qolwM. December 1994 Proper Boskonian is the semi-annual genzine of the New England Science Fiction Association. Send all contributions (writing, art, LoCs) to: Proper Boskonian, c/o NESFA, Post Office Box 809, Framingham, MA 01701-0203. Editor: Kenneth Knabbe Official Notices Proofreader: George Flynn FN "Boskone" is a registered service mark of the New England Science Fiction Association, Contents Inc. (NESFA), P.O. Box 809, Framingham, Editorial 2 MA 01701-0203, USA; a Massachusetts A Trip to Baiticon by Joe Mayhew FN 3 non-profit corporation. "Worldcon", "World ConAdian 1994 report by Evelyn C. Leeper 7 Science Fiction Convention", "WSFS", Cyril M. Kornbluth "World Science Fiction Society", and "Hugo profile by John B. Michel 36 Award" are service marks of the World bibliography 38 Science Fiction Society (WSFS), an The Cynic & reviews by Timothy P. Szczesuil unincorporated literary' society. Pseudonymous Paperbacks by Richard Newsome 43 Copyright © 1994 by the New England "Two Dooms" reviewed by Mark L. Olson FN y 7 Science Fiction Association, Inc. (NESFA); "The Advent on Channel Twelve" reviewed all rights reserved. by Joe H. Michaels 48 The Golem in Literature by Mark R. Leeper 49 All bylined articles copyright © 1994 by their Detour by George Phillies 56 authors and printed here by permission. All Letters, letters and more letters: artwork copyright © 1994 by the artists and Joseph T Major 68 used here by permission. Anna Hillier 69 George Phillies 69 All opinions expressed herein are the Sheryl Birkhead 69 opinions of the individuals, and do not represent the views of NESFA. Artists Sheryl Birkhead 1,48 This zine is available as part of NESFA Joe Mayhew FN Front Cover, 2, 26, 41, 68 membership ($16 a year for subscribing Halliday Piel 37, 70 members); or for a contribution of writing, Diana Harlan Stein 34, 35, 48, 67 art, and/or LoC; $3.00 per issue; trade and/or Ronn Sutton 55, Back Cover editorial whim. PB 34 is scheduled to be out in late May/early June. Reports on Boskone, and ideas (material preferred) on what author to highlight next are most wanted, but as always, other material is welcome. Editorial Ramblings This issue's back cover is by Ronn Sutton. by Kenneth Knabbe Ronn was one of the local artists whose work was in the ConAdian art show. At ConAdian, Last issue I asked people if I purchased the original. The original is they wanted me to try and increase slightly larger. The area of the art is 7% by the frequency of publication. 12 and done in red pencil. According to Between that time and August Ronn, it is the rough for an first, I received some ait illustration that appeared in On and a person who said he Spec #17. Ronn says that he was doing a piece for me rarely goes to sf conventions. told me it would not be ready. Most of his work is in the comic The only other response I book field. Ronn has a comic that received was a concern about should be appearing about now, maintaining a regular schedule. Sabra Blade #1 published by Draculina I have no intention of disrupting Publishing. If you like his work, keep an eye the June/December schedule. Next issue out for it. will be like the last one: A Boskone report, an artist highlight (Merle Insinga), Hugo recommendations Next issue I need to be able to announce with reviews, a short story by George Phillies, and what author to highlight in next December's issue of material from all the registered bidders for the 1998 PB. Of the suggestions I have received so far, I am Worldcon. considering Zenna Henderson and Henry Kuttner. Subject to my being reappointed editor of In the most recent issue of Niekas, several PB, the December 1995 issue will have a Worldcon people mention that while they were glad NESFA will report, an author highlight, and a piece of fiction. The be bringing Zenna Henderson's People Stories back other two pieces are open. into print, they would like to see her novels available I would still like to add an August issue. This again. issue would include all the material I receive that There has also been interest within NESFA does not fit into my idea of what the other two should about doing a book of the work of Henry Kuttner. be like. I would include the art that I have received Either would be a good choice on whom to that is not science fiction or related to NESFA. This highlight next. You can help make the choice by issue would be more like the ones done by Laurie sending me material about either, or another author if Mann and Joe Rico, more chatty and experimental. you want me to choose someone else. Possible pieces include: game reviews (Doom and Most of the material for this issue's highlight Magic are popular, my favorites are Hack and Titan), of C. M. Kombluth came from five people. I would science fiction in the electronic media, a sf crossword really like more people to write, even if it is just one puzzle, and the sf club section from The Whole short review. I can only publish what people send NESFA Catalog. The issue would be smaller and me. I will write more myself, but more of you readers would not disrupt the regular schedule. This would be need to.get involved. a chance for me to break the "mold" I am establishing for the other two. One way to become more involved is by The only way this will happen is if people entering the short story contest The inside back write and approve of the idea. cover has a flyer. The winner is guaranteed publication in a future issue of PB. One of the positive results of my planning two issues in advance, is the cover of this issue. At This past September Merle Insinga handed Readercon I asked Joe Mayhew about doing the me a folder with a lot of her art. While Merle has not cover. Joe asked what I had in mind. I was working been doing art as long as Joe Mayhew, there is on Mark Leeper's article and had it handy. I gave Joe definitely enough available to make next issue an all- a copy. At ConAdian, I showed Mark the result. We Insinga art issue. I have a few ideas on how to are both very pleased with what Joe came up with. arrange her art into a sort of retrospective like I did I have available the short story done by for Joe. George Phillies that is scheduled for next issue. Any Anyone who has suggestions on whom to artist who is interested in doing illustrations based on highlight after Merle, please let me know so I can it should let me know. I will be glad to send them a contact the artist. copy. Proper Boskonian 33 page 2 ConAdian 1994 Con Report by Evelyn C. Leeper Copyright© 1994 Evelyn C. Leeper ConAdian, the 1994 World Science Fiction Registration and All That Stuff Convention, and the 52nd World Science Fiction Convention, was held September 1 through Registration was so fast it was over before I knew September 5 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The attendance it Well, okay, not quite, but the only reason we had to was at one point announced as 4156, but later stand in line when we arrived at about 1:30 PM recalculated as somewhere around 3500. (The higher Thursday was that the "L" was slightly to the right of figure was for people who bought attending where the actual line was. Everything was pre-bagged memberships, as opposed to people who were to make it even faster. It's true that we had to go to the actually attending [a.k.a. "warm-body count'].) In any Green Room for our program participant material, but case, it was pretty small for a North American that was right nearby and also very fast The speed Worldcon. (Last year's attendance in San Francisco may have been a function of the light attendance, or was 7642.) it was actually kind of nice to have a small, maybe it was just better organized. [The only reported laid-back Worldcon, though I understand that many registration line was Wednesday night KK] people who might have attended were unable to get The badge holders were very large and came only flights into or out of Winnipeg at a reasonable time with clips, meaning that if you wanted to attach them and price. to a T-shirt you had to clip them to the collar and then they tended to poke you in the chin. Facilities The newsletters did list program changes and parties, but were frequently late. Friday's 10 AM The convention center was large enough that the newsletter came out about 2 PM, but the evening one gathering areas never felt crowded. But while some of came out in time for the party list to be of some use. the rooms were too large for the audience, others Saturday and Sunday were slightly better, but not by were way too small. The alternate history pane! on much. Luckily there was a master schedule with the Thursday night was packed (due to lack of any real changes written on it posted in the central area. The competition, it seems); there were probably about 120 jokezine scooped the main zine on the Hugos, and people in a room with seating for 100, and people said had other interesting information besides, leading one they left without being able even to get near the door, person to say that they thought the real zine was much less get in.