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| | BITNET Fantasy-Science Fiction Fanzine
___|___________|___ X-Edited by 'Orny' Liscomb <NMCS025@MAINE>
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CONTENTS
X-Editorial Orny
Review: CATS HAVE NO LORD Rich Jervis
Narret Chronicles: 5 Mari Paulsen
Featured Author: CHRISTOPHER STASHEFF Orny
Review: Chris Condon
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X-Editorial
Hello, and welcome back! School is back in session, and here is the first
issue of the year. Unfortunately, due to a lack of submissions, the summer
volume only consisted of two issues, but I am hoping that with the return to
school there will be a corresponding increase in submissions. Remember, this
is your zine, and I can't do it alone. An entire zine by me would be boring,
anyways, so for all of you who have thought about submitting anything, please
do!
Well, hopefully next issue will be out soon, depending on the number of
submissions. I hope that this issue is not too slow, since it is composed
almost entirely of reviews. Of course, Mari Paulsen's Narret Chronicles
continues, and the featured author column this issue concentrates on
Christopher Stasheff's Gramayre books.
Well, I bid you welcome to volume three, and remind you that FSFnet cannot
continue without reader submissions, and also that there are a number of new
BITNET users who no doubt enjoy BITNET use but have yet to hear of FSFnet.
Please try to spread the word to anyone you think might be interested.
PS: Well, thanks to the link between YALEVM and MAINE, this issue is yet
another week late. Sorry about that. Also, look for a continuing fantasy
work called "The Aquisition" beginning next issue and the continuing Narret
science fiction series. Watch this space!
Orny <NMCS025 @ MAINE>
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Review: CATS HAVE NO LORD
"...Dogs serve Ralkan the wolf king, horses answer to an aging mare named
Flowers, and ants obey Her Peerless and Exalted Majesty; Bzxxyl the 1842th,
mistress of the Universe and Eater of Treats. Yet cats have no lord...
Hawks serve Deathswoop the Daring, but all birds honor the Phoenix. Sharks
only share with the Hungry One, while all fish swim at Tam tuna's request.
Cobras turn at the command of the Hood of All-Potent Poison... Now, all snakes
revere Nosey Groundsnake. And so on.
Some wise folk claim that ther are creatures smaller that the eye can see.
If so, they're ruled by a Supreme Atomie, for so the God ordered all things
when She shaped the level of existence...."
"What has this matter of Cat Lords, or the lack thereof, to do with us?"
"My Order will pay each you each three thousand royals to climb World's
Peak, discover where the Wisest one lives there and ask her for the answer to
that riddle..."
This is the reason of CATS HAVE NO LORD, if not it's rhyme. And it's by no
means all there is to this smooth flowing novel by Will Shetterly. The main
characters, the acrobat/thief, the half-elven swordsman, the merry cleric, and
the most astute barbarian i've ever read, must find the Cat Lord while being
manipulated, helped and hindered by forces arcane and mundane.
Gamers and fans of Robert Aspirin's Thieves' World will find a familiar
feel to the novel, with the added plus of being one complete novel by one
author rather than a compendium of short stories.
This is not to say that 'straight' fantasy fans will be left out of the
action. Outside of beginning in an awkward way - the middle of a telepathic
discussion between a woman and her rather adroit horse - the world is full
fledged and easy to get into. Tensions between cities, lords and races (not
to mention the various Lords themselves) give an overtone that there is more
at stake than academic curiosity. It is almost a must that more will be heard
from this magical world.
CATS HAVE NO LORD by Will Shetterly, Ace Fantasy, New York, 5-85. Quoted
in part as a review and not intended to violate any copyrights pending.
-Richard Jervis <78KCK @ IRISHMVS>
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THE NARRET CHRONICLES
BOOK THE FIFTH
"Well, it bears no Soviet markings at any rate, sir."
"Or any marking's of any kind for that matter, Captain Phillips."
"Well sir, what should we do now?"
"You try to establish radio contact with the bogie while I contact NORAD."
"They ought to be about ready to communicate by now," thought Samo. I had
best stop down the counter-universal communications descanner and encrypter.
"Seeker-1 to NORAD, come in NORAD, over."
"NORAD to Seeker-1, we read colonel, over."
"NORAD, we have established visual contact with the bogie, have found
neither hostile nor friendly markings of any kind. Trying to establish radio
contact at this time. Awaiting further instructions, over."
"Seeker-1, proceed with communications interface and report any necessary
changes in flight pattern, over."
"NORAD, we copy, Seeker-1 out."
"Any luck captain?"
"None, sir. There's no response on the standard frequencies at all."
"That's not surprising, let's face it - that's not exactly your standard
craft were up against. Try the international hailing frequency."
"All right sir... Seeker-2 to unmarked craft, Seeker-2 to unmarked craft,
please respond."
"Well," said Samo, "what do you know... they communicate. It took them so
long to find the right frequency I was beginning to have doubts."
"Unmarked craft to Seeker-2 - responding..." Samo said into the
communications device."
"Unmarked craft you have violated the airspace of the United States of
America. Please identify yourself or we will be forced to shoot you down."
"Friendly people." Samo said to himself. "I am Sgt. Dr. Samo Ht. I come on
a mission of trans-universal importance. I am here to prevent a possible
global war. Mine is a mission of peace, over."
"Well, Dr. Ht, this is Colonel William Roberts, US Air Force. I don't know
who you are, or where you come from but if yours is a mission of peace as you
claim, then I must ask you to cooperate. At this time you are approaching the
western boundary of our airspace. I must ask you to turn your ship around and
continue in this formation due east until we receive clearances for landing.
Will you cooperate?"
"Yes of course, I'll cooperate. Tell your superiors what I have told you,
I come in peace, and tell them also that I must speak to the leaders of the
two belligerent nations before an international forum."
"Seeker-1 to NORAD come in NORAD, over."
"NORAD to Seeker-1 we read, over."
"NORAD, we have established radio contact. The pilot of the craft is
cooperating and states he is on a mission of peace. He also requests to
address the President of the United States and the Premier of the Soviet Union
before the assembled ambassadors of the United Nations. Over."
"Seeker-1 the President is in his Oval Office, at this hour, and is being
briefed on your situation. Proceed on a course for Dover Air Force Base,
bearing 120 at 25,000 ft. We will notify the President of the pilot's
requests and relay further orders as they we receive them, over."
"NORAD, proceeding 120 degrees at 25,000 feet, Seeker-1 out..."
"...Dover Control to Seeker-1, come in Seeker-1, over."
"Dover Control this is Seeker-1, over."
"Seeker-1, you are no longer under NORAD command. Permission for landing is
granted. Proceed to dock alien craft in hanger-81, and place your Blackbirds
in hanger 71 Alpha."
-Mari A. Paulsen
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Featured Author: CHRISTOPHER STASHEFF
Born in New York state in 1944, Christopher Stasheff grew up immersed in
the developing years of both television, radio, and science fiction
literature. Stasheff maintains that de Camp and Pratt's "Inconpleat
Enchanter" is the single largest influence on his style, followed by Lester
del Rey's "Day of the Giants" and "The Sky is Falling". After writing two
unpublished novels, Stasheff began writing a text for a contest sponsored by
the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. Although the manuscript was
never completed until 8 months after the contest deadline, Stasheff sent the
book to Ace, who published it as "The Warlock In Spite of Himself". He has
also published three other books: "King Kobald" (and "King Kobald Revived"),
"The Warlock Unlocked", and "Escape Velocity".
There is some question as to the chronological order in which these novels
fit together. For simplicity, they will be discussed in order of publication,
rather than chronological order. "The Warlock In Spite of Himself" is the
story of Rod Gallowglass, an interstellar explorer, and his adventure in
trying to establish democracy on a long-lost planet of medievals (founded by
members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, no less). Rod discovers an
interstellar conspiracy across time trying to oppose him, and he and his
robot-brained horse, Fess (who is subject to seizures due to an engineering
problem), have their hands full trying to stymie their foes, occasionally
using superior technology, which earns Rod an unwanted reputation as a
warlock. An exceptional book.
"King Kobald" was published in 1970, although before the recent Ace reprint
of the series, Stasheff rewrote the book, and retitled it "King Kobald
Revived". This book takes place approximately two years after the previous
book, and describes a further threat from the forces opposing Rod's effort to
steer the planet, Gramayre, back to democracy. His role as Royal Warlock is
influential in defending Gramayre from an invasion of Neanderthals with
strange telepathic powers. An excellent book, with plenty of excitement and
wonderfully developed characters. The new version is much improved over the
original, due to the rewrite, but it does not contradict the other books in
the series.
"The Warlock Unlocked" is begun following two characters, Rod, of course,
begins the novel some 6 years after "King Kobald", and Father Al Uwell, a
priest of the Order of St. Cathode, an engineering saint. Uwell is being sent
to Gramayre by the church to monitor Rod, since he has become so involved in
the fight for democracy. meanwhile, Rod and his Gramayre family (wife and
four children) are transported to another world, and must discover the way
back to Gramayre before the forces against him overthrow all his works. He
meets up with Father Al, who has been tracking him, and together the group has
a number of very unique adventures. A very fast-paced book, indeed.
"Escape Velocity" is the only book of the series that does not concentrate
on the events on Gramayre, and is more science fiction than fantasy. In this
book, which takes place long before the establishment of Gramayre, Dar Mandra
and company must reach Terra before a coup planned by the LORDS overthrows the
democratic Interstellar Dominion Electorate. Unfortunately, someone in the
upper echelons has it out for Dar, and spreads the rumor that Dar and his
group are horrible telepaths, out to pry into every citizen's secret thoughts
and desires. In the following panic, Dar manages to reach Terra. This book
is perhaps the most interesting of the series, as the characters are all
fantastic and yet somehow believable. Though the action is interesting and
riveting, the end of the book comes too fast, and seems less well-written than
the beginning of the book. In this book, the founding of Gramayre (which
later is lost during a "twilight" of democracy and then later found by Rod
Gallowglass) is described.
In all the books, Stasheff's style is very enjoyable and readable. his
characters are all excellently depicted, and there is no lack of plot
movement. His Gramayre books are an excellent fantasy work, and "Escape
Velocity" is a very good piece of science fiction. His style is easily
adaptable to either genre, since it does not concentrate so much on the
environment, but on the human characters and their relations with other
humans. Altogether an excellent study in characterization, and also an
excellent read!
-Orny <NMCS025 @ MAINE>
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Review: THE SAGA OF PLIOCENE EXILE
by Julian May
A four book series:
The Many-Colored Land
The Golden Torc
The Nonborn King
The Adversary
All kidding aside, this set of books is some of the best SF I have ever
read. It is chock full of truly interesting characters, plot twists,
insight, high tech and (yes!) even some action. There are several plots
running at once. MAIN CHARACTERS actually DIE! The GOOD GUYS (if you can
tell who they are) DON'T always win! It is a delight to read and so
sprawling in it's plot that it is difficult to describe.
Without giving too much away, this is how the story works: Sometime in the
not-too-distant future humanity is part of a Galactic Milieu of minds.
There are many metapsychics that are part of this "cosmic unity". The psychic
powers (such as coercion, psychokinesis, etc.) are supposed to be genetic
traits. Those people with latent abilities have no way to make
themselves operant metapsychics.
Enter the time-gate: A scientist puts together a one way time-gate
which runs six-million years into the past. Notice: ONE WAY. Anything that
enters the time gate from the pliocene takes on the burden of six
million years of aging. Until his death he keeps the gate running as a
curiosity. Upon his death his wife supports herself by sending PEOPLE on a
one way trip into the past. Many of those disgruntled latent
metapychics take that ticket to get way from it all.
This time gate tripping goes on for many years. We then meet a group of
time travelers and follow them on their journey into the past. Instead of a
"Riverworld" type of society they find a Europe inhabited by an alien
race! These Tanu use torcs to make themselves and latent humans
operant metapychics as well as enslave those that are not latents.
Can humanity be freed from the slavery of the torcs? Do they want to be?
Is the time gate really one-way?
That little synopsis covers the first fifty pages of the first book without
giving away the juicy details. Those of you that have already read the book
know that I haven't even gotten to the really good stuff. This is too good
to spoil. It's in paperback so it won't bust your wallet to read it. Trust
me. Read it during the summer when you have time to get really involved in
it.
-Chris Condon <BITLIB @ YALEVMX>
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