-Feature------BOOK REVIEW

ROOMS OF PARADISE, ed. Lee Harding (Quartet Melbourne, 182 pp)

Reviewed by David Grigg

Anthologies are not easy things to review. Too often the contents are so varied in quality and style as to make it impossible to talk about the book as a whole. It is a rare pleasure, then, to be able to discuss an anthology such as ROOMS OF PARADISE in which the quality of the writing is uniformly high, far higher than is the average in science fiction. It is rather more a pleasure to be able to say that this collection of previously unpublished stories was edited by an Australian and published in Australia. There is no doubt that this is the best anthology of sf to be published in this country, and it stands high in comparison with original fiction anth­ ologies published overseas. Certainly, have believed possible. Definitely one R.A.Lafferty is, shall we say, an individual stories are flawed, but the of the best stories in the book. idiosycratic writer, and his stories book as a whole is excellent. Re-deem the Time, by David Lake, does break all the rules and get away with it. Six out of the twelve stories in the the apparently impossible: gives us a Bequest of Wings is superficially about book are by Australians, the rest by very new twist to the idea of time travel. A the evolution of flighted humans. But well-known American and British writers. wry humour pervades the story, but deeper down it is, I think, saying Though I should perhaps not be surprised doesn't quite hide what is really a things about human adolescence. I didn't I'm glad to be able to say that on the rather bitter and ironic idea. Very like it quite as much as some of the whole it is the Australian stories which enjoyable, and very smoothly written. author's other stories. are the best-written, freshest and most Our Neighbour by David Copperfield Frankly, I don't quite know what to original in the book. is in fact written by Gene Wolfe. This make of A Passage in Earth by Damien It would be a futile exercise to try story does not even pretend to be sf. Broderick. It is the most original to rank the stories in order of merit, It doesn't need to. The bitter, moving treatment I've seen of the 'return from but I will discuss them as they come to punchline will remain with me for a long the stars' theme, and I find the story mind, in a very rough order of my app­ time. admirable in its conciseness of language reciation of them. Cherry Wilder's The Falldown of Man and freshness. But I had a feeling, First up in this queue, then, is is a wonderfully happy story, laced with which I retained on re-reading, that the Phillipa Maddern's Ignorant of Magic. splendid jokes. The only thing I wonder author was three or four steps ahead of Disturbing, at times nightmarish, the is how it will read to someone who has me all the time, and that somewhere he story makes the powerful point that all not read Ms Wilder's novel, THE LUCK OF made a turn-off that I missed. I don't our modern knowledge may in fact be BRIN'S FIVE, to which this story is an know. Try it for yourself. abysmal ignorance of the things that appendix. I suppose ij won't make much Indifference, by Brian Aldiss, was matter. To describe the plot would be difference. Ms Wilder's great strength unfortunately too dry and abstract for to spoil the story for you, but I felt is telling a story convincingly from an my taste, though it is written with a all through that the author knew exactly alien viewpoint. In this case the view­ splendid bitter humour, and comes to what she was doing at every moment, point is that of a member of a perform­ an effective and ironic conclusion. But building up a sense of confinement and ing group who begin playing a dance or it reads too much like a story written hopelessness. The ending leaves us un­ drama about the arrival on their planet to expound a proposition in logic. certain of the outcome:to have done of a strange creature called Man. Pie Row Joe by Kevin McKay is the otherwise would have been fatal. Ms In a Petri Dish Upstairs is also an only story in the book which feels a Maddern does not have very far to go to appendix to a novel, in this case little out of place, being rather light­ become the best Australian sf writer we George Turner's BELOVED SON, arguably weight. But it is certainly a well have. the best Australian sf novel ever publ­ written and amusing story, told as a ished. The story here stands perfectly monologue from the point of view of an Next I think of Michael Bishop's well by itself, and does not lean on old man speaking Australian dialect. story, Col laborating. It's the story of the novel. There's a certain hardness, This kind of thing is very difficult, a man with two heads. Ha, ha? Not at a cynicism, in the story,which was also yet the story never once misfires. all. Bishop manages to treat the predi­ in the novel, and which I find here a I can't bring myself to like The cament of the protagonist(s) more little off-putting. But this very Savage Mouth, by Japanese author sensitively and movingly than I would cynicism is perhaps the point of the Sakyo Komatsu, but it is the subject story. 1 Book review-Rooms of Paradise-continued: ) a story from David Lake in his next matter and not the style, which is anthology ,ALIEN WORLDS,along with flawless. To put it mildly, the story stories by Cherry Wilder,A.Bertram made me sick. Chandler ,Jack Wodhams,Rob Gerrand.Van And last, we come to the story which Ikin,Terance Green,C.C.Clingon(editor gives its name to the book, The Rooms of of The DIVERSIFIER),Darrell Schweitzer, Paradise by Ian Watson. Unfortunately, Kendall Evans,Alan Carr along with a I found it rather disappointing. It story by Paul himself. Bruce Gillespie Science attempts the kind of thing that Jorge is also a possibility and a leading Luis Borges did brilliantly years ago, American author is expected to write and reminds me also of stories by Tom a forward. fiction Disch. The Watson story, however, just doesn't come up to these models. With­ out any emotional involvement with the foundation narrator, the ultimate effect of the story is a shrug of the shoulders. It was not my intention to end on a The annual general meeting of the Australian sour note. I must re-emphasise that the Science Fiction Foundation Co-Operative So you reckon this issue of the ASFN is book as a whole is the best anthology of Limited .washeld at Space Age Books on late ! Well it is not really as we are sf we have yet seen in Australia, and the 29th of November 1978.The annual fin­ only publishing ten a year and we already one which ranks high on world standards. ancial report was presented ,two directors have published five since July,so this one Congratulations are due to Lee Harding retired in accordance with the rules of is actually early. The next four issues for gathering the stories together and the society and two new ones were elected. will be spaced at about six weekly inter­ editing them so well, to Quartet books Peter Darling,Kitty Vigo and Merv Binns vals over the next six months. for having the courage to publish the remained on the board.Carey Handfield and collection in Australia, and to Michael I would like to thank the people who Robin Johnson stood down and were replaced Payne for the superb cover. turned up at my home on Cup day for the by Chris Johnson and Paul Stevens. — David Grigg ASFN benefit CUPDAYCON.With donations and the-auction we raised enough cash to It was pointed out at the meeting that the almost cover the cost of one issue,which function of the Foundation in that it act I was most pleased and gratified with. as a resources centre,and promotional body More subscriptions and advertisements will ® AUSTRALIAN for the furtherence of the interest in be the best way of helping to keep future Science Fiction in Australia , is being issues coming.We will be happy to send a MICHAEL PAYNE, Australia's best-known carried out. Financial and other assistance sample copy to any institutions if so has been given to conventions,and writers professional sf artist, left for Munich, requested ,as we are most anxious to see West Germany on December 16th. He will workshops ,and people are requested to ASFN being as widely distributed as it write to the convention with any proposals be working as a media consultant for a possibly can . leading advertising agency. for assistance with any projects relating M erv Binns to science fiction, that they consider the Mike was initially a 'discovery' of Space foundation can help with. Age Books; Lee Harding was awed and de­ Address: G.P.O.Box 4039,Melbourne,3001,Vic. lighted when Mike handed him his port­ folio early in 1974. At that time Mike had only just left Technical School, but already his sf work was of world standard. AUSTRALIAN SF NEWS ISSN 0155-8870 is edited and published by Mervyn R.Binns He went on to do the brilliant wraparound under the sponsorship of The Australian Science Fiction cover for Lee Harding's anthology, BEYOND Foundation. TOMORROW (Wren : 1976), which figured ASFN is registered for posting under Australia post regulations category 'B'.The prominently at the 1975 Worldcon audio­ address for all correspondence is 305/307 Swanston Street,Melbourne,3000,Victoria, visual display; cover and interior ill­ Australia. ustrations to THE SAND WEST OF MOUNTAIN MOUTH by William Green (Cassell/Encounter SUBSCRIPTION: $5.00 Australian for ten issues .Please make payments to the editor :1976); cover and interiors for THE WEEP- Mervyn R.Binns.Air Mail and overseas rates on request. ING SKY by Lee Harding (Cassell : 1977); ADVERTISING: Professional-Full Page $50.00 Copy ready size 28cm wide x 37cm h covers for ENVISAGED WORLDS and OTHER Half Page $30.00 ...... 28cm .. x 17cm . WORLDS edited by Paul Collins (Void :1977 Smaller advertisements must be a minimum of two columns wide- 18cm E, 1978 res.); and his most recent work The height may vary: 12cm $10.00 17cm $15.00 22cm $20.00 was the cover to ROOMS OF PARADISE* also 27cm $25.00 32cm $30.00 37cm $35.00 edited by Lee Harding. Lee had come to A discount of 10% will apply on advertisements placed on a regular regard him as his 'personal' illustrator basis. A 50% discount applies to advertisements for conventions or ("he just pulls the visuals right out other fan activities .Classified advertisements incur a minimum of my head!") and will be sorry to see charge of 50c for three lines single column.154 each extra line. him leave. It is worth noting that Mike's career was made in advertising, and that as well as enhancing the above books with his unique illustrations, he also produced more than fifty dustjackets for a variety of Australianpublishers. Mike was a great all-rounder who will be sadly missed from the local scene. (* Quartet : 1978) SCIENCE BOOKSHOP, the national ABC radio review of current books (1 p.m. Sundays in Melbourne) will have a regular sf re­ view segment beginning shortly. LEE HARD­ ING will act as advisor to the producer, JULIE RIGG, and among the reviewers you SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY SPECIALISTS can expect to hear:GEORGE TURNER, VAN IKIN, BRUCE GILLESPIE and one or two others. 106a Bathurst Street (between pitt a castlereagh sts) Stay tuned, etc. Sydney 2000 DAVID LAKE'S story CREATOR which was published in Paul Collin's anthology phone 61 7630 ENVISAGED WORLDS, has been selected Write for our catalogue.And remember we also stock by Donald Wollheim for his 1979 ANNUAL a full range of fabulous DOVER PAPERBACKS. WORLDS BEST SF from DAW Books.Paul JCollins reports he will most likely have The #1 DEL Science Fiction and Fantasy publisher I suppose I could call Lee Harding in the Universe. the Grand Old Man of Australian sf, but REY I know that he wouldn't thank me for that, since the image immediately con­ jured up is that of an ageing greybeard busily at work with a quill pen. And in BOOKS any case, I'm sure he'd insist that the title belongs to Bertram Chandler. Published by (-J-) JACK L.CHALKER(B Lee is in fact barely nudging the prime of life, yet he seems to have been BallantineBooks around the Australian science fiction A Division of Random,House, Inc. QUEST scene as long as anyone can remember, FOR THE and writing stories for almost as long. Distributed in WELL OF SOULS It's certainly true to say that Lee Australia by Harding has left his mark very deeply TUDOR DISTRIBUTORS on Australian science fiction, as critic, A Division of writer and editor. His outspokenness Doubleday (Aust) has also left marks on some fannish egos. Pty.Ltd. But in this column, this time, I want to concentrate on the fiction of Lee Harding. There's no doubt that he has formed a very individual style, and has A REISSUE OF THE FAMOUS conciously tried to reject the influence NOVEL WITH AUSTRALIAN of British and American sf. If anyth­ CONNATATIONS.Coming soon: ing, -his books are British in style: Quest of Three Worlds. very literate and philosophical. It's a pity that I can't go into much detail here about Lee's first novel, A WORLD OF SHADOWS, since that is no longer in print. A curious book concern­ ed with the nature of identity, its major scenes are set around the dinner IF YOU ONLY WANT THE BEST table, and the conversations are far IN SCIENCE FICTION AND more important than the action. Yet the emotions aroused strike far deeper than FANTASY, YOU ONLY NEED.... A SEQUAL TO Midnight at any depicted in books of fast action. The Well of Souls.Also For a first novel, it's a very fine book, available by this popular and if you see it remaindered somewhere new author:Dancers in the you should buy a copy. Afterglow,Exiles at the Still in print is FUTURE SANCTUARY Well of Souls , and Web (Laser Books). Flawed by editor Roger of the Chozen. Elwood's idiot insistence that every­ thing be explained, it is the story DEL of a pursuit and a search, and of a man's retreat within himself. There are many beautiful dramatic images in the book: the metallic pursuers; a girl who weeps constantly from one eye REY as she draws in the sand; the final con­ ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE BEST OF SERIES: Lester flict with the Destroyer; all of these Del Rey,Murray Leinster, are memorable. But ultimately the book Jack Williamson,Raymond BOOKS fails. It fails largely because the Z.Gallun,Robert Bloch etc. story is an extended metaphor which does­ n't quite work on the first level, which is essential. It remains a series of beautiful images and scenes; but all along I kept thinking: "Now what's this he's trying to do?". It's a pity, be­ cause I think that in the hands of a good editor, this could have become rather a powerful novel. Instead, it SPACE HEE is reduced almost to the mediocre level of the other Laser Books. But what can SCIENCE FICTION S FANTASY you expect from an editor who was try­ ing to produce a line of books to sell ART,FILMS,CHILDRENS,OCCULT, in supermarkets? PHILOSPHY,FOOD,HEALTH & SHELTER If you enjoy reading children's books, as I do, then you shouldn't miss the RECORDS,COMICS,POSTERS 8 CARDS OORS short children's novels that Lee wrote PTY.LTD. for the Cassell Encounter series. These books are THE FROZEN SKY, THE CHILDREN 305-307 SWANSTON STREET, MELBOURNE, 3000 PHONE: 663-1777 OF ATLANTIS, and RETURN TO TOMMORROW. Victoria, AUSTRALIA 663-1394 Of these, the best is perhaps THE FROZ­ EN SKY, telling the story of the recov­ ery of a lost container of vital drugs SEND $1.00 NOW FOR A COPY OF OUR 48 PAGE DOUBLE "ISSUE NEWSLETTER by the colonists of Mars, who have to battle up through the wastes of the 3 Australian SF -David Grigg -con. DRAGONSINGER Anne McCaffrey north polar cap. In finding the cont­ Corgi Paperback $2.75 ainer, they also find something more startling. All three books are an ex­ Book one of the HARPER OF PERN cellent read, and very invigorating series. Book 2, DRAGONSONG to follow. stuff to give your ten-year old. Whilst this series is set on Pern and And so we come to Lee's latest novel: is concurrent to the Dragonrider series, THE WEEPING SKY. There's no doubt that it is not part of the latter. I this is the best of Lee Harding's books reviewed this in an earlier Space Age to date. Published by Cassell Australia Upon reading Ian Watson's newest book, Catalogue a year or so ago, and I liked with superb cover and interior illustr­ THE MIRACLE VISITORS, one gets the it then and haven't changed my mind ations by Michael Payne, it is a book impression that it was written in a hurry. since. If you like McCaffrey's writing which is curiously hard to define. It Perhaps the publishers have put some then this is a must for your shelves. kind of pressure on him so that he will does not fit into any of those conven­ BEST OF ERIC FRANK RUSSELL ient categories which publishers and produce more novels within a given critics like to set up. This, perhaps, period. If such is the case, then of Ballantine paperback $2.75 course it will be detrimental to the is the reason the book took so long to This series of the best of quality of his work. If one'looks care­ be published. continues to be the best series of one fully at his last three novels, one can For all but the last two chapters, Author collections around. Collect see a general downhill slide, which is a the book is only 'science fiction' to them all and you have the basis oa a great pity because THE EMBEDDING and THE the extent to which Kingley Amis' good SF library, read them and given JONAH KIT showed that Ian Watson is recent novel THE ALTERATION can be them to a friend and you are still capable of brilliant ideas and said to fall into that category. We ahead. Great sf by great authors. start off by being introduced to a excellent writing. mediaeval world in which Science is WEEPING MAY TARRY Raymond.F.Jones f, slowly emerging, bitterly opposed by the I found THE MIRACLE VISITORS Lester Del Rey disjointed and full of mumbo jumbo about, Church. As the book slowly progresses, Pinnacle paperback $2.40. we realise that this is an 'alternate levels of consciousness,UFO phenomena and universe' - history has moved differ­ nseudo-psycho logy. Two of the old guard turn their ently there. So far this is nothing hand to new material and prove to me The way a book affects a different that whatever they had one that made remarkable. But right from the first page of the reader is subjective and dependant upon them great they have still got. Good book, we are faced with an inexplicable that reader's preferences. Myself, I thoughtful story about an alien race finding a dead earth and struggling to phenomenon which has intruded into this don't like material relating to UFOs and so I found this book boring. It was a understand the few remnants of world: the Wall, hailed as miracle and struggle to finish it. I've no doubt Christianity left in the ruins. omen. The unfolding of this phenomenon that some other readers will be THE BEST OF JACK WILLIAMSON until the ultimate inevitable disaster fascinated by it. and understanding is the bones of the Ballantine paperback $2.75 plot. But there are dozens of other Briefly: The discovery by a professor Whatever I said about the best fascinating themes to the book; the most of psychology that one of his students of Eric Frank Russell goes double for important of which is a love story. had met people from a flying saucer leads this collection, and you get a Ralph The protagonist, Conrad le Jeune, is to a series of mysterious events and M'Quarrie cover into the bargain. a boy in his late teens, apprenticed to happenings, contact by aliens based on the Guild of Scientists. We learn that the far side of the moon, and the CHARLES FORT NEVER MENTIONED WOMBATS. before this, he was a novice monk. He ultimate revelation of the truth about Gene DeWeese and Robert Coulson. is searching for something to believe in UFOs. - and ultimately Science, too, fails him. Hale SF cloth $9,95 If the book has a moral, then it is this: Not what one would expect, and not Back in 1975, Melbourne was host neither subjective faith nor objective all that interesting anyway- Hopefully to the World Science Fiction Convention science is enough, alone, to understand Ian Watson will take a little more care and a large contingent of American SF the world. That's a strange moral for and produce something a lot better next fans were amongst those present on that a book labelled as science fiction. time. But possible morals aside, THE WEEP­ gala occasion. Strangely enough neither ING SKY.is an immensely readable book: JOHN LITCHEN. Coulson or DeWeese were present in the lure of the explanation of the phen­ Melbourne, but that didn't stop them omenon and the feeling of impending SHIP OF STRANGERS Bob Shaw writing this story based on the American disaster is enough to keep the reader fans trip to that convention, which is glued to the pages until the end. The Gollancz cloth $10.65 160pp. probably why this story finishes before main characters are well-rounded and Who said,"They don't write science the convention starts, a fact that real, and the book's concluding lines, fiction like they used to."? Well, whoever disappointed me and will disappoint most which could so easily have been sacc­ it was didn't know about this patische of the Australian readers of this thin harine had the characters not been of short stories and novelletes that little in-joke.' convincing, is instead a solid and sat­ appeared in a somewhat different form of And this leads me to another isfying conclusion. Analog,If and Universe. Now rewritten point. The British publishing company Now, on the cover of the book it says into a slightly disjointed novel of of Robert Hale must be in a bad way if that this is a novel for 'young adults'. galactic exploration on the outer rim they are forced, or even choose to I'm not sure about that, and if the of known space, Bob Shaw has given us SF publish material of this sort, because novel has a flaw, it is that it seems as it was written in the good old days. all the content that is in this story is not quite sure where it is standing as a fannish joke that is only funny is you far as audience is concerned. There WAYFARER Dennis Schmidt know fandom and fans. This is a ripoff are times when the writing seems naive, Ace paperback $2.95. of the unfannish reader who would be the especially when dealing with the relat­ only person rich enough to pay out $10 ionship between Conrad and the girl, A colony ship lands on what looks for a hardcover book and who will be Donella; but that is understandable in like a paradise planet and too late finds pretty upset when he/she realises just a book meant for teenagers. Yet much out that there are invisible entities what it is they paid out good money for. of the time the book's style is literary that attack the mind and send most of and the vocabulary abtruse: words like the colonists violently insane. Somehow STARSHINE Theodore Sturgeon 'supernal' and 'limned' appear in the the few survivors adapt by using the Panther paperback $2.75. first two pages: not quite right for a ancient Japanese way of Zen, and the teenage reader. But this is mere nit­ story is of Jerome and his struggle to Yet another collection of short picking . save his fellow colonists seven stories, this time by Sturgeon, and if THE WEEPING SKY is a beautifully generations later. SF that is a little you don't know who he is, then buy this produced book, and an essential addit­ different....but not much. collection and make up for your ion to any science fiction reader's ignorance at once. library, just to show how good sf can be P.J.Stevens 4«hen it steps out of the rut. CRYSTAL WORLD-J.G.Ballard THE RICAL /KENNARD Distributors NEW RELEASES NEW APOCRYPHA- John Sladek(Non-Fic.) Wyndham FROM AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTORS Mayflower THE MAKING OF SUPERMAN-D.M.Petrou KINGDOM OF THE SPIDERS-B.J.Hurwood LORD TEDRIC- E.E.'Doc 'Smith BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN- C.Dreadstone AUSTRALASIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY Quartet Corgi DOCTOR WHO § THE BRAIN OF MORBIUS- /Hyland House AQUARIUS' MISSION- Martin Caidin Terrance Dicks THE ROOMS OF PARADISE -ed Lee Harding HC KILLER MICE - Kit Reed THE SAVOY BOOK - Bd David Britton & J.CAPE MAN AND THE STARS -Duncan Lunan (N/F) Michael Butterworth THE PATTERN OF EXPECTATIONS -I.F.Clarke HIGH FRONTIER -Gerard K.O'Neil (N/F) THE MUMMY - Carl Dreadstone (by the author of Voices Prophesying CABAL 2:BLACK MOON- Saul Dunn DOCTOR WHO and THE ANDROID INVASION- War -due out early 1979) HC NEWRITINGS IN SF 30- ed Kenneth Bulmer Terrance Dicks COLLAPSING UNIVERSE-Isaac Asimov (N/F) APC have up to now handled all the Allen Magnum and Unwin publications including the Bantam THE MAN WHO JAPED -P.K.Dick J.R.R.Tolkien books,but Allen and Unwin DAY OF THE DOVE -Star Trek Foto Novel WE WHO ARE ABOUT..- Joanna Russ are opening up their own offices from #10 - Gene Roddenberry LAST AND FIRST MEN-OIaf Stapledon January 1st 1979, WHAT MAD UNIVERSE -Frederic Brown LAST MEN IN LONDON ALLEN AND UNWIN Warner THREE DAMOSELS-- V. Chapman CLANSMEN OF ANDOR- Andrew J.Offut THE LORD OF THE RINGS -J.R.R.Tolkien ASYLUM WORLD - John Jakes Hamlyn New one volume edition with a scene from GOLDEN PRESS the new film illustrating the cover. GRIMM'S WORLD - Verner Vinge THE LORD OF THE RINGS - J.R.R.Tolkien SPACECRAFT 2000 to 2100 AD-Stewart SILENT INVADERS -Robert Silverberg A 78 page book with over 130 pictures Cowley HC POE MUST DIE - Marc Golden from the film and a specially written HAMLYN AUSTRALIA THE WITLING -Verner Vinge text. FAERIES - Brian Froud and Alan Lee A TOUCH OF STRANGE - Theodore Surgeon CALENDAR. A 1979 Calendar is now on sale artists. Designed and edited by ACE featuring drawings by Tolkien and a film David Larkin HC DESTINIES - Jim Baen Calendar is to be published to co-incide HUTCHINSON GROUP (Australia) sight OF PROTEUS - Charles Sheffield with the release of the film.Probably a TREY OF SWORDS - Andre Norton GOBLINS -Spike Milligan and Heath 1980 one about mid 1979 we presume. GREAT TIME MACHINE HOAX-Keith Laumer Robinson (Hutchinson) HC THE SILMARILLION -J.R.R.Tolkien THURB’ REVOLUTION -Alexei Panshin THE DOSADAI EXPERIMENT -Frank Herbert HC A paperback edition is due early'79 STARWELL - Alexei Panshin DREAMSNAKE-Vonda McIntyre HC ARMAGEDDON 2419- Philip Nowlan UP THE WALLS OF THE WORLD- James HC BOOK PEOPLE AUSTRALIA -WOBBLEDAGGER RETIEF AT LARGE -Keith Laumer Tiptree Jr (Dragons Dream,Dragons World,Big 'O' DEFIANT AGENTS -Andre Norton (Last three titles are from Gollancz) Fantasy Art etc.) CROSSROADS OF TIME - Andre Norton MANAS MANA Bob Venosa HODDER and STOUGHTON Coronet ARCTURUS LANDING- G.R.Dickson MASTERS OF COMIC BOOK ART - P.R.Garrick And numerous back titles BOOK OF CONQUESTS- Jim Fitzpatrick MARUNE:Alastor 933 - Jack Vance BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - Chris Achilleos LUDO AND THE STAR HORSE - Mary Stewart THAMES AND HUDSON NECRONOMICON- H.R.Giger (Jan) REBAL WORLDS - Poul Anderson ROBOTS:Facts,Fiction and Prediction- DRAGON CALENDAR (Dean.Woodroffe Etc) MACMILLAN Octopus Jasia Reichardt MECHANISMO - Harry Harrison The FANTASY BOOK - Franz Rottensteiner THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SCIENCE FICTION WILLIAM COLLINS BOOK DISTRIBUTORS Pan The books,films,magazines and art ed Robert Holdstock MEDUSA'S CHILDREN - Bob Shaw THOMAS NELSON Sphere Books TUOR DISTRIBUTORS Futura THE CROCK OF GOLD - James Stephens THE VAMPIRE - Roger Vadim TERROR! A History of Horror Illustration BATTLESTAR GALACTICA - Glen A Larson and THE BEAST THAT SHOUTED LOVE AT THE HEART from the Pulp Magazines-P.Haining Robert Thurston OF THE WORLD - H.Ellison BENEATH THE SHATTERED MOON - M.Bishop THE FURY - John Farris Fontana PEBBLE IN THE SKY- Isaac Asimov ALL MY SINS REMEMBERED - J. Haldeman YEAR OF THE COMET -John Christopher OPERATION ARES - Gene Wolf ANDROMEDA 3 - Peter Weston PASTEL CITY-M.J.Harrison IN THE HALL OF THE MARTIAN KINGS- CINNABAR - Edward Bryant THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT WANTS YOU- MESSAGE TO THE STARS -Ian Ridpath (Sci/NF) John Varley Harry Harrison (Michale Joseph HC) PERRY RHODAN # 38: PROJECT EARTHSAVE THE CHRONICLES OF THOMAS COVENANT -THE STAR FIRE - Ingo Swann UNBELIEVER - Stephen Donaldson K. Brand THE FAR CALL - Gordon R.Dickson .Lord Fouls Bane Volume' One THE ROBOT WHO LOOKED LIKE ME -R.Sheckley The Illearth War Volume two THE JOYOUS INVASIONS - T.Sturgeon NECROMANCER - Robert Holdstock The Power That Preserves -Volume three SUPERHEROES - Michael Parry THE FOREVER WAR - J.Haldeman CONAN OF AQUILONIA - De Camp S Carter MINDBRIDGE - . . All the above titles should have been out THE WORLD IN WINTER - J.Christopher New English Library by Christmas but at time of publication PENGUIN BOOKS ASSIGNMENT IN ETERNITY Vol 2- R.Heinlein had not yet appeared.In Melbourne that is. Melbourne Booksellers are getting the WOMEN OF WONDER - SF Stories by Women THE WIZARD OF LINN - A.E.Van Vogt short end of the stick from a number of about Women -Ed Pamela Sargent BREAKFAST IN THE RUINS- M.Moorcock wholesalers now , and they can never be VERY LONG WAY FROM ANYWHERE ELSE VOYAGE TO FAREMIDO/CAPILLARIA - certain of getting all titles they order. Ursula Le Guin (Juv.Nov -not F or SF) Frigyes Karinthy CITIZEN OF THE GALAXY -Robert Heinlein THE COLD CASH WAR - Robert Asprin WCBD also handle New English Library titles. THE MEN FROM PIG AND ROBOT-Harrison THOUGHTWORLD- Terry Greenough See under Tudor. Also they both distribute WATERSHIP DOWN - Richard Adams Ballantines SIGNET and NEW AMERICAN LIBRARY.The only Fully illustrated film edition title due we know of for certain in the THE ULTIMATE THRESHOLD - Mira Ginsberg THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE -H.Clement SF line is the STAR TREK title: BEST OF JACK WILLIAMSON- Intro F.Pohl THE BEST OF TREK - W.Irwin 6 G.B.Love REVIEW ENTERPRISES Arrow ATTACK FROM ATLANTIS- L.Del Rey UP THE LINE - Robert Silverberg GORDON AND GOTCH Panther THE WINDS OF DARKOVER -M.Z.Bradley BLOODY SUN- THE WORLD IS ROUND - Tony Rothman BEST SF OF THE YEAR #7 - Terry Carr THE WORLD INSIDE -Robert Silverberg ELOISE - E.C.Tubb THE GENTLE GIANTS OF GANEYMEDE- Hogan PORTAL'S - Edward Andrew Mann EYE OF THE ZODIAC - E.C.Tubb DANCERS IN THE AFTERGLOW-J.Chalker ROGUE SHIP- A.E.Van Vogt NIGHT SHAPES - Junes Blish PURITY PLOT - E.E.'Doc 'Smith ROCKET JOCKEY - Lester Del Rey PHILOSOPHERS STONE-Colin Wilson This distributor is also handling BEST OF RAYMOND-Z.Gallun TO YOUR SCATTERED BODIES GO-Farmer American BERKLEY Books but no list of EXILES AT THE WELL OF SOULS - J.Chalker TRAITOR TO THE LIVING- P.J.Farmer titles definitely available is available. BEST OF LESTER DEL REY -intro F.Pohl SLAN- A.E.van Vogt WEB OF WIZARDRY- Juanita Coulson UNDER COMPULSION - Thomas M.Disch Hard covers marked HC al 1 otherr pb PUBLISHERS RELEASES Continued OVERSEAS NEWS BOOK REVIEWS Continued... DARK STAR - Alan Dean Foster TED WHITE has left 'Amazing' and THE BEST OF ERIC FRANK RUSSELL 'Fantastic' as editor.The January and STAR WARS CALENDAR 1979 February issues respectively will be CONDITION OF MUZAK Michael Moorcock STAR TREK CALENDAR 1979 last issues he will edit. No new editor Fontana paperback $3.25. We do not know if all the above titles has been appointed yet but they will be will be available for certain ,but they using reprints of art and stories for a There is only one Jerry Cornelius include titles published up to October while ,then they will be looking for new and Moorcock is his creator and this is USA which we believe TUDOR should be material. Arthur. Bernhard the new pub­ the final novel in the Jerry Cornelius able to supply. lisher stated however that nothing is quartet, and nothing I can say will alter your decision to either buy this novel Thomas Nelson are expecting soon in really set and that we should wait and see what developed. right now or avoid it like the plague. SPHERE: THE INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS So I won't! by Jack Finney.A new film is also due to POCKET BOOKS will be publishing all be released soon. Review Enterprises are future STAR TREK books and no more new DEATH OF THE DRAGON Sakyo Komatsu expecting the book of the film SUPERMAN titles will appear from Bantam or NEL paperback $2.50. by Mario Puzo.The film is due for a Ballantine. Christmas release but the book looks like The worst disaster in the history of being a little late. The second issue of OMNI had a print run the World, reads the blurb on the back of 1.3 million and apparently 2 million of the book and they could be right Two titles missed on the CORONET list on the third.Penthouse Inc. are appar­ are reissues of Edmund Cooper's: because of the transition from Japanese ently quite confident in it's future. to English leaves much to be- desired, SEAHORSE IN THE SKY and THE TENTH PLANET. The first issue went on sale here early but if you like the idea of Japan Of marginal interest is also John Gardner's December ,and although it has sold sinking below the waves forever, then THE WEREWOLF TRACE . well at least at Space Age,nobody has this is the book for you. Some titles listed in all publishers lists really been all that enthusiastic about are not yet out but should be at least in it.We can only hope later issues do THE HERMES FALL John Baxter January. improve. Panther paperback $3.25. JEM is a new novel by Fred Pohl to be ADVANCE INFORMATION FROM GOLLANCZ Yet another disaster novel... and you published in hard cover soon by St. can take that comment anyway you want. The following titles are due to be Martins Press. Anyway, there is this bloody great published by Gollancz Publishers in the asteroid see, an' it drops into the U.K. over the next six months: BESTSELLERS Atlantic, an' all American gets covered THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE- Arthur C.Clarke The top selling books in the SF field in water an' the climate changes an' ON WINGS OF SONG- Thomas M.Disch in October in the USA were; great exciting literature it ain't. THE VERY SLOW TIME MACHINE-Ian Watson Paperback: Dragonsinger -McCaffrey And the sex is very graphic. Heir of Sea Frank Frazetta Book 3 Panther paperback $2.50. The Fantastic Art of Boris A collection of short fiction by one Vallejo of the most controversial of the 'new Magic Goes Away has 130,000'copies in wave' writers of the 1960's. You either print after two printings. hate him or love him. JACK WILLIAMSON reported to our roving This is an abridged list from LOCUS. THE SHATTERED CHAIN . $2.90 correspondent that he has a number of books coming out in the near future Most of the author notes and overseas news STAR OF DANGER $2.50. as follows;BROTHERS TO DEMONS .BROTHERS is also courtesy of LOCUS . Marion.Zimmer Bradley. TO GODS from Bobbs Merrill-Spring '79, Arrow paperbacks. TEN TRILLION WISE MACHINES from Bantam, Two of the classic 'Darkover'novels JAN HOWARD FINDER is one of our most QUEEN OF THE LEGION in the Legion of in British edition. Good solid SF that ardent supporters for A'83.He urges Space series from Pocket Books, a story has been building a well-deserved us to all get together in a concentrated in HARLAN'S WORLD -FARSIDE STATION which reputation over the past 15 years. we gather will first appear in ASIMOV'S bid.He wants to come back to Australia Magazine .Fantasia Press are doing a because he had such a super time last trip. THX 1138 George Lucas. special edition of REIGN OF WIZARDRY, Jan is Chairman of what he calls the first Novelisation by Ben Bova. DARKER THAN YOU THINK selling well in British convention west of the Atlantic Panther paperback $2.50. French edition,the CT novels are to be prior to 1776.Bob Shaw will be guest of re-published in Jove. (We wouZd veAi/ much Honour,Jack Cohen FGoH and Bob Tucker is Although the blurb on the back of appneeiate any information of this kind Toastmaster. Write to Jan for more info this book make's this novelisation of (■tom otheA autho.u who have, the time to if you will be in the USA over the 2-4th the SF movie sould like an early version tend it to tza.M.B.) of November '79. Star Wars it is nothing like it. Worth reading wether you saw the movie of STEPHEN DONALDSON is working on a second His comment on DUFF and GUFF is interesting THX 1138 or not. trilogy in the Thomas Covenant series,this in that he thinks anybody should be allowed time set 300 years later than the first. to stand who can get the nominators.Let the NEBULA AWARD STORIES 11 edited by Ursula We are hoping it is not three hundred years fen decide themselves .Whether people can before we have the paperback edition of Corgi paperback $2.95. LeGuin or cannot afford the trip is irrelevant. the first series on sale here. That is not the point I was trying to make I shouldn't have to sell you on IN MEMORY YET GREEN:THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY in my comments in ASFN .rather that fans this volume , you should be up and OF ISAAC ASIMOV 1920-1954 will be who have already been to a world con...... running to the nearest bookstore to buy published in February by Doubleday, OK! The more I think about it the more a copy of this collection of the best sf and is his 200th book. complicated it gets.Really I do not think for 1975, as picked by the writers of anybody(the administrator included) has the Bantam will publish an original anth­ America. right to refuse a nomination really.The ology apparently edited by HARLAN fans will decide who is right or wrong in ELLISON called MEDEA:HARLAN'S WORLD. the long run. Wi 11iamson,Clement,Disch,Pohl,Niven, P.J.Stevens Wilhelm,Pohl.Sturgeon, and Ellison May the Great Wombat smile on you also himself will have stories included. Jan! space station orbiting Earth and the climax of the movie will be, hopefully, Also from Italy comes THE FISHMEN a big spectacular space battle with the directed by Sergio Martino and starring station being attacked by NASA space Barbara Bach, Richard Johnson and Claudio shuttles. Derek Meddings, the special Cassinelli. "Diabolically created to effects man who used to work on THUNDER­ recover a huge treasure at the bottom of BIRDS and more recently did the effects the ocean they lived and fought in the in THE SPY WHO LOVED ME told me that the deeps..." Crumbs! A REPORT FROM JOHN BROSNAN space stuff was going to look as authentic as possible and that they even And if that wasn't enough there's PLANET OF DINOSAURS which is about people LONDON: November 1978 had a NASA expert acting as a technical adviser. However he admitted there "trapped in a nightmare world of First off, of course, I'd like to plug probably would be sounds in space ... prehistoric monsters". Whatever will my own book FUTURE TENSE which is an They all knew it was unrealistic but the they think of next? This film, directed irreverent survey (and is probably even director, producer, etc, feel that a by James K. Shea, was the winner of a an irrelevant one too) of sf cinema. It silent space battle lacks drama. Sigh. Special Jury Gold Medal Award at the includes interviews with Michael Virgin Islands Film Festival. Moorcock, Harry Harrison, John Brunner, Despite rumours that the project had been John Baxter, Vai Guest, Richard scrapped FLASH GORDON is still in pre- And who says the sf film hasn't come of Fleischer and Derek Meddings. Foreword production at Pinewood. I hate to think age? is by Harry Harrison. Published in what Flash will look like after Nic Roeg, Britain by MacDonald f, Janes and in the who is collaborating on the script and PS: Some news about Arthur C. Clarke's USA by St Martins Press. Costs a small will direct, and Dino DeLaurentis get forthcoming novel THE FOUNTAINS OF fortune in both countries. through with him. I just hope that Roeg PARADISE which he claims will be his last doesn't cast Mick Jagger in the role. sf one. It concerns the building of a The multi-million dollar sf movie ALIEN space 'elevator' which stretches from a is still in production at Shepperton There are a lot of other so-called sf mountain in Ceylon to an orbiting space Studios. Producers are being rather movies about to shamble into cinemas station. secretive as to what it's about but across the world - there's the Disney JOHN BROSNAN, 23 Lushington Rd, London NW 10, U.K. actually it's a variation on the old 17 000 000 dollar space epic called THE monster-loose-in-the-spaceship plot. A BLACK HOLE which is about a spaceship The MARTIAN CHRONICLES starring Rock Hudson spaceship lands on a remote planet and falling into - what else? - a black hole. one of the crew members is infected by started filming in September, according It is the biggest Disney live-action pro­ to Variety .It is directed by Michael a mysterious organism that he finds in a duction to date and obviously a huge jar buried in an artificial cavern. The Andersonjwritten by Richard Mathieson; investment for the relatively small special effects by John Shears.Being filmed thing incubates within him and bursts company. To quote VARIETY: "The studio out (through his chest) and hides in the in Malta and the Canary Islands.A Charles is betting that the science fiction boom Fies Production. ship's ventilation system, snatching the will not die out before the film's crew members one by one and using their release..." which will probably be We saw BATTLE STAR GALACTICA at a preview still-living bodies as incubators for Christmas 1979. I can't wait. its young. Finally only one crew on December 6th or thereabouts.lt certainly is quite spectacular ,but the story and member, a woman, is left alive, plus the Apart from the numerous STAR WARS rip- ship's cat, and she attempts to escape, the dialogue leaves a lot to be desired. offs there are also numerous CLOSE It no doubt will go quite well with the with the cat, in a life-boat but the ENCOUNTERS rip-offs coming your way. monster gets on board as well. Using general moviegoer,but the discerning sf One of which is WITHOUT WARNING , a Bless fans will have to wait a little longer for the cat as a decoy the girl manages to International Film Production, whatever blow the creature out of the airlock. the film or films that strike the happy that is. And there's also THE DARK from medium between SPACE ODDYSEY and STAR WARS. Both girl and cat survive. Film Ventures International. Unlike WITHOUT WARNING I gather THE DARK has Should be a good sf/horror movie but it THE LORD OF THE RINGS FILM . Bill Rotsler already been completed. It stars in Locus reports he was somewhat disapp - does sound awfully familiar. Screenplay William Devane, Cathy Lee Crosby and is by Walter Hill and David Giler but ointed in the film. It is made by Ralpn Richard Jaeckel and was directed by Bashki who made WIZARDS, and a process the original screenplay was by Dan John 'Bud' Cardos. "Not all alien O'Bannon (co-writer of DARK STAR) and I called Rotoscoping is used in which live encounters will be friendly" drivels action film is painted over frame by suspect he was inspired by a.1950s movie the advertising blurb. called IT, THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE, frame by animators. A variety of artists worked on the film. which was scripted by Jerome Bixby, and And then there's SLITHIS which is about in turn owes a lot to a couple of Bill went on to say that he really did not a creature spawned from atomic waste. know why they did not make the film in stories that are incorporated in A. E. Ah, nostalgia! At this rate we'll soon Van Vogt's VOYAGE OF THE SPACE BEAGLE live action and be done with it. Much of be back in the fifties watching Godzilla it is high contrast motion picture film ("The Black Destroyer" in particular). again. SLITHIS, the makers claim, has Seeing as lawsuits between companies who with bits of colour painted on here and been nominated for "2 Awards by Sci-Fi there.This combined live and animated make sf movies are in fashion at the Horror Academy". What? moment I think Van Vogt should sharpen action he said was great when Gene Kelly up a couple of lawyers and get stuck danced with the mouse in ANCHORS AWAY, Bad news in the shape of producer Harry into 20th Century Fox, who are making but as annoying as hell in the film. ALIEN. Alan Towers' production of THE SHAPE OF He has not read Tolkien he said,so he THINGS TO COME which is being shot in could not say how faithful it was to the Canada. What's the betting it includes books,but the ending was most unsatisf­ Fox, as everyone probably knows, is a battle in outer space? suing MCA over BATTLESTAR GALACTICA, actory ,which is not surprising seeing claiming that it's a copy of STAR WARS. that the film finishes half way through Neither am I very enthusiastic about the Amusingly, John Baxter has been the second book.There was nothing in the film version of THE MARTIAN CHRONICLES approached by MCA who have asked him film that could not have been done with which has already gone into production. whether he'd be prepared to fly over to special effects ,matte painting,"1ive" On the credit side the script is by the States and be one of their defence animation and straight photography .A lot Richard Matheson, but unfortunately Milton of people will no doubt go to see the witnesses. All expenses paid, of course. Subotsky is one of the producers and The only other British writer they've film but no doubt a lot of Tolkien the director is Michael Anderson, the asked is Brian Aldiss. If this case fans are going to be very disapointed. man who gave us LOGAN'S RUN and DOC ever reaches court it should be very SAVAGE. entertaining with lawyers trying to work Work is now well underway on the new Star Wars film ,THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK in the out just who invented such devices as HUMAN EXPERIMENTS is on the way from robots, ray guns, etc.... special effects department and principal Pyramid Entertainment and is presumably an photography will commence in February 1979. American-Italian co-production. It's Look for an early 1980 release. The new Bond film MOONRAKER is also directed by J. Gregory Goodell, and getting into the space war act. The included in the cast is someone called villain, Hugo Drax, is based in a huge Ellen Travolta. 7 imaginary "news" stories. I haven't The next issue of NEW WORLDS(214) will be seen it myself, but I gather its main out in November.lt will contain.work by me, concern is with dividing the English Meadley,Platt, B. J. Bayley .Michael Butterworth , literary world into Good Guys and Bad. and others. 75p.This is a bigger and gener­ And to think that once the "new wave" was ally more ambitious issue.215 will follow it i Edited by John Foyster, a vital force. The last NEW WRITINGS has closely and will be edited in Manchester by just appeared in pb here ... or at least, Dave Britton and Mike Butterworth 216 will the last for the time being. Again, I ROBERT .CLEMENTS, 27 Bellinger Place, be primarily the work of Charles Platt(as haven't seen it myself, but I gather from editor) and will feature mainly new US Sylvania, N.S.W. 2224 one or two people that have that it's one material.After that issue we'll pause to of the best issues for some time. I re-think our policy if we feel it hasn't In ASFN 4 you ask for opinions on the suppose next year, '79, is going to be developed the way we want it to go.But I Ditmar categories. First of all I'd can't see us returning to publishing short best admit that I'm a new reader, and the busy year ... with two large cons and God alone knows how many foreign visitors. stories, as such. if what I say has been discussed and It all sounds exciting in prospect, but disregarded years ago it's not my fault. (M.B. Thanks Mike for the information,and the temptation is to start putting up I will take you up on the offer to send storm-shutters and hide under the bed, Six awards is about right, based on the us any further news you can.Your public­ hoping it will go away. The plans for four you suggested. The professional ation list was also most appreciated,and the Worldcon are well advanced; the awards must be split into two. (It we will use a bit of it in the next issue.) stands to reason that a fair novel will booking form arrived this week. At this far remove I can't do more than express beat a good short story in any ballot.) the hope that as many of my Aussie mates DONALD L HUMPHRIES, Box 1271-L, GPO The fan awards? Well, I'm not a F*A*N as possible will be able to get across to Melbourne, Vic 3001 so I'd best not argue. Britain for it. (I'd be glad to know how GUFF is proceeding, by the by.) What Most of us are familiar with Isaac That leaves two, and it's those two that seems sure about the Worldcon is that it Asimov's "Three Laws of Robotics". They I've stewed over for a month. How do will be the biggest and best British con occur in several of his books, and are you like this idea? yet ... without undue boastfulness, listed in his recent "The Bicentennial British cons are special, a fact discovered Man". One should be an International SF award, by foreign visitors (many of whom come Asimov's intention in devising the Laws just to show that we're not totally back year after year), and the Worldcon was to keep robots in their place ("robata divorced from the rest of humanity. looks as if it will be the most special - Czech, meaning :servitude or forced On this, I don't think that magazine yet. (Excuse the grammar.) labor"), and stop them running amok or serialization is by itself sufficient taking over the world. While this may be qualification for such an award. In a Personal news: not much. Still writing all right for sub-human robots, I would situation where only the magazine slowly, and haven't started a new novel prefer to grant the android more-or-less version is out 'in time' then the book since WESSEX (2^ years ago!) I've got a equality with humans. To do this, I've should be held back until the full new story collection coming out in early formulated the following Laws, which could version is available. (As an example, '79, called AN INFINITE SUMMER. I hope be added to Asimov's (as further compare the serial and book form of at least one copy gets across to evolution of the idea):- GATEWAY. Both are good but the Melbourne, as there's something in there complete version is better. In certain 4. An android, to the extent it is for a few of my friends. I've also years that might be the difference granted rights of citizenship written a TV play based on the title between winning and losing.) in human society, shall also story ... but that hasn't been sold so perform the duties attendant The last award would be on a three year far. Still hoping. ANTICIPATIONS should thereon. cycle. One year a non-Prose award (from have reached Australia by now ... that's the book I finished two days before 5. An android shall live in a films through plays, poems and setting off for Oz, back in Januaiy '77 sympathetic and sensitive illustrations) a field not normally ... shows how long these things take to symbiotic relationship with humans, covered in awards; second an Anthology squeeze through the pipeline, eh? At but will also value other award (for ones published from the moment, I'm currently completing a new organic and mechanical life-forms. Australia ) and the third would be free anthology, which is supposed to be for special awards (best writer, 6. An android shall have affection published in time for the Worldcon; this illustrator, grand master (taken now, and regard for humans as its will be called STAR OF ALBION, and is an that would probably be the most one­ predecessors and creators, anthology of the best stuff by the best sided vote in the history of the irrespective of any subsequent British writers. It's a co-edited book, awards) - just about anything). disparate evolutionary by the way, with Rob Holdstock. While development. The non-Prose and Anthology awards would I was in Oz, I got an idea for a story (I bored Peter L Elizabeth Darling with cover the period since the last award The Sixth Law is to help us cope with it), and at last that has been written up (in this case three years). By illust­ the possible Super-'droids of the future. into something called The Miraculous rations I mean sequences, say the Perhaps no laws can really cover every Cairn, which is coming out in a Ramsey artwork for an illustrated novel. And contingency. A built-in safeguard might Campbell anthology next year, called I suppose it is possible that thescreen- be spelt out as a Preamble to all six NEW TERRORS. That's about it . play and the film could compete against Laws thus:- each other in the final ballot. (JF: John Foyster, editor of this letter "Warning: As a consequence of Basic column, and its typist, and GUFF Programming, any attempted violating The Anthology award (a bow to the candidate, wishes to reassure the above of these Laws shall render the increasing importance of local writer that GUFF is still plodding along.) mechanical entity non-operational - publication of sf) could be given until the unlawful tendency has been either to a single book (for example MICHAEL MOORCOCK rectified." purposes only, Broderick/ASS THE ZEIT­ c/o Anthony Sheil Associates, GEIST MACHINE) or a series which has 2/3 Morwell Street,London WC1B 3AR U.K. One thing is certain, robots and been important, though any individual androids are coming. Science fiction volume might not win (Norstrilia Press's Thanks for ASFN which I found particularly will soon be science fact. workshop books). interesting because I share Bert Chandler's liking for ships,railways and airships as CHRISTOPHER PRIEST, 1 Ortygia House, civilized means of transport.! realise it's The. lettet. column th an ZmpoAtant pctft 6 Lower Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA2 ODA partly because I get claustrophobic in England eq! ASFN. It gZvM everybody a chance to aeroplanes.These days I rarely travel any­ have, theti hay about anything relating where I can't reach by boat and train and I suppose the luke-warmest news over here to haience fiction they want to hay,ho only use a plane with extreme reluctance... pfezue keep thohe letter noltcng in. is that, like a dying Disney dinosaur, Tell him I'm doing all I can at this end Thank you to the people who have taken NEW WORLDS is staggering onwards. In its to get a new dirigible line between here the time to wntte and who have tetteu latest manifestation, it is a sort of and Australia.That'11 attract people back Included hene. M.B. [newspaper of the future ... with to tourism. there is some interesting material in this issue there isn’t to much commentary on sf. AUSTRALIA IN '83! ARGO NAVIS Vol 3 No 2, edited by John The following statement was released by Rowley for the Latrobe University SF the A'83 Bidding Committee: Association, SRC Box 42, Latrobe After Aussiecon in 1975 ,Alf Van der Poorten Leaving aside a great stack of overseas University, Bundoora, Viet 3083/80$ proposed a bid for 'Sydney Cove' in '88. fanzines which we’ll look at next issue per issue or the usual/quarterly/30pp. Later.Adelaide 'jumped' this bid deciding there seems to have been a lot of CHUNDER Vol 2 Nos 8 & 9, John Foyster, that 1983 was equally vialble but this was fanzine activity in Australia in the GPO Box 4039, Melbourne, Viet 3001/ not followed through until early in 1978 past month or so. ARGO NAVIS, COR eight issues for $1 or for contribut­ when the return of Ken Ozanne from a SERPENTIS, SCYTALE and SPECTRE are all ion/ tri-weekly /4pp & 8pp. year's fannishabatical in the USA revit­ produced by University SF Clubs - COR SERPENTIS Vol 1 No 2, edited by alised this bid. perhaps looming exams brought on their Daryl Mannell for the Monash bout of activity. Of the four the most University SF Association, c/ Union Initially the'Sydney Cove in'88' bid was pleasing to look at is SPECTRE, while Building, Wellington Road, Clayton, publicised in the US by Bob Tucker,Don SCYTALE is also offset printed, it also Viet 3168/no publication information Thompson and Ned Brooks among others.The offers typesetting but in tiny little readily visible/17pp. Australia in '83 Bidding Committee,com­ print (about the size of this type) and DATA 17 and Supplement & 18, produced prising around thirty fans,has placed my eyes are feeble enough as it is. for ASTREX by Sue Clarke, 6 Bellevue advertisements in the IGUANACON PROGRAM Both fanzines have respectable contents Road, Faulconbridge, NSW 2776/ Book and Progress Report 4 as well as which are enjoyable to read, a talk by available to members/12pp, 20pp & 12pp. circularising Australian and New Zealnd Zelazny, articles on aliens, the DUNE ETHERLINE 4, Melbourne SF Club, c/ 305 fans for their support.Further adverti­ series, UNICON IV and a few other things Swanston Street, Melbourne, Viet 3000/ sements have appeared in Lasfapa and in SCYTALE, interviews with Susan Wood no publication data readily visible/ Mishap.* We have-the advisory services and Rusty Hevelin, articles, reviews and 23pp. of five previous Worldcon chairmen. letters in SPECTRE. The HAG AND THE HUNGRY GOBLIN 3, Derrick There is still much work to be done. and Christine Ashby, PO Box 175, South ARGO NAVIS offers an interview with Advertisements must be prepared and placed Melbourne, Viet 3205/available for the Frank Bryning, an article on secret in the Seacon progress reports and program usual/irregular/26pp. doors in stone walls and reviews and book ,the Boston 1980 Worldcon progress NOUMENON 25, Brian Thurogood, Wilma Road, letters all well produced. COR SERPENTIS reports,Locus etc..A large one page fact Waiheke Island, Hauraki Gulf, NEW is the least weighty of the lot with sheet for overseas distribution,particul­ some fiction, a cartoon and some other ZEALAND (Australian Agent: Carey arly at US regional cons is an essential Handfield, PO Box 91, Carlton, Viet material. and urgent requirement .At the time of 3053)/$7.75 for 10 issues airmail, $5 writing the committee are planning an John Foyster is keeping us well informed $5.50 for 10 issues surface or the ongoing Australia in '83 fanzine ,to help of the goings-on going on with CHUNDER. usual/monthly/24pp. with publicity and communications. The news content seems to be going down SCYTALE 2, edited by Peter Toluzzi, and the correspondance going up - but I 29 Moira Crescent, Randwick, NSW 2031 We need these and other publicity ideas just think that’s news in another form. for the University of NSW SF Society/ for we cannot hope/expect to win this CHUNDER is the source of fannish news in no publication information readily Worldcon bid without an extensive pub­ Australia. DATA, on the other hand, is visible/42pp. licity campaign culminating in a care­ the newsletter of a Star Trek fan club SF COMMENTARY 53, Bruce Gillespie, fully planned presentation at the 1981 with plenty of news on ST fandom and GPO Box 5195AA, Melbourne, Viet 3001/ World Science Fiction Convention.All pub­ the progress of the new ST film. $5 for 5 issues/more or less irregular/ licity must show imagination,flair,stab­ ility,experience and especially competence. Unfortunately the majority of the 36pp. We NEED people willing to leamhow to run contents of ETHERLINE is fiction, and SPECTRE 1, edited by Perry Middlemiss for fiction in fanzines is generally of a the AUSFA, PO Box 98, Rundle Street, anything from a rubber-band motor, to very low standard. Dare I say more? Adelaide, SA 5000/the usual or 50$ per panels,program items and conventions. copy/41pp. Besides these people we need funds.be it New Zealand might not exactly produce STRIPS 8, Rollo Treadway, PO Box 47385, cash donations,auction material or sub­ Australian fanzines but it’s right Ponsonby, Auckland, NEW ZEALAND (Aust, sidised advertising in overseas convent­ next door so what the hell. STRIPS and agent: Carey Handfield - address above)/ ion booklets,progress reports and magaz­ NOUMENON are two regulars from the $9 per annum airmail, $5 seamail/ ines. North Island and I sometimes think bimonthly/36pp. that the editors encourage each other TOUCHSTONE 4, David Grigg, 48 Lewisham Road We need your support,your ideas,your time, onto greater heights of excellence. Prahran, Viet 3181/unavailable/no longer your money but most of all, we need YOU NOUMENON is, as always, a fine source of published/I1pp. active NOW. information for the sf reader and STRIPS is a good source of reading for the Ken Ozanne-Chairman comics fan with some fine art and also Keith Curtis interesting written material on comics. Carey Handfield Eric Lindsay THE HAG AND THE HUNGRY GOBLIN and Shayne McCormack TOUCHSTONE were both produced for the Warren Nicholls 10th anniversary mailing of ANZAPA. The HAG is also a genzine with plenty of Bidding Committee for the 41st World stuff like convention reports and Science Fiction Convention reprints some of the Rotsler name tags from P.O.Box 175 J,Brickfield Hill.N.S.W 2001 Melcon 15 to keep you amused - and letters and fanzine reviews to make sure * Lashfapa and Mishap are of it. TOUCHSTONE was a genzine that fan publications or amateur David Grigg produced five or six years press associations ago, this ten page example of fine fannish writing makes you wish that he We neponted tn the tut Ume of, ASM was still publishing. Ah... sigh... that no advertisement, was tnctuded tn He may have a copy or two left. the IGUANACON Pr.ogn.arme Booktet for. SF COMMENTARY returns again and brings A' S3.We att know who never read the thing with it the feeling that Bruce has but I have, since read it mijsetf and I become a little out of practice with am not surprised he missed the advent. its production for it lacks a lot of the crispness that earlier issues had - or am I just getting old? Perhaps, on the other hand, the trouble is that while 9 funds for DUFF and asks that 1979 sees an increase in these activities. Books, posters and saleable items are needed to DUFF 1979 be auctioned off for DUFF and items and cash donations can be sent to :Paul J. Stevens, c/o Space Age Books, 305 DUFF 1979/80 A status report from the Swanston Street, Melbourne. Aust. 3000. A small exodus seems to be taking place in Australian administrator. Melbourne at present. Maybe it indicates that everything is happening in Sydney at Despite rumors to the contrary, Duff for Comments on DUFF from interested fans the moment in SF fandom.Carey Handfield is 1979/80 will be on. This means that an are accepted and all correspondence residing in Sydney,Robin Johnson will be American fan will be attending the Aust- will be entered into. moving there in a few weeks.David Evans ralian National Science Fiction Convention of the Melbourne SF Club moved up to in Sydney in August 1979. At the moment I Paul J.Stevens: Australian Administrator. Surfers Paradise. have not had word from the other side of the pondfie: the American administrator) note.: For the. bcncfat of^ those The .ANZAPACON held at John Foyster's home just who will be standing but no doubt who are not famiLiar with ait science over the weekend of October 14th and 15th this will be advised in due course. The faction fan activities ,the VOW UNDER was very well attended ,and a giant volume American DUFF winner will be the official FAN FUND is cl May of, raising money to of contributions was put together . guest of the Australian National SF con­ pay the fares oft ftcasto and ftrom Australia vention and apart from Sydney it is hoped and the U.S.A. A current ftund is also TERRY DOWLING has sold an article on that he/she will visit both Melbourne 8 /cunning to send an Australian to the Jack Vance to a US publisher(Underwood Adelaide also. Forms for voting will be WORLD SF CONVENTION in Brighton,England and Miller) for inclusion in a book they distributed just as soon as is possible. next year- SEACON.For inftormation on this are preparing on the author. ftund -GUFF- write to the administrator 1980: Nominations for the Australian Leigh Edmonds,P.O.Box 10 3, Brunswick, STAR TREK NEWS DUFF race are now open and will close Victoria, 3056 ,Austratia.The candidates at Easter 1979. Voting will commence at are John Atderson,John Foyster , and Australian STAR TREK fans took the that date and will close at Easter 1980. Keith Taytor. opportunity of the 10th Anniversary The Winner will travel to the 1980 World of the creation of the series, to send Science Fiction Convention in BOSTON, the creator of the show,Gene Roddenbery August/September 1980. To be eligible and his wife Maj el Barrett,a floral to stand for nomination the candidate gesture of their esteem.A report of must have been active in Australian same appeared in the local "Sun". fandom for at least 36 months and must I would tike to thank my sub-editors ftor Karen Lewis , one of the organisers of be nominated by three Australian fans their help;John Foyster, Leigh Edmonds, the Australian STAR TREK CONVENTION to and two American. Candidates must post David Grigg and others including Lee be held in Sydney next March 10th and 11th a $5.00 bond with the administrator and Harding and Paul Stevens and Space Age's was down in Melbourne in December to provide a written platform of 100 words. Karen Tingwett. Special thanks to the talk to local ST Fans.She told us that In the spirit of fair play it is suggested tetter writers in this issue,who I fteet plans are well under way for the conven­ that fans who have already been overseas have made this one oft the most original tion and membership is rapidly growing. to a Worldcon should not nominate. and I hope interesting issue# so ftar. We suggest that all fans intending to Primarily the purpose oft ASFN is to attend the convention,get their member­ It should also be noted that the DUFF tell people about Science Fiction ftrom ships in immediately. administrators are now attempting to give alt aspects .We wilt ftrom time to time voice We regret we were unable to mention special more time to candidates for vote gather­ an opinion about things that are happening, STAR TREK fan events that took place in ing and fund raising. It is expected that suchas conventions, ftan ftunds and such , November and December ,but we hope that when the voting period for the 1980 Aust­ bat we witt in no way be drawn into any ralian candidate closes in Easter 1980 they were successful and that everybody controversies which may damage the image had a good time,and funds were raised to the voting period for the 1981 American oft science faction or s ft ftandom in part­ help with the big Convention and other candidate to Australia will commence thus icular.So let's have a tittle more co­ activities. Kaien Lewis at P.O.Box 110 giving all DUFF candidates a full twelve operation and understanding between ftans Rockdale ,N.S.W or Susan Clarke ,6 Bellvue month period of voting. in the diftfterent states.Eh'. Road ,Faulconbridge,N.S.W 2776, will be This issue is being put together aftter happy to send you details of everything Fund raising: The administrator would Space Age's Christmas party,because ift it that ig going on in STAR TREK FANDOM. like to thank all those fans who have does not get ftinished tonight you witt not given their time and trouble to raising see it tilt February.Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year everybody'. SPACE AGE Art Gallery li Vcu Hail II (Jil SPACE AGE BOOKS WISH TO ANNOUNCE THAT THEIR TFia Vassal fiua la/ ART GALLERY IS NOW OPEN DAILY FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY ,10.00 AM TO 5.00 PM . ARTISTS MAY SUBMIT WORK ANY TIME DURING THIS PERIOD OR 3 Parsaas ? /y AT OTHER TIMES BY APPOINTMENT.PLEASE RING 663-1777.PLEASE ALSO ASK FOR DETAILS ON THEIR WAYC0N 79 (Swancon IV). POSTER COMPETITION WHICH WILL BE CULMINATING DURING THE EASTERCON SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION FROM THE 2nd TO THE Sth OF MARCH *79 IN MELBOURNE AT EASTER 1979.

AT THE OZONE HOTEL PERTH W.A. LIMITED

ACCOMAOATION AVAILABLE AT THE VENUE AUSTRALASIA’S MOST FREQUENT ■ SO BOOK NOW! SB.00 TILL THE 30th NOV GENERAL $10.00 DEC 1st TO JAN 31st $15.00 THEREAFTER ” ’ INTEREST SCIENCE FICTION 320.00 AT THE DOOR,ROOMS AT THE VENUE $7.00/PERSON A MAGAZINE NOW IN ITS NIGHT. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT BOB OGDEN AT THIRD YEAR OF PUBLICATION 11 The QUARTERDECK WILLETON 6155 Ph (09) 457-6048. “It is a mine of information, features fine reviews, articles and artwork of interest to sf fans everywhere. ... Rollo Treadway contributes the best column on sf art to be found anywhere... I'm still surprised to find book-dealers myopic enough to line Parsaas Fur Un IIlml pass up the chance of distributing this excellent sf zine... ” -Fanzine Fanatique. Edited & published by Brian Thurogood, 127 Wilma Rd, Ostend, Waiheke Is., NZ. Australian Agent: Carey Handfield, PO Box 91, Carlton, Melbourne 3053, Austra­ w ll ll il l 7L lia. • $A7.75/10 issues airmail; $A5.50/10 issues surface mail. PULP CON SYDNEY SCIENCE FICTION FOUNDATION SURVEY 1st and 2nd of September 1979 The Sydney Foundation has a current HAPPENINGS A Melbourne SF Club convention project to collate a definitive list of ------CONVENTIONS & OTHER EVENTS ------For details contact : the' preferred works,and authors of Timothy Dawson,11 Murphy Street, Sydney and if possible .Australian sf UNICON 5 January 27th,28th § 29th 1979 Kew,Victoria, 3101. readers. It is being organised by 1st Floor,Science Center, SYNCON '79 18th NATIONAL AUSTRALIAN Jack Herman ,29 Moira Cres.,Randwick, 35/43 Clarence St., N.S.W 2031. Sydney ,2000, N.S.W SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION Guest of Honour: Patricia Wrightson August 10th to 13th 1979 The method used in the survey is based Fan Guest of Honour .-Ron Graham The HYATT KINGSGATE HOTEL on the Waugh system used by US teachers Overseas Guest:Terry Carr * Darlinghurst,Sydney,N.S.W of SF.Respondents are asked to list in For further details contact : Guest of Honour: GORDON R.DICKSON order from one to ten(or whatever) their Tony Howe,P.O.Box 191, Attending Membership till March 1st favourite or what they regard as the in Gordon , N.S.W 2072 $10.00.Thereafter$15.00 .$20.00 at each of the five categories listed. The the door. categories are: SF AUTHOR(or Fantasy) * Terry Carr will be attending the All correspondence to P.O.Box 146, SF NOVEL the writers workshop being held in Burwood,N.S.W 2134 SF SHORT FICTION (SF or F) January ,and is expected to attend ALL-TIME SERIES UNICON 5 afterwards. SEACON The 37th WORLD SF CONVENTION FANTASY NOVEL Brighton, England The over all popularity will be worked out August 23rd to 27th 1979 by alloting from ten points for the first SCIENCE FICTION WRITERS WORKSHOP All correspondence to choice and so on down.You can either make TERRY CARR and GEORGE TURNER will 14 Henrietta Street,London,WC2 out your own list ,or write to Jack for be officiating at a workshop being Australian Agent: Robin Johnson a form.We will publish the results of the organised by Petrina Smith,from G.P.O.Box 4039 ,Melbourne,3001 survey,which should prove very interesting January 6th to the 21st.For full Membership rates are up to Dec.31st I am certain to all our readers. details contact Petrina at: Supporting : $7.00 SCIENCE FICTION ON SYDNEY TV 139 Arundel St, Glebe,NSW 2037 Attending: $14.00 A series of nine half-hour programmes were THIRD SYDNEY SF 8 FANTASY FILM FESTIVAL The Adelaide fans are probably holding aired on A.T.N.Channel 7 in co-operation Will be held over the weekend of a convention as usual in June over the with Sydney University ,from August 2nd May 12th and 13th.For full details Queen's Birthday weekend,but so far they to October 1st .We regret that it was only contact Tony Howe,P.O.Box 191, have not given me any details . just brought to our notice ,so we hope Gordon,N.S.W 2072 If you are going overseas around World our Sydney readers all saw it.The programmes EASTERCON 1979 Convention time, there are other conventions were devised by Dr Ian Johnson,Van Ikin, you can attend in the US in particular .A Terry Dowling,George Mannix,Colin Mathers Friday 13th April to Monday 16th full list is included in each issues of and Harry Braden.The over all title for MELBOURNE SHERATON HOTEL LOCUS. the programme was WHAT IS SCIENCE FICTION? 13 Spring Street,Melbourne,3000 Guest of Honour :A.Bertram Chandler DITMAR NOMINATIONS TERRY CARR TO VISIT ADELAIDE 6 MELBOURNE Fan Guest of Honour:Brian Thurogood A nominations form has been produced by Robin Johnson who has handled Terry Carr's The organisers are Christine and the SYNCON Committee for the AUSTRALIAN travel arrangements to and in Australia, Derek Ashby c/o P.O.Box 175 South SCIENCE FICTION ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS - has assured us that he will be visiting Melbourne,3205,Victoria, who will DITMARS - to be awarded at the 18th Adelaide on the 22nd and 23rd of January be happy to send you details of National Australian Convention in Sydney immediately after the workshop,followed hotel boo king,progamme etc. next August. If you write to the by Melbourne on the 24th and 25th.Then SYNCON '79 AWARDS SUB- COMMITTEE at back to Sydney for UNICON,and then off P.O.Box 146,Burwood , N.S.W. 2134 they home. will send you one or you can write one At this time I have no details on the out.The categories are as follows: arrangements in Adelaide to entertain CATEGORY ONE: Best Australian Fiction Terry Carr,and give him the opportunityto meet local sf fans,but Melbourne fans CATEGORY TWO: Best International Fiction should keep in touch with SPACE AGE.A CATEGORY THREE: Best Australian Fanzine small gathering is likely at number one March 10th and 11th 1979 Glen Eira Road, or at Space Age. MENZIES HOTEL SYDNEY CATEGORY FOUR: Best Australian Fan Writer 14 Carrington Street,Sydney,N.S.W CURIOSITY CORNER Guest of Honour: JAMES DOOHAN CATEGORY FIVE: The William Atheling Award Other guests have been invited but for Achievement in the Criticism of A recent novel from ACE bookstitled confirmation is not yet recieved. of Review in the fields of Science Fiction CORIOLANUS,THE CHARIOT is by an author Membership rates now are : or Fantasy. called Alan Yates. The question I am about Under 13 $15.00 You may nominate three titles/people in to ask, is this the same Alan Yates who Over 13 $20.00 each category.Nominations should reach the wrote detective yarns in Australia some From February 1st; Awards sub- committee before March 1st 1979 years back under the name of CARTER BROWN? Under 13 $18.00 Over 13 $23.00 (Proof of age may be requested ) STAR WARS FAN CLUBS Supporting Membership $5.00 The producers of Star Wars,LUCASFILM Limited For further details contact : LOCUS have been actively involved in the formation Karen Lewis:Star Trek Convention We have been very grateful to LOCUS the of fan clubs for the film.Anyun-authorised P.O.Box 110,Rockdale,N.S.W 2216 American Science Fiction News magazine , groups who have advertised film screenings for a lot of our information over the and conventions ,and said members of the cast or production personal would be most WAYCON '79 (Swancon IV) first five issues of ASFN,however we are managing to get more original material likely attending , have been asked to with­ 2nd to the Sth of March 1979 with each issue.We will continue to draw this information from their publicity. OZONE HOTEL,Perth,W.A. report as much of the overseas news that The possiblity of a local authorised S W (See advertisement this issue) we know will interest local readers,from Club being organised is on the cards. In Organiser: Bob Ogden LOCUS,but we suggest a subscription to the meantime you can write to LUCAS FILM 11 The Quarterdeck,Willeton,6155 LOCUS if you want to get all the overseas Limited,Director of Fan Relations-Craig West Australia news.The subscription rate is now $18.00 Miller, at P.O.Box 8669,Universal City, for 12 issues AIRMAIL and $9.00 ordinary California,91608 .U.S.A mail. 11 Enter the fabulous, fantasy vorld of