFFAN. fanzines published in 1977. 13 pages. Off-set. Rating A,l. A must for fan­ Mimeo with it seems an off-set cover. 20 zine fans. Gives very comprehensive Rating B,3. Some interesting letters as well as fan happenings in good old Australian fans to get the latest Firstly ignore Jeffrey Buchanan as England. Available for 50p or the update. Available for the usual or usual. his complaints are based on nothing 3 issues for $A1.00 (Overseas) valid and consist only of cheap 3 issues for $A2.00 (Airmail) TAU CETI. 2/81. insults. Does Mr Buchanan really expect a newszine to ignore the Editor, Jill Curtain. 32 Jetty St. Well kiddies, that just about wraps activities of some of our authors Grange. S.A. 5022. Aust. Clubzine for up my reviewing for the day. Remember, because he has a personal dislike of SASTREK. Photocopy cover, rest is if you produce a fan/club/personalzine them (at least I think this is why Mimeo. 15 pages. Rating C,3. Will and you want it reviewed, ( as in he didn't want them mentioned as he interest Stra Trek fans. No info on free publicity ) then send it to forgot or didn't bother to mention availability. Tiny Daryl Mannell, ASFN, C/- 305- what he has against them). That would 307 Swanston St. Melbourne. Vic. 3000. make as much sense as a national WEBER WOMAN'S WREVENGE. Vol 1, No.,1. Aust. Bribes for better reviews newspaper not mentioning the Labour Editor, Jean Weber. 13 Myall St., gratefully accepted. ( I've got a Party because the editor-in-chief O'Connor, ACT 2601. Aust. Fanzine bank manager to support.' ) voted liberal. with social overtones. Mimeo. 18 pages. Daryl Mannell Rating B,3. Interesting US trip report. Jean, why was Merv and the I am afraid that I don't agree with ASFN ommited from your list of Aust, George in all he says about the local faneds? SF magazines. It is true that their quality is not as good as the American WEBER WOMAN'S WREVENGE. Vol 1, No.,2 zines but then they can afford to pay As above but with added contents. enough to attract stories by top authors 30 pages. Available for the usual. even though they make most of their living from novels. Now these local zines would be a lot more to George's AERIAL. No.3. taste I suspect if there was more Editor. Graham Ferners. 2/16 Hollyhock fiction by the pros like Wodhams etc. Pl., Browns Bay, Auckland 10. New KIM HUETT, However the editors just cannot afford Zealand. Fanzine. Mimeo. Rating B,3(-). 8 Central George Ave., Ciindletown, NSW 2430 to buy material from them eg: I know Repo poor in places. 16 pages. Reviews, that Michael Hailstone was offered letters § news. Nice little touches now some Wodhams stories but didn't have and then. Good zine for NZ fan news. 24/5/81 the sort of money a pro would expect to Available for the usual. Dear Mervyn, get so he was forced to pass up the offer. THE CAPTAINS LOG. 48. Please forgive me for being so late in Now nobody can blame the pros for Editors, Andrew Bauld G Tracy Adamczyk. commenting on the Jan/Feb ish of ASFN. wanting a good price for their fiction. P.O. BOX 5206AA Melbourne, Vic. 3001. As you know I have moved down to After all this is their livlihood Aust. Mimeo. 14 pages. Rating C,4. Sydney and getting used to working for and they have to pay the bills. Still Clubzine of Austrek. Interesting to Star the first time as well as living alone would it be so difficult to let our Trek fans. Possibly available for the for the first time has not left me with editors have one story a year at usual but not too sure on that. much spare time to spend writing. whatever price they could afford? I However this does not excuse you for include you in this George because THE CYGNUS CHRONICLER. June 1981. being so late with this latest issue. the only way to improve things is to Editor, Neville J. Angove. C/- The When you start a project like this the pitch in and help, not winge and do Eperex Press. P.O. Box 770 Canberra people who subscribe expect to get nothing. City, ACT 2601. Aust. Semi-prozine. the zine at regular intervals. You have Off-set and type-set. 24 pages. Rating an obligation to these people and it This lack of pro support is one of the A,l. Beautifully produced with some should be fulfilled. major stumbling blocks for editors like excellent reading in it. Available for Michael Hailstone because they then have $A5.00 for 4 issues or $A1.50 per issue. The quality of this issue however did to rely on new writers who do not rely Highly recommended! make up for the lateness of it. In the on writing for survival. I'm sure that last few issues I see that you have DATA. No. 42. the editors try to help the writers been able to organize the layout for improve their material but remember Editors, Ron § Sue Clarke. 6 Bellvue Rd. greater readability. This certainly Faulconbridge, NSW. 2776. Aust. Clubzine like Mervyn these men have taken makes a lot of difference in the amount for Astrex. Mimeo. 26 pages. Rating subscriptions and it is just not possible needed to find anything. The only to spend the length of time needed to B,3. One of the better Star Trek real problem area is the "PEOPLE AND zines in that it isn't entirely bring the stories up to the level PUBLISHING" section. This section George wants. They have an obligation devoted to Star Trek. Available to would read a lot better if there was Astrex members and possibly the usual. to publish, and publish they must if they less overlap with the publisher's do not want to disappoint their readers. announcements and the rest of the GEGENSCHEIN 41. August 1981. material more carefully edited so Editor, Eric B. Lindsay. C/- 6 Hillcrest To make things worse, not enough people that all information about a certain Ave., Faulconbridge, NSW 2776. Aust. are willing to support these zines with book or author is all together and you Personal/fanzine . 17 pages. Mimeo advertising or subscriptions which would not keep repeating yourself, eg. with off-set cover. Rating B,2. Many means they are not given any chance you mentioned that Homeworld by Harry to raise themselves above the level personal mumblings that appeal to me. Harrison was reprinted before release they have already reached. Available for the usual. twice. You cannot expect to reprint sections from other zines and not TAU CETI. 3/81. Really George if you want to do something get foul up like that. Edit them and Editor, Jill Curtain. 32 Jetty St. productive why don't you spend your time acknowledge all your sources at the Grange, S.A. 5022. Aust. Clubzine writing a short story for one of these end of the section. for SASTREK. Photocopy cover, rest zines instead of criticising them for is Mimeo. 10 pages. Rating C,3. No things they cannot help? I know it is asking a lot but how availability info but possibly for about some information on small press the usual. Now George what do you mean by not zines and anthologies like the ones mentioning The Cygnus Chronicler in who seem to get all the awards in the THYME ONE. your letter or did you cover it in various fantasy awards. If you or Editors, Irwin Hirsh G Andrew Brown. your comment about understanding that someone could come up with a few 279 Domain Rd, South Yarra, Vic. 3141. there was a couple of other local papers addresses, prices, likeliness of and 5 York St., Prahran, Vic. 3181. printing in the same styleof "fan" availability, it would be greatly stuff. If so it was a low blow not ( respectively ) Newszine. 4 pages. appreciated. Mimeo. Reports on the local news/ worthy of someone of you talent. If not gossip/scandals etc. Ideal for non­ how can you judge the field when you Now on to the letter column which don't even know all of it. The Cygnus deserves quite a bit of comment. Chronicler has published quite a lot 21 of good stuff by name authors as well George Turner and go on to point out why. (You don't as newcomers and should not be left 3/123 Westbury St tell a writer what changes to make - out of any review of the field. Balaclava 3183 what and how are his business - but Unfortunately leaving it out even if it where changes are necessary, where the „ .. July '91 was accidental did make your letter Dear Mervyn, thing falls down.) sound as though you were only picking those things to mention which supported Three quarters of the way down the As for losing writers, the ones who you argument. Of course this is purely second column of his letter (ASFN 24) can't take a request for rewriting are a subjective impression, but still. Neville Angove writes: 'Certainly the ones you and sf can do without; what he (Turner) has said about the your magazine can only suffer from their Mervyn what ever possessed you to write magazines - I mean the quality of the presence. The real writer is a tough those comments on George's letter. The fiction and the quality of the editing bird who will, as I have written else­ second paragraph was alright as it is - is true ...' What, then, is the where, waste ten minutes hating your true about our local zines, they do need rest of the ill-informed frothing at editorial guts, then set out to prove to improve but we must remain conscious the mouth about? Best to ignore it; you wrong about his talent. of the whole situation or our criticisms plainly he has his troubles and why have no relevance. As I realise that should I add to them? If I sent you a story which didn't in part the lateness of the Jan/Feb issue satisfy you, would you publish it was not all your fault. Of more interest is the hurt but rather than try to tell a professional restrained letter from Michael Hailstone, his business? Well, you would be What I object to is that first paragraph which deserves an answer. wrong and I wouldn't thank you for which is just a collection of insupport­ letting bad work pass. Lee Harding sent able statements of the type you dislike Getting established through the overseas back 'In A Petri Dish Upstairs' in Mr Buchanan's letter. Who passed magazines, he says, is hopeless. So? because he didn't like the ending and a law saying that it's impossible to How about Wynne Whiteford, Lee Harding, thereby got himself a much better argue with George because this letter John Baxter, David Grigg, Jack Wodhams, story; if I had objected - which I is proof that it is possible? To Cherry Wilder and, more recently, didn't, because I saw at once that make matters worse you claim that Leanne Frahm and 'Pip' Maddern? Nor he was right - he would have told me to George was in full appraisal of the is it true that we can't develop an take my story and shove it. Which situation when he seems unaware of Australian brand of sf without a would have been exactly the correct one of our main fiction magazines. regular local outlet, though we would attitude. You demean yourself by printing inane certainly do better with one. An statements like that and what is worse Australian brand of sf is not something I have credited the small-magazine the zine loses some of its professional for the local tribe,concerned with editors with courage, but they need more touch due to them. Like you said we Bondi Beach and kangaroos,local habits, courage yet - the courage to miss an need intelligent criticism let us hope regional slang and Australian rules occasional issue because the material that we see some on this subject soon football; it is simply a distinct habit isn't good enough, the courage to in ASFN. of prose as readily distinguishable risk losing an author (who probably from the work of English and American wouldn't be much loss if he resented What I meant in my last letter to writers as theirs is from each other’s. criticism), the courage to tell a writer ASFN is could you please publish at just where and how he falls short and least once a year a list of all novels ask him to rehandle. If there's anything and stories by local authors published in him at all, he'll do it; if he in foreign markets so those who want won't, forget him. to see what our authors are getting It is a matter of not imitating, not published will have something to borrowing, not following the conventions Now, as to the 'competent writers' work from. of imported sf; a matter of sitting Michael never hears from: Has he, down to write with no model in mind perhaps, tried asking them for material? How about lighting a fire under Chris's save your own personal mode of expression, Does he expect to be sought out by people Thesis and Paul as the A in 83 cartoon of rejecting the 'accepted conventions' who perhaps don't know his magazine is far too short for my taste. Also (mostly inane) which have become part’ exists? Has he, for instance, looked could you tighten up the "Fanzines of sf through the years, of taking each down the 'Contents' lists of 'The Received" column. The reviews do not idea, however simple, and thinking it Altered I', 'The View From The Edge' and mention whether these zines are through to your conclusion instead of 'Transmutations' and wondered where available for trade, loc, sub, or a accepting the mixture-as-before principle some of those writers are, those buck in the letter which tends to to produce merely a copy of the story writers who may not know that he place a stumbling block in front of very being written by 50 other writers at the represents an outlet? Has he heard neo-neo-fen. same time. Thinking it through to a of Tony Peacey in Perth and Tony logical conclusion is what picks up a Huntingdon in Townsville, crying out This is enough feedback for anyone so tired old plot and demonstrates for somebody to write for? I am going to end here. Please do not something new in it. It may even take anything I have said too result in a story that will catch the Writers, these, who 'wouldn't deign to personally as I want ASFN perfect and reader's interest in spite of poor contribute to such a humble low-paying as you said improvement can only come writing. Writing is bloody hard work, struggling publication like CRUX'? through criticism. So good luck on not just dashing off something with a Maybe, maybe - but I have seen a Bert ish 23. space ship or a telepath in it. Chandler story in a fanzine, contributed Yours free. Editors have to go after their Kim . '...until I get more support,' Michael writers. writes, 'I can ill afford to be hard **************** on contributors, for fear of losing The other thing editors have to do is to potential subscribers.' learn the ungentle art of literary Dezw. KZm, criticism. So do writers, if they want to understand why their stories fail. a ofwai/A I cun in a nush to get this The answer to that is brutal: Until you A Criticism is, in fact, what we teach issue finished, so 1 cannot answen youn print better stories how can you hope in writer's workshops, disguised as letten tn any gneat detail. Let me just to obtain more subscribers? Catch 22. creative writing; it might be an idea say that youn points one well taken, Better to publish half as often and give to run one for editors - if they could but I stand by what I said in my follow the writers hell until they stir them­ be persuaded down from their high horses up to Geonge Tunnen's letten tn issue selves to try to do better. At present to attend. Most of us learn, not by H 22. I do mention the sates of Stonies they see their work printed and often 'doing' as Angove seems to think, but by hustnalian authons when the authons praised (by readers whose standards must by studying what others have done and on thein agents advise me, but obviously have frozen at primary school level) adapting the gained knowledge to our 1 do not know about them ait, so I will and are encouraged to think that what needs; it's a long process and all a endeavoun to chase them alt up in futune. they are doing is good enough, when what they need is an editor who will workshop does is hurry it up by •) 1 Meitv B. say bluntly that it isn't good enough raising the scores of points an indiv­ idual may take years to see for himself. behind Mr Holttmans's remarks seems to LEE HARDING be the same which lurked behind "The An editor is very much in the position of world is definitely flat", "Man will a workshop leader; his business is to PO BOX 25 BALACLAVA never fly" and "The bustle is here to chivvy writers into making if not silk stay". In a word ---- shortsighted. VIC 3183 purses at least presentable bags out of For a species that has only recently their sow's ears. To do this he must 1/7/81 come down out of the trees, it's a either educate himself or call in some­ bit early to be al1-knowledgable about body with greater experience. what we will ever and never do. In Dear Mervyn, all our 20th century wisdom we really If anyone should think that is an open don't grasp a tenth of all there is to I read Neville Angove's extraordinarily invitation to submit their next issue know yet. long-winded letter in ASFN 24 with for vetting, it isn't. I have already growing disbelief. But my eyeballs waded through enough typescripts this Also, in his letter, George Turner careered to a stop when I reached the year, good and bad and passable, and remarked that some of the writers and following paragraph: "...it is only written enough 3000-word letters of editors were inexperienced, and when the story has actually been published advice and criticism, to breathe white criticized some individual stories that both the author and I can really fire at the next person who thinks he see if it has worked..." such as Patterson's; but nowhere did has a divine right to claim a writer's he make such a sweeping statement as time, patience and experience - (or even imply that) "Banjo Patterson I'll go along with the writer's response usually without a word of thanks and the other writers being crap". - but surely if Angove can't tell if a afterwards. story is worth buying and publishing, Yours Sincerely by reading the ms., then what the damn Still, if there should be a struggling Rick Kennett hell is he doing in the business? No editor who genuinely wants to learn how professional editor/publisher can afford to go about it... that kind of gamble. If he can't Vean Rick, perform this rudimentary function, then Yours sincerely surely he must seriously question what Thank you ion youn comments. I am provid­ George Turner. he's publishing for. In making this ing a fonum ion people to tay what they statement he has unwittingly singled out want to tay, but perhaps in my own com­ Vean Geonge, the main problem with semi-professional ments 1 eoutd make some mone constructive I appreciate youn time and effont -in and outright amateur publications: the criticism. Meanwhile I wilt most certain­ helping me toiZh ASFN and youn. lettens people in charge seem to have no idea ty publish any and alt the lettens I have the room for , that are either nep­ in paoticu/zvi. AZ least we ate getting of what constitutes literary quality. a neaction and I hope, -in the tong nun I'm astonished that you could devote tying to previous lettens on bneaking new gnound. that it -is to the bettenment of sf -in almost a whole page to such a blindingly Austnaiia. silly letter. My own experience as an Menv B. Menv B. editor/publisher of fan fiction (surprise, ******** surprise) has convinced me that this ******** is an activity done for self aggrandise­ FURTHER LETTERS: I neceived a tetter ment, no matter how much we convince from Lee Handing stating that Paul Lee Smoire, ourselves of our altruistic motives. Cottins did not give any credit to the 2329 N.Calvert St., Literature Board ion their assistance Baltimore, MY 21218 USA Perhaps professional magazines follow a similar pattern. If so, then they in getting his books published. Paul certainly pay more for the privilege. also wrote to me and said that he has expressed his gratitude to them on Dear Friends, Regards numerous occasions and said he should Lee. not be expected to mention them every This is a short note of appreciation, time he gets into print. Lee Handing which will be followed by a longer letter was refening in particular to the Vean Lee, sent to people in the fan centres. I article on CORY S COLLINS in issue would like to report that the HAPSTAFF I am /u6Z a6 bad an editon as the nett » 22 of The NEWS. There is unfontunatly Fund (Help A Poor Starving Foreign Fan) of the 'amateun' magazine pnoducens. No a gnawing animosity between Paul Cottins was a success, raising between $70 - $80. doubt I should edit the neviews and the and his critics. Even I have been drawn This amount not only saw me through lettens, but this takes time and I am into it. Legitimate criticism is the Advention, but helped me make it through alneady putting mone time -into the News only way we can find out what we one the last week I was here, as my than I can affond . I could get a doing wrong and connect and improve temporary job unexpectedly ran out a bit mone hetp ...... what we one producing, be it wniting, week early. Menv B. editing on any sort of ant. Some of the cnitieism has been very deep, simply I had expected to have a small balance ******** because Paul's cnitics, including George left which I was to donate to DUFF; Tunner believe he is not doing justice instead I have purchased a bottle of RICK KENNETT to his writers and they want to see Jim Beam at the Duty Free Shop and will 46 SOUDAN ST Australian sf grow and impnove. Lt is have it auctioned at other Midwestcon COBURG 3058 not a personal thing against Paul or Westercon and will donate the himself, but he has chosen to take it proceeds of that. Additionally, when I 12/7/81 that way. Ln some ways he has done a get my financial situation straightened good job in getting Australian sf off out at home, I will make a personal Dear Mr Binns, the gnound, but now only hand hitting donation. strong advice and editing of author's Mr G. Holttmans's remarks in the letter wniting can hetp them impnove thein I want to thank everyone for the column of the May/June ASFN have prompted craft. 1. generosity me to pick up my crayon to respond. 2. kindness Hext issue. I have tetters from Christine 3. cooperation shown me during my I was amazed at the certainty of his and Vennick Ashby and Josephine Vonion. trip. I had a marvellous time, and, if statements, saying that we will always Sonny, but I cannot squeeze them in this I can't wholeheartedly support Australia be here on Earth and that there will issue. in '83, I can say with no reservations never be construction crews (Australian Menv Binns Ed. and full passions, Australia in '85! or otherwise) building airports on (Or whenever you next choose!) distant stars. "Always" and "never" are very long periods of time. Barring Thanks again, accidents and sheer stupidity, the S Y D N E Y IN 198? Love Lee Smoire. human race will be around for quite a while. A hell of a lot may be ******* accomplished in that time. The thinking 23 NEW ENGLISH LIBRARY SCIENCE FICTION THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST By Robert Ueinltii

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