+-+ +-+ +-+ +-+--+-+--+-+ VOLUME ONE NUMBER FIVE | | ========================================== +___________+ 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 <>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<> CONTENTS Editorial Orny Narret Chronicles 10 Mari A. Paulson Featured Author: JAMES KAHN Orny Backing Jim Owens FSFnet Survey For you to send to me... <>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<> Editorial Well, here at last is issue 5 of FSFnet. As the summer approaches, a number of userids will be changing, and many numbers which are sent FSFnet will be eliminated. I would ask people who will not be around to remember to cancel their subscription by sending me a mail file or message. FSFnet will continue to be printed throughout the summer, and I would like those people who will be staying throughout the summer to spread the word to others who might be interested in the zine, as many of our subscribers and contributors will be leaving for summer break. Both subscriptions and submissions have slowed to a trickle. I must remind you that FSFnet is more your venture than mine, and that it must receive submissions to continue to work. Please spread the word and encourage others to join the membership list, and try to get something written. I know that many of you are writers of quality... The CSNEWS server at MAINE now supports a bulletin board service which many users might be interested in investigating. For general information on CSNEWS send it a message HELP. For info on the bulletin board service, say SENDME CSBB HELPNET. Files you might wish to request can be requested by sending SENDME COMICS CSNOTICE, SENDME STARTREK CSNOTICE, and/or SENDME SCIFI CSNOTICE. Maine users, of course, can get these files by sharing CSNEWS' 192 disk. Well, enjoy, and spread the word. And remember, contributions are needed! Orny <>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<>X<> The Narret Chronicles Book The Tenth "With all undue disrespect to His Recruitship, what in the heavens are we all doing here?" "Yes, Yes, what ARE we all doing here?" "Rudemen, rudemen please, come to chaos will you." The voice of the commander of the Narret System's Interplanetary Society boomed over the loudspeakers. "You've all been called here out of an emergency situation which has occured on our counter-planet in the Terran System. But after I get to that, it is unimportant that you remain ignorant of the other Scientists here. Most of them you already won't know, as their infamity follows them . Some of them may be familiar, so allow me to introduce them to you now. To my far right is Cpl. Dr. Zark, an ignorant on counter-universal structure and geography; to my right Cpl. Stado, an ignorant on daytime observation of white-holes; to my far left Sgt. Dr. Guilp, an ignorant on the construction of darktron-wave warp engines and their incorporation into spacecraft; and finally my left hand man on matters of this kind, Sgt. Dr. Samo Ht, the system's foremost ignorant on Trivia-Antitrivia reactions. Sergeant Dr. Ht comes to us from the Institute for Regressive Presearch on Amrif." "Fine, now that we're all ignorant of one another, lets get up to the matter at hand." Said Dr. Zark, wishing to get the blue tape over with. "Alright, rudemen, may I detract your attention to the Vidscreen you see before you. What you are seeing is the product of a bottom secret trans- counter-universal communications presearch project that NSIS has been working on for the last several Losar Cycles. The images which you see are computational composite images of the most probable counter-universal sources for white-body radiation in our universe. Note specifically the chronograph in the lower left corner of the Vidscreen. The sources change from one low energy body to another, and the fluctuation between bodies has an upper limit of no longer than one On. Now note the following: For the last ten Ons, the source has remained constant. An image of it should come up right about..." "Oh no." blurted Zark "Just beautiful!" exclaimed Ht "Sorry rudemen, but the image has been confirmed and I assure you there has been no mistake. The white-body radiation increase in our universe over the last ten Ons has been caused by none other than the build-up and launch readying of enough nuclear weapons on Planet Earth to blow the whole Terran System to the sixth physical dimension." "(Screens down) That's why you men are here. Clearly something must be done to make them realize that if they succeed in blowing themselves off the dimension scan, they will also be blowing us off it with them. Somehow, someway, before this conference is adjourned we must devise a method for letting the Earthlings know that they are not alone." "Yes but how?" Queried Guilp "The humans can't receive darktron wave communications any more than we can receive their photon laser communications." "Yes, and if they could, it would take trillions of Losar Cycles just to get there," added Stado. "Actually, it would take quintillions, 4.57289 quintillions to be a little less exact." said Samo. "I was afraid it would come to this, but then again, it always does." "What in the heavens are you talking about Ht?" asked Zark. "You sound as if you've been there before." "Commander with your permission I would like to raise the security clearance of this meeting to the bottom-most level." "What is he talking about Commander Valtrep? I thought that an Omega Class security clearance WAS the bottom-most class." said Stado. "It is, for Sunaru. But not for NSIS. There are several lower classes in 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 <>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 <>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) ( )