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SF-LOVERS Digest          Wednesday, 10 Feb 1993       Volume 18 : Issue 91

Today's Topics:

            Books - Anvil & Card & Delany & Effinger (3 msgs) &
                    May (2 msgs) & Robinson & Sheffield &
                    Paul O. Williams & Wild Cards (2 msgs) &
                    Cole and Bunch:  Empire's End

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Date: 10 Feb 93 01:12:58 GMT
From: [e-mail]
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Christopher Anvil

   Christopher Anvil is one of my favorite authors to just relax and read.
Most of his stories are VERY entertaining.  Many of his stories appeared in
Analog in the late 60's and early 70's.
   One of his most popular stories was "Pandora's Planet" If you can find
the book, read it.  The story is about an alien empire which comes to
conquer Earth only to find out that humans are smarter than them, and these
humans are on their way to conquering their Empire.
   Within this universe were a number of stories about some humans who are
working with the Empire.  These humans go around solving the more difficult
problems.  My favorite of this set was about a planet the Empire found
which had intelligent, aggressive teleporters who could go any where they
had been before.  Once they get on several of the Empire's space ships, how
does the Empire stop the teleporters from waiting until these ships get
back to a home base, and taking over the planet?
   Another set of stories were about humans colonizing rough planets and
particular lessons learned in the process.  One of the fun ones here was
called "Leverage" and took place on a planet where the animal life worked
in mobs.  The equivalent of mosquitoes didn't spread out over a whole
swamp, they would mass together.  And the birds did the same.  Humans had
trouble getting any work done when the mobs came.
   The last set of stories that I really enjoyed were about the
Interstellar Patrol.  The two main branches of the human government were
the Space Patrol, and some colonizing branch.  And when they got in
trouble, the Interstellar Patrol would come in.  And they didn't go back
the book.  They always solved problems by thinking, and not by brute force.
   If you have access to old Analogs, try reading some of Christopher
Anvil's stories.  I don't expect anyone to be disappointed.
   Have a good day.

Henry III

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Date: 8 Feb 93 18:32:50 GMT
From: jsnow@.sim.es.com (John Snow)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Card's _The Call of Earth_ is out

I haven't seen anyone post this yet, so here goes.

Orson Scott Card's sequel to _The Memory of Earth_, entitled _The Call of
Earth_, is available in hardback now.

If you liked the first in the series, I think you'll be pleased with this
one as well. There are supposed to be three more books in the series.

John F. Snow
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp.
PO Box 58700
Salt Lake City
Utah 84158
[phone]
[e-mail]

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Date: 8 Feb 93 19:56:46 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Joel Plutchak)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Samuel R. Delany's recent work?

   Does anybody know what Delany has been up to recently?  I've been sort
of half watching for the followup to _Stars in my Pocket..._ for many
years, but haven't seen anything from him at all.

Joel Plutchak

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Date: 10 Feb 93 00:26:49 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Aron Insinga)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re:  Maureen Birnbaum

>The ones I've seen are:
>Maureen Birnbaum, Barbarian Swordswoman (don't remember where)
>Maureen Birnbaum and the Art of War (in _Friends of the Horseclans_, an
>anthology of stories based on Adams' Horseclans books)
>Maureen Birnbaum After Dark (referenced above.)
>
>Are there others?  Despite her obnoxious affected speech, I really rather
>like Muffy.

Maureen Birnbaum At The Earth's Core
(I think it was published in Analog or IASFM but I don't have them handy to
sort through, or an index...)

Maureen Birnbaum Goes Shoppynge
(in an alternate Robin Hood anthology which I also don't have handy...)

Aron Insinga
Digital Equipment Corporation
110 Spit Brook Rd. (ZKO 2-1/Q18)
Nashua, NH 03062-2698  USA
[e-mail]

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Date: 8 Feb 93 17:16:49 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Dan'l DanehyOakes)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re:  Maureen Birnbaum

[e-mail] (Eric Oppen) writes:
>The ones I've seen are:
>Maureen Birnbaum, Barbarian Swordswoman (don't remember where)

Please:  that's "Maureen Birnbaum, Barbarian Swordsperson"

The immediate sequel to which was "Maureen Birnbaum at the Earth's Core."

Dan'l Danehy-Oakes

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Date: 10 Feb 93 01:21:53 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Arnold V. Lesikar)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: George Alec Effinger

I picked up a couple of notes in the Digest about Effinger. I loved his
trilogy set in the near future in North Africa. (I'm at work, so I can't
refer to my bookshelf to get the titles right). This is one of the most
original works that I have read in recent years: the cyberpunk milieu mixed
into a Muslim society blew me away.

But I've heard that Effinger is very ill, and that his medical bills have
impoverished him. It's a great pity if disease has attacked such a creative
talent! Does anyway know the story? I really hope that my info is
incorrect!

Arnold V. Lesikar
Professor of Physics
St. Cloud State University

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Date: 6 Feb 93 23:57:42 GMT
From: [e-mail] (RANDY_GOLDBERG)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Julian May

First off (this is NOT in any kind of order, except what comes out of my
head), Julian co-wrote _Black Trillium_ with Marion Zimmer Bradley and
Andre Norton.  She is the only one to have followed up on her character,
with _Blood Trillium_.

The "Saga of Pliestocene Exile" includes 4 books: "The Many-Colored Land,"
"The Golden Torc," "The Non-Born King," and "The Adversary."  This series
deals with a group of people sent back on a one-way trip to France 600,000
years ago, where they encounter an alien species living on Earth in that
time.

The "Intervention" duology includes "The Surveillance" and "The
Metaconcert."  This set details how Earth became part of the Galactic
Milieu.

The "Metapsychic Rebellion" trilogy will eventually include "Jack The
Bodiless," "Illusio Diamond Mask" and "Magnificat."  Only the first is out
so far.  These supposedly will tell the tale of a group of Earthmen who
rise up against the Galactic Milieu, and how they are put down.

Cheers.

Randy

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Date: 8 Feb 93 02:22:23 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Bruce Cordell)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Julian May

[e-mail] (RANDY_GOLDBERG) writes:
>First off (this is NOT in any kind of order, except what comes out of my
>head), Julian co-wrote _Black Trillium_ with Marion Zimmer Bradley and
>Andre Norton.  She is the only one to have followed up on her character,
>with _Blood Trillium_.
>
>The "Saga of Pliestocene Exile" includes 4 books: "The Many-Colored Land,"
>"The Golden Torc," "The Non-Born King," and "The Adversary."  This series
>deals with a group of people sent back on a one-way trip to France 600,000
>years ago, where they encounter an alien species living on Earth in that
>time.
>
>The "Intervention" duology includes "The Surveillance" and "The
>Metaconcert."  This set details how Earth became part of the Galactic
>Milieu.
>
>The "Metapsychic Rebellion" trilogy will eventually include "Jack The
>Bodiless," "Illusio Diamond Mask" and "Magnificat."  Only the first is out
>so far.  These supposedly will tell the tale of a group of Earthmen who
>rise up against the Galactic Milieu, and how they are put down.

I'm not exactly certain what happened with _Black Trillium_. Perhaps these
three authors who are brilliant alone, somehow made too many compromises
with each other, resulting in only an average Witch-World like fantasy, but
just too contrived to convey the aura of awe/dread that I fondly recall
from Andre Norton's books.

Whatever the case, Julian May has come to the forefront of science fiction
with her creation of the Galactic Milieu, as painted in the pages of The
Pliocene Exile and the Intervention. Only a few other authors have captured
my continued attention with such intensity. If any out there on the net
have been considering these books, I have to say it is an excellent
investment.

Bruce Robert Cordell
[e-mail]

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

Date: 9 Feb 93 21:32:00 GMT
From: [e-mail] (cb52)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson

(SPOILERS)

   I found the responses to my comments on Red Mars to be quite interesting
- - everyone had congent arguments.  Here are a few more thoughts on the
book.  (Again, I loved the book except for the ending).

   I argued that the position of the Reds is not well argued or defended in
the book because it is based on emotional appeals to the status quo or the
love of Mars itself.  I do not think the Reds can be compared to
environmentalists on Earth as some have suggested.  Environmentalists on
Earth argue that humans are destroying the planet to the point that it will
become uninhabitable by humans.  The Reds on Mars do not want to change the
atmosphere of Mars which would make the planet habitable by humans.  The
most compelling argument made by Anne (a Red) is "What if" some life form
undetected by the colonists exists on Mars and terraforming would destroy
these indigenous life-forms.  Her other arguments boil down to preserving
the present atmosphere of Mars for its own sake.  I wish the author had
spent more time building up the argument for the later.

   I will partially retract my statement that the author did not spend
enough time on building a viable state.  John Boone was thinking along
these lines when good 'ol Frank Chalmers had him done in. Most of the First
Hundred lived much like the scientific teams in Antartica (as the author
states) and those colonists who followed were either scientists who lived
in similar communal fashion, workers who were controlled by the
corporations, or nomads.  It was interesting to see how these groups
interacted.

***MAJOR SPOILER***

   [Disclaimer: The way a book's plot unfolds, what occurs in a book, or a
book's ending, is entirely the business of the author and no one else.  If
people don't like it tough luck!  On the other hand, the reader has the
right to react to a plot or ending, here's mine.]  My biggest
dissatisfaction with the book was the ending.  The entire planet is
practically destroyed, thousands of colonists die, and the First Hundred
huddle together to start all over again.  I assume the next book in this
trilogy will start with the surviving First Hundred trying to reconstruct
Mars.  I would have liked to see generational change and development of the
planet, both enviromentally (terraforming and domed cities) and socially
(state building, how different cultures interact and become interdepedent
on a new planet).  Instead, all the achievements of the colonists are
destroyed and we start from square one.  How disappointing!  (Actually, the
terraformers will be pleased that the introduction of so much water on the
surface will greatly accelerate their plans for changing Mars' atmosphere
for human habitation, thus the next book - Green Mars).

   Finally, I found it hard to really "get into" the descriptions of Mars
because I am fairly unfamiliar with its geography. For those who haven't
read the book yet, familiarizing yourself with Mars beforehand would
increase your enjoyment of the book.  Does anyone have any good suggestions
about books or other sources to do so?

   By the way, has anyone read Ben Bova's book _Mars_?  If so, I would love
to see a review or hear comments on it.  I have yet to read it.

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

Date: 5 Feb 93 22:46:32 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Joe Kalash)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Charles Sheffield

[e-mail] writes:
>One thing this brings to my mind is Charles Sheffield's book 'The Nimrod
>Hunt' which seems to be a tribute to the Bester novel and tries to capture
>some of the feel of 'Tiger! Tiger!' (as it was known in the colonies).

Just to add a different opinion, I hated "Nimrod Hunt". It is the only
Sheffield book I have ever read, and I have felt no urge to read any of his
others. I found the plot silly, and the characters unbelievable. Although I
did like the alien who was a crystal inside a flower...

However, I did enjoy "The Stars My Destination".

Joe Kalash
uunet!starnine!kalash
[e-mail]

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Date: 9 Feb 93 21:36:23 GMT
From: [e-mail]
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.

I had not heard of any plans to write additional books when last I visited
with him (around '88), but have heard of one he published since then. His
duties as a College English Professor are keeping him quite busy. I haven't
had the opportunity to speak with him since my sister graduated. (My
brother was fortunate to have him as his major professor, and one sister
also took his course.)

Of all of his writings, _The Fall of the Dome_ and _The Breaking of
Northwall_ are my personal favorites. Partly for the characters... but
mostly because the entire Pelbar Cycle was set in the Mississippi River
valley, right along where the college is located... and I could pinpoint
locations! :)

Carol

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Date: 30 Jan 93 05:05:58 GMT
From: [e-mail] (John J Park)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Wild Cards

I just finished "Turn of the Cards" the 12th book in the ongoing Wild Cards
series edited by George R.R. Martin, and LOVED it! Anyone know when the
next will/has come/came out? Or what the title is?

Anyone out for a good read should try this series. It may be soap operish,
at times, but I think the people, powers, and setting (the present, or
almost present) make them excellent works! The most interesting character
power, being that of Croyd Crenson "The Sleeper". New powers after every
(long) nap! Who was created by Zelazny by the way. And Mark Meadows "Cpt.
Tripps" a complete cast in and of himself!

As you can tell, I can't say enough about it.

Read them, if you haven't!

[e-mail]
[e-mail]

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Date: 3 Feb 93 16:08:08 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Charles Frederick Goodin)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Re: Wild Cards

[e-mail] (John J Park) writes:
>I just finished "Turn of the Cards" the 12th book in the ongoing Wild
>Cards series edited by George R.R. Martin, and LOVED it! Anyone know when
>the next will/has come/came out? Or what the title is?

   It looks like you could say enough about it.  If I hadn't read the
series myself a couple of times, I wouldn't be able to figure out what it
was about from reading your post.
   But you are definitely right!  Anyone with any interest in superhuman
abilities should buy this entire series (well, except for maybe #8,#9, and
#11...)  It is a `shared world' edited by George R.R. Martin, and I've seen
it in the sf sections of most major bookstores up here.
   General synopsis: Aliens test their viral/genetic weapon on the planet
Earth.  Test results are: 90% of the people exposed to the virus die, 90%
of survivors are physically mutated, usually in a negative way, and the
remaining 1% become `aces', equivalent to what would be called superheroes
in Marvel or DC.  But these are real world supers: most of them have super
names, but their real names are often not kept secret, and they have to
deal with other things than beating each other up.  Mostly prejudice,
social ostracism, etc.
   Very interesting alternate Earth, and yes, lots of cool authors
contribute.  Zelazny's Sleeper is a great character, but The Great and
Powerful Turtle is probably my favorite.  There's also a role-playing game
supplement for GURPS out that covers the characters and history of the
first five books, and might be worth reading even if you don't game.

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

Date: 7 Feb 93 07:14:24 GMT
From: [e-mail] (Dani Zweig)
Reply-to: [e-mail]
Subject: Cole and Bunch:  Empire's End

"Empire's End" is out - the eighth and final book in Cole's and Bunch's
'Sten' series.  Book seven ended with the Emperor gone mad and Sten
initiating a rebellion against him.  In book eight we find out who wins.

I'd rate it as the weakest book in the series, but still worth reading,
particularly if you've already read the first seven.  (It would have been
shorter if the authors finally wrote the cookbook they're obviously dying
to write, and got it out of their system.)

The afterword is interesting: One of the motivations for the book was a
general disgust with the tendency of sf-writers to make their future
interstellar governments absolute monarchies - a system with a very poor
track record in the modern world.

Dani Zweig
[e-mail]

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End of SF-LOVERS Digest
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