Ansible 304 -- November 2012 [long]

[David Langford]

ANSIBLE 304
NOVEMBER 2012

From DAVID LANGFORD, 94 London Road, Reading, Berks, RG1 5AU, UK. Web
news.ansible.co.uk. ISSN 0265-9816 (print); 1740-942X (e). Available for
SAE or a set of harmoniously grunting peels.

[NET NOTE. See http://news.ansible.co.uk/a304.html for the nice HTML
version. Mailing list subscribe/unsubscribe information appears below --
please don't send such requests to my own e-mail address. DRL]


### THE WU & FABRICANT GUIDE ###

ELLEN DATLOW joined Tor.com as another consulting fiction editor.

PAUL KRUGMAN, introducing the Folio Society edition of the Foundation
trilogy, has an Atwood Moment: 'Maybe the first thing to say about
"Foundation" is that it's not exactly science fiction -- not really. Yes,
it's set in the future, there's interstellar travel, people shoot each
other with blasters instead of pistols and so on. But these are superficial
details, playing a fairly minor part in the story.' [KMacL]

DAVID MITCHELL, interviewed in the _Cloud Atlas_ film's context, is happy
that genre conquered the world: '... both fantasy and S.F. have made
inroads into literary fiction and influences even those novels whose
imprint logo is reassuringly conservative. Murakami's _Wind-Up Bird
Chronicle_ isn't regarded as a fantasy novel, but the plot is propelled by
occult magic. Kazuo Ishiguro's masterly _Never Let Me Go_ is old-money
dystopian S.F., as is Margaret Atwood's _The Handmaid's Tale_ and Cormac
McCarthy's _The Road_. Philip K. Dick would recognize both Michael Chabon's
_Yiddish Policemen's Union_ and Philip Roth's _Plot Against America_ as
alternate-history S.F. in the grandest, proudest tradition. We imbibe more
S.F. and fantasy than we notice. On my last visit to New York, by the by, I
had a dinner with a group of literary writers, and the whole main course
was spent in earnest and learned discussion of _A Game of Thrones_.' (_New
York Times_, 18 October) [ZH]

MO YAN, the internationally noted Chinese author whose stories of rural
China often include fantasy, fairytale and magic-realist elements, won the
2012 Nobel Prize for Literature.

TERRY PRATCHETT reminisced about his schoolboy visits to 'a little shed
which was a library run by a very nice old lady in a black dress who served
you cups of tea, and who had a collection of eye-watering porn. She would
have it all behind a pair of beaded curtains. I would go in there for the
fantasy [...] The old lady quite liked me as her "kosher" customer so she'd
keep stuff on the side for me. One day I was in there by myself, going
through the box of books she'd kept for me, when a plain-clothes policeman
walked in. He pointed to me with hostility and said "What is he doing
here?" I will never forget her face. She picked up a copy of Robert A
Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land" and said "Evil be to him who evil
thinks". The man grumbled and went.' (Arifa Akbar interview, _Independent_,
11 October) [MPJ]

N. LEE WOOD suspects that although the word has been around since 1757 in
another sense, 'fabricant' meaning 'genetically engineered android/clone'
may be her very own coinage in _Looking for the Mahdi_ (1996) --
anticipating _Cloud Atlas_ by 8 years. 'So if _[that meaning]_ 'is ever
added as a definition for "fabricant" to the _OED_, I want the damn credit!
Not fair if Mitchell gets both a gadzillion bucks for the movie rights to
his novel AND everyone thinks he coined the term as well.'


### CONCHIGLIE ###

Until 30 Nov [] UNCUT (marking 100 years of UK film censorship), BFI
Southbank, London. Several genre selections. See www.bfi.org.uk.

Until 27 Jan [] HOLLYWOOD COSTUME exhibition, V&A Museum, London.
10am-5:30pm (9:30pm Fri). Pounds14 + fee: see www.vam.ac.uk. Includes Oz,
Darth Vader, Terminator, Matrix, Indiana Jones, etc.

2-30 Nov [] COMICA: London International Comics Festival. Many, many
events, relentlessly detailed at www.comicafestival.com.

2-3 Nov [] HORROR IN THE EAST ('horror-lit'), Aspire Centre, Denes High
School, Lowestoft, NR32 4AH. Various guests; admission free.

10 Nov [] COMICA COMIKET Independent Comics Fair, The Great Hall,
Bishopgate, Institute, 230, Bishopgate, London, EC2M 4QH. 11am-6pm.
Admission free. Guests include Bryan Talbot, Alison Bechdel.

9-11 Nov [] NOVACON 42, Park Inn, Mansfield Road, Nottingham. GoH Jaine
Fenn. Pounds40 reg. Contact 379 Myrtle Road, Sheffield, S2 3HQ.

9-11 Nov [] SCI-FI LONDON EAST film mini-festival, Stratford Picture House,
London. www.sci-fi-london.com; box office 0871 902 5740.

11-18 Nov [] THOUGHT BUBBLE (comics), Leeds, including 17-18 November
comics convention. See www.thoughtbubblefestival.com. Weekend pass
Pounds20; day pass Pounds12; under-12s free.

16-18 Nov [] ARMADACON 24, Future Inns, Plymouth. _Date change from 9-11
Nov._ Pounds30 (Pounds25 concessions) to 18 Wadham Rd, Liskeard, Cornwall,
PL14 3BD. Pounds35 (Pounds30) at the door.

16-18 Nov [] WINTER HORRORS (workshop), Dove Valley Centre, Derbyshire.
Pounds150 inclusive. Contact alexdavisevents at hotmail co uk.

CANCELLED. 23-25 Nov [] WEXWORLDS (sf festival), Wexford, Ireland. 'Due to
unforeseen circumstances' is all it says at www.wexworlds.net.

28 Nov [] BSFA OPEN MEETING, The Argyle pub, Leather Lane, London. 5/6pm
for 7pm. With Paul Cornell. Free; all welcome.

29 Nov - 1 Dec [] _THE DOLLS OF NEW ALBION_ ('steampunk opera'), Oval
House, 52-54 Kennington Oval, London, SE11 5SW. 8pm. Tickets Pounds5. See
www.ovalhouse.com/whatson/booktickets/DollsOfNewAlbion.

22-26 Jan 2013 [] _DODGER_ (Pratchett novel stage premiere), Unicorn
Theatre, Abingdon. 7:30pm; Sat matinee 2:30pm. Pounds8.50: cheque (to STC)
+ SAE to STC (Dodger), PO Box 1486, Oxford, OX4 9DQ

1-3 Feb 2013 [] QUARTER TONE (filk), Ramada Grantham Hotel. Pounds35 reg;
Pounds22 unwaged; under-18s Pounds1/year; under-6 free. Cheques: UK Filk
Con, c/o 15 St. Catherine's Cross, Bletchingley, Surrey, RH1 4PX.
_Membership rates may rise on 1 December._

23-24 Feb 2013 [] MICROCON 2013, Exeter University. Guests to be confirmed.
Pounds10.00 reg: cheques payable to Exeter University Sci Fi Society, 17
Eldertree Gardens, Exeter, EX4 4DE.

28 Apr 2013 [] EVENT HORIZON, Derby Conference Centre, London Rd, Derby.
11am-6pm. Pounds5 at door; Pounds10 for early entry (100 tickets only) at
9:30 or 10am. Contact ehmderbyevents at gmail com.


### INFINITELY IMPROBABLE ###

AS OTHERS SEE US. Coverage of the new _Red Dwarf X_ offers a hauntingly
nostalgic sense of _deja revu_: 'The show has an obsessive fan base, which
stereotype would suggest is mainly men in their thirties and forties with a
penchant for sci-fi and gaming -- see how I'm subtly avoiding the
provocative words "nerd", "geek" or "unsuccessful with women" here?'
(Michael Hogan, _The Telegraph_, 4 October) [MPJ]

RANDOM PENGUIN will not be the name of the merging publishers Random House
and Penguin, but everyone feels it ought to be.

THE WEAKEST LINK. _Interlocutor:_ 'John Wyndham's 1951 novel, Day of the
what?' _Contestant:_ 'Day of the Locusts?'
_Q:_ 'This 1966 film starring Raquel Welch had two men extruded from
the body. What happened to the submarine?' _Contestant:_ 'What is The
Incredible Shrinking Woman?' (US _Jeopardy_, 10 and 17 October) [AIP]

YOU READ IT EVERYWHERE. Disney is buying LucasFilm, including all _Star
Wars_ rights, for 4 billion dollars. Expect _Star Wars 7_ in 2015.

ACURACY DEPT. Dorchester Publishing is reverting rights to all authors.
Their online list of obscure names they are unable to trace includes:
Lovercraft, Howard Phillips; Rice Borroughs, Edgar; Smith, Doc; and
Stroker, Bram. You'd think _someone_ there would have an inkling that
Robert Louis Stevenson is out of copyright.... [AIP]

R.I.P. _Bernard Behrens_ (1926-2012), London-born Canadian actor with voice
roles in _Smurfs_ (1981 tv), the radio _Star Wars_ trilogy (as Obi-Wan
Kenobi) and _Silver Surfer_ (1998 tv), died on 19 September aged 85. [AIP]
_Janet Berliner-Gluckman_ (1939-2012), South African-born horror/dark
fantasy author and anthologist who won a Stoker award for 'Children of the
Dusk' (1997) with George Guthridge, died on 24 October; she was 73. [GVG]
_Turhan Bey_ (1922-2012), Turkish-Czech actor whose genre credits
include _The Mummy's Tomb_ (1942), _The Mad Ghoul_ (1943), _Ali Baba and
the Forty Thieves_ (1944), _seaQuest DSV_ and _Babylon 5_, died on 30
September; he was 90. [PDF]
_John Clive_ (1933-2012), UK actor seen in _A Clockwork Orange_ (1971)
and _Queen Kong_ (1976), and heard as John Lennon's voice in _Yellow
Submarine_ (1968), died on October 14; he was 79. [SFS]
_Dave Cox_ (1944-2012), long-time UK convention-goer and Brum Group
member, died from a heart attack on 16 October. He was 68. [RGP]
_Jacques Goimard_ (1934-2012), French critic, editor, novelist and
anthologist, died on 25 October aged 78. [RL] As acquiring editor at the
Paris-based Pocket paperback imprint, he published some 800 works of
sf/fantasy.
_Alan Hunter_ (1923-2012), UK artist whose work included covers for
_Nebula SF_ in 1952-1953 and much interior art for _Nebula_ and _New
Worlds_ through the 1950s, died on 31 August aged 89. [NB] He was
unfailingly generous with artwork for semiprozines and fanzines including
_Algol/Starship_, _Ansible_, _Banana Wings_, _Ghosts and Scholars_, _SF
Chronicle_, _SFinx_, _Vector_, _Whispers_ and many more.
_Paul Kurtz_ (1925-2012), humanist/sceptical author and founder of
Prometheus Books in 1969, died on 20 October aged 86. [PDF] Prometheus
published a number of genre works (including Martin Gardner's _No-Sided
Professor_) before launching its sf/fantasy imprint Pyr in 2005.
_Danny Lieberman_ (1959-2012) New York fan, convention-goer and
Worldcon gopher, died from leukaemia on 19 October; he was 52. [TM]
_Dave Locke_ (1944-2012), noted US fan whose fanzines and related
publications included _Awry_ (1972-1976), _The Really Incompleat Bob
Tucker_ (1974), _Gallimaufry_ (1983-1985 with Joni Stopa) and _Time and
Again_ (1985-1986; 2005-2011), died on 26 October. Dave was long active in
APAs and a valued member of several current fannish email lists. [BL/NB]
_Marcus Swayze_ (1913-2012), US comics artist and writer with Fawcett
Comics from 1941 to 1953 -- when he worked on Captain Marvel and co-created
the Mary Marvel character -- died on October 14. [PDF]

AS OTHERS REGULATE US. The UK government plans tax breaks for computer
games using British characters and locations: 'After lobbying from the
producers of science fiction and fantasy games, which are often set on
alien planets, the Government has proposed that stories which are "set in a
location/world that cannot be determined" can be called culturally British.
/ Alien life forms will also be assimilated into British society. The
proposed test says points will be awarded for lead characters "who are
British citizens or residents or of a nationality/species that cannot be
determined." The games could be based around a UK "historical event",
showcase "British technical or creative innovations such as Artificial
Intelligence" and embrace cultural diversity, including representations of
disability.' (_Independent_, 4 October) [MPJ] So there'll be a strong
incentive to design, say, a first-person shooter whose players must gun
down wave after wave of racially diverse and variously gendered wheelchair
users during the Chartist Riots.

COURT CIRCULAR. Warner Bros won its case against the heirs of Superman's
co-creator Joe Shuster, and still owns all rights to the superhero
character. The ruling was that 'Shuster's sister's decision to accept
higher annual payments [a pension from DC Comics] created a new agreement
which cancelled any previous contract.' (BBC) [AW]

OUTRAGED LETTERS. _Simon R. Green_ had his ear to the ground at Fantasycon:
'Apparently, the next big thing is going to be hot sweaty elf porn. So I
have decided to write _Fifty Shades of Fae_.'
_Chip Hitchcock_ on _A303_ obituaries: 'I suspect more people our age
or younger would know Herbert Lom not from _The Ladykillers_ but as the
increasingly-deranged Comissioner Dreyfus in the "Pink Panther" movies. At
least one of these, _The Pink Panther Strikes Again_, is genre: after
threatening global destruction if Clouseau isn't killed, Dreyfus ends up
erasing himself with his own doomsday device -- while playing an organ, as
if in reference to his title role in the 1962 _Phantom of the Opera_.'
_Claire M. Jordan:_ 'You may have noticed that in interviews, talking
about the rather racy nature of _The Casual Vacancy_, J.K. Rowling has said
that it would be unthinkable to write about sex in a fantasy context or
anywhere near a unicorn, that that sort of thing Just Isn't Done. If I knew
her address I'd send her a copy of _The Particolored Unicorn_ by Jon
DeCles, which includes an extended group sex scene....' Thog want! Thog
want! On mature consideration, maybe Thog not want after all.

CRITICAL MASTERCLASS. Learn, from the professionals, which end of a book to
start with: 'Once you come to terms with reading "to be continued" on the
last page, it's easy to settle in and enjoy the sci-fi smorgasbord served
up by Gregory Benford and Larry Niven.' (Rob Merrill on _Bowl of Heaven_,
Associated Press, 26 October) [MMW]
_As We See Us:_ '... science fiction is the one lasting American
contribution to prose literature ...' (Orson Scott Card, _Maps In A
Mirror_, 1990) [BA]

MAGAZINE SCENE._ James Gunn's Ad Astra_ is a new online journal of fiction,
nonfiction and poetry with a sedate schedule of one themed issue per year
plus 'ongoing content'. See http://adastra.ku.edu/.

AS OTHERS SEE US II. Arthur Krystal of _The New Yorker_ witters on about
how genre fiction can be OK but never literature. 'Commercial novels, in
general, whether they're thrillers or romance or science fiction, employ
language that is at best undistinguished and at worst characterized by a
jejune mentality and a tendency to state the obvious.' Good genre writers
are simply not writing genre: 'It seems to me that Chabon, Egan, and
Ishiguro don't so much work in genre as with genre. "All the Pretty Horses"
is no more a western than "1984" is science fiction.' (24 October) [MW] So
much for all those lowbrows like John Clute who thought the hugely
commercial _1984_ was indeed sf.

RANDOM FANDOM. _Doug Faunt_ and crewmates on a replica of HMS _Bounty_
(built for the 1962 film) were early victims of Hurricane Sandy: 'The ship
sank beneath us, but we swam free and mostly got into two rafts,' Doug said
on Facebook. [GS] Fourteen of the sixteen aboard were rescued; one is dead,
alas, and the captain still missing.

THE DEAD PAST. _30 Years Ago_, sordid commerce afflicted _The White Hotel_:
'"When you write the book, it's a virgin," explained D.M. Thomas to
_Esquire_. "Then when it sells, it loses its virginity. It's the
_off-white_ hotel now ..."' (_Ansible_ 30, November 1982)
_40 Years Ago_, Peter Roberts on the Novacon 2 fancy dress: 'An
honourable mention should go to Fred Hemmings, brightly dressed in orange
with a massive clockwork key protruding from his chest. Damn punster ...'
(_Checkpoint_ 26, November 1972)
_50 Years Ago_, an announcment of the next Eastercon GoH: 'BSFA Member
Bruce Montgomery, better known to the world of literature by his pseudonym
Edmund Crispin. Crispin is known to the sf world for his Faber published
anthologies (Best SF) and for his thoughtful analytical essays on sf. He is
the second Gentleman of Letters to turn to criticising sf and become a
Convention Guest of Honour, following the invitation to Kingsley Amis two
years ago.' (_Skyrack_ 47, November 1962)
_60 Years Ago_, Roger Dard complained about Australia's 'new Minister
for Customs, a fantasy-hating character named Senator O'Sullivan' who 'has
unleashed a veritable Reign of Terror. _Operation Fantast_ [UK fanzine] has
been banned, and as _O.F._'s Australian representative I was raided by the
police, on Customs orders, and subjected to a thorough interrogation. / In
fact, as a result of the pressure which was brought to bear on me, I have
been literally forced out of the field. I have resigned from _O.F._,
cancelled all my book orders from Ken Chapman, and will take no further
part in fanactivity until Australia becomes a civilised nation again. [...]
Genial, lovable Senator O'Sullivan meanwhile is joyously banning books
which were never banned before in our history -- and none of our previous
Customs Ministers could be said to be very liberal in their outlook. _Alice
in Wonderland_, Campbell's _Who Goes There_? [...] and all of A Merritt's
books have already had the axe fall on them. We expect _Grimm's Fairy
Tales_ to go at any time. / So you see, if any of you oppressed fans over
there in the UK wanna know the joys of living in a really free country,
why, just come to Australia.' (_Science Fantasy News_, Winter 1952)

C.O.A. _Doreen Rogers_ has moved into residential care: Room 34,
Briarfields, Raby Crescent, Belle Vue, Shrewsbury, SY3 7JN.

FANFUNDERY. _GUFF 2013:_ the southbound race to Australasia is on, with
candidates Julie McMurray and Mihaela Marija Perkovic. Pounds5/Euro6/$A8 to
vote; deadline 7 January 2013. You can read the platforms and vote online
using PayPal at http://guff.lostcarpark.com/vote; downloadable ballot forms
(PDF and Word) at taff.org.uk/guff.html.

EDITORIAL. Greg Pickersgill and I have a publishing project, soon to be
revealed. Fans of Algis Budrys's _F&SF_ reviews should stay tuned.

THOG'S MASTERCLASS. _Sharing Dept._ 'Leaks were something Emma didn't want
to share.' (Elizabeth Lowell, _Death Echo_, 2010) [PB]
_The Legacy of Ralph 124C41+._ '"The reason is a girl. I'm a poor man,
and she's heiress to fabulous -- Well, frankly, she's the daughter of
3W28W12 himself!" / The executive started at mention of that universally
known number.' (Paul Ernst, 'The Planetoid of Peril', _Astounding_,
November 1931) [DL]
_Neat Tricks Dept._ '... while tonguing her love button, Carol began
to moan in ecstasy.' (Richard J. Lukenda, _A World Gone Crazy_, 2009) [PGA]
_Dept of Girly Superlatives._ '"Good girl," said Dex, patting her
satiny bare shoulder as he stood free again. "You're a sport and a
gentleman. You don't understand the terms? They're earth words, Greca, that
carry the highest praise a man can give a woman."' (Paul Ernst, 'The Red
Hell of Jupiter', _Astounding_, October 1931) [DL]
_Eyeballs in the Sky: Centre of Gravity._ 'Her eyes rolled into the
back of her head and she almost took a step backward.' (Percival Everett,
_Assumption_, 2011) [PB][] _Acid Reflux Dept._ 'Fegan cursed, bitter anger
at the waste rising in him.' (Stuart Neville, _The Ghosts of Belfast_,
2009) [SG]
'His own breakfast came up promptly, and he lost himself in it for a
few bites.' (Patricia McKillip, _The Bards of Bone Plain_, 2010) [NR]


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### ENDNOTES ###

APPARITIONS.
[] 2 November 2012: Eric Brown at the Brum Group, Briar Rose Hotel,
Bennett's Hill, Birmingham city centre, 7:30pm for 8pm; Pounds4 or Pounds3
for members. Contact bhamsfgroup at yahoo co uk or rog.peyton at btinternet
com. Further meetings: 7 December, Christmas Social; 11 January,
AGM/Auction; 10 February, quiz; 8 March, James Brogden; 12 April, Brian
Aldiss OBE.
[] 9 November 2012: Bryan Talbot graphic novel launch and conversation with
Kim Newman at Foyle's, Charing Cross Road, London. 6:30-7pm. Tickets
Pounds8.
[] 14 November 2012: 'An Evening with Jonathan Cape Graphic Novels',
Arnolfini Gallery, Bristol. 6pm-9.45pm. Pounds12.00; Pounds10.00
concessions.

PAYPAL TIP JAR THINGY. Support _Ansible_, cover website costs and keep the
editor happy! Or just buy his books.
http://ansible.co.uk/paypal.html
http://ansible.co.uk/books/index.html
http://ansible.co.uk/books/starcomb.html

ALAN HUNTER. _In memoriam_, a larger version of his masthead artwork for
_Ansible_ 260. His intricately detailed black-and-white ink drawings
couldn't normally be shrunk to fit the printed _Ansible_'s tiny art slot:
this was a rare exception.
http://news.ansible.co.uk/misc/images/a260.png

THOG'S SECOND HELPING. Paul Goat Allen explored the richly purple fields of
Thoggery emerging from sex scenes in paranormal romance. One quote has been
shamelessly recycled above; have you the courage to read the rest?
http://tinyurl.com/9b786ok


Ansible 304 Copyright (c) David Langford, 2012. Thanks to Paul Goat Allen,
Brian Ameringen, Paul Barnett, Ned Brooks, Paul Di Filippo, Stephanie
Griffin, Zac Hanley, Martyn P. Jackson, Remy Lechevalier, Denny Lien, Brian
Locke, Ken MacLeod, Rog Peyton, Andrew I. Porter, Nonie Rider, SF Site,
Geri Sullivan, Gordon Van Gelder, Andrew Wells, Mike Williams, Martin Morse
Wooster, and our Hero Distributors: Dave Corby (Brum Group News),
SCIS/Prophecy, Alan Stewart (Australia). See (some of) you at Novacon!

1 November 2012

--
David Langford | http://ansible.co.uk/ | http://news.ansible.co.uk/

[John Hall]

In article <pd95981tr3qlm9la7...@4ax.com>,
David Langford <ans...@cix.co.uk> writes:
<snip>

>
>PAUL KRUGMAN, introducing the Folio Society edition of the Foundation
>trilogy, has an Atwood Moment: 'Maybe the first thing to say about
>"Foundation" is that it's not exactly science fiction -- not really. Yes,
>it's set in the future, there's interstellar travel, people shoot each
>other with blasters instead of pistols and so on. But these are superficial
>details, playing a fairly minor part in the story.' [KMacL]

Boggle! We don't seem to have made any progress in the fifty years or so
since Robert Conquest (IIRC) satirised this attitude with piece of
verse:

"SF's no good",
They bellow till we're deaf.
"But this looks good."
"Well then it's not SF."

<snip>

>
>ACURACY DEPT. Dorchester Publishing is reverting rights to all authors.
>Their online list of obscure names they are unable to trace includes:
>Lovercraft, Howard Phillips; Rice Borroughs, Edgar; Smith, Doc; and
>Stroker, Bram. You'd think _someone_ there would have an inkling that
>Robert Louis Stevenson is out of copyright.... [AIP]

<snip>

Talking of porn, that Bram Stroker sounds like he wrote some. :)
--
John Hall

"The beatings will continue until morale improves."
Attributed to the Commander of Japan's Submarine Forces in WW2

[Cryptoengineer]

On Nov 1, 3:15 pm, John Hall <nospam_no...@jhall.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <pd95981tr3qlm9la7b7qb04qr6bmsf1...@4ax.com>,

>  David Langford <ansi...@cix.co.uk> writes:
> <snip>
>
>
>
> >PAUL KRUGMAN, introducing the Folio Society edition of the Foundation
> >trilogy, has an Atwood Moment: 'Maybe the first thing to say about
> >"Foundation" is that it's not exactly science fiction -- not really. Yes,
> >it's set in the future, there's interstellar travel, people shoot each
> >other with blasters instead of pistols and so on. But these are superficial
> >details, playing a fairly minor part in the story.' [KMacL]
>
> Boggle! We don't seem to have made any progress in the fifty years or so
> since Robert Conquest (IIRC) satirised this attitude with piece of
> verse:
>
> "SF's no good",
> They bellow till we're deaf.
> "But this looks good."
> "Well then it's not SF."
>
> <snip>

Don't blame Krugman; he's a fan.

http://www.wired.com/underwire/2012/05/paul-krugman-geeks-guide-galaxy/

pt

[Andrew Plotkin]

In rec.arts.sf.fandom, John Hall <nospam...@jhall.co.uk> wrote:
> In article <pd95981tr3qlm9la7...@4ax.com>,
> David Langford <ans...@cix.co.uk> writes:
> <snip>
> >
> >PAUL KRUGMAN, introducing the Folio Society edition of the Foundation
> >trilogy, has an Atwood Moment: 'Maybe the first thing to say about
> >"Foundation" is that it's not exactly science fiction -- not really. Yes,
> >it's set in the future, there's interstellar travel, people shoot each
> >other with blasters instead of pistols and so on. But these are superficial
> >details, playing a fairly minor part in the story.' [KMacL]
>
> Boggle!

This isn't really the point of Krugman's introduction, one-sentence
sound bites notwithstanding.

https://webspace.princeton.edu/users/pkrugman/FDT%20intro.pdf

--Z

--
"And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah: these were the borogoves..."
*

[Bernard Peek]

On 01/11/12 20:27, Andrew Plotkin wrote:
> In rec.arts.sf.fandom, John Hall <nospam...@jhall.co.uk> wrote:
>> In article <pd95981tr3qlm9la7...@4ax.com>,
>> David Langford <ans...@cix.co.uk> writes:
>> <snip>
>>>
>>> PAUL KRUGMAN, introducing the Folio Society edition of the Foundation
>>> trilogy, has an Atwood Moment: 'Maybe the first thing to say about
>>> "Foundation" is that it's not exactly science fiction -- not really. Yes,
>>> it's set in the future, there's interstellar travel, people shoot each
>>> other with blasters instead of pistols and so on. But these are superficial
>>> details, playing a fairly minor part in the story.' [KMacL]
>>
>> Boggle!
>
> This isn't really the point of Krugman's introduction, one-sentence
> sound bites notwithstanding.
>
> https://webspace.princeton.edu/users/pkrugman/FDT%20intro.pdf

Clearly the soundbite version was a deliberate attempt to misrepresent
Klugman. Who originated it?



--
Bernard Peek
b...@shrdlu.com

[Christopher J. Henrich]

In article <dEdfg$CBlsk...@jhall.demon.co.uk.invalid>, John Hall

Or maybe he was put to work reading the - well, slush pile.

[Tim.B...@redbridge.gov.uk]

On Thursday, 1 November 2012 20:27:08 UTC, Andrew Plotkin wrote:
> In rec.arts.sf.fandom, John Hall <nospam...@jhall.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > In article <pd95981tr3qlm9la7...@4ax.com>,
>
> > David Langford <ans...@cix.co.uk> writes:
>
> > <snip>
>
> > >
>
> > >PAUL KRUGMAN, introducing the Folio Society edition of the Foundation
>
> > >trilogy, has an Atwood Moment: 'Maybe the first thing to say about
>
> > >"Foundation" is that it's not exactly science fiction -- not really. Yes,
>
> > >it's set in the future, there's interstellar travel, people shoot each
>
> > >other with blasters instead of pistols and so on. But these are superficial
>
> > >details, playing a fairly minor part in the story.' [KMacL]
>
> >
>
> > Boggle!
>
>
>
> This isn't really the point of Krugman's introduction, one-sentence
>
> sound bites notwithstanding.
>
>
>
> https://webspace.princeton.edu/users/pkrugman/FDT%20intro.pdf
>

"The ‘Foundation’ novels are about society, not gadgets"

Okay, it's science fiction, but the science is not physics but sociology.

[Lowell Gilbert]

An excellent question (which presumably only Dave Langford could
possibly answer). Still, the "one-sentence sound bite" is a valid quote,
and downright bizarre in its wrongness.

[Tim McDaniel]

In article <pd95981tr3qlm9la7...@4ax.com>,

David Langford <ans...@cix.co.uk> wrote:
> _60 Years Ago_, Roger Dard complained about Australia's 'new
>Minister for Customs, a fantasy-hating character named Senator
>O'Sullivan' who 'has unleashed a veritable Reign of
>Terror. _Operation Fantast_ [UK fanzine] has been banned, and as
>_O.F._'s Australian representative I was raided by the police, on
>Customs orders, and subjected to a thorough interrogation. / In fact,
>as a result of the pressure which was brought to bear on me, I have
>been literally forced out of the field. I have resigned from _O.F._,
>cancelled all my book orders from Ken Chapman, and will take no
>further part in fanactivity until Australia becomes a civilised
>nation again. [...] Genial, lovable Senator O'Sullivan meanwhile is
>joyously banning books which were never banned before in our history
>-- and none of our previous Customs Ministers could be said to be
>very liberal in their outlook. _Alice in Wonderland_, Campbell's _Who
>Goes There_? [...] and all of A Merritt's books have already had the
>axe fall on them. We expect _Grimm's Fairy Tales_ to go at any
>time. / So you see, if any of you oppressed fans over there in the UK
>wanna know the joys of living in a really free country, why, just
>come to Australia.' (_Science Fantasy News_, Winter 1952)

A bit of Googling suggests that it was Minister for Trade and Customs
Sir Michael Neil O'Sullivan KBE (2 August 1900 - 4 July 1968).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neil_O%27Sullivan has few details on
him, nor can I find more by Googling.

--
Tim McDaniel, tm...@panix.com

[Keith F. Lynch]

David Langford <ans...@cix.co.uk> wrote:
> So you see, if any of you oppressed fans over there in the UK wanna
> know the joys of living in a really free country, why, just come to
> Australia.' (_Science Fantasy News_, Winter 1952)

When, if ever, was this extreme censorship repealed? Thanks.
--
Keith F. Lynch - http://keithlynch.net/
Please see http://keithlynch.net/email.html before emailing me.

[Tim McDaniel]

In article <k7f0h2$fbv$3...@reader1.panix.com>,

Keith F. Lynch <k...@KeithLynch.net> wrote:
>David Langford <ans...@cix.co.uk> wrote:
>> So you see, if any of you oppressed fans over there in the UK wanna
>> know the joys of living in a really free country, why, just come to
>> Australia.' (_Science Fantasy News_, Winter 1952)
>
>When, if ever, was this extreme censorship repealed? Thanks.

Does Customs Canada still seize and destroy pornography, erotic
devices, et cetera, that is exactly identical to stuff that's produced
in Canada and sold in lots of stores [*], or even much milder, or even
just mildly erotic?

[*] Yeah, I read about a case of exactly that -- arguing that some
identical copies were printed in Canada and widely sold there got them
nowhere.

--
Tim McDaniel, tm...@panix.com

[Kevrob]

On Nov 8, 11:50 am, t...@panix.com (Tim McDaniel) wrote:
> In article <k7f0h2$fb...@reader1.panix.com>,

> Keith F. Lynch <k...@KeithLynch.net> wrote:
>

> >David Langford <ansi...@cix.co.uk> wrote:
> >> So you see, if any of you oppressed fans over there in the UK wanna
> >> know the joys of living in a really free country, why, just come to
> >> Australia.'  (_Science Fantasy News_, Winter 1952)
>
> >When, if ever, was this extreme censorship repealed?  Thanks.
>
> Does Customs Canada still seize and destroy pornography, erotic
> devices, et cetera, that is exactly identical to stuff that's produced
> in Canada and sold in lots of stores [*], or even much milder, or even
> just mildly erotic?
>
> [*] Yeah, I read about a case of exactly that -- arguing that some
> identical copies were printed in Canada and widely sold there got them
> nowhere.
>
> --
>

Protecting Noble, Home Grown Pornographers from cheap, foreign
competition?

Kevin

[Keith F. Lynch]

Tim McDaniel <tm...@panix.com> wrote:
> Keith F. Lynch <k...@KeithLynch.net> wrote:
>> David Langford <ans...@cix.co.uk> wrote:
>>> So you see, if any of you oppressed fans over there in the UK
>>> wanna know the joys of living in a really free country, why, just
>>> come to Australia.' (_Science Fantasy News_, Winter 1952)

>> When, if ever, was this extreme censorship repealed? Thanks.

> Does Customs Canada still seize and destroy pornography, erotic
> devices, et cetera, that is exactly identical to stuff that's
> produced in Canada and sold in lots of stores [*], or even much
> milder, or even just mildly erotic?

I don't know, but I don't find censorship of erotica surprising.
I do find censorship of fanzines surprising (except maybe in
Islamic countries).

[Cryptoengineer]

On Nov 8, 11:50 am, t...@panix.com (Tim McDaniel) wrote:

> In article <k7f0h2$fb...@reader1.panix.com>,

> Keith F. Lynch <k...@KeithLynch.net> wrote:
>

> >David Langford <ansi...@cix.co.uk> wrote:
> >> So you see, if any of you oppressed fans over there in the UK wanna
> >> know the joys of living in a really free country, why, just come to
> >> Australia.'  (_Science Fantasy News_, Winter 1952)
>
> >When, if ever, was this extreme censorship repealed?  Thanks.
>
> Does Customs Canada still seize and destroy pornography, erotic
> devices, et cetera, that is exactly identical to stuff that's produced
> in Canada and sold in lots of stores [*], or even much milder, or even
> just mildly erotic?
>
> [*] Yeah, I read about a case of exactly that -- arguing that some
> identical copies were printed in Canada and widely sold there got them
> nowhere.

It isn't just Canada. Year before last, I was on vacation in Alaska,
and bought a sculpture made from fossilized walrus ivory. The shop
keep made sure I was flying directly back to the lower 48; if I'd gone
through Canada, US Customs would have confiscated it.

pt