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Mt. Holz Science Fiction Society
Club Notice - 12/11/92 -- Vol. 11, No. 24

MEETINGS UPCOMING:

Unless otherwise stated, all meetings are in Holmdel 4N-509 Wednesdays at noon.

_D_A_T_E _T_O_P_I_C

01/06 The Best (and Worst) of 1992
01/27 THE ENGINES OF CREATION by K. Eric Drexler (Science in SF)
02/17 ENTOVERSE by James P. Hogan
03/10 STEEL BEACH by John Varley
03/31 WEST OF EDEN by Harry Harrison
04/21 ARISTOI by Walter Jon Williams
05/12 THOMAS THE RHYMER by Ellen Kushner
06/02 WORLD AT THE END OF TIME by Frederik Pohl
06/23 THE USE OF WEAPONS by Iain Banks
07/14 SIGHT OF PROTEUS by Charles Sheffield

_D_A_T_E _E_X_T_E_R_N_A_L _M_E_E_T_I_N_G_S/_C_O_N_V_E_N_T_I_O_N_S/_E_T_C.
12/12 SFABC: Science Fiction Association of Bergen County: TBA
(phone 201-933-2724 for details) (Saturday)
12/19 NJSFS: New Jersey Science Fiction Society: TBA
(phone 201-432-5965 for details) (Saturday)

HO Chair: John Jetzt HO 1E-525 908-834-1563 hocpb!jetzt
LZ Chair: Rob Mitchell HO 1D-505A 908-834-1267 hocpb!jrrt
MT Chair: Mark Leeper MT 3D-441 908-957-5619 mtgzfs3!leeper
HO Librarian: Nick Sauer HO 4F-427 908-949-7076 homxc!11366ns
LZ Librarian: Lance Larsen LZ 3L-312 908-576-3346 mtfme!lfl
MT Librarian: Mark Leeper MT 3D-441 908-957-5619 mtgzfs3!leeper
Factotum: Evelyn Leeper MT 1F-329 908-957-2070 mtgzy!ecl
All material copyright by author unless otherwise noted.

1. How about we answer some mail from my mailbox on my topic of
last week?

Mark,

It seems to me that if we missed aquatic 3D navigation all
that much, then there would be much more interest in scuba
diving than in flight. Also, our current physiology limits us
rather severely on the range of pressure we can tolerate

THE MT VOID Page 2

without getting nitrogen narcosis or suffering the bends...
if we were aquatic, our third dimension was probably severely
limited (or we lost pressure adaptiveness much quicker than
the genetic memory).

How 'bout this for an alternate hypothesis: we were tree-
dwelling apes, and we like to re-live the aspects of safety
from predators and dominance (seeing more than others can see)
experienced at the top of a nice, tall tree.

Mark B. Mueller (mtuxj!mbm, HO 2J-122B, (908) 949-8261)

Well, I am guessing on all of this. I would say that 1) scuba is
popular and 2) it might be more popular, but going swimming with
scuba (where did that word come from anyway?) implies going into
another medium. The real feeling of flying is to just to be able
to lift off from where you are and float around. A whale knows
that feeling. We do not but might have at some time.

As to the narcosis question, that only comes into play if you go
fair distance in the third dimension. The aquatic lizards of the
Galapagos probably know the feeling of gliding, but do not have to
worry about the bends.

The alternate hypothesis is interesting and may account for why we
dream of falling, but the dream of flying seems to be one of moving
and gliding, not simply one of being high up.

This could explain why some people are born with webbing (of
some sort) between there fingers and toes. Who knows?

Rich Pyburn

I guess the question is whether other primates have the same thing
happen.

Also we had a counter-opinion on _A_l_a_d_d_i_n:

I just got done reading your review of _A_l_a_d_d_i_n in VOID issue
23 and would like to express a counter view. I went to see
the movie over Thanksgiving weekend with my wife, three kids
(ages 9, 7, & 4), my parents, and my sister and her son. We
all thoroughly enjoyed the movie and plan to see it again,
maybe around Christmas. There are very few movies that I
enjoy enough that I'm sorry I've already seen them and won't
be able to experience them for the first time again (_S_t_a_r
_W_a_r_s, _R_a_i_d_e_r_s _o_f _t_h_e _L_o_s_t _A_r_k, _M_o_o_n_s_t_r_u_c_k, to name a few), but
_A_l_a_d_d_i_n is one of them. I admit to never reading the "real"
Aladdin story, and that Disney probably does take large
liberties when telling its version of the story, but
nevertheless, Disney has done an amazing job at producing an

THE MT VOID Page 3

animated feature that the "whole" family can see and enjoy.
If one can get over the fact the the Disney _A_l_a_d_d_i_n is not the
"real" _A_l_a_d_d_i_n, I would rate this movie a +3. (I'm sure you
must think my knuckles drag on the ground when I walk, but I
had a great time at _A_l_a_d_d_i_n.)

Craig McMurray

As for the knuckles thing, it got enough good reviews that I never
think that. I gave my reasons for thinking what I did about the
film. Your mileage may vary.

2. In response to several recent requests about the book
discussions, we are going to try to pick books that are more
available (preferably in paperback). Of the next few listed,
Drexler's _E_n_g_i_n_e_s _o_f _C_r_e_a_t_i_o_n (a non-fiction book), Hogan's
_E_n_t_o_v_e_r_s_e, Harrison's _W_e_s_t _o_f _E_d_e_n, Kushner's _T_h_o_m_a_s _t_h_e _R_h_y_m_e_r,
Banks's _U_s_e _o_f _W_e_a_p_o_n_s, and Sheffield's _S_i_g_h_t _o_f _P_r_o_t_e_u_s are all
available in paperback. (In addition, the Bassett Bookstore in
East Brunswick has remaindered the hardcover for about the same
price as the paperback would be.) The SF Club library in
Middletown also has the Harrison. We will inform you if any of the
others become available in paperback, but in the mean time don't
forget your public library. (I will report on library availability
in a future issue.) [-ecl]

Mark Leeper
MT 3D-441 908-957-5619
...mtgzfs3!leeper

A bore is a fellow talking who can change the subject
back to his topic of conversation faster than you can
change it back to yours.
-- Laurence J. Peter

PEGASUS IN FLIGHT by Anne McCaffrey
A book review by Frank R. Leisti
Copyright 1992 Frank R. Leisti

A short time ago, I reviewed the novel _R_o_w_a_n by Anne McCaffrey
and, while I thought that it was the first novel in the story, some
kind reader pointed out my mistake. And so, when I found the novel
_P_e_g_a_s_u_s _i_n _F_l_i_g_h_t, I jumped at the opportunity to begin reading the
early story of these exceptional people who with the power of their
minds are able to manipulate matter as well as just read minds.

Given the premise that a mechanical/electrical device was built
and it detected something occurring when certain people had episodes
of some telepathy or clairvoyance, the foundation for _P_e_g_a_s_u_s _i_n
_F_l_i_g_h_t is laid. The time frame is just a little bit into the
future, where mankind, suffering from the expanding global
population is attempting to expand out into space.

The story deals with conflicts of both non-Talented and
Talented people. The main focus of the story is with the
youngsters--Peter and Tirla, who both come from different
backgrounds and experiences. Peter, is a young boy, who was injured
severely when a wall collapsed on him. He is totally paralyzed,
except for the slightest of movements. The medical science of the
future attempts to meet his needs for movement with an electrical
device known as a body brace. This device sends electrical impulses
into the body to cause muscular contractions, so that Peter can
move--only it causes him extreme pain when he tries. Tirla, an
orphaned girl, is an unregistered person, because parents are only
allowed two children before sterilization. However, the ethnic
culture of Tirla's parents shun the government, and so many children
are born--some with the only distinction of being money for their
parents later on--when they are sold to body brokers for human
parts. Tirla, managing on her own, has various clients to whom she
sells her services of thievery, information and translation.

Of course, there are the Talented people, who with their
abilities are required for timely completion of the space ship--
which is getting constructed in space. The non-Talented people
require the services of the Talented kinetics--those people who can
move objects, and yet they are unable to see or to understand the
difficulties of the special needs of these Talented people.

The story expands the limits of Talents by integrating their
abilities with that of electrical generators to push beyond their
known limits. The personal interactions become tied between major
players, as each side sets their own agenda, not wanting the other
to gain advantage over them. To most, this story can be viewed as
the typical power struggle, and yet, for those who read this story,
the fight of human nature over adversity, the aspects of noble
humanity shine forth in splendor from the most innocent of children.

If you have children, I would recommend reading this book to
them, to show them and you that Talents are present in us all.

With the Leeper scale, I would rate this story as a fine +2
beginning to the saga of Rowan and Dama.

ARTIFICIAL THINGS by Karen Joy Fowler
Bantam Spectra, ISBN 0-53-26219-X, 1992, $4.99.
A book review by Evelyn C. Leeper
Copyright 1992 Evelyn C. Leeper

I seem to be on a short fiction binge these days, this being
the fourth consecutive collection/anthology I've reviewed. Maybe
that's because so many novels seem to be padded-out shorter novels
or even short stories. (This was certainly my objection to _T_h_e
_H_o_l_l_o_w _M_a_n, the one science fiction novel I reviewed recently.) But
short stories must of necessity be spare and economical. First of
all, any padding is more evident. Secondly (and I suppose this may
sound crass), short stories are bought by the word, and few editors
are willing to shell out extra money for padding. In any case, I
suppose I have a special fondness for short fiction and look at the
novella as where "lengthy" background and characterization can be
done. Yes, novels can be good, even long novels. Yes, _L_e_s
_M_I_s_e_r_a_b_l_e_s is a classic. But though they may win Hugos, few writers
are one.

So I found the foreword to _A_r_t_i_f_i_c_i_a_l _T_h_i_n_g_s of particular
interest, because Fowler also prefers short fiction and even got a
reputation as "the person who wouldn't write a novel for Bantam."
(She eventually did write a novel, but it serves to highlight that
many publishers want writers to write novels because they sell
better than collections.)

The thirteen stories here are a mix of old and new--or at least
were when the collection was first published in 1986. Four had
appeared in _I_s_a_a_c _A_s_i_m_o_v'_s _S_c_i_e_n_c_e _F_i_c_t_i_o_n _M_a_g_a_z_i_n_e, three in _T_h_e
_M_a_g_a_z_i_n_e _o_f _F_a_n_t_a_s_y & _S_c_i_e_n_c_e _F_i_c_t_i_o_n, one in _W_r_i_t_e_r_s _o_f _t_h_e _F_u_t_u_r_e,
and five were original for the volume. The latter category includes
"Contention" and "Other Planes," which are not science fiction at
all, and "The Bog People," which is just barely science fiction (by
means of a super-weapon which is not necessary to the plot). My
suspicion is that these are original to this collection because the
market for non-science-fiction short fiction is even worse than the
market for short fiction in the science fiction area.

Fowler has been labeled as feminist writer. If that means she
uses women as the main characters of her stories, it's true, and she
does talk about the treatment of women by society and by men in
society in stories such as "The Lake Was Full of Artificial Things,"
"Face Value," "Contention," and "The View from Venus." But she also
looks critically (in both an analytic and a censorious sense) at how
women treat women in "Recalling Cinderella," "Other Planes," and
"The Bog People." These themes are carried through in her other
works as well: her best-known story is probably "The Faithful
Companion at Forty," a look at how we marginalize the "other" by

Artificial Things December 7, 1992 Page 2

making him or her merely an adjunct to the main character who is of
course a perfect representative of the majority. (As they said
about Ginger Rogers: "She did everything Fred Astaire did, and she
did it backwards and in high heels." Everyone knows Sir Edmund
Hilary, but what about Tenzing Norgay, who also climbed Everest--
carrying Hilary's gear? What about Cedi Bombay, the first person to
cross Africa both north-south and east-west? He gets forgotten
while Sir Richard Burton gets the credit for finding the source of
the Nile.)

Fowler's stories are not for everyone, and her research
sometimes slips ("The Poplar Street Study" has at least one factual
error and one extreme unlikelihood, though it's clear the story is
intended more as a homage to its source than a serious work), but if
you're looking for stories that examine how people relate to each
other, I would strongly recommend _A_r_t_i_f_i_c_i_a_l _T_h_i_n_g_s.

Capsule review: An IRA kidnapping leads to a
chain of events that keeps both the characters and
the audience guessing. _M_o_n_a _L_i_s_a director Neil
Jordan has equaled or surpassed that film in one of
the best movies of the year. Rating +3 (-4 to +4).
See it before someone spoils it for you.

[Spoiler comments follow main review.]

At an amusement park in Northern Ireland, English soldier Jody
(played by Forest Whitaker) has a good-looking local girl on his
arm. They go off to be alone and suddenly Jody finds there are
three men holding guns on him. The IRA has kidnapped Jody. They
will kill him if the IRA prisoner held by the English is not
released. Jody is brought to a hiding place. There he begins the
slow task of picking out one of his captors and trying to make him
an ally. He chooses Fergus (played by Stephen Rea). Jody shows
Fergus a picture of his girlfriend Dil (played by Jaye Davidson).
Little do Jody, Fergus, and Dil know how the one action has bound
them together.

_T_h_e _C_r_y_i_n_g _G_a_m_e is a film for you to go to see ... quickly.
Don't read any more reviews. This is a tough film to review without
revealing any of the plot twists. Word is going to get around soon
about this film. See it first. And don't tell anyone else either.

_T_h_e _C_r_y_i_n_g _G_a_m_e was written and directed by Neil Jordan, who
previously directed and co-wrote _M_o_n_a _L_i_s_a. The similarities will
be obvious. Each film has an intelligent script that lulls
characters and audience alike into one set of assumptions, then
turns those assumptions inside out. The two films have much the
same visual style. Jaye Davidson and Cathy Tyson are both sexy and
attractive in much the same way. In both cases the main character
is a white male in love with the beautiful centerpiece of the film
across racial lines. And in fact it seems unimportant that it is
across racial lines, though each comes from a fairly racist culture.
This film and _M_o_n_a _L_i_s_a each has a delightful sense of irony which
in _T_h_e _C_r_y_i_n_g _G_a_m_e extends to the music over the end credit
sequence.

The two black stars both have to be surprisingly versatile in
this film and each manages. Forest Whitaker (_G_o_o_d _M_o_r_n_i_n_g,
_V_i_e_t_n_a_m!; _C_r_i_m_i_n_a_l _J_u_s_t_i_c_e; and _A _R_a_g_e _i_n _H_a_r_l_e_m) is an odd choice
to play an English soldier. His accent rings very true to my
admittedly non-British ears. Jaye Davidson's performance will be

The Crying Game December 6, 1992 Page 2

the best remembered of the film probably. The part calls for Dil to
go through some major changes and Davidson is always to the mark.

_T_h_e _C_r_y_i_n_g _G_a_m_e is certainly one of the best films of the year.
I rate it a +3 on the -4 to +4 scale.

[Spoilers]

The film did not quite make sense in that neither of the people
would have been sent to prison. In either case it was self-defense
against a person who had been involved in a previous IRA killing.