Tag Archives: worldcon

[September 4, 1968] Open your Golden Gate (Baycon: Worldcon 1968)


by Gideon Marcus

Goodness, what a show!

After eight days of the GOP and then the Democratic conventions, it was sure nice to go to a place where everyone was normal…at least, per our definition of normal.


Baycon program.  From Fanac

Worldcon exploded in attendance last year, in part thanks to the influence of Star Trek, and it shows no sign of fading.  Nearly 1500 people came to the Claremont Hotel in placid, undramatic Berkeley, California for a weekend of fan interaction.

Just lookit all the faces!


From Calisphere


Anne McCaffrey, Leigh Brackett, Blanche Williamson, Edmond Hamilton, Jack Williamson.  From Fanac

There was an auction: Philip José Farmer got $210 for his Esperanto translation of Tarzan of the Apes while Kelly Freas got $160 for his painting, "The Royal Road"—the second highest art price in Worldcon history.

Also, Harlan Ellison auctioned David Gerrold, the newcomer who wrote "The Trouble with Tribbles"


From Fanac

Harlan was, in turn, auctioned by Bob Silverberg.


From Fanac

The Masquerade Ball was a tremendous success.  Here's a sampling of costumes:


Best SF: Bruce Pelz as Heavy Trooper from The Dragon Masters From Fanac


Most Beautiful: Lin Carter as Elric From Fanac


Most Humorous: Cory Seidman as a bottle of Cor(rection) Flu(id).  From Fanac

Contemporaneous with the Baycon was a Medieval event held by the Society for Creative Anachronism.  This Bay Area organization has a lot of cross-over with the science fiction community, with a lot of fen sporting Middle Ages alter egos.


from Calisphere

Aiding the…otherworldly attitude of the convention was the infusion of mind-altering substances.  While at Nycon, there was some partaking of grass, Baycon marked the arrival of magic little pills from Los Angeles sold at 50¢ a pop.  Everyone was trying them, including Philip K. Dick.  Supposedly, they were filled with THC—turns out it was actually PCP!  This tidbit courtesy of Ted White.


I think Dick has had enough.  From Calisphere

But, of course, the main event was the Fanquet, and the Hugo Awards handed out therein.  Let's take a look:

Best Novel

Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny [Doubleday (and F&SF)]

Nominees

The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany [Ace]
Chthon by Piers Anthony [Ballantine]
The Butterfly Kid by Chester Anderson [Pyramid]
Thorns by Robert Silverberg [Ballantine]


I'm not sorry Lord got the top spot, though reviews have been more mixed of Zelazny's work than of Delany's.  As for the others, Thorns was a bit too unpleasant for me, though Vic Silverwolf liked it, The Butterfly Kid was fine…as a bit of Greenwich Village fanfiction, and the less said about Chthon, the better.

This is one of the worst years for alignment between The Galactic Stars and the Hugos.  Let's hope future history looks to us for guidance rather than Worldcon voters.


Best Novella

Co-Winner: “Riders of the Purple Wage ” by Philip José Farmer [Dangerous Visions]

Co-Winner: “Weyr Search” by Anne McCaffrey [Analog]

Nominees

Damnation Alley” by Roger Zelazny [Galaxy]
The Star Pit” by Samuel R. Delany [Worlds of Tomorrow]
Hawksbill Station ” by Robert Silverberg [Galaxy]


Here, we end up in much closer alignment between Stars and Hugos. I am quite surprised that "Damnation" ended up here; I can only assume Zelazy has knee-jerk support from his fans.  Also, "Purple Wage", while Victoria Silverwolf loved it, she did not love it enough to nominate it for the Star…and neither did anyone else.

C'est la Gernsback.


Best Novelette

Gonna Roll the Bones” by Fritz Leiber [Dangerous Visions]


Leiber accepting his award.  From Fanac

Nominees

Wizard’s World” by Andre Norton [If Jun 1967]
Faith of Our Fathers” by Philip K. Dick [Dangerous Visions, 1967]
Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes” by Harlan Ellison [Knight May 1967]


What a divergence here!  Only Leiber made the Stars list (and there was debate behind the scenes on that one), although the Dick made it as an Honorable Mention.  Still, it's nice to see Norton on the ballot, even if that's not the work I would have chosen as her best from 1967 (Moon of Three Rings)


Short Fiction

Winner: “I Have No Mouth, and I Must Scream” by Harlan Ellison [If]

Nominees

The Jigsaw Man” by Larry Niven [Dangerous Visions]
Aye, and Gomorrah" by Samuel R. Delany [Dangerous Visions]


Last year, we had, what?  Seven entries to choose from?  Only having three short story nominees (for comparison, the Stars had thirteen just in the Novelet category) really does the field a disservice.

As for the choices, well, Harlan's story is certainly memorable, and we've no complaints about the Gomorrah.  There's nothing wrong with "The Jigsaw Man", but it's not one of the best stories of 1967.  Indeed, per Larry, it wasn't even a final draft.  He wanted to polish it before sending it on to a magazine, but Harlan, soliciting stories for Dangerous Visions, said he'd liked it raw.

If there's one thing the Hugos show, though, it's that Ellison has an outsized influence on the Hugo nominators.  Nearly half of the sub-novel nominees came from DV, and two more pieces were penned by the man (and see below…).

"Harlan's ego grew three sizes that day…"


Best Dramatic Presentation

Winner: Star Trek – “The City on the Edge of Forever” [Desilu] Directed by Joseph Pevney; Written (sort of) by Harlan Ellison

Nominees

Star Trek – “The Trouble with Tribbles” [Desilu] Directed by Joseph Pevney; Written by David Gerrold

Star Trek – “Mirror, Mirror” [Desilu] Directed by Marc Daniels; Written by Jerome Bixby

Star Trek – “The Doomsday Machine” [Desilu] Directed by Marc Daniels; Written by Norman Spinrad

Star Trek – “Amok Time” [Desilu] Directed by Joseph Pevney; Written by Theodore Sturgeon


Talk about outsized influence!  Last year, there was a lot of worry in the community that Trek wouldn't win since there were five nominees, three of which were Trek episodes.  The concern was that the Trek vote would get split such that Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea or Fahrenheit 451 would win.

No such trouble this year!  City would not have been my top choice, however.  It wasn't even in the top five for me.  I'd have picked Doomsday Machine as it is both stellarly SFnal and quite good.  Mirror, Mirror is even better, but it requires a knowledge of Trek to fully appreciate, whereas Spinrad's script does not.

I do appreciate all the big SF names in this line-up.  Trek really is our show.


Best Professional Magazine

Winner: IF Science Fiction ed. Fred Pohl

Nominees

Analog Science Fiction and Fact ed. by John W. Campbell, Jr.
The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction ed. by Edward L. Ferman
Galaxy ed. by Fred Pohl
New Worlds ed. by Michael Moorcock


This is, with the exception of the addition of F&SF, an exact duplicate of last year's slate.  IF seems to be floating on inertia since last year marked the beginning of its decline.  On the other hand, 1967 was a pretty middlin' year for mags anyway, so I suppose any pick is a fair one.

I'm just glad Amazing didn't make the cut…

Best Professional Artist

Winner: Jack Gaughan

Nominees

Frank Kelly Freas
Chesley Bonestell
Frank Frazetta
Gray Morrow
John Schoenherr


I'm not sure why Jack won–he's not bad, but he's easily my least favorite of this group (Schoenherr is my favorite, but Freas, being #2, tries harder–there are whole issues of Analog that only have his art in them!)

Frazetta does't do magazines, but he does do a lot of high profile book covers.  Gray Morrow's work is always consistent, always pretty good.  I'm surprised not to see Virgil Finlay here, but I suppose his comeback didn't start until later last year.

Best Fanzine

Winner: Amra ed. by George H. Scithers

Nominees

Australian Science Fiction Review ed. by John Bangsund
Lighthouse ed. by Terry Carr
Yandro ed. by Robert Coulson and Juanita Coulson
Odd ed. by Raymond D. Fisher
Psychotic ed. by Richard E. Geis


Sadly, Lighthouse is no more (though its final issue had an hysterical piece by Ellison, the last word in Adam & Eve stories).  Yandro remains consistent, and a good source of Trek news.  I like ASFR when I can get a copy.

Offhand, I'm not familiar with the rest.  I do note the conspicuous absence of Galactic Journey…again!


Best Fan Writer


From Calisphere

Winner: Ted White

Nominees

Ruth Berman
Harry Warner, Jr


I'm quite excited about this list.  Ted, of course, is a polarizing figure, but he's never boring.  He is also quite friendly to fellow fen, even if he is now also a "filthy pro", and we have had a long and enjoyable correspondence for years.

Ruth Berman, of course, is both a superfan AND a big Trek booster.  She practically wrote Inside Star Trek.  We became acquainted this year, and she is a delight.

Harry Warner has been around since the dawn of time, and I always look forward to his FAPA (Fantasy Amateur Press Association, natch) contribution (Horizon).  He lives in Hagerstown, not far from my mother-in-law.  I should visit him someday…


Best Fan Artist

Winner: George Barr

Nominees

Bjo Trimble
Johnny Chambers
Steve Stiles
Arthur “ATom” Thomson


Barr, in addition to being a prolific cover artist, does the comic "Broken Sword", which appears in the fanzine, Trumpet.  I've seen Trimble's art in various zines, clean and cute lineart.  Johnny Chambers does the 'zine Ymir, Steve Stiles' work appeared in Cry of the Nameless (which just got revived!), and you probably know UK artist ATom from Hyphen.


Where next?

One of the most important items of business at any Worldcon is the determination of where the next Worldcon will be held.  The one bid I'd heard advanced as an alternative to St. Louis was Columbus, Ohio.  In the end, St. Louis trounced Columbus 393 to 5 (with a few votes going to such places as Tel Aviv, Leningrad, and Deer Knuckles, British Columbia, etc.—maybe year after next).

Incidentally, it was also decided that Worldcons would happen overseas every fifth year.  For those waiting eagerly for a West Berlin convention (unless you want Berlin, Maryland), it'll be a while.

Anyway, we already have a Guest of Honor for '69: artist Jack Gaughan.  Fan Guest of Honor will be Ted White.  Two fan/pros.  Interesting.

Hope to see you there, but if you can't make it, remember that a supporting membership is just $2 (enjoy it while you can—they're gonna vote to raise it to an outrageous $3 next year…)


From Fanac






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[August 10, 1968] First Trans-Oceanic Fan Fund Brings Fandom Together


by Alison Scott

One of the most interesting features of Science Fiction fandom is the presence of 'fan funds', which aim to reduce the monumental differences between science fiction fans around the world by raising monies to help a fan from one part of the world to visit another. You may already be familiar with the Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund, known as TAFF. This is by far the biggest of the funds, in that rather than being an individual fund-raising effort, TAFF happens every year. It started off as a one-off fund to send the Northern Irish fan Walt Willis to America in 1952, but the idea seemed a good one, and now TAFF sends fans both ways in alternate years. The artist Steve Stiles came to this year’s Eastercon, British National Convention, as the TAFF delegate.

As well as TAFF, though, there have been occasional one-off funds to help people cross the Atlantic. Before TAFF, Ted Carnell travelled to attend the 1949 World convention, and since then there have been other one off-funds, like the one to take John Berry to the 1959 Worldcon and to take Ella Parker to the 1961 Worldcon. But these trips have all been to take people from Europe to America and vice versa.

TAFF winners, and some other fan fund recipients, often write trip reports about their activities. These can be sold to raise money for the fund, but are also a great source of information about local fan groups and their members, for other people considering travelling or who are just curious. The first of these was Walt Willis's magnificent report The Harp Stateside, but there have been several others. Not all fund recipients have completed their reports, often citing exhaustion or penury following their trip, but nevertheless the reports that have been produced are fascinating.

This year, however, will see the first ever Trans-Oceanic Fan Fund trip. This year’s Worldcon will be Baycon, at the end of this month, in Oakland, California. Baycon won the site selection comfortably at NYCon III last year, against the alternative bid, Pan-Pacificon. Although Pan-Pacificon was unsuccessful, it was an interesting bid. It aimed to hold the World SF convention in three locations at once – Los Angeles, Sydney and Tokyo, with a system of taped speeches and other international exchanges. As part of this, John and Bjo Trimble, who were on the con committee, launched the Trans-Oceanic Fan Fund, or TOFF, with the intention of bringing over the Japanese fan Takumi Shibano, and they started soliciting donations.

TOFF organiser Bjo Trimble speaking on a panel item while wearing a
Bjo Trimble, pictured at NYCon III wearing a Maneki-Neko badge (photo Jay Jay Klein)

The choice of Takumi Shibano has been questioned by some. Why support the travel of a fan that few of us are familiar with? But it turns out that Mr Shibano is by far the most prominent fan in Japan. He has been producing his fanzine, Uchūjin, (“Cosmic Dust”) since 1957. He was instrumental in starting national conventions in Japan; there have been several of these, both in Tokyo and elsewhere. It’s a measure of Shibano’s critical role as the primary mover and shaker in Japanese science fiction fandom that once his trip to the USA was announced, the other Tokyo fans wanted to move the national convention to a time when he would be there to run it.

I am very lucky in that Ella Parker showed me her copy of the first English edition of Uchūjin. I do not know if there have been any more in English. This is from September 1962. It contains a report of the national convention in 1962, and a detailed bibliography of Western SF translated into Japanese. Shibano explains, somewhat apologetically, that he had to put fiction into Japanese fanzines because there was no professional SF magazine in Japan at the time, and several short stories are reprinted here. I understand that since then he has been quite successful in helping Japanese science fiction publishers find and publish Japanese-written stories. Mr Shibano founded the Federation of SF Fan Groups of Japan and is serving as its chair. He is truly Japan’s #1 Fan Face.

So I think it is not too hard to accept that Mr Shibano is a great choice for a fund, though for British fans like myself, there is a question about whether we could reasonably be expected to donate to a fund that takes someone from many thousands of miles away from us, halfway round the world to somewhere else thousands of miles from us. However, it seems that US fans were also only somewhat enthusiastic about donating to the fund. A trip of this kind was inevitably quite expensive and although Mr Shibano was well known and well respected in Japan, SF fans elsewhere in the world didn’t really recognise the name. I am sure this reflects the language barrier, although I understand that Mr Shibano’s English is excellent. John and Bjo made a fanzine to sell, Maneki-neko, as a fund-raiser, but discovered that the amount of money you can raise from fanzine sales is quite limited. Maneki-neko includes detailed articles about the history of Japanese SF fandom; well worth getting your hands on a copy!

A fanzine cover featuring a three colour hecto illustration of a Japanese maneki-neko - good luck cat.

At any rate, although they had raised half their hoped-for funds by the start of NYCon, the Trimbles had decided to additionally extend the invitation to Mr Shibano’s wife, Sachiko, so the amount required had doubled. They had brought material for auction, but the fund-raising auction was scheduled for midnight! However, help was at hand. The Trimbles had become friendly with Gene Roddenberry, the producer of the television show Star Trek. Indeed, part of the funds already raised were from a successful auction and raffle at Westercon. Bjo Trimble had even managed to sell raffle tickets to James Doohan, who only afterwards learnt that the star prize was some of the sweaty Spock ears that were apparently available in quantity on set.

Nevertheless, when Roddenberry learnt that they were still struggling to raise the funds needed for the trip, he sent several large boxes of unique Star Trek artefacts from the show for auction at NYCon, including some of the Tribbles from “A Trouble with Tribbles”, which had not yet aired at the time, a script for that episode, and costumes and props from the show. The material was so exciting that many fans showed up to buy these rarities and all the money needed for Takumi Shibano and his wife Sachiko was raised at the convention. So the Shibanos will be at Baycon!

Did you buy one of Captain Kirk's tribbles at NYCon III? Let us know!

Shibano has also suggested that it might be possible to hold the Worldcon in Japan one day. Wouldn’t that be a marvellous thing! We are of course hoping that the Germans are successful in their bid for a convention in Heidelberg, which would be the first Worldcon in a non-English speaking country and moreover, the first non-UK Worldcon that I have a reasonable chance of attending, as a trip to America is way beyond my limited means at present.

Nevertheless, I know that many of the Journey readers and fellow-travellers will be doing their utmost to make sure they are at Baycon. If you are one of those, do please take the opportunity to meet Mr and Mrs Shibano and learn more about their fascinating parallel lives in science fiction. I understand that they both speak very good English, though are rather bashful about it.

I hope this will be the first of many Trans-Oceanic Fan Funds. Imagine if, one day, the possibility of fan funds from all parts of the world was a normal and routine part of science fiction fandom, so that every year we could meet people from around the globe?





[September 8, 1967] New York, New York!  (the 25th World Science Fiction convention)


by Gideon Marcus

It's a wonderful town

That truly was the Week That Was.  Once again, the annual convergence of the world's fen was tremendous fun, made all the sweeter for the fact that the Journey clan was there in force.


Me, Lorelei, Fiona Moore, Alison Scott, and Erica Frank


Janice L. Newman and Marie Vibbert

Held at the New York Statler Hilton, NyCon 3 may have been the biggest World Science Fiction convention yet, with more than 1000 people attending.

Our guest of honor this year was Lester del Rey, who recently came back to the fore of science fiction with a host of new stories.

The lines for registration were long, but that also gave us the chance to see our friends who attended…including the lovely Tom Purdom (whose I Want the Stars impressed us so a few years back).


From Fanac


From Fanac


A Gemini astronaut?  No!  A Hugonaut!

The Exhibit Hall was full of goodies, including back issues of anything I missed.  Ever wonder how we maintain our encyclopedic knowledge of things SFnal?  It's thanks to dealers like these who offer classic fiction as wares.


From Fanac

From Fanac

Beautiful works were on display at the art show (and you'll note that Star Trek already features prominently:


From Fanac

Manhattan women are all dressed in satin, so the fellows say

The Masquerade was a gas, as always.  This one included a fashion show put on by Carol Pohl themed "Galaxy of Costumes", imagining clothes of the future.  It ties in to a short piece in this month's Galaxy (edited by Fred Pohl).


From Calisphere and Fanac–Lin Carter and Carol Pohl


From Fanac–Betsy Wollheim


From FanacTrek costumes galore

The Bronx is up and the Battery's down

The centerpiece of the event was, of course, the fanquet.  Some 850 folks gathered in the dining hall (a couple hundred relegated to the cheap seats in the balconies) to hear the results of the Hugo votes.  Much to Isaac Asimov's chagrin, Harlan Ellison was invited to do the EmCee-ing for the occasion, something he did with great humor, but not a little longwindedness.

Of course, Dr. A was busy much of the convention trying (and failing) to play peacemaker between Harlan and Judith Merril.  Apparently, Harlan had inserted a caricature of Judy in an episode of The Man from U.N.C.L.E. he wrote, and she is suing him for defamation of character or something like that.  She actually served Harlan a summons at the con!


From Calisphere and Fanac

Other folks who spoke at the fanquet were Bob Tucker (creator of Hoy Ping Pong, after whom the new fan awards were almost named) and, of course, Lester.  Poor Lester was relegated to the end of a very long program, and thus had to rush through his speech.


From Fanac


From Fanac

And now, we turn to what you're most eagerly awaiting–the results!  Buckle in; there's a lot to report.

Best Novel

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein [If Dec 1965,Jan,Feb,Mar,Apr 1966; Putnam, 1966]

Nominees

Babel-17 by Samuel R. Delany [Ace, 1966]
Too Many Magicians by Randall Garrett [Analog Aug,Sep,Oct,Nov 1966]
Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes [Harcourt, Brace & World, 1966]
The Witches of Karres by James H. Schmitz [Chilton, 1966]
Day of the Minotaur by Thomas Burnett Swann [Ace, 1966]


We were sad last year when it appeared Moon would miss its chance on a technicality.  It's only a shame that this is the year it won given the strength of the Delany.  Algernon was a Galactic Star winner and Magicians a nominee, so their appearance on the ballot is not a surprise.

On the other hand, The Witches of Karres is an expansion of a 1949 Astounding story, which, of the Journey staff, only David read (it did not impress him).  Day of the Minotaur was a fine book, but it came out in '64-'65 as The Blue Monkeys, so it really didn't belong on this year's ballot.


Best Novelette

Winner: “The Last Castle” by Jack Vance [Galaxy Apr 1966]

Nominees

Call Him Lord” by Gordon R. Dickson [Analog May 1966]
Apology to Inky” by Robert M. Green, Jr. [F&SF Jan 1966]
The Alchemist” by Charles L. Harness [Analog May 1966]
An Ornament to His Profession” by Charles L. Harness [Analog Feb 1966]
The Eskimo Invasion” by Hayden Howard [Galaxy Jun 1966]
The Manor of Roses” by Thomas Burnett Swann [F&SF Nov 1966]
For a Breath I Tarry” by Roger Zelazny [Fantastic Sep 1966]
This Moment of the Storm” by Roger Zelazny [F&SF Jun 1966]


At last, the Hugos are taking a page from our book and subdividing the shorter length prose by length.  We're also pleased to see how many nominees they accepted.  According to Ted White, the NyCon Committee included all the stories above an obvious cut-off threshhold (they got nearly 300 nominating ballots this year, as opposed to the ridiculous ~60 of last year).  And so, a broader cross-section of stories are being recognized. 

On the other hand, one wonders if the voters simply threw darts at their magazine collection to determine the contestants.  The UK magazines are not represented at all.  That the Vance won is not upsetting.  It's an excellent story, and I consider it better than the Swann (which is still quite good).  Zelazny is here twice because he makes a specialty of writing stories that will be nominated for Hugos.  Breath was better than Storm, but that they're both here isn't a problem.  Call Him Lord was generally liked but not loved among the Journey staff.  Ditto, Ornament (though I quite enjoyed that one).

But then you've got Hayden Howard's Esk novella (feh!), Apology to Inky (phew!), and the execrable The Alchemist (by Harness, who did Ornament).  Thus, a full third of the nominees in this category are kaka.  Not even tolerable, but just lousy.  And even though we had a full 21 Star winner and nominees, only 4 of the Hugo nominees overlapped.  This is what happens when the general audience doesn't read the British mags or the SF anthologies…


Short Fiction

Winner: “Neutron Star” by Larry Niven [If Oct 1966]

Nominees

Man in His Time” by Brian W. Aldiss [Who Can Replace a Man?, 1966]
Delusion for a Dragon Slayer" by Harlan Ellison [Knight Sep 1966]
Rat Race” by Raymond F. Jones [Analog Apr 1966]
The Secret Place” by Richard McKenna [Orbit #1, 1966]
Mr. Jester” by Fred Saberhagen [If Jan 1966]
Light of Other Days” by Bob Shaw [Analog Aug 1966]
“Comes Now the Power” by Roger Zelazny [Magazine of Horror #14 Winter 1966/1967]


I am going to go out on a limb and say none of these stories should have been on the ballot, each for different reasons.  Granted, Light was pretty good (the sequel is better), and my fellow travelers liked it quite a lot.  On the other hand, the Analog readership universally rated the story the worst of that issue.  If they didn't vote for it, who did?

And I didn't read the Zelazny (none of us did) so I can't comment on that one. 

But the Saberhagen is one of the weakest of the Berserker sentient space ship stories, and the Niven is definitely the least of his Bey Schaeffer era stories (why didn't readers choose the superior At the Core?).  The Ellison is routine, as is the Jones.  I suspect McKenna's story is only there as sort of an eulogiac honor since he died in '64 and this was one of his last pieces (unfinished, at that).

That leaves the Aldiss, which to its credit, did get nominated for the Galactic Star…in 1965.  Just because it got collected into a book last year shouldn't make it eligible again.

Phooie.


Best Dramatic Presentation

Winner: Star Trek – “The Menagerie” (1966) [Desilu] Directed by Marc Daniels; Written by Gene Roddenberry

Nominees

Fantastic Voyage (1966) [20th Century Fox] Directed by Richard Fleischer; Screenplay by Harry Kleiner; Adaptation by David Duncan; Story by Jerome Bixby & Otto Klement

Star Trek – “The Naked Time” (1966) [Desilu] Directed by Marc Daniels; Written by John D. F. Black

Fahrenheit 451 (1966) [Anglo Enterprises/Vineyard] Directed by François Truffaut; Screenplay by Jean-Louis Richard and François Truffaut and Helen Scott; based on the novel by Ray Bradbury

Star Trek – “The Corbomite Maneuver” (1966) [Desilu] Directed by Joseph Sargent; Written by Jerry Sohl


The fanzines have been full of discussion regarding this year's Dramatic Presentation Hugo.  Several years ago, the awards were changed so that only episodes could win rather than shows.  This was to keep Twilight Zone from juggernauting over everything several years running.

The result was a three-way split that threatened to give the Hugo to something that wasn't Star Trek.  While the fan community is somewhat split on the new science fiction show (for instance, Ted White and Alexei Panshin don't care for it), for the most part, fen dig it.  Thus was created a campaign to vote for the one episode that had the creator's name attached to it.  As it turns out, Menagerie was also a pretty good episode.  It's the one I picked even without prompting from Juanita Coulson.

So hooray for our side.  But once again, it's a pity that UK and German shows don't get on the ballot.


Best Professional Magazine

Winner: IF Science Fiction ed. Fred Pohl

Nominees

Analog Science Fiction and Fact ed. by John W. Campbell, Jr.
Galaxy ed. by Fred Pohl
New Worlds ed. by Michael Moorcock


Apparently American readers do read the UK mags.  I wonder how New Worlds ended up here, but none of the stories from it (or its sister/Siamese Twin Science Fantasy) did.  Folks continue to be more impressed with IF than we are, but perhaps they are rewarding the magazine for its standouts.  It does have them.

If you're wondering why The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction isn't on here, it's because one of NyCon's co-chairs (Ted White) is an assistant editor there.  Head cheese Ed Ferman decided it would be a class act to withdraw its eligibility.  Ted says the magazine placed third in nominations.

Best Professional Artist

Winner: Jack Gaughan

Nominees

Frank Kelly Freas
Gray Morrow
John Schoenherr


This year, it was all SF mag artists without folks from the world of (solely) book covers.  I'm very surprised to see Gaughan take the nod as he is my least favorite of these four.  I also read in a 'zine a couple of years back that he's somewhat prickly in person [Ted White has since written to tell me he's actually quite nice).  But he does have a distinctive style, and perhaps he had enough devotees to put him over the top.  Also, Schoenherr hasn't had a dramatic sand worm to illustrate in many months…

Best Fanzine


From Fanac

Winner: Niekas ed. by Edmund R. Meskys and Felice Rolfe

Nominees

Australian Science Fiction Review ed. by John Bangsund
Lighthouse ed. by Terry Carr
Yandro ed. by Robert Coulson and Juanita Coulson
Habakkuk ed. by Bill Donaho
Trumpet ed. by Tom Reamy
Riverside Quarterly ed. by Leland Sapiro


A ha — this may explain the Gaughan win.  Niekas is a nice big genzine, and Jack did the cover for the last '66 issue.  The winner and four of the noms were also Galactic Star winner/nominees, so all is right with the universe.  Trumpet didn't get on our slate, but it is an attractive 'zine with semi-pro print quality.  Habakkuk is a worthy pick, too, something like Niekas and RQASFR is devoted to reviews, and they do a lof of them, some large, some small.

It is worth noting just how fundamental these magazines are to the genre, and why it's a good thing fan concerns were not relegated to the ghetto called "Pong".  Each of these 'zines, and the dozens more besides (not to mention Galactic Journey!) constitute the connective tissue for speculative fiction.  With insightful analysis, thriving letter columns, poetry, stories, and news, the 'zines often provide more entertaining fare than the pro mags (recognizing, of course, that the 'zines would have no reason to exist were it not for professional publications).

So huzzah for 'zines, hooray for these 'zines.  (And please vote Galactic Journey! for Best Fanzine next year–thanks to all those who nominated us this year!)


Best Fan Writer

While the Journey (once again) did not win the Best Fanzine Award, one of our illustrious writers did take home the first Best Fan Writer Award!  I am, of course, referring to Alexei Panshin.


From Calisphere

Winner: Alexei Panshin

Nominees

Norm Clarke
Bill Donaho
Harry Warner, Jr.
Paul J. Willis


Apropos of my last comments, I am delighted to see the fan categories expand to three.  Some may find this a bit self-indulgent, or that the proliferation of Hugo categories is a bit overwhelming.  I feel that, as our field grows, the awards must grow, too, allowing more to be recognized for the good work they're doing.

Panshin appears in lots of places, from RQ to Yandro–and, of course, the Journey!  Bill Donaho is best known for Habbakuk.  I know Warner, the "sage of Hagerstown" (where my mother-in-law lives) from his letters and FAPA contributions.  I know the Willis brothers live in Virginia, but I can't remember what they've worked on.  Norm Clarke is another FAPAer, and I think I've caught his contributions to other 'zines.

I am surprised not to see Juanita Coulson or Steve Ashe or Ted White on this list, but Steve is new to helm of Science Fiction Times, Ted White is a filthy pro, and Juanita just became one, too, so maybe that's why.  Also, Coulson took home half a Hugo last year for running Yandro


Best Fan Artist


From Calisphere


From The Hugo Awards

Winner: Jack Gaughan

Nominees

George Barr
Jeff Jones
Steve Stiles
Arthur “ATom” Thomson


Alright, perhaps it wasn't Niekas that got Gaughan the pro Hugo nod because he also got the fannish art Hugo!  I feel bad for not being immediately conversant with the other names, even as they faintly ring bells.  I will pay closer attention to credits henceforth.

That said, I shall continue to plump for The Young Traveler, as I feel she is the most worthy fan artist!


In the light of day, our only day

After the big show, there was still fun to be had, particularly in the bars and room parties.  For some, these are the only part of the convention that matter!  On the other hand Janice and I are on the other side of 39 (not far, mind you… just a matter of days), so we generally went to sleep early.  But not always!


From Fanac

Finally, it was back to Idlewild…er…Kennedy aiport for a 707 jaunt back home.  Thank goodness for those new pneumatic headphones!  They helped take my mind off the reek (or "pong", as the UK folks say) of the ever present cigarette smoke we were trapped inside with.

Hope you enjoyed this report!  And stay tuned for next year's: San Francisco won the bid for the 1968 Worldcon, which means it'll be a local trip!




[June 22, 1967] The Pong Arising from the World Convention


by Alison Scott

Something is rotten in the science fiction fandom community. And its name is Pong.

I recently came into correspondence with Gideon Marcus, founder of Galactic Journey. I took him to task for the lack of fanzine reviews and commentary in his ‘zine–a shocker in such an otherwise comprehensive overview of our modern world of science fiction. He suggested that there was an obvious remedy to that omission. And so, I find myself dragooned into the position of “Associate Writer” for the Journey. You’re welcome.

Although I’m based in London, I’m fortunate enough to trade with many fan editors around the world, and hope to share with you some of the topics that are exciting fans this summer, and that are mentioned in the fanzines arriving in the post each day. And one topic,in particular, has consumed the thoughts of SF fans across the globe–the idea that the fan Hugos will be separated from the “real” Hugos and given their own name.


A section of the Hugo Award Nomination ballot for 1967, with a torn paper edge at the base.

Tucker’s Folly

How many of you remember Hoy Ping Pong? I am not sure how familiar that name will be to the readers of the Journey. Hoy Ping Pong – “The Chinese Buck Rogers” – was a pseudonym used by Wilson ‘Bob’ Tucker in the 30s and 40s for much of his humorous fan writing, such as his “Report of the 196th Convention”, which you can read as a featured letter in Wonder Stories, November 1934, if you can find a copy. Tucker dressed up as Pong for the first convention masquerade at Chicon in 1940, though I have been unable to find a photo of this event. Over the years there have been many occasions in which Tucker appeared in place of Pong, or where Tucker wrote an appreciation of Pong or vice versa. Japes of this kind were commonplace amongst early fans. And in Tucker's case, as appreciated (or not appreciated, depending on who you ask) as the Chinese characters we keep seeing being played by British actors in Doctor Who. [or Mickey Rooney's turn as Yunioshi in Breakfast at Tiffany's (ed.)].

Tucker will perhaps be best known to Fellow Travelers as an author and critic. Perhaps one of you has found your name “Tuckerised” as a character in one of his sadly infrequent novels. But those of us who follow fanzines will know that he is one of the very first and most energetic fanzine fans, and instrumental in the flourishing of fanzines and therefore of science fiction fandom itself. Sadly, Tucker has not published an issue of his fanzine, Le Zombie, since 1958. And so therefore (perhaps not so sadly) we have not seen so many outings for Hoy Ping Pong, or any other of Bob Tucker’s Pong-based pseudonyms, such as John W Pong Jr and Horatio Alger Pong. And as such, they are drifting into obscurity.

Until now. Here we are in 1967, and Ted White, from his lofty position of power as chairman of NyCon 3, this year’s World SF Convention, has decided that the time has come to expand the existing Best Fanzine Hugo. I think that many of we actifans would welcome additional awards for Best Fan Writer and Best Fan Artist. However, the NyCon 3 committee – and I think we must assume this is mostly Ted – decided to unilaterally create a new class of awards, the Fan Achievement Awards, by analogy to the Science Fiction Achievement Awards, and to nickname them the “Pongs”, by analogy to the “Hugos”.


Ted White at last year's Worldcon (Tricon).

It is entirely a matter for the committee of the current World SF Convention to decide which Awards are made. From time to time, fans have suggested that this should be more formalised, but those attempts have never lasted for more than the current year, as each new committee puts their own stamp on the Convention. So this year, as Buck Coulson writes in *Yandro* #169, “[Ted] scorned to use manipulation, propaganda, persuasion or even tact; he just came out, open and aboveboard, with his coup.” But as we see below, Coulson – for whom White is a regular columnist – was not actually averse to the idea.

Back and Forth

Fan editors as a whole, however, have not been pleased, to say the least. Following general grumblings, the *Double:Bill* editors, Bill Bowers and Bill Mallardi, wrote to five influential faneds. Three wrote back rapidly to agree with the Bills’ view that these awards should be Hugos; one replied verbally, and only one dissented – Buck Coulson, who as the Bills archly point out, already has a Best Fanzine Hugo.

Tom Reamy goes further, and suggests that, “We should outlaw such changes on the whim of the half-dozen who just happen to be the con committee. Any change the committee wants to make should be voted on by the membership and stop all this nonsense.” That might be a step too far; one can easily see how these arrangements could quickly become an unwieldy bureaucracy.

Despite the nomination form listing this as a done deal, and not containing any opportunity for comment, a quarter of the returned ballots argued that the awards should be named Hugos instead, and the idea of the Fan Achievement Awards be forgotten. The Convention committee did not follow that advice. Instead they reported that three-quarters of ballots supported the Pongs – quite the prevarication given that they were merely those that had not actively complained.

Although Tucker is much beloved as the “first fannish fan”, even some of the people who think that the Fan Achievement Awards are a fine idea are not persuaded that the best nickname for them would be the Pongs. Offense concerns aside, Hoy Ping Pong, and Tucker’s many other Pong-related pen names, are only known to dedicated fannish fans. Pong himself seems to exist primarily as Tucker’s alter ego; if the ‘Chinese Buck Rogers’ had adventures, we never learn of them. Many of the fans who have commented on this little furore have found the choice of “Pong” to be baffling.


Wilson Tucker in his younger years

Some of the fans who do support the move do so for the most cynical of reasons. They argue that the Best Fanzine Hugo has already been debased as a result of one or more winners who are to their minds unworthy. Therefore, why not start again with a new set of awards, which, while nominated and voted for by the same imperfect Convention members, will no doubt deliver a far better outcome? I trust most of you will be able to spot the flaw in that argument. 

Finally, it may only be here in Britain where the word “pong” means a peculiar and off-putting smell, but that seems to me to be another excellent reason why we would not want our highest awards for fan activity to be called after one. The ‘Hugos’ are traditionally a stylish and weighty rocket ship, redolent of, well, the future. Let our imaginations not trouble us too much with thoughts of what a ‘Pong’ award might look like.

Let Bye-pongs be Bye-pongs

Regardless of our feelings about the Pongs, it is time for everyone who is a World SF Convention Member to vote for the Hugos, including for what I hope will be the Best Fanzine, Best Fan Artist and Best Fan Writer Hugos. Although there is not space for it on the form, I suggest that you take the opportunity to make your feelings clear when you mail in your vote.

This is not just an academic exercise! Our own dear Galactic Journey is a nominee for Best Fanzine for the fourth time [at least, so we were told–I can’t find us on the ‘67 Hugo ballot…(ed)]. Would we be content to win a Pong, rather than a Hugo? Nobody does fanzines intending to win awards, but if we were to win, the Traveler and company would need to decide whether to accept our Pong, or turn it down as many faneds are suggesting.

Will the NyCon3 committee relent, and award Hugos rather than Pongs to the best fanzine, fan writer and fan artist of the year? Watch this space.

Thanks to Fanac for source material, and to Mark Plummer who additionally provided useful material from his own collection.

[Per the latest ‘zines, it does appear the Nycon Committee has relented, and the “pong” will go the way of the dodo. Thank goodness! (ed)]





[September 6, 1966] The Greatest (SF) show on Earth! (1966 Worldcon and Hugo Awards)


by Gideon Marcus

The Big Show



There are many science fiction conventions in the United States, from New York's Lunacon to Westercon, held in San Diego this year!  But the granddaddy of them all is the annual Worldcon, which travels from city to city as various fan groups are able to submit a winning bid to the con's members.

This year, Cleveland won the honor, and so the convention representing the three cities of Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Detroit was appropriately called "Tricon."  More than 800 fen (plural of fan, natch) descended upon the Sheraton-Cleveland (the historic "Renaissance") hotel for a long weekend of fun and fannery.  Even the best rooms at this ancient hotel were tiny, and several complained of dusty closets.  Luckily, we spent little time in our rooms!

As with every Worlcon there were panels and speeches, including one by Harlan Ellison, entertaining as always.


Calisphere photo

There was an Exhibit Hall…


Fanac photo

and an Art Show (the 7th annual, under the supervision of superfan Bjo Trimble)…


From John Skrtic

Bob Silverberg was inducted into the Knights of St. Fantony:


(from Mike Resnick)

Gene Roddenberry presented the pilots of the show, Star Trek, to much acclaim:


From Jay Kay Klein


Fanac photo

There was a masquerade judged by Fred and Carol Pohl, with yet more Star Trek-inspired costumage:


Fanac photo


Fanac photo


Fanac photo

But mostly, Worldcon was a venue for fans and pros to rub elbows, drink, shoot the breeze, and play cards.


Leigh Bracket, Lester Del Rey, Bob Silverberg, Isaac Asimov (Fanac photo)


Fanac photo

And, of course, the main event was learning which stories, people, and entities won this year's rocket-shaped awards. 


At the banquet awards ceremony: Is that the Young Traveler?  No!  It's Robyn Asimov! (From John Skrtic)

So for those of you who weren't there, here at last are the Hugo results!

Best Novel

A tie between Frank Herbert's Dune and Roger Zelazny's …and Call me Conrad.

Nominees

The Squares of the City by John Brunner [Ballantine, 1965]
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein [IF]
Skylark DuQuesne by E.E. "Doc" Smith [IF]


I'm not surprised the Heinlein didn't win, despite being the best of these titles.  A lot of fen refused to vote for it given that it didn't finish until this year.  Of course, this means Heinlein's probably lost his chance for this one, which is a shame since it's his best work yet.

I'm happy to see the Zelazny prevented an unalloyed win for the not-really deserving Dune.  The Brunner was largely panned by folks whose opinions I respect (e.g. Algis Budrys and Judith Merril).  We never even reviewed it at the Journey as we weren't quite certain the subject matter was really SF.

As for the Smith, well, we think that was mostly an honor in memoriam since the Doc passed away last year.  The Skylark stories are quite dated, and the newest one was pretty lousy.


Short Fiction


‘Repent, Harlequin!’ Said the Ticktockman by Harlan Ellison [Galaxy, Dec. 1965]

Nominees

Marque and Reprisal, by Poul Anderson [,F&SF, Feb 1965]
Day of the Great Shout by Philip José Farmer [Worlds of Tomorrow Jan 1965]
Stardock by Fritz Leiber [Fantastic Sep 1965]
The Doors of His Face, the Lamps of His Mouth by Roger Zelazny [F&SF Mar 1965]


I'm sure Ellison was pleased to take home the rocketship.  There's not much to say here; all of these stories got or were nominated for Galactic Stars.  Fafhrd and Gray Mouser fans are going to be disappointed Stardock didn't win, I suppose.


Best Dramatic Presentation

No Winner.  There weren't even any candidates!  Apparently Harlan didn't have the Tricon committee's phone numbers, so he couldn't rattle chains at 3am (to be fair, he has since apologized for his behaviour last year.  Now he just needs to apologize for The Oscar…)


Best Professional Magazine

IF Science Fiction ed. Fred Pohl

Nominees

Galaxy ed. by Fred Pohl
Analog Science Fiction and Fact ed. by John W. Campbell, Jr.
Fantastic ed. by Cele Goldsmith
Fantasy and Science Fiction ed. by Avram Davidson and Joseph Ferman


The winner this year comes as quite a surprise to me.  Analog still has twice the readership of the next most-read mag.  I suppose IF did start Heinlein's serial, so maybe this was a back door way of giving the Hugo to R.A.H.  Still, IF finished at the bottom of our rankings last year. 

1965 was weird for most mags, though.  With Cele Goldsmith and Avram Davidson stepping down, and Pohl coming into his stride, I think everything was a bit in flux.

Best Professional Artist

Frank Frazetta

Nominees

Frank Kelly Freas
Jack Gaughan
Gray Morrow
John Schoenherr


Another big surprise.  I can see why Frazetta might be popular, what with his doing the covers for the Tarzan reprints in '64 and working on the Conan covers (the first due out in November of this year).  But he hardly did anything last year.

As for Schoenherr finishing below Gaughan and Morrow?  That's patently ridiculous.  Maybe that's just alphabetical order.  I don't have the vote tallies…

Best Fanzine

ERB-dom ed. by Camille Cazedessus, Jr.

Nominees

Yandro ed. by Robert Coulson and Juanita Coulson
Double: Bill ed. by Bill Mallardi
Niekas ed. by Edmund R. Meskys and Felice Rolfe
Zenith Speculation ed. by Peter R. Weston


With the Tarzan and other Edgar Rice Burroughs coming back into print, it makes sense that a Burroughs-specific fanzine would get the nod.  Of the other four, I know Yandro and Zenith Speculation, but not the other two.  I spend most of my time reading the newszines.

For the fourth year running, our own endeavor did not make the ballot.  I blame myself for the oversight.  For those reading, Best Fanzine is spelled "G-A-L-A-C-T-I-C J-O-U-R-N-E-Y".

Now that that's settled, I'm sure we'll get more votes next year!


Best All-Time Series

Foundation series, by Isaac Asimov

Nominees

Barsoom series, by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Future History series, by Robert A. Heinlein
Lensmen series, by Edward E. Smith
The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien


This is a new category.  The nomination of Tolkien's series is significant — had not Donald Wollheim published the series in cheap paperback form, the adventures of Frodo and Samwise would be largely unknown.  The other nominees are unsurprising, though I was sad that neither Cordwainer Smith's nor Zenna Henderson's series were on the list.  If the "Best Series" Hugo continues, Smith could get the nod next year given his untimely death last month at the age of 53.

It is interesting that Asimov ultimately won as it seemed pretty clear the Tricon committee hoped Tolkien would get the nod (they proposed Lord of the Rings as an example from the first).  Well, as Harlan knows, you don't always get what you plump for.


So that's that!  It was an exhausting but thrilling time.  We enjoyed the small part we played in the proceedings, all the wonderful people we met, and we look forward to next year's event in New York!

(And don't forget to tune in September 8 at 8:30 PM (Pacific AND Eastern — two showings) for the world television premier of Star Trek!)

Come join us!




[November 26, 1965] Plagues and Unicorns Science Fantasy and New Worlds, December 1965


by Mark Yon

Scenes from England

Hello again!

The issue that arrived first in the post this month was Science Fantasy..

However, the incredibly cheap looking cover did not bode well. I reckon the thankfully-unnamed artist put this together at the end of a spare five minutes. But it is in colour.

This month’s Editorial, like that in New Worlds, is a report on the Worldcon held in London in August. Such is the delay in publishing. Perhaps this is what absentee-editor Kyril has been working on over his two months of absence?

As you might perhaps expect for such a prestigious event – it is only the second time that the Worldcon has been held in England, after all – the comments are generally positive. What is interesting about Kyril’s report is that not having attended one before he is seeing the event with fresh eyes. It is also interesting that much of what happens is not the Worldcon itself – Kyril’s mention of a meeting in Oxford with the likes of Messers. Aldiss, Ballard, Blish and Harrison made me quite envious. Oh, to be a fly on the wall there!

It is clear that such social gatherings have paid off- not only is there going to be an “all-star issue” in the near future, expect more writing from Judith Merrill in both Science Fantasy and New Worlds. Think of that as an early Christmas present.

Kyril’s also been persuaded to have a change of heart and include story ratings, although it must be said in a different way to New Worlds. Here are the ratings for Issue 76 (September 1965) and 77 (October 1965):

To the actual stories.

Plague from Space , by Harry Harrison

And where to start the gap left by Burnett Swann’s serial finishing last month? With another serial, this time from Harry Harrison.

I must admit that I was a little wary, having being underwhelmed by Harry’s most recent serial, that of Bill, the Galactic Hero in New Worlds. This one seems to tread on ground less satirical and more like Harry’s recent novel, Deathworld, which is even referenced in the serial’s banner heading.

A typical science-fiction catastrophe story, it is perhaps unusual to be the lead story in Science Fantasy. Whilst it is entertaining enough – and I found it to be more interesting than the tale of ol’ Bill – it’s sf for the masses, a story that wouldn’t be amiss in a Hammer horror movie. Anyone who remembers the Quatermass television series and movies will know what they’re getting here. It is easy to read and undeniably well-written, but I can see why it is in Science Fantasy and not New Worlds. New Worlds is rapidly outgrowing such dated material. 4 out of 5.

As Others See Us, by E. C. Tubb

Another regular veteran of both magazines, last seen in the October 1965 issue with State of Mind.  This is the story of Mark, who on finding a strange object in the sea, puts it on to wear and finds that it gives him the power of telepathy. The author clearly tries to be lyrical in the telling of the tale, and there’s a lot of introverted navel-gazing at the beginning about the sea, counterpointed by an almost Lovecraftian, weak ending as Mark returns to the sea. 3 out of 5.

A Question of Culture, by Richard A. Gordon

And this is also the return of someone we read last month, with Time’s Fool in New Worlds. Now with an added ‘A’ (presumably to avoid confusion with the more famous writer of the non-genre Doctor books), Richard’s story this month is about a future where men have to have a yearly examination about ‘Kulture’ at the offices of the Aesthetics Council in the National Gallery. Being tested on music, art and literature has dire consequences should Mr. Henry Shepherd fail – a visit to the Cultural Realignment Centre. There’s a point in there about what negative impact the forcing of culture could have upon the general public, and an impressive diatribe from Henry to illustrate the point. I found the thought of the National Gallery being used as some sort of examination centre a little amusing, but overall, it’s an extrapolation taken to rather silly extremes. 3 out of 5.

Democratic Autocracy, by Ernest Hill

Another veteran. This story is a political one. Child Manaton is Minister of Health in some future state in the 41st century, the man entrusted with ‘Eradication’ – a simple, hygienic way of disposing of those who are old or crippled or unable to provide a service to the State. He takes to his work enthusiastically, embodying Jeremy Bentham’s ideas of population control for the greater good, but has a personal crisis when his mistress Lilith finds herself genito-revulsive and therefore a candidate for Eradication. Rather than send her to the Cylinder for execution, Manaton persuades scientists to look for a cure for Lilith instead. The public, realising the unfairness of it all, revolt (Democratic Autocracy, see?), which has consequences for Manaton and Lilith. The story reads well enough, although it has a tendency to over-sell its own importance. 3 out of 5.

Cleaner than Clean, by R. W. Mackelworth

A  story about a man working for the Public Works Department, who has to deal with what seems to be a light-hearted protest about some man’s drains, but which eventually leads to events which are more sinister. The cause of this issue is (believe it or not) a ‘secret ingredient’ in a new brand of washing detergent. It is an unusual style for Mackelworth, whose material tends to deal with more weighty matters. This one wobbles between humour and horror and finishes weakly. In the end, this is inconsequential stuff. 3 out of 5.

Passenger, by Alan Burns

We’ve met Alan Burns before, with the strange story of Housel (in the May 1965 issue). This one is just as strange, but poorly executed. Rankin ‘Rank’ Quayle meets friend and work colleague Cilla O Dare (nicknamed ‘Killer’ – the second story this month with such a nickname) before setting on a caper. It sounds a little like a traditional crime story, but as this is science fiction, Killer is a ‘sensitive’, with telepathic powers and Rank is the muscle guy.

Together they work for Handley, hunting shapeshifting aliens. When they go to meet Handley at his workplace, Killer faints, thus clearly foretelling that nasty things are happening at Handley’s factory. The twist in the story is that – gasp- Killer is not who she appears to be and is actually a human being used to transport an alien in their body, as is Handley, who is really an alien leader. In order to save O Dare, Quayle agrees to transfer the alien from her to himself, but in the end betrays them and foils an alien invasion.

Even if that precis didn’t make you squirm, the story is a mess, filled with errors and poor punctuation, as well as long stretches of exposition that do little to keep the reader engaged. It all reads as bad space opera of the “one bound and he was free” type that we left long ago. I thought that as a new writer Burns had potential with Housel, but it seems he may have reached his peak already. 2 out of 5.

Summing up Science Fantasy

This is an issue that plays safe – lots of the regular writers from the British magazines, producing fairly typical and totally expected material. Even the serial story panders to the predictable. It’s a reasonable issue, with some variety, but there’s nothing here that I found particularly memorable. Overall, it feels like a half-hearted effort by Kyril, just back off his holiday. When the most interesting read is the Editorial, it doesn’t exactly sell itself to me.

Onto this month’s New Worlds!

The Second Issue At Hand

After an uninspiring Science Fantasy issue, I was hoping for better with the arrival of New Worlds. However, the cover seems to be an inferior attempt to replicate Jackson Pollock’s abstract expressionism – and whilst refusing to call it “a load of Pollocks”, it hardly makes me want to pick up and read the magazine. It makes me think I’ve spilt something on the cover! But I’ll try and be nice – at least, as with the Science Fantasy, it is in colour.

Like Kyril’s efforts, this month’s editorial from Mike Moorcock praises Worldcon and adds a few more gossipy details to Kyril’s version of events. There was what sounds like an interesting ‘discussion’ on one of the panels between John W Campbell and John Brunner about politics in science fiction, with Campbell doing what he seems to do and taking a view designed to stir up debate – in this case, that slavery is acceptable as a reasonable system of government in science fiction. It does sound like it was fun!

Secondly, Moorcock heralds the arrival of the second issue of a new critical magazine, Science Fiction Horizons, which is so positive that it reads as if Moorcock would rather be there than here – to quote, “SF Horizons [is] still the most stimulating magazine of its kind ever to appear in the sf world.” But then that might be just because there is an interview with William Burroughs in the issue, someone who Moorcock clearly rates as an influence.

To the stories!

The Wrecks of Time (Part 2 of 3)), by James Colvin

Straight into the second part of this entertaining serial. If you remember from last time, this was a story of multiple Earths with a rambunctious hero by the name of Professor Faustaff. With his faithful assistants, Faustaff takes on his nemesis Herr Steifflomeis and the nefarious D-Squad, who for reasons initially unknown seem determined to attack Faustaff’s teams and cause chaos, destroying alternate Earths by creating Unstable Matter Situations (UMSs).

This time, Faustaff begins by being held at gunpoint by Steifflomeis and then held captive by a new adversary, Cardinal Orelli, who appears in a helicopter and takes Faustaff and Steifflomeis away to his camp. Upon taking Faustaff we discover two things – that Orelli has a disruptor weapon that he is clearly not afraid to use and, secondly, two of the D-Men is some form of suspended animation from which Orelli cannot wake them. They travel with the D-Squaders to Earth-4, where Orelli’s headquarters is in a deserted Gothic style church. With the laboratory equipment there it is hoped that Faustaff can revive the D-men, although he actually finds in a shock revelation that they are robots, the creation of some race from beyond the multiple Earths.

Suddenly Faustaff ends up back at his base on Earth One and is reunited with his team. They tell him that a new Earth – called hereafter Earth-Zero – is currently being created by an unknown intelligence. An expedition to destroy Orelli’s headquarters on E4 is organised, but at the same time a crisis has developed on E1 that develops into a War between East and West. Faustaff meets again the oddly emotionless Maggy White from E3, who tries to persuade him to give up his actions and explains some of the bigger picture.

When nuclear war is declared, Faustaff, his colleagues Gordon Ogg, Doctor May and John Mahon and his friend Nancy Hunt travel to E3, from where they hope to gain access to E-Zero and set up a new headquarters there. Lots of things then seem to happen quickly. Multiple Earths are destroyed. Orelli reappears in a base on E3 and Faustaff and his colleagues go to meet him again. Steifflomeis also then reappears. All of them are then transported together to Earth Zero for another sudden ending.

Gun-toting Cardinals, emotionless femme-fatales and snarling adversaries, this serial is still a lot of fast-paced fun. However, as much as I enjoyed this, I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as last month. The general impression is that there’s a lot of running about and the latter part of the story in particular is very talkative, with Faustaff seemingly spending much of it speaking to other characters. There’s a lot of enthusiasm here, but in the end it all felt a bit-one note and consequently quite wearying by the end with its relentless energy. It is very much a middle part of a story, with little resolved. Anyone wandering into this part having not read the first may be rather confused by what is going on, although I suspect that that is partly the point. However, lots of running around and incessant talking makes this 3 out of 5.

Transient, by Langdon Jones

For the second time in two months the second story of the issue is by Moorcock’s second-in-command. (There’s some weird numerology thing going on there…) I liked last month’s story overall, but I think this month’s titular tale is better.

The start of the story is about a man who seems to die but then wakes up in a hospital wondering where he is.

Actually… we discover that the narrator is not a man but a chimpanzee who has had his consciousness raised to the level of a man, so much so that he is able to hold a conversation with his Doctor. Immediately this made me think of Daniel Keyes’ excellent A Flower for Algernon, but the difference here is that the chimpanzee understands that he is going to begin to lose his uplifted abilities after two hours, and his knowing that he is losing his faculties in a few pages is both terrifying and very sad. Good as Transient is, it is sub-Keyes in quality. 4 out of 5.

J Is for Jeanne, by E. C. Tubb

The second story from this regular veteran this month. It’s been a while since we’ve had an author in both issues in a month, isn’t it? This one is different in style from As Others See Us, as it begins with Jeanne (of the title) telling of a repeating nightmare she has to Paul. They go to see Carl, who seems to be a psychologist. There’s lots of discussion of different types of psychological theory to suggest what the dream might be about – the author has clearly done to some research and wishes the reader to know that! – before the reason for this dream is revealed. It is a twist in the ending that’s not really original but I suspect one that Philip K Dick would like. I was less impressed. 3 out of 5.


A grumpy Jerry Cornelius. Illustration by Douthwaite

Further Information, by Michael Moorcock

This is another – the second – in Moorcock’s now seemingly ongoing series of Jerry Cornelius stories, who we first met back in the August 1965 issue with Preliminary Information. And as seems to be the norm now, we are dropped into the story without any knowledge of characters or what is going on. Cornelius, with his assistant Miss Brunner and some others, arrive at a house that used to belong to Jerry’s father (‘Old Cornelius’) but is now owned by his brother Frank. Jerry wants some secret microfilm in the house’s cellar, but Frank does not seem happy to see Jerry, as their attempt to enter the house involve all manner of weapons being exchanged, including hallucinogenic gas, needle guns and nerve bombs, with the expected results. Jerry also tries to retrieve Catherine, but is less successful. It’s all rather frantic and even mystifying but I suspect that that is the point. If readers didn’t realise before now, then the similarity in writing between this story and Colvin’s serial seems pretty obvious to me here.

As enjoyable as this was, putting two similar stories together in one issue may either be too much of a good thing or reflect a hint of desperation to fill the pages on the Editor’s part. 3 out of 5.

Dance of the Cats, by Joseph Green

In the January 1965 issue of New Worlds Joseph introduced us to Silva de Fonseca and Aaron Gunderson, two film makers who travel to different planets to record anthropological customs and culture. This time they are to travel to Epsilon Eridani Two, where they hope to record a legendary dance performed by the cat-like residents known throughout the galaxy. There’s a story to be told of dominant sexy cat-leaders and telepathic subservient dogs here – yes, it really is a story of cats and dogs! – which has a surprisingly dark element to it. The hypnotic element of the dance being recorded leads to Aaron joining in a mass orgy, which afterwards he shamefully feels could be seen as rape. There’s also a sub-plot involving the attempted abduction of the dance troupe by playboy Danyel Burkhalter, who hopes to force them to join his father’s circus. A story that tries to mix light-hearted humour with weightier themes, which although well-written, doesn’t quite succeed for me. 3 out of 5.


Illustration by James Cawthorn, which sums up the story quite nicely!

To Possess in Reality, by David Newton

This is a story that begins like a fantasy story, with princes, princesses and unicorns, but then takes a sudden left turn into science fiction with the arrival of Xavier, a starship pilot and salvager. Upon Xavier’s leaving of Fairyland, through use of the macrocosmic Hyperdrive, he inadvertently takes with him a lovestruck Prince and a virginal Princess and returns to Earth, which is a war zone. A visit afterwards to the inevitable Company Psychotelepath leads to a decision that needs to made by Xavier. One of the wackiest stories I’ve recently read, but quite good fun in its send-up of Fantasy themes. 3 out of 5.

A Mind of my Own, by Robert Cheetham

This is a menage a trois tale, the story of what happens when a strapping young half on an expeditionary pair named Mike meets and falls in love with young Juline. The complication is that Mike’s other half of the pair is a telepathic Sensitive who falls in love with Juline as well. Short yet competent. 3 out of 5.

Ernie, by Colin R. Fry

A story of an unnamed rocketman on Mars who gambles in a casino, loses all his money and then is offered a job as an overseer in an etherium mine on the Moon. The work is tough and violent. He meets Pete and Ernie, two of a group of mutant dwarves (yes, really!) working in the mines. It is dangerous work, and Ernie is involved in an accident which blinds him. As a result, the storyteller has to sack Ernie, albeit reluctantly as he can no longer work in the mines. Ernie, led by Pete, manages to escape the mine, which leads to strike action and a knife-fight between some of the miners. The ending is abrupt and rather unconvincing. I was left wondering what the actual point of this story was. Is it a story designed to shock? (It didn’t.) Was it to bring to light the point that in the future slave mines may exist, even on the moon? If so, it is a point emphasised rather bluntly – it is said, for example, that the unnamed lead character is not averse to using a whip, if he has to. But it all seems a bit depressing and pointless to me. 2 out of 5.

Book Reviews, Peristyle and Letters

This month’s Book Reviews may be lacking in the breadth of last month’s reviews, but we do have some depth. Langdon Jones gives a more-than-three-pages review of Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine. Daring to go against the opinion of his Editor-in-chief, Mike Moorcock, Langdon Jones likes it a lot, going so far as to say that it is one of Bradbury’s best. Sentimental, admittedly, and steeped in nostalgia, but “a curiously heady brew” of connected short stories.

There is a briefer review by R. M. Bennett of Eric Frank Russell’s story collection, Somewhere A Voice, which is praised for its versatility and that it is generally an above average collection, although the reviewer is left with a feeling that the author can do better.

Onto Dr. Peristyle (Brian Aldiss) this month. It’s quite short, but brilliantly acerbic. I like these retorts to the science fiction community, but I’m not entirely sure Dr. Peristyle’s sojourn from the pages of the BSFA journal have been entirely successful here. Nevertheless, this month has intriguing responses to questions such as: “Do you believe a science fiction convention advances the cause of science fiction?”

In the letters pages there is comment made on the dichotomy created by Brian Aldiss’s writing (does the respondent know about Dr. Peristyle, I wonder?), a congratulatory agreement for the attempt to broaden the science fiction genre, and praise for Harry Harrison’s recent serial, Bill the Galactic Hero, which you may know that I disagreed with.

Summing up New Worlds

An issue of highs and lows. Langdon Jones’s story is memorable but based around an old theme, whilst the Colvin/Moorcock tale is surprisingly less impressive – I am starting to feel that this is one of those stories that starts with a great idea but fails to reach its potential. Moorcock’s other story was interesting, but too similar to the Colvin for me to fully enjoy it. Joseph Green’s tale was marvellously silly, but the rest are determinedly unmemorable. The predominance of Moorcock’s writings should have meant that I liked the issue more than I did, but I remain curiously unmoved on the whole.

Summing up overall

Well, I wasn’t expecting to say this month that not just one but both issues reviewed are surprisingly rather disappointing. There’s nothing really wrong with them, but I feel rather deflated after reading them. This may be that the Editors were too busy at the Worldcon to spend as much time on the issues as they normally do, or there’s something else amiss behind the scenes. But neither issue is a winner this month, frankly. If I had to pick ‘a winner’, it probably would be New Worlds – but only just.

Now that you have celebrated that event known as Thanksgiving (and we have had Bonfire Night here in Britain), we’re now on the countdown to Christmas. The shops are open, and the trees are blazing with light… I’m starting to get quite excited (albeit in that typically understated British manner!) and New Worlds are trying to make me spend money in the nicest possible way:

Until the next…



[September 2, 1965] A Clash of Cultures (THE 1965 WORLDCON)


by Mx. Kris Vyas-Myall

Loncon II

I am not a huge lover of fan conventions. I have attended one of the prior Eastercons and some small local gatherings, but no others, not being one for big crowds and with my job sometimes requiring unsociable hours.

However, I made an exception for LonCon II for a few reasons. Firstly, this is only the second WorldCon to be held outside of North America. Having missed the first one eight years ago, I didn’t want to miss it again. Secondly, the guest of honour is Brian W. Aldiss, who is one of my favorite writers of recent years (competing only with Ballard, Delany and Dick) and I did not want to pass an opportunity to see him speak. Thirdly, I have a number of fan-friends I only correspond with via mail and fanzines who are going to be there, so I will finally get to meet up in person. Finally, with a child on the way my chances to go in the future are likely to be less.

Worldcon 1965 Logo

Unlike many I did not invest in a hotel room but travelled down by train each day. Being only a couple of hours train ride it was not different from my usual work commute. However, I will admit it did make more tired than some of the other attendees who either got bed and breakfast rooms or stayed with friends in London.

Brian Aldiss, Duncan Lunan, Harry Harrison, Peter Day (Image via fiawol.org.uk)
Brian Aldiss, Duncan Lunan, Harry Harrison, Peter Day (Image via FIAWOL)

The first evening’s only panel was an interesting one with Harry Harrison claiming SF is “The Salvation of the Modern Novel”. However, the main feature of the evening was hanging out and meeting friends I hadn’t got to see in person in a long-time. Although crowded, the hotel bar was an enjoyable place to be.

One of the most important differences with the other fan gatherings was the size. Whilst I have heard it is smaller than many of the American gatherings, British conventions tend to only be a maximum of a hundred people. I have heard the estimate of attendees at around 400. There also seemed to be splits in the evening between American and British panellists.

Winners of the Most Authentic Heroic Fantasy costume, Ian and Betty Peters as John Carter and Dejah Thoris (Image via fiawol.org.uk)
Winners of the Most Authentic Heroic Fantasy costume, Ian and Betty Peters as John Carter and Dejah Thoris (Image via FIAWOL)

Ted White set the cat among the pigeons for declaring his distaste for the New Wave, saying that British magazines are full of  “stories which start nowhere and go nowhere” and that they are stuck in a twentieth century mode of writing, simply imitating mainstream fiction, calling for science fiction to be rooted in the adventure stories of the pulps.

But, as usual, the most controversial comments came from John W. Campbell. In the first panel, I previously mentioned, Irene Boothroyd enquired how much SF was slanted towards women readers and Campbell responded that 95% of science fiction readers are men, so economically they cannot do more. Though I found this a very facile argument I did appreciate Pete Taylor suggesting a 2.5 cent section of Analog for women readers and Harry Harrison suggesting a small section for hemaphrodites (whilst I am sure it was meant in jest as I do not consider myself male or female I choose to appreciate the recognition).

Putting aside how absurdly reductive Campbell is being, it definitely didn’t feel that way in this convention, where I would say it looked to me like a quarter to a third of the attendees were women. And the argument we have regularly seen stated in the papers that they are simply wives and girlfriends dragged along was patently shown to be untrue from the engagement on display.

Karen Anderson as she-devil (Image via fiawol.org.uk)
Karen Anderson as she-devil (Image via FIAWOL)

In a later panel on Monday, Campbell responded to the Watts riots by suggesting that the best solution was to reintroduce slavery and compared black people to worker bees who would die without it. Thankfully, the audience and other panellist had little patience for him, with Moorcock mocking Campbell, Brunner carefully disproving his arguments and the audience asking him tough questions he couldn’t answer.

Brian Aldiss in discussion with other European SF pros.
Brian Aldiss in discussion with other European SF pros (Image via FIAWOL)

That is not to say there were not some excellent talks. Brain W. Aldiss led a discussion on science fiction in Europe, and Brunner gave a lengthy talk entitled, How to Get High Without Going into Orbit.

The most notable part of the event was, as usual, the Hugo awards. Silverberg was presenting the winners and doing this incredibly slowly (some found this entertaining, I personally just found it irritating). Anyway here are the results:

Robert Silverberg, Ken Bulmer (Image via fiawol.org.uk)
Robert Silverberg, Ken Bulmer (Image via FIAWOL)

Best Novel

The Wanderer by Fritz Leiber [Ballantine, 1964] – 52 Votes

Nominees

Davy by Edgar Pangborn [St. Martin’s Press\Ballantine, 1964] – 48 Votes

The Planet Buyer by Cordwainer Smith [Pyramid, 1964] – 34 Votes

The Whole Man AKAThe Telepathist by John Brunner [Ballantine, 1964\Faber & Faber, 1965] – 26 Votes

No Award – 14 Votes

Best Novel The Wanderer Fritz Leiber

A tight race for first position with Leiber winning out. He's obviously the bigger name, but most of us at the Journey thought his book was the weakest of the field. However, Leiber has been campaigning hard in some of the British magazines and it received a lot of love for making references to fan culture and numerous other interests.

Best Short Fiction

Soldier, Ask Not by Gordon R. Dickson [Galaxy Oct 1964] – 60 Votes

Nominees

Once A Cop by Rick Raphael [Analog May 1964] – 47 Votes

Little Dog Gone by Robert F. Young [World of Tomorrow Feb 1964] – 37 Votes

No Award – 30 Votes

Soldier, Ask Not by Gordon R. Dickson

The Dickson got an honorable mention on our Galactic Stars, as did the Raphael, and it is definitely a worthy winner

Best Dramatic Presentation

Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) [Columbia Pictures/Hawk Films] Directed by Stanley Kubrick; Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick, Terry Southern & Peter George; based on the novel Red Alert by Peter George – 99 Votes

Nominees

The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao (1964) [George Pal Productions/Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer] Directed by George Pal; Screenplay by Charles Beaumont; based on the novel The Circus of Dr. Lao by Charles G. Finney – 41 Votes

No Award – 33 Votes

Mary Poppins (1964) [Walt Disney Productions/Buena Vista Distribution Company] Directed by Robert Stevenson; Screenplay by Bill Walsh and Don daGardi; Based on the novel by P. L. Travers  – 1 Vote – Write In

Best Drama Dr Strangelove

A big win for Dr. Strangelove but not a big surprise there. Seven Faces is a good film, but Dr. Strangelove has been one of the most discussed movies of last year, (even if the Academy Awards appear to prefer musicals).

One interesting element is that all of the films, including the write-in, are based on novels. There are no original TV productions, such as The Outer Limits, Doctor Who or The Twilight Zone nor any original films such as Robinson Crusoe of Mars, The Gorgon or Mothra vs. Godzilla.

With Peter George accepting the award, this makes it the only British win.

Best Magazine

Analog Science Fiction and Fact ed. by John W. Campbell, Jr. – 63 Votes

Nominees

The Worlds of If ed. by Frederik Pohl  – 35 Votes

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ed. by Avram Davidson  – 34 Votes

Galaxy ed. by Frederik Pohl  – 30 Votes

No Award – 12 Votes

Best Magazine Analog

Analog's win is no real surprise simply due to the sales level comparative to the other magazines. What is more of a surprise is that If finished second, whilst we got no nods for the Cele G. Lalli magazines nor for the British magazines, which have been excellent recently and usually appear on the nominations list.

Best Professional Artist

John Schoenherr – 58 Votes

Nominees

Ed Emshwiller – 56 Votes

Frank Frazette – 26 Votes

Jack Gaughan – 22 Votes

No Award – 12 Votes

Best Artist John Schoenherr

The closest battle of the awards with Schoenherr just beating perpetual winner Emshwiller by just two votes. Schoenherr is probably the most talented artist working in the field right now and fully deserves the award.

Best Publisher

Ballantine Books – 54 Votes

Nominees

Ace Books – 50 Votes

Pyramid Books – 33 Votes

Gollancz – 20 Votes

No Award – 17 Votes

Best Publisher Ballantine Books

Not a category we do at Galactic Journey [We will this year (Ed.)], but Ballantine is an unsurprising win with it printing 3 of the 4 best novel nominees. I personally have a slight issue with how much of their output is just reprinting Edgar Rice Burroughs novels on a loop, but the newer work they put out is always of a strong quality.

Best Fanzine

Yandro ed. by Robert Coulson and Juanita Coulson – 69 Votes

Nominees

Zenith ed. by Peter Weston – 35 Votes

Double Bill ed. by Bill Bowers and Bill Mallardi – 28 Votes

Best Fanzine Yandro

Parting Comments

I myself did not speak on the main programme but Cora Buhlert, Gideon Marcus, Erica Frank, and other members from the Journey were involved in this year’s events.

I did, however, take part in a slightly controversial fringe event organized by some fans outside of the Con hours. In the one I joined we discussed what books we think will be still being read at the end of the next century (as a new wave fan, you may be able to guess my biases).

In spite some of the problems and overcrowding it was still great to meet people and attend a Worldcon. Whilst I am unlikely to be at another one any time soon, I am sure our worldwide reporting team will keep attending them. So make sure to look out for other Journeyers at Tricon in Cleveland, Ohio next year!

[And don't miss your chance to see Kris, Cora, and Katie Heffner talk about the state of fandom in 1965, right on the heels of Worldcon! Register now!]






[September 5, 1963] Oh Brave New World (the 1963 Worldcon)


by Gideon Marcus

This has been a year of many firsts.  My first year as a full-time writer, my first published fiction story, and now, my first Worldcon.  Ever since I became a science fiction fan back in 1950, Worldcons have been mysterious, half-magic events that happened to other people.  I'd read reports in Fanac or Science Fiction Times or heard summaries from attendees, but they were never real for me.

Until now.

On August 31, 1963, I walked through the doors of the Statler-Hilton in Washington D.C. and attended Discon I, August 31 – September 2, 1963.


The Statler-Hilton in Washington D.C.

It was a weekend of panels, shopping, heated debate, raucous partying, fantastic costumes, and writers.  There, in the flesh, I saw some of the titans of a field I am just entering.  Most of them were somehow apart from me, beyond my ability to connect with at more than a perfunctory level.  Others were more than happy to mingle.  For instance, rising star Bob Silverberg, shared banter and contact information. 

Of course, Silverberg is the fellow who wrote the second-most offensive story I've ever read, the one that turned me off of the magazine Venture forever.  One can only hope he's grown out of his reactionary mindset.


Silverbob, himself! (from fanac)

But in addition to the cavalcade of celebrities, there were, of course, the hundreds of fans, and boy did we have fun together.  The names of a few with whom I connected: Denise Head, Al Jackson, Myriam Warren, Larry Niven, Joe Haldeman.  I even spent a little time palling around with young Astrid Anderson (daughter of Karen and Poul — I never quite managed to cross their path).  Precocious kid.  She's going places.

As usual, Galactic Journey presented a panel on the current state of fandom.  The room was packed, and the questions were excellent.  There was just one moment of heat: an attendee took umbrage at our less-than-flattering comments regarding Barry Goldwater.  Well, it's a free country.


Leiber, Emsh, Ley, Scithers, Brackett, Asimov, De Camp (from locus)

On the last day, we crammed into the main hall for the award ceremony.  The highlight of the luncheon was, without a doubt, the final award for "Dramatic Presentation."  You see, Isaac Asimov was presenting, as he usually does (a rumor that it would be Ted Sturgeon turned out to be unfounded — he wasn't there).  He made his little introductions for each of the winners, with increasing irritation as the night wore on. 

You see, he really wanted a Hugo, and he was upset that he had never gotten one in his 25 years of writing.  And now that he'd transitioned to mostly writing science articles, it was becoming clear (to him) that he never would. 

Once he reached the last envelope, he took a moment to treat us all to a tirade.  He knew, he said, why he had never gotten the golden rocketship.  It had nothing to do with merit.  It was anti-semitism, plain and simple.  We were all Nazis.  Yes, even me.

And with a snarl, he ripped open the final envelope and called out, "The award goes to I…" and froze, his tongue tripping on his own name.  It turned out that there was no Dramatic Presentation award this year.  Instead, Asimov was given a Hugo for his F&SF science articles — "putting the science in science fiction," the award read.

The laughter lasted quite a long time. 

As for the rest of the Hugos, well, here's how they went:

Best Novel

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick [Putnam, 1962]

Nominees

Sword of Aldones by Marion Zimmer Bradley [Ace, 1961]
A Fall of Moondust by Arthur C. Clarke [Harcourt, Brace & World, 1962]
Little Fuzzy by H. Beam Piper [Avon, 1962]
Sylva by Vercors [Putnam, 1961]


H. Beam Piper in tie at the convention (from zarthani)

This selection is truly remarkable.  Not a single one of these books made our Galactic Stars list this year (though, to be fair, A Fall of Moondust was on our list the prior year).  The Dick is decent, but not Hugo-worthy; ditto the Piper.  The Bradley is just awful.  None of us read Sylva, a French novel about a woman who turns into a fox, so we can't judge that one.

Short Fiction

The The Dragon Masters by Jack Vance [Galaxy Aug 1962]

Nominees

Myrrha by Gary Jennings [F&SF Sep 1962]
The Unholy Grail by Fritz Leiber [Fantastic October 1962]
When You Care, When You Love by Theodore Sturgeon [F&SF Sep 1962]
Where Is the Bird of Fire? by Thomas Burnett Swann [Science Fantasy Apr 1962]


Costumes of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser at the convention (from fanac)

Here, we're on more common ground.  Of course, the WorldCon committee only picks five sub-novel length stories to award while the Journey gives out fifteen, which allows more opportunities for overlap between the two sets of awards.

The Vance is really an excellent novella, and I understand a sequel may be in the works.  The Leiber is definitely deserving, and its warm reception appears to have spurred a host of new Fahfrd and Mouser stories.  The Sturgeon is a reasonable choice, though it was not one of ours. 

We were not so taken by the Jennings, and we missed out on the Swann.  Would any of our fellow travelers like to clue us in?

Best Dramatic Presentation

No Winner

Nominees

Burn, Witch, Burn (1962) (alt: Night of the Eagle) [Anglo-Amalgamated/Independent Artists] Directed by Sidney Hayers; Screenplay by Charles Beaumont & Richard Matheson and George Baxt; based on the novel Conjure Wife by Fritz Leiber

The Day the Earth Caught Fire (1961) [British Lion/Pax] Directed by Val Guest; Written by Wolf Mankowitz & Val Guest

Last Year at Marienbad (1962) [Argos Films] Directed by Alain Resnais; Screenplay by Alain Resnais and Alain Robbe-Grillet; based on the novel The Invention of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares

The Twilight Zone (TV series) by Rod Serling [CBS]


From The Twilight Zone episode Little Girl Lost

As described above, no program managed to secure the gold rocket ship this year.  In any event, I am dismayed that we only covered two of the finalists.  We will endeavor to Do Better!

Best Professional Magazine

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ed. by Robert P. Mills and Avram Davidson

Nominees

Analog Science Fiction and Fact ed. by John W. Campbell, Jr.
Galaxy ed. by H. L. Gold
Fantastic ed. by Cele Goldsmith
Science Fantasy ed. by John Carnell

Once again, the names are the same but the order changes.  There just aren't that many magazines around these days, though there has been a resurgence lately (and I just read that Wonder Stories may be back!)

I wonder if we should start covering Science Fantasy

Best Professional Artist

Roy G. Krenkel

Nominees

Ed Emshwiller
Virgil Finlay
Jack Gaughan
John Schoenherr

Krenkel's is a name I was unfamiliar with until recently.  He's the one responsible for the beautiful cover work on the Edgar Rice Burroughs reprints.  The others are, of course, staples of the magazine world.

Best Fanzine

Xero ed. by Richard A. Lupoff and Pat Lupoff

Nominees

Warhoon ed. by Richard Bergeron
Mirage ed. by Jack L. Chalker
Yandro ed. by Robert Coulson and Juanita Coulson
Shangri L’Affaires ed. by Fred Patten, Albert Lewis, Bjo Trimble and John Trimble

"Where is Galactic Journey?" you cry.  After all, it was widely reported that our beloved journal would be on the ballot this year.  Sadly, due to some arcane rule I don't quite understand, Galactic Journey was not eligible for the Hugo in 1963.  Maybe next year

Despite our not having officially been on the ballot, the Journey was invited to the Sunday night reveling that is traditional for Hugo losers.  We sent a representative; however, the Traveler and Editor decided to get some much-needed rest.  It had been a roller-coaster of a week, and we wanted to be fresh for the return to San Diego. 

Nevertheless, Worldcon was a blast.  We loved the venue, the friends, and the programming.  We will definitely attend next year.  Hope to see you there!

[We'll be discussing the Hugo winners, losers, and shoulda-beens all week, starting now, at Portal 55! Come join us!]




[Sep. 4, 1962] Differences of opinion (the 1962 Hugo Awards!)

[if you’re new to the Journey, read this to see what we’re all about!]


by Gideon Marcus

Once again, the best and the brightest of the fans (and many of the rest of them) congregated for the biggest SFnal shindig of the year: WorldCon.  This year, Chicago won the bid to hold this prestigious event.  The Pick-Congress Hotel saw more than 500 fen gather for a Labor Day weekend of carousing, shopping, costuming, and voting.

You see, every year these fans select the worthiest science fiction stories and outlets of the prior year to be recipients of the Hugo, a golden rocketship trophy.  It's the closest thing one can get to a curated list of the best SF has to offer.  Winning is a tremendous honor; even getting on the nominees ballot is a laudable achievement.  In fact, we have been informed that Galactic Journey was the Nominee-Runner Up this year in the Best Fanzine category — thanks to all of you who got us to one rank below the ballot.  Perhaps next year will be the breakthrough!


The Chicon III fanquet, where the award ceremony was held

So let's see what the fans decided was 1961's best, and in particular, let's compare it to my list of favorites, the ones I gave at the end of last year.

Best Novel

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein [Putnam, 1961]

Nominees

Dark Universe by Daniel F. Galouye [Bantam, 1961]
Sense of Obligation (alt: Planet of the Damned) by Harry Harrison [Analog Sep,Oct,Nov 1961]
The Fisherman (alt: Time Is the Simplest Thing) by Clifford D. Simak [Analog Apr,May,Jun,Jul 1961]
Second Ending by James White [Fantastic Jun,Jul 1961]


Robert Heinlein holding court

This line-up shouldn't shock me, given the pre-convention buzz, and yet it does.  Stranger has gotten a lot of attention, particularly from the mainstream edges of our fandom (probably because it dares to mention sex).  It has also earned its fair share of scorn.  It's a lousy, preachy book, but if we're judging by the sales, then it's won its trophy, fair and square.

Galouye's book was my #2, so I'm glad it was recognized.  The Fisherman was quite good.  The Harrison was no great shakes, especially compared to Deathworld, which it resembled.  I suspect these two made it to the top ranks thanks to their appearing in Analog, the most popular digest.

We weren't covering Fantastic last year.  Maybe Second Ending is excellent.  Someone tell me, please.

Short Fiction

The Hothouse series by Brian W. Aldiss [F&SF Feb,Apr,Jul,Sep,Dec 1961]

Nominees

Monument by Lloyd Biggle, Jr. [Analog Jun 1961]
Scylla’s Daughter by Fritz Leiber [Fantastic May 1961]
Status Quo by Mack Reynolds [Analog Aug 1961]
Lion Loose by James H. Schmitz [Analog Oct 1961]

Once again, Analog dominates, and once again, I cannot agree.  None of these stories won the Galactic Star last year (and that's even with me giving out far more awards than Worldcon does).  I did give a Star to the first story in the Hothouse series, but the quality of the tales went down over the course of the publication.  I understand they were novelized early this year, so Aldiss may get another bite at the apple.  He doesn't deserve it, though (the reviewer for UK sf digest, New Worlds, agrees with me).

As for the rest, Monument is a good story, and I haven't read the Leiber, but the other two nominees were wretched.  And where's Cordwainer Smith?  Zenna Henderson?  Or a host of more worthy authors?  Feh, Chicago.  Feh!

Best Dramatic Presentation

The Twilight Zone (TV series) by Rod Serling [CBS]

Nominees

Village of the Damned (1960) [MGM] Directed by Wolf Rilla; Written by Stirling Silliphant and Wolf Rilla and Ronald Kinnoch
The Fabulous World of Jules Verne (1961) [Warner Brothers] Directed by Karel Zeman; Screenplay by Frantisek Hrubin and Karel Zeman; based on the novel Face au Drapeau by Jules Verne
The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon (U. S. Steel Hour #8.13) [CBS, 1961] Teleplay by Jame Yaffe; based on the short story Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Thriller (TV Series) [NBC, 1961]

This is interesting.  Three of the five are television shows, and while Jules Verne won a nomination, it wasn't for any of the films I watched and nominated.  I have not seen Village, but Ashley Pollard spoke fondly of it.  Neither The Twilight Zone nor Thriller were stellar last year, but I suppose if that's what you tune into week-after-week, you're bound to be partial. 

I'd be keen to know how the Flowers for Algernon adaptation was.  It was based, of course, on an excellent story.

Best Professional Magazine

Analog Science Fiction and Fact ed. by John W. Campbell, Jr.

Nominees

Galaxy ed. by H. L. Gold
Amazing Science Fiction Stories ed. by Cele Goldsmith
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ed. by Robert P. Mills and Avram Davidson
Science Fantasy ed. by John Carnell


That's Cele Goldsmith, editor of Fantastic and Amazing, at the podium

Another set of rankings that shouldn't surprise me — Analog has far and away the biggest circulation numbers.  That said, it was pretty lousy last year.  Of course, we weren't covering Amazing and Fantastic, and Science Fantasy remains the last English-language magazine yet to be reviewed at the Journey. 

It seems the fandom feels Galaxy is of highly variable quality, sometimes showcasing the best stuff and sometimes the worst.  I hold an opposite opinion — for me, Galaxy is always good, but only occasionally stands out.  My feelings on F&SF are, of course, no surprise to the regular followers of my column.

Best Professional Artist

Ed Emshwiller

Nominees

Virgil Finlay
Mel Hunter
John Schoenherr
Alex Schomburg


Emsh is on the right

Kelly Freas appears to have fallen out of favor.  Emsh remains the favorite, and I can agree with that.  I think I'm going to have to start nominating my own set of artists for Galactic Stars, especially after the beautiful work Gaughan contributed for Vance's novella, The Dragon Masters (which almost assuredly will win a Star of its own, if not a Hugo).

Best Fanzine

Warhoon ed. by Richard Bergeron

Nominees

Cry ed. by F. M. Busby, Elinor Busby and Wally Weber
Yandro ed. by Robert Coulson and Juanita Coulson
Amra ed. by George H. Scithers
Axe ed. by Larry Shaw and Noreen Shaw

Last up is the fanzines, which I don't generally have time to read — though I did pick up the latest copy of Rhodomagnetic Digest, and I now have a subscription to Axe and Science Fiction Times.  Fill me in on what I'm missing, folks?

So there you have it.  A markedly different list from what I would have chosen, but then I suppose there is merit to having more than one curated selection at your disposal.

What choices did you make?




[September 6, 1961] The 1961 Hugos!


by Gideon Marcus

It's that time of the year, again, when hundreds of sf fans (or 'fen') converge from around the world.  Their goal is not just to converse upon matters science and fictiony, but to determine the genre's brightest stars.  Yes, it's Hugo time!

This year, some three hundred fen gathered in Seattle Hyatt House Hotel for the 19th Annual WorldCon (appropriately dubbed "SeaCon" this year) over Labor Day weekend.  Wally Weber organized the shindig, and the silver/acid-tongued Harlan Ellison served as Toastmaster.  It's a convention I should have, by all rights, been able to have attended given my frequent travels to that jewel city of the Northwest.  A family wedding got in the way, however, so details of this, the year's most important sf fan event, had to be gotten second-hand.  Luckily, I got them via phone and some photos via 'fax for you all to enjoy!


Sam Moskowitz on the far left, Alan Nourse's back to us, then Poul Anderson; I can make out Robert Heinlein and Doc Smith in the back in profile; the fellow with the striped shirt is fan Ed Wood (not the director)

The guest of honor was the great Robert Heinlein, who gave a doom n' gloom speech about how he thought a good third of the population would soon be dead from wars and survivalist raids (or perhaps from boredom trying to get through his latest book). 


all pictures from fanac

As usual, there was a Masquerade Ball, with attendees sporting outlandish, sf-themed costumes:


Stu Hoffman and Sylvia Dees


Joni Cornell, Superfan Forrest Ackerman, and a fan I don't recognize


Ellie Turner and Karen Anderson


Bill Warren as The Invisible Man

There was a Dealer's Hall where hucksters, amateur and professional, sold their wares.  There was also an art show with some lovely pieces on display.

But most importantly, for the purposes of this article, at least, the attendees of SeaCon exercised their solemn right to choose the best genre titles for the year 1960.  Let's look at what they decided and how their choices compare to the ones I gave at the end of last year.

Best Novel

A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller [J. B. Lippincott, 1959]

Nominees

The High Crusade by Poul Anderson [Astounding Jul,Aug,Sep 1960]

Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys [F&SF Dec 1960]

Deathworld by Harry Harrison [Astounding Jan,Feb,Mar 1960]

Venus Plus X by Theodore Sturgeon [Pyramid, 1960]

My three favorites made the list, as well as Sturgeon's book (which, if not amazing, was certainly innovative) and Budrys' short novel, first published in F&SF.  Apparently, a number of fans felt it should have won the prize.  I, personally, found it to be the one entry that didn't deserve to be here.

Short Fiction

The Longest Voyage by Poul Anderson [Analog Dec 1960]

Nominees

The Lost Kafoozalum by Pauline Ashwell [Analog Oct 1960]

Open to Me, My Sister by Philip José Farmer [F&SF May 1960]

Need by Theodore Sturgeon [Beyond, 1960]


Poul Anderson and his Hugo

Of course, my presentation is a bit different – I break down my short fiction into smaller categories.  Anderson's story wasn't a finalist in my novella category, but I did give it four stars.  I'm very glad to see that the Ashwell (which was a finalist for a Galactic Star) was in close contention for the Hugo.  I hated the Farmer (though, I suppose, that's a matter of taste), and I never read the Sturgeon.  I wasn't aware that Beyond was back in print; it died back in 1955.

Best Dramatic Presentation

The Twilight Zone (TV series) by Rod Serling [CBS]

Nominees

Village of the Damned [MGM] Directed by Wolf Rilla; Written by Stirling Silliphant and Wolf Rilla and Ronald Kinnoch

The Time Machine [Galaxy Films/MGM] Directed by George Pal; Screenplay by David Duncan; based on the novel by H. G. Wells

Once again, The Twilight Zone gets the prize.  I would have given it to George Pal's film, though to be fair, I haven't seen Village.

Best Professional Magazine

Astounding Science Fiction ed. by John W. Campbell, Jr.

Nominees

Amazing Science Fiction Stories ed. by Cele Goldsmith

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction ed. by Robert P. Mills

I suppose this isn't too surprising.  While I feel F&SF was better than Analog last year, the difference was not tremendous.  As for Amazing, well, I'm not qualified to judge.  It's not currently among my subscriptions.

Best Professional Artist

Ed Emshwiller

Nominees

Virgil Finlay

Frank Kelly Freas

Mel Hunter

(This is virtually the same list as last year!)

Best Fanzine

Who Killed Science Fiction? a one shot edited by Earl Kemp got the Hugo this year.  The rules were promptly changed so that, in the future, one-shots won't be eligible.

Nominees

Discord ed. by Redd Boggs

Fanac ed. by Terry Carr and Ron Ellik

Yandro ed. by Robert Coulson and Juanita Coulson

Habakkuk ed. by Bill Donaho

Shangri L’Affaires ed. by Bjo Trimble and John Trimble

As usual, I don't read the 'zines (who has time), but I do tip my hat to the Trimbles, whom I met at a convention earlier this year, and who are the nicest people. 

Of course, I'm always hopeful that my 'zine will someday win a Hugo.  Perhaps next year, with your help, it shall!