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SF-LOVERS Digest            Friday, 5 Feb 1993         Volume 18 : Issue 73

Today's Topics:

                Books - Modesitt (5 msgs) & Rawn (3 msgs) &
                        Spider Robinson (4 msgs) & Tepper &
                        Tubb (3 msgs) & Paul O. Williams (2 msgs) &
                        Wingrove (2 msgs) & Womack & Request

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Date: 25 Jan 93 02:36:27 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Jonathan Deitch)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: The Towers of the Sunset (Magic of Recluce prequel)

Has anyone read The Towers of the Sunset by L.E. Modesitt yet ?

It's a prequel to Magic of Recluce, taking place at the time the island of
Recluce was originally settled.  It's quite interesting.

What do ya'll think of it ... and Magic of Recluce as well...

I know they're some of the few books I've bought where I've gone back to
the bookstore and special ordered hardcover copies of them.

Does anyone else get tired of Modesitt's written sound effects ?

Jonathan
[e-mail]

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Date: 29 Jan 93 22:19:18 GMT
From: [e-mail] (David W. Levine)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: The Towers of the Sunset (Magic of Recluce prequel)

Yeah, the sound effects don't add that much after the third or fourth time
we're treated to them. I don't think they really hurt, but they don't help
much.

I also think that Modesitt draws his distinctions between "good" and "bad"
people with a bit too much of a sledgehammer. We're rarely given any
insight into the motivations of the Chaos Wielders, or how, given their
nature they form such a powerful and even, dare I say, "orderly" council
and city. There are hints of Order wizards who work with them, but almost
no insight into why...

Still, good and interesting reads that I've enjoyed quite a bit but...

David W. Levine
IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center
[e-mail]

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Date: 29 Jan 93 15:16:57 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Michael Qvortrup)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: The Towers of the Sunset (Magic of Recluce prequel)

[e-mail] (Jonathan Deitch) writes:
>[...]
>and Magic of Recluce as well ...

Good book, but that isn't what's on my mind right now ...

>I know they're some of the few books I've bought where I've gone back to
>the bookstore and special ordered hardcover copies of them.

This is: do you mean to imply that _The Towers of the Sunset_ are out in
paperback now?

Michael Christian Heide Qvortrup
Inst. of Scientific Computation
ETH, Zuerich Switzerland
[e-mail]

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Date: 29 Jan 93 18:10:06 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: The Towers of the Sunset (Magic of Recluce prequel)

[e-mail] (Jonathan Deitch) writes:
>Has anyone read The Towers of the Sunset by L.E. Modesitt yet ?  What do
>ya'll think of it ... and Magic of Recluce as well ...

Yeah, I read it.  It's OK, though I got _awfully_ tired of the hero and the
heroine standing at arms' length, wistfully snarling at each other,
wondering if they're ever going to get together, when the even semi-
intelligent reader KNOWS they will, for most of the length of the book.

Now I've read both of the Recluce books a couple times apiece, and you know
what sticks with me?  The opening chapters of "Magic," the simple life in
Recluce with everything as neat, tidy, and orderly as possible.

It may be enough to bore the socks off a sixteen-year-old young tomcat like
the hero, but believe me, to a fifty-year-old secretary/housewife it sounds
just like heaven.

>Does anyone else get tired of Modesitt's written sound effects ?

YES!!! (_stomp,_choke,_throttle,_ka-blam_)

Dorothy J. Heydt
UC Berkeley
[e-mail]

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Date: 1 Feb 93 19:35:10 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Jonathan Deitch)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: The Towers of the Sunset (Magic of Recluce prequel)

[e-mail] writes:
>This is: do you mean to imply that _The Towers of the Sunset_ are
>out in paperback now?

Well ... I guess I wasn't specific enough ... I liked Recluce enough that I
went out and bought the hardback, Towers was just published and isn't out
in paper yet.  I bought the hardback when it was published, based on how
much I like Recluce.

Jonathan
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 26 Jan 93 16:39:48 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Ruchira Datta)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Skybowl Is Out!

I saw the third book in Melanie Rawn's *Dragon Star* trilogy, entitled
*Skybowl*, in hardcover at Waldenbooks yesterday, as well as the paperback
version of the second book, entitled *The Dragon Token*.

I have really enjoyed this series so far.  In case anyone doesn't know,
this trilogy follows another, the *Dragon Prince* trilogy.  But don't take
that as an indication that Rawn is "sequelling" - each of her books, so
far, has been extremely complex and interesting, IMHO.  And don't be put
off by the word "Dragon" in the titles (as I have heard some people are) -
these books are really about *people*.  If you enjoy intricately plotted
fantasy with 3-dimensional characters, check these books out.

Ruchira
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 29 Jan 93 00:59:25 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Ruchira Datta)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: *Skybowl* Publishing Information

Here is the publishing information for *Skybowl*:

Series: Dragon Star: Book III
Title: *Skybowl*
Author: Melanie Rawn
Publisher:
        DAW Books, Inc.
        375 Hudson Street
        New York, NY 10014
ISBN: 0-88677-541-8
Retail Price: U.S. $22.00/Canada $27.50
Length: 672 pages
DAW Book Collectors No. 903
        (What does this mean?  Maybe it's a gimmick to make you
        think there are such things as DAW Book Collectors, and
        you might want to be one!)
First Printing, February 1993
        (Curious, that.  I suppose it's not unusual, but it's
        still rather strange.)

Ruchira Datta
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 29 Jan 93 19:57:51 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Atin Malaviya)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Skybowl Is Out!

Heartily seconded - excellent books!  And yes, the stories are about people
- - people I could care about (and would give a lot to know :-)).  My test
for a good book is whether I can read it again and still appreciate it...
Well, I have read the first book three times in the last two years, and the
others at least once each, and might do so again when I get the latest one
(so I can get the full story once again :-) ).

My only problem with Melanie Rawn's books has been the fact that it takes
so long for the paperbacks to come out (but then even a week would be too
long!)

Atin Malaviya
Software Engineer
Intermetrics Inc.
733 Concord Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02138
[phone] x4575
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 22 Jan 93 03:10:41 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Spider Robinson

[e-mail] writes:
> I'm looking for more titles by Spider Robinson. I have two of the
> Callahan books (the first and the third, I think) and _Time Travelers
> Strictly Cash_ Are there any others? Pub dates? Publishers?
>
> Any help would be appreciated.

Meloncholy Elephants!

Solomon

------------------------------

Date: 26 Jan 93 12:56:32 GMT
From: ka3ovk!irscscm![e-mail] (Jeff Kossoy)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Spider Robinson

[e-mail] writes:
> I'm looking for more titles by Spider Robinson. I have two of the
> Callahan books (the first and the third, I think) and _Time Travelers
> Strictly Cash_ Are there any others? Pub dates? Publishers?

Another good one is Time Pressure.

Jeff Kossoy

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Date: 27 Jan 93 04:14:58 GMT
From: ka3ovk!irscscm!bogart!phzzzt![e-mail] (Michael Faurot)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Spider Robinson

Telempath is pretty cool and (said with tongue planted firmly in
cheek) not much of a "stinker". ;-)

Michael Faurot
Domain: [e-mail]
UUCP: ...!{irscscm|mimsy}!bogart!phzzzt!mfaurot

------------------------------

Date: 28 Jan 93 13:07:22 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Tom Davis)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Spider Robinson

The "Stardance" series (two books in publication, a third "on the way") is
absolutely magnificent. [Alright, alright; so I tend to exaggerate -
they're still _really_ good (IMHO).]

Tom Davis
[e-mail]

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Date: 3 Feb 93 04:55:00 GMT
From: [e-mail] (David Jordan)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Feminist SF  - Sherri Tepper

I just finished GRASS by Sherri Tepper.  I liked it a lot.  Well drawn
characters, complex universe, interesting exploration of gender issues and
a very solid female protagonist.  I needed to get in about 50 pages before
I got hooked, but then it was "no stopping."  If anyone else has read it,
I'd like to hear what you thought.  If not, give it a try.

David Jordan
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 25 Jan 93 00:00:30 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Joyce Tokar)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Dumarest of Terra

I am trying to complete my "Dumarest of Terra" collection.  I have the list
of titles up to number 31.  Could anyone knowing the complete list append
the final titles (and insert the missing ones).

Thanks.

01 The Winds of Gath            17 Prison of Night
02 Derai                        18 Incident on Ath
03 Toyman                       19 Quillian Sector, The
04 Kalin                        20 Web of Sand
05 Jester at Scar               21 Iduna's Universe
06 Lallia                       22 Terra Data, The
07 Technos                      23 World of Promise
08 Veruchia                     24 Nectar of Heaven
09 Mayenne                      25 Terridae, The
10 Jondelle                     26 Coming Event, The
11 Zenya                        27
12 Eloise                       28 Melome
13 Eye of the Zodiac            29 Angado
14 Jack of Swords               30
15 Spectrum of a Forgotten Sun  31 Temple of Truth, The
16 Haven of Darkness

------------------------------

Date: 25 Jan 93 07:46:00 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Wayne Hughes)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Dumarest of Terra

[e-mail] (Joyce Tokar) writes:
>I am trying to complete my "Dumarest of Terra" collection.  I have the
>list of titles up to number 31.  Could anyone knowing the complete list
>append the final titles (and insert the missing ones).

#27 is Earth is Heaven (none of these "books" requires underlining, you
know), in which Dumarest of Terra is once again fooled as to the identity
of the planet he is on, thinking (and very nicely according to formula too)
that it is Earth.  Once again there is a Side Issue that must be resolved
before he can find out he was wrong and proceed on to #28.

I am astonished, but secretly thrilled, that you collect these.

Sorry I can provide no further information.

Oh hell, why not.  My #27 has a great cover, showing a lean and muscular
Dumarest in a skintight suit backed against a rocky ledge with these great
looking bat/humanoid looking characters flying at him.  It is DAW #510, and
Michael Mariano is the artist.

None of the other covers is as interesting, all harbor a suitably posing,
enticingly buxom victim, with Dumarest standing protectively in the
foreground, often wearing bubble helmet and skintight suit (she of course
wears no helmet, and very little else).

Yet they weren't written *all* that badly, were they.  The catch, Joyce, is
that you only need one.  :)

Wayne

------------------------------

Date: 26 Jan 93 03:37:25 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Joyce Tokar)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Dumarest of Terra

[e-mail] (Wayne Hughes) writes:
>Yet they weren't written *all* that badly, were they.  The catch, Joyce,
>is that you only need one.  :)

   Thanks for filling in #27, "Earth is Heaven".  Actually, because the
series is out of print, my husband and I have fun searching out the books
in different places on the planet, Terra, I mean :=).  We have found copies
in the States, Greece, South Africa, England and who knows where next.  We
look at the series as reasonably good "brain-rot"!

Joyce

------------------------------

Date: 1 Feb 93 17:23:37 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Raph Koster)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Paul o. Williams

Whatever happened to Paul O. Williams? The last I heard of him was the last
book in the Pelbar Cycle, and that was in '85.

Raph Koster
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 2 Feb 93 05:27:03 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Paul McGuire)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Paul o. Williams

[e-mail] (Raph Koster) writes:
>Whatever happened to Paul O. Williams? The last I heard of him was the
>last book in the Pelbar Cycle, and that was in '85.

The Gifts of the Gorboduc Vandal came out in '89.  I've seen nothing since,
which is a shame since I liked the Pelbar Cycle quite a bit (enough to
reread it, despite its sunny pollyannaism, and Gifts read like the first of
another Cycle.

------------------------------

Date: 25 Jan 93 21:21:27 GMT
From: [e-mail] (William Johnson)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Chung Kuo

Does anyone out there know when the fourth "Chung Kuo" novel is going to be
released.  (I'm new to this group, so if this question has been asked and
answered, have mercy).

Thank you in advance.

------------------------------

Date: 28 Jan 93 03:18:55 GMT
From: [e-mail] (John J Park)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: 4? There are 4 Chung-Kuo novels already?

   Now I know it has been a while since I read about the "Middle Kingdom"
but 4?I was patiently waiting for the 2nd to hit our library and/or the
local Waldens in Illinois. Now I'm being informed that I have 3 500+ page
books to add to my already large skyscraper of sf books waiting patiently
to read. *sigh*

John Park

------------------------------

Date: 2 Feb 93 19:40:23 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Evelyn C Leeper [phone])
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: ELVISSEY by Jack Womack

                          ELVISSEY by Jack Womack
                     A book review by Evelyn C. Leeper

   Well, I suppose it's only reasonable that after reading three books
centering on God and Jesus, I should proceed to a book set in a future
where the main religion is the Church of Elvis.  And, in fact, the
parallels are intriguing, especially with Monteleone's BLOOD OF THE LAMB:
both deal with unwilling messiahs, called forth by fallible human beings to
save the world.  And because those who summon them are fallible, things
don't go as planned.

   ELVISSEY is part of Womack's "Dryco Chronicles," set in a world forty
years in the future in which most power is held by Dryco Corporation and
Elvis is not just the King, but the Messiah as well.  Dryco figures that if
they actually had a live Elvis, they could exert even more control, so they
decide to pick one up by sending a couple through a "gate" to get Elvis
from a parallel world which is eighty years behind and where, in addition,
Lincoln was assassinated in 1861, resulting in a somewhat different world
than ours - or than the world Dryco knows as its history.  Still, John and
Isabel manage to cope, right up until they find Elvis standing over the
body of his mother, whom he has just shot.  Then things get really weird.

   My main complain is still the futurespeak that Womack has invented
(would language really change that much in only forty years?), but it was
less annoying than in TERRAPLANE.  That may be because I'm getting used to
it, or it may be because it's tempered by the need of the main characters
to use more understandable language when communicating with people in or
from the parallel world.  Or maybe it's the wordplay Womack throws in:
"Call me Isabel," the main character says at one point.  And later, on the
telephone, John asks, "Information, help me.  Get me Memphis, Tennessee."
In any case, it's probably only slightly more difficult than the language
in Heinlein's THE MOON IS A HARSH MISTRESS, and easier than that of Russell
Hoban's RIDDLEY WALKER.

   Though part of the "Dryco Chronicles," ELVISSEY can be read as a
stand-alone and is, in my opinion, better than the earlier works in the
series.  Start with this one and then decide if you want to try the other
ones.

Title:     Elvissey
Author:    Jack Womack
City:      New York
Date:      January 1993
Publisher: Tor
Comments:  trade paperback, US$12.95
Order Number: ISBN 0-312-85202-9
Pages:     319pp

Evelyn C. Leeper
[phone]
[e-mail]

------------------------------

Date: 23 Jan 93 18:43:29 GMT
From: [e-mail] (jere7my tho?rpe)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: WANTED: list of post-1981 hard SF

A physics professor acquaintance of mine wants to run an SF course here,
with an emphasis on the "science" in "science fiction."  (I.e. she wants a
physics/SF course instead of a literature/SF course.)  She's up to date on
most of the stuff before 1980, but lost track after that.  So, if any of
you have thoughts about what hard SF might be good (novels AND short
stories, the latter preferably being from one or two easy-to-find
anthologies), email me at

[e-mail]

(Example: _Earth_ by David Brin talks about singularities and gravity
lasers and interesting things like that, and even though he may be way off
base, it could still be interesting to discuss...)

Thanks in advance.

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End of SF-LOVERS Digest
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