February Issue 1991 Ho. 233

The monthly Newsletter of the BIRMINGHAM SCIENCE FICTION GROUP (Honorary Presidents: Brian W Aldiss and Harry Harrison)

1991 Committee Group Chairman - Chris Chivers, Secretary - Helena Bowles Treasurer - Richard Standage, Newsletter Editor - Martin Tudor Publicity Officer - Al Johnson, Ordinary Member (Reviews Editor) - Mick Evans Novacon 21 Chairman - Mick Mills THIS MONTH'S PROGRAMME Friday 15th February at 7.45pm Admis s io n Members £1.25 V isito rs £2.50

This Month's speaker is.* Richard Evans Richard Evans entered publishing in 1972, working for Ward Lock Educational, In the years following this he worked at Penguin, instigated a science fiction line (with Colin Murray) at Fontana, spent two years with Arrow and five with Futura/Orbit, After leaving Futura/Orbit he worked for eighteen months as a freelance during which t ime he helped establish Headline^

Early in 1990) when Malcolm Edwards, who was in charge of sf at Victor Goll ancz, moved to Grafton, Richard took charge of the Goll ancz science fiction and fantasy line Today he is Senior Editor at Goilancz and Publishing Director of their sf division.

At this month's meeting Richard w ill be talking about "The State of the SF Market from the point of view of publishers and writers.

The BSFG meets on the third Friday of every month (unless other— wise notified) in the upstairs room of the Ivy Bush, on the corner of Hagley Road and Monument Road, Birm ingh am at 7. 45pm.

Subscription Rates: £6. OO per person, or £9. OO for two members at the same address. Cheques etc. payable to the BSFG via the Treasurer, Richard Standage, at meetings, or by post c/o Mick Evans (address below).

Book Reviews to: MICK EVANS at 121 Cape H ill , Smethwick, Warley, West M id la n d s, B66 4SH.

A l l o t h e r c o n t r i b u t i o n s and e n q u i r i e s t o : M AR TIN TUDOR, 345 Alum Rock Road, Ward End, Birmingham, BQ 2AG (Telephone 021 328 2161). AN EDITORIAL OF SORTS but, in any case, there should be some opportunity by Martin Tudor for members to socialize ; a minimum group size for this would be about eight people. I have dispensed with the report of Last You may have noticed several uses of the Month's meeting this issue as it was 'only' the term 'I' so far - this is because 'I* got AGM and nothing momentous happened that can’t 'volunteered' into trying to organize things - be gleaned elsewhere in these pages (ie. the so if you have any ideas for a socializing cover reveals the names of this year's event please contact me at a Group evening or committee and Vernon's piece below is self- ring me on 021 373 4682 evenings Monday to explanatory). Friday or Sunday afternoon/evening. Anything This issue has inevitably run into a few considered ! I already have several ideas but teething problems which will be obvious to you I'm biases - I need you to balance things ! as you read this, but which will hopefully be Returning to the events themselves I sorted out next time. If you're unhappy, or envisage that I would advertise an event happy, with anything herein please WRITE and within limits and see what the response is. let me know, see you on Friday. Where money/booking is required this would be organized in advance, so that if we don't have OOOOO enough advance bookings the event would not be booked or take place. For example I might THE SOCIAL COLUMN advertise a Black country evening coach tour by Vernon Brown with coach hire £50.00, price per member depending on response ie. five members at The last five or six years have seen the £10.00, ten at £5.00 and so on, once the cost social side of the BSFG dwindle to the point of the coach is covered it would be booked, where members depart meetings as soon as the and anyone' else can join on the night, thus "formal item" is over. Why this has happened I reducing the cost per person. Or I might don't know - perhaps it's a reflection of organize a no-cost event such as a visit to a todays society, perhaps fans themselves have a place of interest - just time and place would different attitude to sf (or what is passed be advertised. off as sf), but looking back to Christmas It won't be as easy as it sounds - its Parties with food, films and frolics music, to always easier to do nothing than something - evenings out to barbecues and breweries, fun but in my opinion if something isn't done quizzes with most people participating, entries fairly soon there won't be much with which to in the Lord Mayors Procession (where did that do it ! sea monster end up ?), film trips and It's up to you. - Vernon Brown. discussions in the bar 'til past closing time, I believe that the Group then was a group, OTHER LOCAL GROUPS rather than a number of BSFG members who happen to be in the same room at the same B'HAM; Bimingham University SF 4 Fantasy Society. time. And this is not just nostalgia talking - Contact David Wake at 160 Beaumont Road, Bournville, a good social atmosphere is unrivalled for Birmingham, B30 1 NY. integrating new members into and holding B'HAM: Genesis II STAR TREK Club, meet in members together any group, from workplace to homes, 3 newsletters per year. Subs £3 to Kathy Yates, sports field. 167 Kingshurst Rd., Northfield, B'ham, 831 21L, So at this year's AGM I put forward a B'HAM; "Midlands Space Society", Call Andy Salmon after proposal, which was accepted by those present, 7pm on 021 565 4845. that an informal but recognized ' social LEICESTER: Leicester SF Group now meets on the first organization be set up, to be more than a Friday of each month at 8pm in the Rainbow & Dove, 155 bunch of friends getting together but less Charles St., call Steph Mortimer on 0533 833133, than a fully fledged Committee function. The ST0URBRIDGE: SRS, is an independent DR WH0 group which former situation is divorced from the Group holds monthly meetings, from 7pm, in Stourbridge town and doesn't help it at all while the Committee centre. Admittance 75p (+ 50p for magazine), Contact organizes a social event it often involves via 18 Lychgate Ave., Stourbridge, 0Y9 OTS, paying a deposit or full cost, which is not WALSALL: Arcadia is the alternative television society recovered if there is insufficient support. I of the DR WH0 fan group The Who-natics, meets quarterly would like to see self-financing events open in the Montmorency Suite of the Crest Hotel in Walsall. to any and all BSFG members, advertised Contact Ian Riley, 36 Bude Road, Park Hall, Walsall, through the BRUM GROUP NEWS with, I hope, VS5 3EX, (Tel: 0922 38047), ideas coming from members themselves. It would Details are correct to the best of my knowledge, but be great if the event were of an 'SFish' nature please check to avoid inconvenience. - MT. T h e ■ by CHAIRMAN'S BIT Jophan by Chris Chivers Martin Report Tudor

Sitting in the Chairmans chair for the The famous British sf magazine NEW W ORLDS first time I have come to realize what sitting is to be published again this year after a in the hot seat means. Trying to do the lapse of more than 10 years. Sf author juggling act between the long standing Michael Moorcock, who began his tenure as members who have definite views on "what is editor of NEW W ORLDS in 1964 and retains the or what is not" science fiction and the newer rights to the title, has authorized four new members who have a broader base on sf can be paperback volumes with the possibility of quite a headache. more to come. The latest incarnation of NEW In the past 20 years the Brum Group has WORLDS will be edited by author David outlasted many other sf groups, and we have Garnett, editor of the original anthologies built a good reputation throughout the ZENITH and Z E N IT H 2 and the "best of the science fiction community. But we cannot rest year" series the ORBIT SCIENCE FICTION on our laurels, A new generation of fans YEARBOOK. The four NEW W ORLDS books have have come along with the growth of TV, Video been commissioned for Gollancz by this month's and Films, In the meetings where we have had speaker Richard Evans, and will appear in a media guest, the number of people attending paperback between August 1991 & August 1993. has been increased by members of groups, when Garnett explained that when he was looking they have been notified. The Brum Group has for another publisher after the cancellation the potential to become one of the major sf of the ZENITH series, Moorcock suggested groups in the country, but in the past has ZENITH should metamorphise into NEW WORLDS. tended to overlook the other areas of science Evans, who had expressed an interest in fiction outside the literary field. I pers­ continuing ZENITH, heard Garnett and Moorcock onally feel that the Brum Group has to planned to bring back NEW W ORLDS and immed­ expand, and welcome new members into the iately agreed Gollancz would be the publisher. group, also to be able to cater for other Garnett added that his intention with ZENITH interests outside books. was to publish the best contemporary sf he The third decade of the Group's history could find "stories for the next millenium" poses a challenge to all of the membership, and says that the same would be true of NEW whether we stay a small parochial group, or WORLDS. Moorcock added that he was impressed whether we grow in step with the changes in by Garnett's track record as an editor and technology that have spread science fiction to frustrated "that publishers weren't doing the general public. We have the perfect enough to encourage the wealth of new talent showcase in Twentycon and Novacon with which emerging from the sf field", so he offered to promote the Brum Group let us take Garnett the editorship of N EW WORLDS "if he advantage of it. Equally these two events could find a publisher willing to commit them­ provide some of our newer members, who have selves fully to the project. Richard Evans of never been to a convention, with amble Gollancz was enthusiastic and positive from opportunity to do so - I hope they will the beginning and in very little time offered attend one, or both, of these events, if they the kind of commitment needed, I think David do I'm sure they will enjoy themselves. Garnett's N EW W ORLDS is going to set the In this year's Committee we have a wealth standards for the nineties - and we might of experience and I would like to especially even produce something that looks as if it welcome Richard Standage as Treasurer and A1 were d e s i g n e d in the nineties ! I see NEW Johnston as Publicity Officer. I would also WORLDS becoming the tip of an iceberg like to take this opportunity to thank Chris consisting chiefly of the semi-professional Murphy, Dave Hardy, Andy White and Bernie magazines represented, for instance, by the Evans for their sterling work on the Brum New SF Alliance. While David will be the sole Group over the past year. editor for NEW WORLDS, I shall be available to Finally I would like to urge all members help with presentation and so on and I'll be to urge their friends and colleagues to contributing. I have a feeling my first guest attend our forthcoming meetings which so far editorial will have something to say about include Richard Evans (15 Feb), Anne McCaffrey the present caution and cynicism of the liter­ (20 March) and Rob Grant & Doug Naylor (19 Apr). ary world, including the sf world," Garnett informed me that although the two and at the Fantasycon XVI at the Ramada Inn volumes of ZENITH were all-British, his NEW West London on the weekend 15th-17th Novem­ WORLDS would follow its previous incarnation ber 1991. The winning novel will be pub­ in featuring American authors. "Living in lished by Gollancz in 1992. Britain," he continued, "it will be easier to work with British writers ; but I have a I have also received an interesting Press budget which (at current exchange rates !> Release from Pengelly Mulliken Publicity, I allows me to match the best rates paid by the feel that it is worth quoting in full: American sf magazines. NEW WORLDS will prim­ "Because of false claims made recently by arily publish fiction, although there will be a certain British author of horror fiction, the occasional non-fiction piece." publishers Hodder & Stoughton feel it He added: "It was because Michael Moorcock necessary to issue a brief statement. thought so highly of ZENITH that he asked me "Without question James Herbert is the to become editor of NEW WORLDS, and I am very Number One Horror Fiction Writer in the UK, glad of the opportunity to continue what I his sales consistently outselling even the began with ZENITH. Mike's issues of NEW American master of horror, Stephen King. WORLDS were undoubtedly the most important "Herbert's sales exceed 26 million copies influence on my own early writing, and he worldwide. His book THE FOG has sold more sent me my first rejection slip, back in 1965. than 1 million copies in the UK alone, and an It was always my ambition to have a story earlier work, THE RATS, will follow suit this published in NEW WORLDS. I suppose that year. becoming editor is almost as good..." "His latest, CREED, is still in the top 20 hardback bestseller list after starting at the Still on the subject of Gollancz, I have very top over five months ago. just received a press release announcing THE "If other publishers wish to claim this BOOKSHELF / VICTOR GOLLANCZ LTD FIRST FANTASY hard-earned position for their own genre NOVEL COMPETITION. British publishers authors, it is important that they Gollancz and the Radio 4 programme BOOKSHELF substantiate their contention ; otherwise the are searching for "new writers of fantasy, a book trade, the media, and the book-buyers genre that encompasses Edgar Allan Poe, themselves are left misled and confused." Ramsey Cambell, and James Herbert, as well as So are you confused ? I am. Although I JRR Tolkien, Mervyn Peake, Robert Holdstock, might hazard a guess that the above could be and Ursula Le Guin." To encourage new writers related to the recent tv appearance on to "this ever-growing field" Gollancz and CENTRAL WEEKEND LIVE of Shaun Hutson where I BOOKSHELF are offering £4,000 for the best seem to remember some mention of massive novel submitted. sales. It is also possible that the recent The prize money will take the form of an poster campaign concerning Mr Hutson's books outright prize of £2,000 to the winner, on the London Underground may have something together with an advance against royalties of to do with the matter. Perhaps Shaun Hutson, £2,000 for worldwide volume publication rights John Jarrold or someone else from the of the winning entry by Gollancz. Two Macdonald Group would care to comment ? runners-up will receive prizes of £500 each, and Victor Gollancz will hold options to Donald A Wollheim, whose 50-year career in publish both at a later date. science fiction influenced every aspect of the The judges of the competition will be genre, died in his sleep on 1 November 1990, Richard Evans (this month's speaker and apparently after a heart attack. He was 76. Publishing Director of Gollancz's sf division), Faith Brooker (Senior Science Fiction Editor, Novacon 19's guest of honour, Geoff Ryman, Gollancz), Nigel Forde (Editor of BOOKSHELF ), followed up his success in the Arthur C Mary Gentle (author of GOLDEN WITCHBREED and Clarke Award ballot by winning the John W ANCIENT LIGHT ) and Terry Pratchett (creator Campbell Memorial Award, again with THE CHILD of the bestselling Discworld novels). GARDEN. This is not to be confused with the The competition was announced on BOOKSHELF, John W Campbell Award presented at world sf on the 24th of January, and entry forms are conventions, which is specifically for new available from Mark Hutchinson, Publicity writers. The runners-up were K W Jeter's Department, Victor Gollancz Ltd., 14 Henrietta FAREWELL HORIZONTAL and John Kessel's GOOD Street, London, WC2E 8QJ. The closing date NEWS FROM OUTER SPACE. for entries is the 30th of July 1991 and the names of the prize-winners will be announced The new British science fiction magazine SF on the BOOKSHELF programme in October 1991 NEXUS has abandoned its planned December launch and rescheduled its debut for March, The Dramatic Actress. Hollywood insiders gener­ announcement was made through a Christmas ally regard the Golden Globes as a good card sent out to would-be readers, which also pointer towards who will collect Oscars a included a short story by editor Paul Brazier. couple of months later.

Pan Books will publish Paul Preuss' novel DR WHO is one of the casualties of the BSB HIDE AND SEEK in June ; it's the third in his / SKY TELEVISION merger. The repeat of "The "Venus Prime" series, spun off from the Daleks" on 1 December 1990 will be the last writings of Arthur C Clarke. episode to be screened for the forseeable future. BSB paid Equity £3.5 million for 1000 Charles De Lint's fantasy novel MOONHEART hours of BBC programmes (which included 200 has been chosen as one of the nine titles hours of DR WHO), the agreement depending on featured in the W H Smith summer 1991 BSB producing a given percentage of home­ fantasy promotion. All nine will be showcased grown drama. Unfortunately this agreement in the chain's giveaway magazine BOOKCASE, doesn’t extend to SKY who buy all their which has a circulation of 600,000. series from other companies. The newly formed company originally showed a few BBC prog­ Birmingham's own Anne Gay will see the rammes but was forced to drop them after publication of her second science fiction Equity threatened legal action. Equity are novel THE BROOCH OF AZURE MIDNIGHT in trying to come to a similar agreement with hardback by Orbit in May, a year after the 'BSKYB' but have run into difficulties due to release of her debut novel MINDSAIL. Anne the fact that the new company does not expect informs me that "the cover is lovely !". to break even until 1993 at the earliest. Currently she is working on her third novel DANCING ON THE VOLCANO. The Kaleidoscope Theatre Company will present the world premiere of its performance The veteran science fiction magazine of LOVE LIES BLEEDING at the Swan Theatre, AMAZING STORIES will be relaunched as a Stratford-upon-Avon, from Wednesday the 6th glossy news-stand title in May, following the of March to Sunday the 10th of March 1991. final digest edition in March (meaning it will apparently LOVE LIES BLEEDING is "a glimpse miss its own 65th birthday). Incoming editor into a mystical and magical world as the Kim Mohan, whose former work includes editing Arthurian tale of the greatest quest of all is DRAGON (like his new project, owned by the unveiled - the search for the Holy Grail. A games publisher TSR), has apparently committed medieval tapestry of romance and picture himself to providing a regular showcase for poetry, richly interwoven with mime, music, previously unpublished writers. Submissions dance, drama and voice." can be forwarded to TSR at Box 111, Lake Seat prices range from £4.00 through to Geneva, WI 53147, USA. £9.00, standing is £3.00. All bookings (incl. Pause for a quick plug: CRITICAL WAVE'S credit cards) can be made by calling 0789 regular coverage of British sf markets can be 295623 between 9.30am and 8.00pm, Monday to found in #20 (now available) while the crucial Saturday. role AMAZING STORIES played in the formation The Kaleidoscope Theatre Company is run by of organised sf fandom was examined by full-time volunteers, assisted by part-time historian Mike Ashley in CRITICAL WAVE #19, volunteers, and aims to integrate mentally both are available for £1.50 each (inclusive handicapped actors into society through of postage & packing) from: CRITICAL WAVE theatre. Most of its productions have a PUBLICATIONS, 845 Alum Rock Road, Ward End, fantasy theme. After this run, the company Birmingham, B8 2AG, (which is based in Walsall) will present the play at the Edinburgh Festival and at an Julia Roberts has been signed to play international festival in Hungary. Tinkerbell opposite Dustin Hoffman's Captain Hook in Steven Spielberg's PETER PAN film MANCON VI, which was to have been held which will be called HOOK, Robin Williams has over the weekend of the 12 th-15 th of July been cast as Peter Pan. 1991, has been cancelled. A combination of The inevitable sequel to HONEY, I SHRUNK factors such as the considerable increase in THE KIDS will be entitled HONEY, I BLEW UP cost of trans-Atlantic air fares, and the THE BABY. large number of other conventions now sched­ Kathy Bates, who co-stars with James Caan uled for the same time of year, have in the film adaptation of Stephen King's convinced the committee that the fact that MISERY, collected a Golden Globe for Best the con boasts both Harlan Ellison and Iain Banks as guests of honour will not be enough writer (!), our very own Mick Evans has not to attract sufficient members to guarantee been so lucky. Even now Mick continues his its financial viability. fight with the DSS, DOEP etc. Apparently his The Mancon VI committee have informed me former employer at some time transposed some that a full refund will be paid to all digit in his National Insurance number — members in due course, and they hope to meaning that for seven years someone else has invite Harlan over for a similar event at been credited with Mick's 'stamp'... Best of some time in the future. Any enquires reg­ luck Mick ! arding the convention should be addressed to Finally, rumour has it that Anne Rice, the Mancon VI, 8 Mardale Avenue, St. Helens, bestselling author of such books as THE Merseyside, WA11 7AH. MUMMY and THE VAMPIRE CHRONICLES (featuring the vampire Lestat) has cancelled her Still on the subject of conventions, Steve forthcoming promotional tour (which was to and Ann Green wish to sell their memberships launch her latest book THE WITCHING HOUR ) of Mexicon 4. They are asking £12.50 each due to fear of Gulf related terrorist activity. for the memberships (the current price is £15.00) call 021 706 0108 if you are □□□□□ interested. FORTHCOMING EVENTS The candidates for the 1991 Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund race will be Pam Wells, Abigail Frost 16 FEBRUARY - B'ham Comic Mart, new ground (both from Britain) and Bruno Ogorolec (from floor venue at the Carrs Lane Church Centre, Yugoslavia). The victor will attend the just off High Street near Marks & Spencers in Chicago worldcon, Chicon V, in August this the city centre. "A huge selection of comics, year. Ballots are available from the current film/tv magazines, books, posters, models, British administrators (address below) as well games & sf/fantasy material." Opens midday. as in this issue of BRUM GROUP NEWS: Votes Further details from Golden Orbit, 18 Nelson must reach the administrators by 15 May. Street, York, Y03 7NJ. The TAFF Good Food Guide mentioned in the 26 FEBRUARY - At 4.30pm Margaret Weis and newsletter TWO TIMES TAFF #4 (also available Tracy Hickman, bestselling authors of the from the administrators - see the ballot form Dragonlance series, will be signing copies of for addresses) will now be a joint production their new paperback DRAGON WING and their of TAFF, GUFF and Fans Across the World. The new hardback ELVEN STAR, at Andromeda British TAFF administrators, Christina Lake Bookshop, 84 Suffolk Street, Birmingham. (All and Lilian Edwards, tell us that they are information regarding signing sessions listed "looking for reviews from anyone with a here is correct to the best of my knowledge, favourite eating place they wish to but it is wise to call Andromeda on 021 643 recommend." The reviews should be short with 1999 to avoid disappointment.) as much detail as necessary (typical dishes, 9 MARCH - "Britain's bestselling fantasy average prices, opening hours / days, telephone author", David Gemmell, will be signing his number and address), although they won't new novel THE LION OF MACEDON from noon. necessarily refuse longer, funnier ones... 20 MARCH - Anne McCaffrey author of the Pern Christina adds that "So far the only one to Dragonrider books talks to the BSFG. Please respond has been Ken Lake. Now we don't want note that she will signing copies of the 'A' the whole of fandom eating in Ken's favourite format RENEGADES OF PERN, the 'C' format restaurants, do we ?" All reviews should be edition of THE ROWAN, and the hardback sent to Lilian Edwards at 2 Spring Valley editions of PEGASUS IN FLIGHT and SASSINAK Terrace, Morningside, Edinburgh, EH 10 4QD by (the latter written with Elizabeth Moon), at early May. When completed, the Good Food Andromeda Bookshop. Guide will be sold to raise money for TAFF, 19 APRIL - The writers of the RED DWARF GUFF and Fans Across the World. television series, Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, talk to the BSFG. (Please note that before Reviews editor Mick Evans, TAFF candidate the meeting, between 5pm and 6pm they will be Pam Wells and CRITICAL WAVE’S Steve Green signing copies of the paperback edition of were amongst the additions to "Major’s BETTER THAN LIFE at Andromeda Bookshop.) Millions" around Christmas. Although we are 3-6 MAY- UFP'91, 31st British STAR TREK con, happy to report that Ms Wells started a new Grand Hotel, Birmingham. £25 to attend, to job in January, and that Mr Green has decided Kim Farey, 135 Greenstead Rd., Loughton, Essex. to launch himself on to an unsuspecting world SUMMER - Twentycon, 20th anniversary party of in a new career as a (wait for it) freelance the BSFG: WATCH THIS SPACE. All books reviewed here by members were provided How to Review by the publishers, who receive a copy of this science Fiction Newsletter. Members may keep review copies (or Books Book may donate them as Raffle or Auction items. ..) Please keep reviews to under 150 words unless I. Reed ham instructed otherwise. Deadline for reviews: at least Reviews two weeks before next Group meeting.

TALES OF PIRX THE PILOT by Stanislaw Lem; ony here gives us the script with the "he saids' Mandarin; 206 pages; £4,99 paperback. and the description added, and some probing into Reviewed by A1 Johnston. the thoughts of the characters, Just what you'd expect, and faithfully done on the surface An enjoyable collection of five stories fro« the However I feel that the D ickesian "reality shifts early career of Pirx, dreamer and space pilot, so well done in the film (and ignored in that harking back to golden age SF; when space travel other Dick film Bladerunner) are blunted by was sufficient adventure in itself. In these Anthony's changes, The whole idea of is he-or- episodes it is again as Lem's hero confronts the isn't he-the baddy? is thrown away as Anthony practicalities and hazards of astronautics steps into one camp completely, (No prizes for commonly taken for granted by other authors. In a guessing which), I feel a novelisation should hostile environment even a minor technical glitch remain faithful to the film and yet add something. can be fatal, This premise allows Lem to build up Somehow Anthony's additions add nothing, and a powerful atmosphere of mystery, Kell worth somehow make it unfaithful, whereas reading, STAR TREK: THE LOST YEARS by J N Dillard; Pan; 307 USE OF WEAPONS by Iain M Banks; Orbit; 368 pages; pages; £3,99 paperback, Reviewed by David 8 Wake, £12,95 hardback, Reviewed by Mick Evans, ...... S tar Trek: The Lost fears is nothing but This is Iain Banks' third novel in the same addition, The novel concerns itself with the universe as Consider Phlebas and The Player of unfilmed years between the end of the TV series Games, and I found it his most powerful book since and Star Trek: The Motion Picture. It is faithful The Wasp Factory. It has some wonderful in trying to bridge the gap, The uniform changes characters;- Cheradenine Zakalwe, a marvellous and so on are included, Host of it concerns the main protagonist; Diziet Sma, a manipulative changes in circumstances to set up the Star Trek representative of the Culture; and a highly universe for the first film, It does this well - I amusing drone, Skaffen-Amitskaw, The plot revolves didn't spot any errors, But what of the story? It around the mercenary Zakalwe's various adventures concentrates on Kirk, Spock and McCoy, Spock's in the pay of the Culture (he gets into some truly daddy, Sarek, and Uhuru also appear, as do some amazing scrapes) while at various intervals we are characters from previous Star Trek books, who have treated to snatches from his past which hides a their own following, the introduction assures me, dark secret, I found these constant scene changes It concerns events on Vulcan, and the mystic a little annoying at first, feeling that they were Kolinahr, I t ’s OK, I don't want to be damning with stopping the flow of the story, however they are slight praise, OK is exactly the right word vindicated by a powerful finale, A terrific book w h e r e a s ...... filled with good dialogue, humour and real characters in an SF element, What more could you ask! Target; 160 pages; £2,50 paperback, Reviewed by David 8 Wake, TOTAL RECALL by Piers Anthony; Legend; 224 pages; £3,99 paperback, Reviewed by David B Wake...... Remembrance o f the Dal eks is brilliant, I am a Doctor Who fan, it is my religion, and I have This is the novelisation of the recent Arnold collected all the books, The shelf is six feet Schwarzenegger film and based on the Philip K Dick long, and full, and I have read them all, It must story "We Can Remember It For You Wholesale", It's be said, though, that most are OK, some are more one of the few of his stories I haven't read so I OK than others, and quite a lot are less than OK, can't comment on the translation from the orig­ remembrance o f the Dal eks is unbelievable in inal. I found the film very exiting, and Science comparison, I'd seen the story on video numerous Fiction enough to overcome the considerable hurdle times when my two-year old daughter went through a of the gratuitous (and it was) violence, I was phase, and yet still this book gripped me, I had amazed by it, (Though what would it have been like to finish it in one sitting, something I haven't if Harrison Ford had played the lead?) Piers Anth­ done in years (true, even if I am an SF fan). This book has cyberpunk bits in it! The actual prose is the Thrice-Gifted One of the Talisman Prophecy of quite literary, and it covers questions not even Mute legend, was causing trouble for the President mentioned in the TV version. It adds something. General and the upper echelons of the Federation The Dalek character is delved into; they are not command. The Mutes were also organising into a simple robots, And it is completely faithful, loose federation of tribal communities to defend Everything a novelisation should be, This book their lands against the opposing forces of Ne- wasn't passed on for review, it languished on my Issan to the east and the Federation to the south, must-be-read pile, I had better things to do, I The stage set by Patrick Tilley in the five thought, But now I must pass the word, Aaronovitch previous books of the Amtrak Wars comes to an can write, inconclusive end in Earth Thunder, Will we have yet another volume to wrap up the loose ends, or MIDNIGHT1S SUN by Garry Kilworth; Unwin Hyman; 317 will we get another six volumes to carry on the pages; £12,95 hardback, Reviewed by Tony Morton, saga as the children of Cadillac and Roz, and Steve and Clearwater grow to maturity? Again a A story of wolves told by Kilworth as a "folk credible plot line has been stretched too far, tale" (his words), where Athaba is born, grows up even though he does a very serviceable job, and relates to the pack and his surroundings, Several adventures befall Athaba, including AZAZEL by Isaac Asimov; Bantam; 221 pages; £3,50 becoming Outcast, the loss of the pack and finding paperback, Reviewed by Michael Jones, true love, Overall, rather a similar outline as found in Hunters Moon, a story of foxes where The author's friend 6eorge has access to a two- Kilworth tells the "folk tale* of foxes growing centimetre-tall demon he calls Azazel, who is up, etc. Not as thoroughly convincing as Hunters really an extraterrestrial being possessed of Moon, but presumably because of the similarities, extraordinary powers. The magazine stories Several of the adventures do stand up well; the collected here tell how George gets Azazel to human-wolf survival pact after the aircrash and perform miracles to help various friends and later recognition in other surroundings is well acquaintances, only to find that by some twist the planned, and the aloneness Athaba feels as outcast end result is always less beneficial than was is particularly poignant, But I'm not sure if intended, It is all typical Asimov; that is to say Kilworth is trying to gain sympathy for wolves or excellently written, slightly humorous, very just angry (justifiably) at mans actions on his easily readable and quite lightweight, There are environment and in particular to wolves. This comes eighteen of the stories so it would be rather hard over in the book quite strongly and (for me) made to wade through the whole lot at one sitting, but it worth reading, it is a good book for dipping into in those spare moments. Recommended to all Asimov fans and those SOLDIER OF ANOTHER FORTUNE by Mike Shupp; less discerning collectors, Headline; 396 pages; £4.50 paperback. Reviewed by A1 Johnston, FOUR PAST MIDNIGHT by Stephen King; Hodder 4 Stoughton; 676 pages; £14,99 hardback. The latest volume of The Destiny Makers, a series Reviewed by Chris Morgan, which gets worse as it gets on, We are promised an end with the next volume; to which I would raise Excitement is what King's fiction is all about - two queries; firstly, why so late? and secondly, so much excitement that you can't put the book given the indecision and slow pace displayed so down, don't even notice stylistic cliches and plot far, how? After his first book Mike Shupp has got contrivances. This is a collection of four big new himself lost in a morass of irrelevant and stories, of which one, "The Langoliers", is SF and increasingly uninteresting detail, which in 'this over 200 pages long, describing how an airliner effort becomes unreadable, He should try something flying over central USA gets transported to else as a natter of urgency, somewhere completely different, "Secret Window, Secret Garden" is about plagiarism and the effect THE AMTRAK WARS 6: EARTH THUNDER by Patrick that such an accusation has on an author, In "The Tilley; Sphere; 484 pages; £3,99 p/back. Library Policeman" a man is threatened with the Reviewed by Chris Chivers, ultimate sanction for not returning his library books on time (don't laugh it's scarily believable The continuing saga of the Amtrak Vars by Patrick on the page), And "The Sun Dog" revolves around Tilley grows and grows. Earth Thunder, book 6 of such a stunningly simple but clever idea that I'll the epic story, continues the battle between the leave you to discover it for yourself, As with a Federation and the Mute tribes, and the role of previous collection of four long stories Different Cadillac, Clearwater and Steve and Roz Brickman, Seasons, Four Past Midnight is better than some of The child of Steve and Clearwater, believed to be King's full-length novels,