THE MENTOR AUSTRALIAN SCIENCE FICTION Contributions must be on an Prodos Apple II or IBM ascii file (DD or HD) or typed, CONTENTS #72 single or double spaced, preferably a good photocopy (and if you want it returned, please type your name and address! Contributions are not paid; however they receive a free copy of the issue their contribution is in, and any future issue containing comments on their contribution. P. 2 - A WAY WITH WOMEN by Margaret Pearce Contents (C) Copyright 1991 for the Contributors 10 - VOLGACON! VOLGACON! by Ron Clarke The Editorial Slant 20 - VOYAGE ... by Andy Well, I've now returned from my Darlington. trip to Volgograd as one of the Guests 21 - AN OPEN LETTER by the of the convention. There were times I Paranoid Android didn't think I was going - what with the coupe, but when the time came, 23 - 12 BAR ACCESS by Bill after several phonecalls, I went. And Congreve I don't regret it. The Republics of the Soviet Union were, and still are, 27 - YANKEE PRIVATEER 12 by in a state of flux. When I was over Buck Coulson there many people commented on the 29 - PTB by James Verran fact there was not much food in the shops, and I hadn't realised till I 31 - LUCY & THE LIGHTNING by was shown, that the population are Blair Hunt still using ration coupons for the 32 - MISSED BY .... MUCH by basic foods - flour, sugar, etc. Alan Stewart While I was there, I had fruitful discussions with several 33 - MIRRORS & SLIVERS by literary agencies and several Grai Hughes publishers. As far as the literary agencies and publishers are concerned 35 - THE R&R Dept - they would like to publish SF by 57 - REVIEWS Australian authors, but they wanted someone here to be an agent. So they asked me. I said yes, I would give it a go. The SF magazines in Russia have Cover Artwork by Jozef Szekeres circulations of about 100,000, and the paperbacks up to 300,000. When I Internal Illos: Jozef Szekeres asked what kind of stories they p.7 wanted, they said they had plenty of Peggy Ranson stories with humour - they wanted p.9, 26, 31 stories "with a strong plot", of Steve Fox p.22, 28, 34 between 15 and 20 double-spaced Anne Stewart typewritten pages. Most of the p.30 stories in the magazines I have seen Andrey are short stories. The idea was that Karapetyan p.56, 70 Australian authors would submit them to me, I would vet them, then send the accepted ones over to the Toloconnicou THE MENTOR 72, November 1991. ISSN 0727-8462. and Zavgorodny Literary Agency, where Edited, printed and published by Ron Clarke, Igor would again vet them and send the 6 Bellevue Road, Faulconbridge, NSW 2776, ones that were within the parameters Australia. THE MEN TOR is published at to the magazines in the USSR. So if intervals of roughly three months. It is you would like to be a published available for published contribution (fiction [science fiction or fantasy], author in the USSR... the same poetry, article, or letter of comment on a conditions apply as to submissions to previous issue. It is not available for THE MENTOR. And please indicate with subscription, but is available for $5 for a sumbmissions whether the story is for sample issue (posted). TM or the USSR, or both (if not accepted for the USSR). THE MENTOR 72 page 1 One little carp - I have noticed that more and more fanzines aren't publishing the full addresses of LoCCers. This isn't in the spirit of fandom, people. Other faneds can't expand their mailing lists without this type of info, and if you keep on doing it, you won't get any future new addresses from anybody! Sure there are people who don't want their addresses published. But they are in the minority and should say so. Come on, faneds, do the right thing! Put in those addresses in the LoCcol. You are making it harder by limiting letter writing between loccers and hurting everyone, including yourselves. - Ron Clarke. THE MENTOR 72 page 2 A Way With Women by Margaret Pearce First Engineer John Scarlett John watched the swaying hips of showed a discontented face to the the cute little biologist in front of cabin mirror. Today was his birthday. him. She had a narrow waist and long It was also landfall at Thetis, and legs that showed to full advantages in the whole crew had been granted shore the tight silver uniform. He brooded leave. Two things well worth for a few seconds on her lack of taste celebrating. in deserting him for the blonde boy Except the birthday he was who looked as if he hadn't yet started celebrating was his fortieth, and shaving, and then he cheered up. revisiting a planet was depressing. Thetis was one planet where The ten years of your absence was there were plenty more fish in the usually twenty to thirty years on sea. The women outnumbered the men by their time scale, and looking up old a ratio of ten to one. Men were such friends and acquaintances was a sharp a novelty even the most miserable reminder of the intransigence of life. specimens of masculinity were rushed, Still, the mirror reflected a and he was no miserable specimen. He fine figure of a man. He straightened inflated his chest at the thought. his shoulders and remembered to tuck 'Getting ready to conquer the in his paunch. There was very little planet, Casanova?' jeered the voice grey in his thick dark hair, and if behind him. his eyes were starting to bag, and the He looked around at his dumpy lines around his jowls deepen, so second engineer and hid his annoyance what! Lines of experience and behind a patronising smile. She was maturity gave a man character. Half sharp and smart, but after all, she these smooth faced kids looked like was only a woman, and a dowdy one at pansies. At least he looked every that. Her attempt to beat him to the inch a totally masculine man. promotion of first engineer had been The rest of the crew were in a slick, but after all the position riotously holiday mood. Thetis was belonged with him. He was the best the ideal planet to spend leave. Its damn engineer on the space freighter. reputation had spread through the Women had their place, but not in the galaxy. An ideal climate, magnificent engineering profession. scenery and an over abundance of 'Enjoy your leave, Carman,' he beautiful hospitable women enhanced retorted, and had the pleasure of its other attractions. seeing her face darken. There were no hostile life On a planet full of beautiful forms. diseases, or any political women, Carman was very surplus. Come instability. The medikits and to think of it, she was a surplus stunpacks were worn as a formality. issue on a freighter light years from The stage of civilisation was nowhere. Pleased with that last technological, but only advanced to thought, he paused on the landing where it made living more pleasant. field, trying to decide where to go. There was heat, light, power and He could look up Llalla of sanitation, but no slums or grim rows course, but she would have aged twenty of factories. There were fully years to his ten. He was not a great automated factories, but they were one for renewing old romances. There discreetly underground, and the airy was only a fortnight's leave, and the council chambers, hotels, temples, planet was crammed with so many amusement places and private beautiful women he felt he should residences were set among well kept share himself out generously. parks and gardens. 'Just the man I wanted to see,' exclaimed the Captain. THE MENTOR 72 page 3 John straightened to attention. attractive with long glossy red brown Not that there was any need to. The hair and luminous grey eyes set in Captain was in civvies, and very regular features. However, there was a disgusting civvies at that. He wore rigid austerity in their faces that high wading boots over stained and made them look almost identical. Their dirty cotton trousers, a torn shirt faces hinted of a regime of celibacy, without buttons with an old hand- poverty and obedience. All concepts knitted cardigan over it. His bald that made John uncomfortable. head was covered by an old towelling 'You will take it to Llalla the hat threaded through with fish hooks third.' one of the women decided. and flies. She snapped her fingers, and 'Sir,' John muttered in a another young woman came forward. She pained voice. was just as tall, but seemed less 'I've got a fishing trio lined austere, her mouth dimpled into a up,' the Captain explained. He handed smile, and her blue eyes glowing over a thick satchel. 'It's the serum pleasure and admiration. She had a that the third temple asked for. heavy mane of long golden hair. Deliver it for me will you.' 'Please come with me,' she said A hovercraft tilting under the in a husky voice. weight of several old men in the same John followed her up to the state of undress as the Captain circular ramp and along the glowing swooped over and bore the Captain antiseptic corridors. He wondered if away. There was a babble of old men's it was possible that Llalla the third voices, and the hovercraft spun was the Llalla he knew? around, gathering speed as it headed The blond-haired girl paused at in the direction of the ocean.