901 lines
56 KiB
Plaintext
901 lines
56 KiB
Plaintext
From @CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU:LISTSERV@TCSVM.BITNET Fri Mar 18 12:35:46 1988
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Received: by NADC.ARPA (5.51/1.0 )
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id AA22186; Fri, 18 Mar 88 12:33:50 EST
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Message-Id: <8803181733.AA22186@NADC.ARPA>
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Received: from TCSVM.Tulane.EDU by CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU ; Fri, 18 Mar 88 12:33:46 EST
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Received: by TCSVM (Mailer X1.25) id 0087; Fri, 18 Mar 88 08:45:13 CST
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Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1988 08:45 CST
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From: Revised List Processor (1.5m) <LISTSERV%TCSVM.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
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Subject: File: "FSFNET VOL01N3" being sent to you
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To: wyzansky@NADC.ARPA
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Status: R
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+-+ +-+ +-+
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+-+--+-+--+-+ VOLUME ONE NUMBER THREE
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| | ==========================================
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+___________+ FFFFF SSS FFFFF N N EEEEE TTTTT
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| ++ | F S F NN N E T
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| ++ | FFF SSS FFF N N N EEE T
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| | F S F N NN E T
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|_________| F SSS F N N EEEEE T
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/___________\ ==========================================
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| | BITNET Fantasy-Science Fiction Fanzine
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___|___________|___ X-Edited by 'Orny' Liscomb (NMCS025@MAINE)
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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CONTENTS
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Editorial Orny
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Flyby Fiction by Jim Owens
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Featured Author: TANITH LEE Orny
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The Narret Chronicles Fiction by Mari A. Paulson
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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Editorial
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Well, folks, welcome to issue three of FSFnet! After last issue's slump,
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we have got some real treats for you with some excellent fiction. I must
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thank Jim Owens (J1O @ PSUVM) for most of this issue - his loyalty and
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productiveness... well... if only all readers were so avid and so
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talented...
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I must again remind you that FSFnet is a fanzine, and that I must have
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submissions for it to continue. I know that many of you have commented
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about sending things in, but haven't found the time. Please do... FSFnet
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needs your support to continue.
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Also, it has come to my attention that many people are having problems
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reading FSFnet onto their disks. VAX users want DISK DUMP CLASS N, IBM
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users want SENDFILE, and so forth. I would like to hear from people as to
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which format they consider most desirable. And thank you for putting up
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with any inconvenience due to this problem, past or future.
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One more thing before I send you off into space... Issue four will be a
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special tribute to H.P. Lovecraft, famous author of horror, particularly the
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Cthulhu mythos. If you have anything that might be acceptable, please send
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it in! As always, letters are welcome, as is almost anything I can get my
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hands on!
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But I grow long-winded, and I would not presume to detract from the two
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wonderful pieces of fiction in this issue, so READ ON!
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Orny <NMCS025 @ MAINE>
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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FLYBY
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The asteroid flashed past, turning slowly. He could feel the power in the
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twin-spool behind him. He knew, however, that there were more powerful
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engines in the warship behind him.
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"Easy run." Elein had said as she pulled him to the booth. "Just lure the
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ships out to the Belt and they pay our way back!"
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The Paixites needed ships, he knew. But they needed the men even more.
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The Paixites were not wimps. They held more power than the rest of space
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combined. They just weren't takers. They were more likely to give you a
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planet than to try to take yours. They had a fantastic, outgoing way about
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them, an attitude unmatched for niceness. Without that, mankind would have
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been in trouble. Some, however, saw niceness as weakness. Ever since they
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had appeared in human space they had been the target of many a siege, and
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were under one now by a group whose sole interest in life was the acqusition
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of other people's goods. The pay was good, however, and the the assignment
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easy. Besides, he had wanted to fly the VAS Butterfly for many months now.
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Ever since it came out all he had heard was how fast and maneuverable it
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was. And here was the chance. So he signed up, took off within the hour, and
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now here they were.
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"Greg, you got ..."
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The transmission was cut off as he reacted, swinging around and heading
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for a nearby point of light he knew to be a large asteroid. As he did, he
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caught sight of the capture ship swinging around in a larger arc in an
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attempt to keep up with him. The men flying it had one concern: the
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electronics in the tail of his little ship. If they could get his ship in
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range of their tractor field...
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Even as he watched, he saw one of the large vessels slide up behind
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Elein's ship. Even as he yelled for her to evade, she hit her emergency
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boosters. They pushed her forward - just far enough for the nose of the
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Butterfly to escape. But the rest of the ship was still in the capture jaws,
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which slammed shut, neatly severing the cockpit from the rest of the craft.
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The life compartment, with Elein in it, drifted off to one side, like the
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head of a fish out of a shark's mouth.
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He had little time to reflect on how long Elein could survive on the
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little bit of emergency air provided in the cockpit, because even as he dove
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around the asteroid it's surface came alive with sparks and flashes of
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light. It only took a moment to realize that he was being fired upon.
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Apparently the pirates had caught all of the other nine craft, and had
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decided that this last one wasn't worth the effort, and that now all they
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had to do was eliminate it. He felt like screaming. Instead he hit the
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emergency thrusters and rounded the asteroid marginally ahead of the
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pursuit.
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He flashed past a pinnacle, and then straightened out his flight, hoping
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to loose his followers. Then, to his surprise, he saw, just ahead, th
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Paixian transport ship, it's landing bay wide open, it's landing field
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activated and waiting. All he had to do was reach it, as fast as possible,
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and he was safe. No weapon could reach him, they would cancel his immense
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velocity, they would protect him. A little further...
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500 meters out the plasma bolt from the pirate ship caught him in the
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engine. It vaporized it's way through the composite hull, and slammed into
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the ship's skeleton. Even as it ignited the fuel, the shock wave reached the
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cockpit and split the canopy. Milliseconds before the heat from the
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exploding engines could reach him, Greg was blasted out into vacuum by the
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exploding ejection seat bolts.
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"Greg..."
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He opened his eyes. The light was bright. Heaven?
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"Greg..."
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He turned his head. If this was heaven they sure had modern landing bays.
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He was hanging upside down in what could only be a Paixian landing field,
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staring at a pair of feet that could only belong to one person.
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"Elein, why aren't I dead?"
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"You blew it right in front of the landing field. You passed out on the
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last 100 meters through the void before you hit the field."
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Greg rolled to his feet. Standing behind Elein at a respectable distance
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was the Paixian who had hired them.
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"Congratulations Greg. You survived the longest. In fact, you are the
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first person in history ever to bring any part of his ship to the delivery
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point."
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Greg followed the pointed finger. There lay the assembled wreckage of his
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ship.
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"Am I to take it you can salvage that?"
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"No, of course not. Why would we want to? It's you we really wanted after
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all, someone who would fulfill his contract without turning back, regardless
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of what gauntlet they had to run."
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"And I did it, eh?" There was little left of the ship but shards.
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"Yes. After all, it's the attitude we want, not merely the product."
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Jim Owens <J1O @ PSUVM>
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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Featured Author: TANITH LEE
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Tanith Lee is one of the prolific female FSF authors of this age. The
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London librarian's books are in the vanguard of todays literature. Although
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she has a devoted following of readers, her books are not the kind often
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found on neighborhood bookstore shelves.
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Her style is very unique and mature, and, if I may venture a subjective
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opinion, among the best writings I have ever read. Lee deals effectively
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with fantasy, love, horror, ethics, and mystery as well as any author. Her
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twisting the expected and the traditional can be seen in many of her works.
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Her Flat Earth series, including "Death's Master," "Delusion's Master,"
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"Night's Master,"and, soon to be released, "Delirium's Mistress" are
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excellent works of wonder and mystery. Her Birthgrave series, "the
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Birthgrave," "Vazkor, Son of Vazkor," and "Quest for the White Witch" are
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masterworks of science fiction, combining sexual sophistication, literary
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maturity, and unique insights into morality.
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"Sung in Shadow" retells a famous Shakespearean tale, with Lee's
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typically atypical twists of plot, as "Red as Blood" retells many well-known
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childrens yarns. But these works are not for the young at all! Perhaps
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Lee's master work, "Cyrion," is an enthralling, captivating work, following
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episodes in the life of a wandering legend. Her tales are never entirely
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what is expected, and they provide fresh, mature, perceptive insights into
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the realm of wonder.
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Although most of Lee's works are published by David Wollheim's DAW Books,
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Lee has also written two books for the new Tempo MagicQuest series, "the
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Dragon Hoard" and "East of Midnight." The former is a wondrous tale of
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fantasy, more simplistic than her other works. The latter is typical Lee,
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full of unexpected twists and deep thought.
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The future seems to hold many new developments for Tanith Lee. Scheduled
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for publication by DAW are: "Delirium's Mistress" and "the Gods are
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Thirsty," and recently published are "East of Midnight" and "the Gorgon."
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For those who are interested, there is an excellent interview with the
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author in Heavy Metal magazine (Nov 84-v8n8).
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Orny <NMCS025 @ MAINE>
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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"THE NARRET CHRONICLES"
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BOOK THE LAST
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It was a night just like any other night on Amrif, nothing at all out of
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the ordinary. The sky was dark white, and the stars were all glimmering
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bright black. High pressure systems over this solitary ocean were the norm
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for this desert world. Since the desert wasn't conducive to normal life
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forms, the people of this third planet in the Narret System lived in giant
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floating cities, and satellite suburbias connected by an intricate system of
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channelways.
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Samo Ht was skimming along in his Hydrocar, thinking about the lecture he
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was going to give to his class, when Cyri, a familiar cons tellation caught
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his eye. "Oh Cyri, when woulds't thou lower thy head. When woulds't thou
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drop thy weary DASER, and end thy warring ways." He quoted the famous line
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from Steadywound the ancient poet. Whatever did Bill Steadywound see in a
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constellation as old as Cyri? He asked himself True, there was something
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romantic about the old asterism, but the legend about how Cyri had cut down
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400 desert creatures with a single charge fro m his Dark Amplification by
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Stimulated Emission of Radiation gun gave him shudders. "How disgustingly
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advanced" Samo thought to himself. "Oh, well, that's what the future's
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about, as for now: Backward and downward."
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Samo Ht glanced out the window of his Hydrocar again. This time
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something else caught his eye. "Ah ha, the Dusty Lane!" Samo exclaimed "My,
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it's exceptionally clear tonight. Humh, I guess I'll have to close the
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observatory before class tonight..."
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"...so class we have an entire system here: the nucleons, which consist
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of the neuterons and the negatrons and orbiting shells of particles called
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positrons. Remember that the atom in its resting state is always balanced
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in charge, and the total number of positrons always equals the number of
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negatrons. Any questions? Yes, Lexia?"
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"Dr. Ht, what happens to the atom if it gets excited? Will the positrons
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go flying off and leave the atom negatively charged?"
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"That's exactly right Lexia. The resulting charged atom is called an
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ion. You'll learn more about ions in the next lower course."
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Just then the green light on the Vidcom came on.
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"Well class it looks like your luck ran out again. Class dismissed."
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Samo knew that when the green light came on, it could mean only one of
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two things, and both of them spelled trouble. The light meant that there
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was an incoming wave transmission, and the transmissions always came from
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one of two sources. Either it was some stupid-ass general, a clerk who
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messed up and shattered an important document, (since this was a desert
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world, all records were kept on diamond etched glass plates) usually some of
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his inreproducible research, or it was a lower ranking private ordering him
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on an important mission. Fortunately the former didn't happen too often,
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and something told him that this time it would definitely be the latter.
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It was only a matter of millicentons before his suspicions were
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confirmed, and the image of the planet's commanding officer, Private Stark,
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formed from a solitary centered dot, to a horizontal line, to a circle, and
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finally a tubular hologram on the Vidcom. Samo saluted.
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"No time for formalities, Sgt. Ht." the commander bluntly began. "There's
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an inter-planetary crisis, involving all nine planets of The Narret System.
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It deals with Trivia-Antitrivia reactions,and we need you to be one of our
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foremost experts on the subject. There's an emergency
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conference being held on the Planet Sunaru in one On. We're calling in
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our lowest minds on this one. Your orders are to report to the Central Sea
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on Sunaru in exactly 95 centons. Any questions?"
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"Yes, does this at all concern our counter-planet sir?"
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"Unfortunately, yes it does. They're playing God again. And you know as
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well as I do what that could mean. If that's all, you better get going' you
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now have 94.5 centons."
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"Yes, that's all. Thank you sir."
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"Thank ME? Bad luck to YOU, Sergeant. Stark out."
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"Well, no time to close the observatory now. Got to get going."
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Mari A. Paulson
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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From @CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU:LISTSERV@TCSVM.BITNET Fri Mar 18 12:38:13 1988
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Received: by NADC.ARPA (5.51/1.0 )
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id AA22239; Fri, 18 Mar 88 12:36:16 EST
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Message-Id: <8803181736.AA22239@NADC.ARPA>
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Received: from TCSVM.Tulane.EDU by CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU ; Fri, 18 Mar 88 12:34:14 EST
|
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Received: by TCSVM (Mailer X1.25) id 0093; Fri, 18 Mar 88 08:45:22 CST
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Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1988 08:45 CST
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From: Revised List Processor (1.5m) <LISTSERV%TCSVM.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
|
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Subject: File: "FSFNET VOL01N5" being sent to you
|
||
To: wyzansky@NADC.ARPA
|
||
Status: R
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
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+-+ +-+ +-+
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||
+-+--+-+--+-+ VOLUME ONE NUMBER FIVE
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| | ==========================================
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+___________+ FFFFF SSS FFFFF N N EEEEE TTTTT
|
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| ++ | F S F NN N E T
|
||
| ++ | FFF SSS FFF N N N EEE T
|
||
| | F S F N NN E T
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||
|_________| F SSS F N N EEEEE T
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/___________ ==========================================
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| | BITNET Fantasy-Science Fiction Fanzine
|
||
___|___________|___ X-Edited by 'Orny' Liscomb <NMCS025@MAINE>
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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CONTENTS
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Editorial Orny
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Narret Chronicles 10 Mari A. Paulson
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Featured Author: JAMES KAHN Orny
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Backing Jim Owens
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FSFnet Survey For you to send to me...
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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Editorial
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Well, here at last is issue 5 of FSFnet. As the summer approaches, a
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number of userids will be changing, and many numbers which are sent FSFnet
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will be eliminated. I would ask people who will not be around to remember to
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cancel their subscription by sending me a mail file or message. FSFnet will
|
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continue to be printed throughout the summer, and I would like those people
|
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who will be staying throughout the summer to spread the word to others who
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might be interested in the zine, as many of our subscribers and contributors
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will be leaving for summer break.
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Both subscriptions and submissions have slowed to a trickle. I must remind
|
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you that FSFnet is more your venture than mine, and that it must receive
|
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submissions to continue to work. Please spread the word and encourage others
|
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to join the membership list, and try to get something written. I know that
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many of you are writers of quality...
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The CSNEWS server at MAINE now supports a bulletin board service which many
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users might be interested in investigating. For general information on CSNEWS
|
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send it a message HELP. For info on the bulletin board service, say SENDME
|
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CSBB HELPNET. Files you might wish to request can be requested by sending
|
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SENDME COMICS CSNOTICE, SENDME STARTREK CSNOTICE, and/or SENDME SCIFI
|
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CSNOTICE. Maine users, of course, can get these files by sharing CSNEWS' 192
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disk.
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Well, enjoy, and spread the word. And remember, contributions are needed!
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Orny <NMCS025 @ MAINE>
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<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
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The Narret Chronicles
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Book The Tenth
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"With all undue disrespect to His Recruitship, what in the heavens are we
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all doing here?"
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"Yes, Yes, what ARE we all doing here?"
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"Rudemen, rudemen please, come to chaos will you." The voice of the
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commander of the Narret System's Interplanetary Society boomed over the
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loudspeakers. "You've all been called here out of an emergency situation
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which has occured on our counter-planet in the Terran System. But after I get
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to that, it is unimportant that you remain ignorant of the other Scientists
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here. Most of them you already won't know, as their infamity follows them .
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Some of them may be familiar, so allow me to introduce them to you now. To my
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far right is Cpl. Dr. Zark, an ignorant on counter-universal structure and
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geography; to my right Cpl. Stado, an ignorant on daytime observation of
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white-holes; to my far left Sgt. Dr. Guilp, an ignorant on the construction
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of darktron-wave warp engines and their incorporation into spacecraft; and
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finally my left hand man on matters of this kind, Sgt. Dr. Samo Ht, the
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system's foremost ignorant on Trivia-Antitrivia reactions. Sergeant Dr. Ht
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comes to us from the Institute for Regressive Presearch on Amrif."
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"Fine, now that we're all ignorant of one another, lets get up to the
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matter at hand." Said Dr. Zark, wishing to get the blue tape over with.
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"Alright, rudemen, may I detract your attention to the Vidscreen you see
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before you. What you are seeing is the product of a bottom secret trans-
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counter-universal communications presearch project that NSIS has been working
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on for the last several Losar Cycles. The images which you see are
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computational composite images of the most probable counter-universal sources
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for white-body radiation in our universe. Note specifically the chronograph
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in the lower left corner of the Vidscreen. The sources change from one low
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energy body to another, and the fluctuation between bodies has an upper limit
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of no longer than one On. Now note the following: For the last ten Ons, the
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source has remained constant. An image of it should come up right about..."
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"Oh no." blurted Zark
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"Just beautiful!" exclaimed Ht
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"Sorry rudemen, but the image has been confirmed and I assure you there has
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been no mistake. The white-body radiation increase in our universe over the
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last ten Ons has been caused by none other than the build-up and launch
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readying of enough nuclear weapons on Planet Earth to blow the whole Terran
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System to the sixth physical dimension."
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"(Screens down) That's why you men are here. Clearly something must be
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done to make them realize that if they succeed in blowing themselves off the
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dimension scan, they will also be blowing us off it with them. Somehow,
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someway, before this conference is adjourned we must devise a method for
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letting the Earthlings know that they are not alone."
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"Yes but how?" Queried Guilp "The humans can't receive darktron wave
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communications any more than we can receive their photon laser
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communications."
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"Yes, and if they could, it would take trillions of Losar Cycles just to
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get there," added Stado.
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"Actually, it would take quintillions, 4.57289 quintillions to be a little
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less exact." said Samo. "I was afraid it would come to this, but then again,
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it always does."
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"What in the heavens are you talking about Ht?" asked Zark. "You sound as
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if you've been there before."
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"Commander with your permission I would like to raise the security
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clearance of this meeting to the bottom-most level."
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"What is he talking about Commander Valtrep? I thought that an Omega Class
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security clearance WAS the bottom-most class." said Stado.
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"It is, for Sunaru. But not for NSIS. There are several lower classes in
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NSIS." The commander explained. "In anticipation of your request, I took the
|
||
liberty of having that level security check done, merely a formality, of
|
||
course, and you all passed. Here are your Class Omega-Alpha:Alpha-Omega
|
||
security passes. Dr. Ht would you please be mean enough to explain the future
|
||
of these security level passes?"
|
||
"Sure," said Ht. "This is not the first time the Humans have tried to do
|
||
away with themselves..."
|
||
Mari A. Paulson
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
Featured Author: JAMES KAHN
|
||
James Kahn is neither prolific nor well-known in the vast fantasy market.
|
||
He has written a mystery novel named "Diagnosis: Murder", and has contributed
|
||
to other works as well. His works of fantasy are limited to a series known as
|
||
the "New World Trilogy". The first volume is entitled "World Enough, and
|
||
Time" and is a unique and provocative work set in a more-than-half mythical
|
||
future California. It is an excellent tale, and Kahn has succeeded in
|
||
bringing a refreshing newness to old mythical creatures and the typical post-
|
||
cataclysm Earth stories.
|
||
The second book of the trilogy, "Time's Dark Laughter", is a much more
|
||
mature book, with more ominous plots and more involved implications. However,
|
||
the main characters remain the same, and their honesty and goodness do not
|
||
change. In "World Enough", the characters are interested only in saving
|
||
themselves, while in "Laughter" they are forced into action to stop a threat
|
||
to the entire area. The third book, to the best of my knowledge, has not been
|
||
released as yet, but, believe me, I'm looking!
|
||
Kahn's style is very good. The books are excellent for readers who enjoy
|
||
light (but far from mindless or dull) reading. The books are exceptional in
|
||
style, as the author brings a new richness to old beasts and situations. Kahn
|
||
is an excellent fantasist, and these books are well worth the effort to find.
|
||
Which brings up a point. They may very well prove hard to find. Published
|
||
by Del Rey in 1980 and 1982, respectively, there are few copies left on
|
||
bookstore shelves, and Kahn's relative anonymity has hampered volume sales.
|
||
The books are, nonetheless, excellent works, and are well worth the effort to
|
||
find. Perhaps when the third volume is issued there will be a renewed
|
||
interest, and old volumes will again be stocked.
|
||
Orny <NMCS025 @ MAINE>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
Backing
|
||
Greg looked out on the massed faces. The road was rough, and the sheet
|
||
metal cart he was in bounced and boomed over the potholes. He was often thrown
|
||
against the sides of the cart, scraping his hands. He would have sat down, but
|
||
then he wouldn't have been able to avoid the occasional thrown rock. The scene
|
||
looked so much like the old movies he had seen of the French Revolution that
|
||
had he not been the one in the tumbrel, he would have laughed.
|
||
He felt little anxiety over his impending execution. He had been expecting
|
||
it for some time. In fact, it was almost a relief, after the days of running
|
||
and hiding, constantly fearing that someone would turn him in. He felt more
|
||
sorrow for his young companions in the cart. They stood back to back, their
|
||
arms tied together. They were close friends in life, and their captors had
|
||
decided that they would be close friends in death. One of them turned to him.
|
||
"You'd think they were angry with us or something." He had to raise his
|
||
voice to be heard over the angry sound of the mob.
|
||
"Yeah, like we'd been trying to change their whole way of life or
|
||
something."
|
||
Greg's reply rang true. Even as he said it, Greg thought back to that day
|
||
when he had first set eyes on this planet.
|
||
"What!?" He couldn't believe his ears. "I'm going to tell them what!?"
|
||
"You must tell them that they had better straighten up their act, because
|
||
the new world order is coming, and it won't tolerate the way they are
|
||
presently living."
|
||
"You can't be serious. What is this new world order business? And who's
|
||
going to be running it?"
|
||
"We are."
|
||
Greg couldn't believe his ears. He had been sent to the planet by the
|
||
Paixians, a group that had suddenly appeared on the galactic scene only five
|
||
years previously, with technology and power that put everything else in space
|
||
to shame. Yet they had consistently used their power only to help other
|
||
planets, to build the new, to repair the old, to help where help was needed.
|
||
True, they weren't a real major force in the economic market, nor did they
|
||
enter into any alliances, but they were always on the minds of the major
|
||
policy makers, as an unknown and possibly influential factor. But in no way
|
||
did they fit the description of empire builders.
|
||
Yet, here was one of them,telling him in all seriousness that he had to
|
||
tell the people of this planet,of all planets, that they were about to become
|
||
someone else's subjects. That was sheer suicide, by any standards. He was at
|
||
the time standing on Arelite, the home planet of the Arelites, known galaxy
|
||
wide for their short tempers and hard hitting shock troops. No people had a
|
||
greater planetary pride.They had, before the arrival of the Paixians, totally
|
||
sterilized half of the populated bodies in their system in a war that lasted
|
||
three days and which had started when their ambassador had been insulted at a
|
||
state dinner held on their sister planet, Buccus. And he had to tell them...
|
||
"Right."
|
||
He had been told to recruit 5,000 Arelites to help with his announcement
|
||
plans. He was not given ambassadorial status. In fact, the Arelites didn't
|
||
even know he was on the planet. Fortunately.
|
||
"But don't worry. You have our full backing."
|
||
Elein, his traveling mate, stood beside the Paixian.
|
||
"You'll love it Greg. You always liked public speaking."
|
||
He hated public speaking.
|
||
He had been given money, and the names and locations of the major
|
||
broadcasting facilities, so that was no problem. Recruiting Arelites to,
|
||
effectively, betray their own planet, was something entirely different, or so
|
||
he thought. To his surprise, for about 2 weeks solid, every person he talked
|
||
to, or so it seemed, was discontented, upset with the government, anxious for
|
||
a better life, or somehow mentally prepared for the concept of a new
|
||
management, so to speak. They were quickly added to the ranks of his small but
|
||
growing cadre, and in turn started feeling out prospective members. At first
|
||
he wondered at the surprising amount of turncoats, but soon realized that it
|
||
was no coincidence that they had happened to be in the area the same time he
|
||
was. It seemed that the Paixians were using every means at their well stocked
|
||
disposal to throw him the best possible combination of recruits. They came
|
||
from every walk of life, and yet they seemed to fit together like a glove.
|
||
With the gentle philosophy of the Paixians flowing through the group at the
|
||
instruction of Greg, they soon had enough people to cover all the bases, the
|
||
contacts to get into the studios, the men to create the tapes of the
|
||
broadcasted message, the managers to combine all the efforts. With great
|
||
anticipation, they set a date, and spun the tapes.
|
||
The result was spectacular, but predictable. Most of the group had gone
|
||
underground the week before the broadcast, but Greg and a few hand selected
|
||
aids stayed behind, so that had the reaction been more favorable there would
|
||
have been someone readily available to lead the throngs. The throngs came all
|
||
right, carrying nooses. The only reason Greg et al had not died outright was
|
||
that the secret police were faster than the raging lynch mobs.
|
||
A sudden stop brought Greg back to the here and now. He looked around and
|
||
saw that they were stopped in front of a large white marble building. He and
|
||
the two others were herded inside, where they were whisked five stories up to
|
||
where a wide balcony opened out. There the government had, just for them,
|
||
erected a large steel guillotine, complete with basket. As he stepped into
|
||
view, the crowd below started a chant. As they were pulling the blade up, he
|
||
was able to hear the words floating up from the assembled masses.
|
||
"Kill them! Kill them!"
|
||
How original.
|
||
There was no ceremony. He was roughly forced onto the steel table. He saw
|
||
out of the corner of his eye a gaudily clad general raise his arm. The
|
||
chanting ceased. The general paused dramatically,and dropped his arm. He heard
|
||
the sliding of the blade, then there was a blow like a sledgehammer, and
|
||
everything went blinding white.
|
||
And stayed that way. He felt no pain. He did, after a moment, get annoyed
|
||
with the strain of holding his head up. Then he realized that he should no
|
||
longer have to hold his head up, much less be able to. He realized that his
|
||
hands were now free. He cautiously raised his body, and found that he was no
|
||
longer locked in by steel. The light dimmed, and became normal. He opened his
|
||
eyes, and looked around.
|
||
"Good job, Greg."
|
||
"I think I've asked this before. Elein, Why aren't I dead?"
|
||
Behind Elein stood the Paixian who brought him to Arelite.
|
||
"What were you worrying about? I told you you had our backing."
|
||
Greg looked back. The crowd below was running, in every direction but
|
||
towards the building. The guillotine still stood, from the table top down.
|
||
Where the blade guides had been there were now two, shining square patches,
|
||
sliced off flush, polished to a mirror surface.
|
||
"I blew the rest of it into orbit. That's the flash you saw." The Paixian
|
||
was grinning widely. "I enjoy grandstanding. Don't get to do it very often.
|
||
The guys in upstairs said it was one of the greatest starting guns they ever
|
||
saw."
|
||
"Actually you blew it further out than just orbit. You might have actually
|
||
given it escape velocity."
|
||
Greg looked around. He saw his two companions, grinning and rubbing their
|
||
bruised wrists. He saw Elein, listening with an amused expression. He saw the
|
||
Paixian. But none of them had spoken.
|
||
"Who said that?"
|
||
"That's Michael. You'll be meeting him soon, after we finish mopping up."
|
||
"Mopping up?"
|
||
"Yes. You can relax. The invasion's over. We won. Of course."
|
||
Jim Owens <J1O @ PSUVM>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
FSFNET SURVEY
|
||
Fill in and return
|
||
|
||
Rate authors: (6=best,1=worst,0=haven't read)
|
||
( ) Anderson ( ) Clarke ( ) Lee ( ) Niven
|
||
( ) Anthony ( ) Donaldson ( ) Lem ( ) Norton
|
||
( ) Aspirin ( ) Eddings ( ) Lewis ( ) Pournelle
|
||
( ) Bradbury ( ) Heinlein ( ) Lovecraft ( ) Saberhagen
|
||
( ) Bradley ( ) Herbert ( ) McCaffrey ( ) Tolkien
|
||
( ) Cherryh ( ) LeGuin ( ) Moorcock ( ) Zelazny
|
||
|
||
Are there any other authors you feel are particularly noteworthy?
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Rate the FSFnet zines (6=best,1=worst,0=did not read)
|
||
( ) Vol 1 No 1: Dune, 'Ornathor's Saga', Brisingamen, MAR Barker
|
||
( ) Vol 1 No 2: 1984 poem, Larry Niven, 'Close Encounter'
|
||
( ) Vol 1 No 3: 'Flyby', Tanith Lee, 'Narret Chronicles'
|
||
( ) Vol 1 No 4: Lovecraft, Cthulhu game, 'the Book', Cthulhu Mythos
|
||
( ) Vol 1 No 5:
|
||
|
||
Rate the importance of the following in FSFnet. (6=most,1=least)
|
||
( ) Roleplaying Games News and Reviews
|
||
( ) Science Fiction News and Reviews
|
||
( ) Fantasy News and Reviews
|
||
( ) Letters of Comment
|
||
( ) Original Science Fiction
|
||
( ) Fantasy Fiction
|
||
|
||
Is there anything you feel FSFnet has been weak on or needs more of?
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
Have you submitted any articles to FSFnet? (Y/N) ( )
|
||
|
||
From @CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU:LISTSERV@TCSVM.BITNET Fri Mar 18 12:40:28 1988
|
||
Received: by NADC.ARPA (5.51/1.0 )
|
||
id AA22275; Fri, 18 Mar 88 12:38:24 EST
|
||
Message-Id: <8803181738.AA22275@NADC.ARPA>
|
||
Received: from TCSVM.Tulane.EDU by CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU ; Fri, 18 Mar 88 12:35:01 EST
|
||
Received: by TCSVM (Mailer X1.25) id 0095; Fri, 18 Mar 88 08:45:26 CST
|
||
Date: Fri, 18 Mar 1988 08:45 CST
|
||
From: Revised List Processor (1.5m) <LISTSERV%TCSVM.BITNET@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU>
|
||
Subject: File: "FSFNET VOL01N6" being sent to you
|
||
To: wyzansky@NADC.ARPA
|
||
Status: R
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
|
||
+-+ +-+ +-+
|
||
+-+--+-+--+-+ VOLUME ONE NUMBER SIX
|
||
| | ==========================================
|
||
+___________+ FFFFF SSS FFFFF N N EEEEE TTTTT
|
||
| ++ | F S F NN N E T
|
||
| ++ | FFF SSS FFF N N N EEE T
|
||
| | F S F N NN E T
|
||
|_________| F SSS F N N EEEEE T
|
||
/___________ ==========================================
|
||
| | BITNET Fantasy-Science Fiction Fanzine
|
||
___|___________|___ X-Edited by 'Orny' Liscomb <NMCS025@MAINE>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
CONTENTS
|
||
Editorial Orny
|
||
Narret Chronicles 9 Mari A. Paulson
|
||
Featured Author: DAVID EDDINGS Orny
|
||
Review: the Black Company Trilogy Merlin
|
||
SciFi Story Alex Williams
|
||
Paranoia RPG Review Orny
|
||
Return of Jedi Commentary Merlin
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
Editorial
|
||
Hello, all! Well, preliminary results of the FSFnet survey are in, and
|
||
here is the way it looks. Favorite authors are Larry Niven and Tolkien, least
|
||
favorite being C.S. Lewis and Bradbury. Favorite issue was number four, the
|
||
Lovecraftian issue. Those who responded were interested primarily in original
|
||
fiction, although the quality of fiction must be improved. The letter column
|
||
still remains a divided issue. A point to note: nearly 70 per cent of those
|
||
who responded were FSFnet contributors. If you wish to take part in the
|
||
survey, it was tagged at the end of issue 5. Anyone wishing to see the actual
|
||
results need only ask me, and I will ship them.
|
||
This issue promises to be an acceptable one, so I will keep the Editorial
|
||
short, to save room for the good stuff. A reminder: we need submissions,
|
||
especially short quality fiction. Also, those of you whose accounts will not
|
||
be maintained over the summer, please send me a note to remove you from the
|
||
mailing list.
|
||
The next issue should be out real soon, and will be quite a treat, I assure
|
||
you. All you people who asked for better fiction, watch closely...
|
||
Orny <NMCS025 @ MAINE>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
The Narret Chronicles
|
||
Book the Ninth
|
||
"Unwelcome Samo!" Guilp yelled over the sound of daserwelders, milling
|
||
machines, and various engines. "Let's step out of my office."
|
||
"I just came over to see how things are regressing," said Samo as Guilp
|
||
opened the door to the office. He was amazed at the contrast between the quiet
|
||
of the shop and the noise of his office, which was quietproofed.
|
||
"Things are going quite horribly, and we're way behind schedule. I'm
|
||
braved you won't be able to leave at 6 p.m. yesteron as you requested. Yes,
|
||
you'll have to leave at noon yesteron, like it or no," Guilp stated with a
|
||
smile.
|
||
"Horrible, simply horrible," Samo replied. "And I was brave you'd only be
|
||
half-started by now. And here you tell me you'll be completely started by
|
||
noon yesteron. Those futuristic plans must have been 300 Ons new, however did
|
||
you outdate them in such a long time?" queried Samo.
|
||
"That's a little public knowledge I've been working on for a few Ons now.
|
||
Here have a look," Guilp said as he flipped a switch on his desk. Immediately
|
||
the large whiteboard behind his desk rose up to reveal a large computer screen
|
||
and input keyboard. "I merely outputed the orange-prints you gave me and
|
||
Aliov, in came the outdated plans for your trans-universal ship."
|
||
"I'm brave I quite understand you completely," stated Samo.
|
||
"It's quite allwrong, please worry," said Guilp. "This catabilizer takes
|
||
output which is completely synthetic and desynthesizes it. Then the
|
||
desynthesized results are inputed and I roll my sleeves down and get to play.
|
||
Now does that make less sense?"
|
||
"Much less, thank you." said Samo. "And this system belongs to NSIS I
|
||
assume?"
|
||
"Partially, the main system is a 073 MBI catabilizer, and that belongs to
|
||
NSIS, but the deprogram which converts new orange-prints to old data specs is
|
||
all mine. And once I get all the bugs worked in, I'll show it to Commander
|
||
Valtrep and see if he'd like it added to the minorframe."
|
||
"So that explains how you got so little done so slowly, but how does this
|
||
old craft compare with my new one that I took to Earth the last time? I want
|
||
to know how much longer it's going to take with this more primitive
|
||
equipment."
|
||
"Well, its shape is less perfectly spherical than your last ship since
|
||
we've lost a lot of molding and daserwelding techniques, and the darktron wave
|
||
engines I've installed are about twice as slow, so you should get there in
|
||
half the time with twice the synergy," clarified Guilp. "Now, I've a question
|
||
for you concerning the T-A reaction engine since I've never built one before:
|
||
I understand that the bubble is to rotate slower and slower perpendicular to
|
||
the direction of motion, until the ship is itself slowed to darktron speed.
|
||
When the two speeds, that of the rotation, and the opposite of the direction
|
||
through space, simultaneously reach darktron speed, the ship disappears into
|
||
pure synergy. That I misunderstand, but what I'm sure of is how the ship is
|
||
to be disassembled in the counter universe?"
|
||
"Well," said Samo, "what happens is this: when the ship
|
||
leaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaves this universe as pure synergy, it becomes
|
||
total Anti-trivia in the counter-universe. Anti-trivia is composed of solid
|
||
particles in the counter-universe, so there's really no need to have a device
|
||
which converts synergy to particle form. Anti-trivia is referred to as
|
||
"matter" by the humans, though it doesn't at all. Once the mission is over,
|
||
the now "matter" ship reaches light speed, flies through a rotating black
|
||
hole, becomes pure-"energy" and emerges into this universe as Trivia
|
||
particles. Now is that more nebulous?"
|
||
"Perfectly. You've lost me completely."
|
||
Mari A. Paulson
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
Featured Author: DAVID EDDINGS
|
||
Few authors have achieved a master work with their first published work of
|
||
fantasy, but David Eddings' five-book Belgeriad has proven itself a classic.
|
||
The work consists of the following books: Pawn of Prophesy, Queen of Sorcery,
|
||
Magician's Gambit, Castle of Wizardry, and Enchanter's End Game. Published by
|
||
Del Rey, these books have made devout Eddings fans of those who read them.
|
||
Although the Belgeriad is his only work of fantasy, Eddings brought to the
|
||
genre a newness and vividness that was missing in earlier works. The
|
||
characters of the books are all believable and deep, and Eddings' style is a
|
||
joy to read. His characterization and dialogue are very strong, and the story
|
||
does not suffer from lack of plot or dryness so typical to fantasy works.
|
||
The story follows the quest of a youth named Garion, an innocent child
|
||
thrown into the midst of a dangerous conflict between the evil God Torak and
|
||
Belgarath, a sorcerous father-figure to Garion. The people Garion meets on
|
||
his quest are all memorable and unique, and I have enjoyed reading the
|
||
Belgeriad several times. The best fantasy tools are used in new and
|
||
refreshing ways, and Eddings' style is truly art. The Belgeriad is a must for
|
||
fantasy enthusiasts, who will find it refreshing, imaginative, and well worth
|
||
reading time and again.
|
||
Orny <NMCS025 @ MAINE>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>
|
||
|
||
Review: The Black Company Trilogy
|
||
Glen Cook has recently published a fascinating swords and sorcery trilogy
|
||
consisting of The_Black_Company, The_Shadows_Linger, and The_ White_Rose,
|
||
available in paperback from Tor Books. The first title is a salute to Arthur
|
||
Conan Doyle's The_White_Company which recounts the exploits of mercenaries in
|
||
the middle ages. Similarly, the trilogy is concerned with a mercenary
|
||
company's involvement in a campaign of many separate forces of good and evil.
|
||
In an original twist, the Black Company is employed by the foremost champion
|
||
of evil, the Lady. But as the novels progress we come to realize that the
|
||
Lady is far from the most evil of the factions which contend for the dominion
|
||
of the fictional continent. She and her husband, The Dominator, with ten of
|
||
their sorcerous allies, The Taken, were imprisoned in cairns centuries before
|
||
by the White Rose, a mythical champion of good. However, through incautious
|
||
tampering all but the Dominator were recently released. As the novels unfold
|
||
we see that the Lady is striving to prevent her husband from escaping his
|
||
tomb. Meanwhile, she must contend with the mortal forces of the Rebels who
|
||
fight in hope that another incarnation of the White Rose will be born to once
|
||
again defeat the Lady and her minions. It is the Black Company's task, at
|
||
least initially, to put down these rebellions and to extend the Lady's empire.
|
||
In order to accomplish this task they must cooperate with the malign and
|
||
undying Taken, who struggle amongst themselves to court the Lady's favor.
|
||
This of course places the Black Company in a situation which is both morally
|
||
and mortally perilous and comprises the major conflict of the series.
|
||
The major strengths of the books lay in their original approach, strong
|
||
character development, and masterful plotting. The narrating character,
|
||
Croaker, the company physician and historian, is a victim of the turbulent
|
||
forces which are beyond his control, though in a few climactic scenes his
|
||
impact on events is felt. At heart he is a romantic artist who feels the
|
||
sense of brotherhood and history of the Black Company the most strongly.
|
||
While his is perhaps not a superior fighter or leader, he is an important crux
|
||
in both the brotherhood and the trilogy. Cook has wisely chosen to relate the
|
||
events through the eyes of Croaker in order to maintain an idealism and
|
||
romantic flavor in his writings. This breaking away from a central warrior
|
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character has refreshened the media and should influence the genre. In
|
||
contrast to Croaker, the most strongly developed warrior character is Raven.
|
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Raven is cast in the character of a misguided Aragorn. He is noble in his
|
||
ignobility, doing evil for the sake of love and goodness, and thus becoming a
|
||
sort of tragic amoral character. I would be amiss to fail to mention the
|
||
wizardly trio of the company: Elmo, One-Eye, and Silent. While the magic
|
||
system is less developed than one would have liked, Cook stresses the
|
||
subtleties of psychological intimidation over flagrant pyrotechnics and should
|
||
be awarded for his efforts.
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In spite of Gary E. Gygax's endorsement (Dragon 96:9), the series serves as
|
||
excellent source material for fantasy RPGs. Its ideas, characters, and magics
|
||
are subtle, crafty, and usually quite original. Hence, it strengths are the
|
||
weaknesses of many RPG campaigns. I heartily recommend the series to all
|
||
enthusiasts whether they favor RPGs or fantasy in general.
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Joseph (Merlin) Curwen <P0575175 @ UMVMA>
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|
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SciFi Story
|
||
A hush fell over the huge vaulted hall as High Speaker Vallj held his left
|
||
hand up.
|
||
"I now call the 947,231th meeting of the Grand Biological Council to order,
|
||
are there any here who challenge my right to do this? Fine. Now the first
|
||
order of business is the Sirius-8 project. Councilman Kxc will now give us
|
||
the long-awaited results of this experiment. Councilman Kxc?"
|
||
"Thank you. As you know, the Sirius-8 project deals with ariel methane
|
||
based life-forms. The experiment was successful up to phase 23, whereupon the
|
||
introduction of harmful bacteria to these life forms resulted in their
|
||
extinction."
|
||
A mumble of dismay circulated around the hall. A lone figure stood up from
|
||
his seat.
|
||
"I am Councilman Winj, your Honor," said the lone figure.
|
||
"Yes, Councilman , what is your question?" rumbled High Speaker Vallj
|
||
"It concerns the Sirius-8 experiment. Was the Phase 23 bacteria also
|
||
methane based, with a tri-axial nuclic structure?"
|
||
"Yes, it was. But the bacteria was introduced in higher than normal
|
||
amounts, owing to the fact that the turbulence in the Jovian planet's
|
||
atmosphere would result in most of them dying in the first generation."
|
||
explained Councilman Kxc.
|
||
"Oh yes..." mumbled Winj, as he sat back down.
|
||
"To continue ",said Kxc," the data received was more than adequate. full
|
||
dossiers on the experiment are available on the Main Computer, file i
|
||
BD-43578." Kxc seated himself.
|
||
"Thank you Councilman Kxc. Now to our main business. Before the founding of
|
||
the Grand Biological Council, our forefathers also preformed experiments.
|
||
These experiments are the basis of our techniques today. Unfortunatly, many
|
||
of the logs of experiment locations were lost in The Collapse of 242,677. One
|
||
such experiment was Carbon-based life around a G class star."
|
||
Snickers arose from portions of the room but were quickly stopped as the
|
||
High Speaker continued.
|
||
"Such life is indeed possible in the very narrow band called the F-zone.
|
||
This experiment has been running, uncontrolled for roughly 4.6 billion years."
|
||
Gasps were heard , but died quickly.
|
||
"Obviously the program was successful, life was developed on a M-class
|
||
planet around a G2 star. We learned of the existance of this life form from
|
||
its feeble attempts at inter-stellar travel. Yes, the experiment has
|
||
developed a rudimentary intellect. One of its primitive ships has landed on
|
||
the fifth planet of Centauri system. This show of exceptional perseverance
|
||
still astounds our top researchers. Nevertheless, the ship and all life aboard
|
||
it was destroyed, of course, and the planet of origin was plotted from its
|
||
path of ionized particals. The matter has been refered to us. Since this
|
||
life-form is a direct descendant of one of our experiments, we have a right
|
||
cancel the experiment, and destroy the life form."
|
||
"All in favor of canceling this experiment? All against? Motion passed. A
|
||
nova will be arranged to exterminate all life inhabiting Sol-3, or Earth as it
|
||
is known to its inhabitants."
|
||
"In other business..."
|
||
Alex Williams
|
||
|
||
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|
||
|
||
PARANOIA Game Review
|
||
The Computer is your friend! Rooting out traitors will make you happy. The
|
||
Computer tells you so. Of course the Computer is right. Being a Troubleshooter
|
||
is fun. Troubleshooters get shot at, stabbed, incinerated, stapled, mangled,
|
||
poisoned, blown to bits, and occasionally accidentally executed. This is so
|
||
much fun that many Troubleshooters go crazy.
|
||
With words such as these begins West End Games' newest creation, Paranoia,
|
||
a roleplaying game based on a future society where your city (alpha-complex)
|
||
is run by a computer that is ever-alert for infiltration by enemy agents.
|
||
Having a mutant power is treasonous. All Troubleshooters have mutant powers
|
||
that they must hide. Being a member of a secret society is treasonous. All
|
||
Troubleshooters are members, and must hide this fact. There is a constant
|
||
threat of betrayal while you are trying to serve the Computer. Stay alert!
|
||
Trust no one! Keep your laser handy!
|
||
The game itself is very enjoyable, in a 'darkly humorous' manner. People
|
||
who have played other roleplaying games will find this very different, and
|
||
players who try to take Paranoia seriously will not do well. Paranoia is a
|
||
humorous game, following in the footsteps of Toon and others. Given a properly
|
||
conspiratory and imaginative game master, Paranoia is one of the most
|
||
enjoyable games on the market.
|
||
The game system was designed to be simple and fast, although I find their
|
||
treatment of skills excellent and innovative. Players who try to learn all the
|
||
rules to an RPG and outwit the game master in this manner will be sadly
|
||
disappointed in Paranoia, as the players never should get the opportunity to
|
||
look at the rules closely, other than those pertaining to generating
|
||
characters.
|
||
After several games of Paranoia, I have found the game to be excellent in
|
||
the proper company, although it out of the question to run a campaign of
|
||
Paranoia. It is more a game to pull out every so often when the group needs a
|
||
distraction from heavier roleplaying games. The rule books are excellently
|
||
written and very humorous. I would highly suggest this game to other gamers.
|
||
The life of a Troubleshooter is (no matter how brief) very enjoyable.
|
||
Orny <NMCS025 @ MAINE>
|
||
|
||
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|
||
|
||
Return of the Jedi Comment
|
||
Well, I had this thought for a long time about an alternate ending to the
|
||
Return of the Jedi which I think is superior. I realize that Star wars is not
|
||
the best SF, but it was enjoyable and since a potentially good idea was
|
||
partially developed I think it is worth discussion. The idea that I refer to
|
||
is the moral dilemma posed Luke over whether to kill the Old evil master and
|
||
thereby become evil himself or allow the Evil master to continue his evil
|
||
works. Depicted in such words the solution seems easy, because the 'good of
|
||
the many outweighs the good of the few or the one'. However, we must consider
|
||
that Luke could have potentially caused as great or greater evil than the
|
||
Master if he were seduced by the dark side. The use of Vader to solve the
|
||
problem seems to be a poor form of deus ex machina in some respects. Yes, it
|
||
does solve the problem but only by avoiding it. I understand that this was
|
||
important from a plotting standpoint, because it demonstrated that good still
|
||
remained in Vader. But I think that Vader's character was mishandled in the
|
||
last two movies. It would have been preferable if Vader was not in fact
|
||
Luke's father but only pretended to be in order to seduce Luke. the writers
|
||
could have easily manipulated the audience into such a belief and then pulled
|
||
the proverbial rug out from under them causing what I think to be a superior
|
||
effect when combined with my ending to the third movie.
|
||
Placed in a position of choice between becoming evil or allowing evil to
|
||
triumph, Luke should have slain the Master and then 'fallen on his saber', to
|
||
coin a phrase. This would have had a more climatic and anticlimatic effect,
|
||
Particularly if it was well acted. I realize that this plot is hopelessly
|
||
Byronic in some respects. Good triumphs but only at the expense of Luke's
|
||
life. Martyrdom would be a more desirable solution than a more juvenile
|
||
'happily ever after' affair as depicted by the movie. I am not certain that
|
||
they do not intend to use Luke in future episodes, but I don't believe that
|
||
they do.
|
||
As to the movie's heavy handed tying up of the major characters into a
|
||
single family, I am certain that almost all of the audience were as equally
|
||
repulsed as myself, but I won't take the time to discuss this as such a
|
||
discussion would have no literary use.
|
||
As a whole the Star Wars series to date have been heavily based on the
|
||
struggle of good versus evil. Predictably, the writers have chosen to make
|
||
good triumphant. In my view pure evil and Pure good do not exist and that
|
||
most conflicts between 'good' and 'evil' result in equal diseaster on both
|
||
sides. Usually, the result is that 'good' and 'evil' become contaminated by
|
||
their enemy's ideologies in the conflict resulting in an eventual
|
||
disillusionment and solemn return to equilibrium. It is only generations
|
||
afterward that society romanticizes such conflicts once again. Recent
|
||
American wars and 'police actions' tend to support this theory.
|
||
Joseph (Merlin) Curwen <P0575175 @ UMVMA>
|
||
|
||
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|
||
|
||
Joseph (Merlin) Curwen <P0575175 @ UMVMA>
|
||
|
||
<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<> |