Volume n, Issue 1 September 1997 Sixth BS Series Starship Troopers In The Works Coming Soon I thought I would start with a editor would love to hear from you - headline to really grab your well, actually he’d like an article or review or whatever to fill up some attention. Of course it is complete In the distant future, in an even rubbish, but there are so many rabid of the blank space. There's an more distant galaxy, Earth war­ riors known as the Mobile In­ Babylon 5 fans out there that the address and email for submissions fantry fight the gigantic alien in­ inside. Check it out. least you would do is look twice at sects of Klendathu. The story the new, infrequent (but more But that’s enough of the moaning, centers on Johnny Rico (Casper Van Dien), a brand new recruit frequent than previously, this year and begging, for the moment. The to the military. His troop, just an at least) newsletter of the ISFA. You text box is running out and I’m lost. ordinary cross-section of army will notice that there have been personnel, is ordered to kill bug aliens, purely and simply, in as design changes, well that’s because large a volume as possible. there is a new (temporary) editor and he's using a different software Initial reports on the special ef­ fects say that they are extremely program to create it. If the previous well done and the "bugs" will be bastard (no names necessary) had visually arresting. Directed by given the stuff I asked for I might Paul Verhoeven and scripted by Edward Neumeier, it is based have been able to reproduce First upon Robert A. Heinlein's fa­ Contact in the shape you all know mous novel of the same name. and love (artistic license). Starship Troopers is a 95m dol­ lar movie with a running time of So, if this august (or even Burton to follow up 2 hours and 5 minutes (without September) journal is to appear on credits). Release dates are: Mars Attacks! despite any sort of regular basis we’re going USA November?, 1997 to need submissions. If you’re commercial failure First indications are that the special ef­ interested in the likes of Babylon 5 fects of Burton’s new movie, Jupiter UK November 28, 1997 or the X-Files or comics or even, as Attacks!, will be even tackier than those in his hommage to bubble gum cards. A unlikely as it may sound, books, the 1 cience fiction on the Internet Just how many books did he write? including a list of every story and Science Fiction Where can I get a list of all interview? It's there, courtesy of Asimov's books? Locus Magazine. Scroll through on the Internet I would like to buy a certain book the list of hits and you'll get to by Asimov but can't find it. Can the name Nuala Lyons. Those Ten years ago the internet was you help me? members of the society who have tantamount to (science) fiction, Is it true he had a fear of flying? been around a while will today it is an essential resource All of these and much much more remember Nu fondly as an ex­ for businesses and private are answered somewhere on the member who graced us for a few individuals alike. You want to net. I doubt there is a question years in the early nineties. She is know about science fiction? about Isaac Asimov, except for also a writer and was published Check out the net. Go to the Alta intensely personal subjects, that by Albedo One, hence the hit. Vista search engine and request a cannot be answered through the There's also, courtesy once again search on science fiction. Today medium of the internet. Of course of those nice people at Locus, an (28th August) there are 711,390 it might take a while. entry for David Murphy's hits. Go to Infoseek and the same But it's not only world famous chapbook, listing all the stories request throws up a figure of names and broad subject matters and mentioning Morgan 2,867,842, although this is for the that can be searched for. Getting a Llywelyn's introduction and Paul words individually. little closer to home, if you try Sheridan's artwork. All three You want to focus your search a searching for Albedo One you get names provide links to other little tighter? Okay. Try an 41 hits. Not quite as impressive as material but I'll leave it to you to author's name. For instance, the good doctor's stats, but you've follow them up if you so desire. Anne McCaffrey will produce got to start somewhere. You want But not all of the hits are 13,616 hits on the Web Crawler details of every issue (up to #11), genuine. One relates to a short engine. You can find anything story, part of "the largest SF from web-based, role playing erotica series ever written and games (known as mushes) to a made publicly available on the preview of her latest novel, to a internet." Amazing where an biography, to her personal home innocent net search will lead you. page, to a photograph. Like the Anyway, that's just a small taster one on the right, for instance. of what's out there. All you've got to do is ask and for the price Or you might like to try a search of a local phone call an entire on Isaac Asimov. Alta Vista will world of information can be present you with a coice of yours. But be careful, there 15,470 documents. How about a should be a health warning with list of FAQ's (frequently asked each Internet account purchased. questions for the uninitiated)9 It is, after all, highly addictive. Things like: 2 Editor's get desperate at times, particularly this one. I needed something to fill a page and this was it - a pre­ view of the cover artwork for Albedo one issue #14, soon to be available in good bookshops everywhere for as little as £2.50. The fiction in this latest issue will feature such well-known authors as: Brian Stableford Ian MacDonald DF Lewis There is a superb interview with Jeff Noon, author of Vurt, Automated Alice et al, and the opinion piece, Echoes from the Phantom Zone, continues the discussion on publishing begun in issue twleve which has stirred many of you to write to the editors. And of course there are more book reviews than you could shake a stick at. 3 The Superman Madman Hullabaloo. Still a must for all Preacher fans Dicks it is the first original Tor a few DC comics by Mike Allred. though. troubles more ‘ story starring Dougic and Ivor a pair of East Belfast ( Prods ) Now in its second issue this three part The Kents. By Ostrander. Truman and lay abouts. The story has our cnlrcpid mini scries is quite possibly the finest Bair. heroes starting their own Private Inves­ Superman story since Alan Moore was tigator company and as soon as the at the helm. Quoted as being 'a twelve part saga of white Starskv and Hutch stripes arc dry In the first issue Superman and Mad­ truthjustice and the American w'est’ it on Dougic’s ancient ford Escort, they man accidental}' cross over between is anything but. get embroiled with the UVF. worlds both retaining some of their Clark - Superman - Kent’s father finds What the Yanks make of all the original powers and gaining some from an old chest buried in his Kansas farm shenanigans is beyond me . but the the other, also another six people have containing letters and journals of the story is classic Ennis, particuly the bru­ benefited from this phenomenon and first Kents to come to Kansas. tality and cruelty of the school yard gained some of Superman’s powers. Apparently the Kents fought for the flash back scenes. The artwork could be It’s now up to professor Hamilton to freedom of black slaves. More than cleaner, but apart from that it is a hun­ sort out the situation. In the mean time likely after they'd murdered and raped dred times better than the first issue, Madman is experiencing his new and every Navaho in the State. which was essentially a reprint. better powers and Superman is coming This pro American ‘we aint bigots guv to terms with his lesser ones which lead honest' diatribe is the best excuse to Sergio Aragones' Louder than Words. to some interesting storylines. use comic paper instead of Andrcx ever Mike Allred has done a fantastic job and it is very overrated by most retail­ This is the first issue of a six issue with this crossover, not surprisingly ers so far to date. Dark Horse mini scries and it really is since he actually created Madman, not worth the cover price, don't get inc ownership is always a great incentive to Aliens Special. By various artists. wrong the cartoons arc excellent realh produce high quality stories. funny and classic gag stuff, but there His artwork is. of course, of a very high This cracking little comic is a reminder arc so few. standard, clean, neat and beautifully of what a descent Aliens comic could Aragones stuff has appeared all over, coloured. actually be like. The first story is a particular}' in Mad magazine, but six 'Marines' story and the second one is a issues will set me back about £15 and Preacher Special:The Good Old Boys.