by Mark Yon
Scenes from England
Hello again!
Well, after last month’s rather enthusiastic response from me – most unusual, honestly! – with the emergence of Impulse, “The NEW Science Fantasy”, I was very interested to see if it could keep up the standard of last month’s issue.
Having graced us with a cover from Mrs Blish last month, this month’s Impulse cover is back to the usual of late by using a Keith Roberts cover to illustrate his latest story in this magazine. Well, as the recently-promoted Mr Roberts is now the Associate Editor, why not? Presumably there’s a discount for using all these elements…
Kyril, the Editor, is in pensive mood this month. He professes that after two years he is still not sure what to write in the Editorial, but then goes on to give brief descriptions of this month’s stories before mentioning that he has concentrated on four longer stories this time, which has led to less “typically Bonfiglioni space-fillers”.
To this month’s actual stories.
Pavane: The Lady Anne, by Keith Roberts
I really liked Keith’s alternate history story last month, despite the odd ending. It has been hinted that this was the first of a series, and here is the second, now elevated to prime position in the magazine. As I said last time, and is made explicit this month, the premise is that Elizabeth I was assassinated in 1588. As a result, Protestantism has not taken hold in England and Roman Catholicism still dominates the world. With the Roman Catholic view of science being one of suspicion, and innovation suppressed, inventions have not as developed as they have been here today.
This time the story focusses on a life on the road, being centred around the Lady Anne, a steam tractor that moves goods from settlement to settlement along the roads of the predominantly rural Britain. It’s not an easy life – the cover suggests one of the challenges! – but there’s a real feeling of a way of life that is not dissimilar to that of the ancient mariner or the locomotive driver of Edwardian England. Keith’s vivid imagination describes what life could be like in this alternate history in a way that made me feel like I was there. Although there’s a rather clumsy attempt to tell of a doomed and unrequited relationship between Jesse the tractor driver and a woman in the town of Swanage which sits uneasily, this is a good start. 4 out of 5.
A Last Feint , by John Rackham
Another regular. John was last seen in the January issue of Science Fantasy with his Weird Tales-type story The God-Birds of Glentallach. This time the story is a much lighter one, about an inventor who attempts to invent a cheap vest and foil for fencing electronically but inadvertently creates a weapon that can slice things in half. This month’s silly story in Impulse, and the weakest. 3 out of 5.
Break the Door of Hell, by John Brunner
Having mentioned in New Worlds last month how much more we’re seeing of John Brunner of late, here’s a novella from the man. And whilst last month’s serial in New Worlds was OK (more about that later), this one is terrific.
Break the Doors of Hell is a fantasy story about a nomadic traveller, who has many names, who seems to be journeying from place to place and at different times to bring Order in an eternal battle between Law and the forces of Chaos. It is a great idea. I could see Mike Moorcock liking it, for it has that same mythical tone to it that the Elric stories have.
To bring Order, the Traveller travels across the All, giving people what they ask for, although the first part of the story shows that the result is often not what the requester wishes for.
Most of Break Down the Doors of Hell is about the Traveller visiting the once proud and pretty city of Ys, which now seems to be a place of decay where the inhabitants live a life of amoral decadence and decline. Led by Lord Vengis, they blame this decline on the city’s founders and wish to contact them, though long dead, to reprimand them. This does not go well.
Break the Doors of Hell is extravagant in its portrayals of decline and excess, giving vivid descriptions of the setting and the characters therein. There are cannibal babies, hints at bestiality and shriekingly awful lords and ladies in positions of power, none of which are particularly nice, but which also means that their come-uppance at the end is perhaps more satisfying.
Imaginative and definitely odd, this is quite different from the Brunner work I usually read, and different again from the other Brunner I've read this month. 4 out of 5.
Homecalling (Part 1 of 2) by Judith Merril
A few months ago I mentioned that both Moorcock and Bonfiglioli had said that as a result of talks at the London Worldcon we could expect fiction from Ms Merril in both Science Fantasy and New Worlds soon. And here it is. Kyril in his Editorial claimed that it is perhaps the best story in the issue.
Unfortunately, my own excitement was tempered by the fact that this is not “new” fiction but a reprint from Science Fiction Stories back in November 1956. Even more annoyingly, although the back cover claims that it is a complete short novel, it is actually only the first part of the story, to be continued next month. It is perhaps understandable, though. Ms Merril currently spends most of her time currently dissecting books in her reviews in The Magazine of Fantasy and SF. and The Year’s Best SF anthologies and presumably has little time to write new fiction.
We begin with what appears to be a family – mother Sarah, father John, daughter Deborah (also known as Dee) and baby Petey. However, their spaceship crashes on a strange planet and Dee is left with Petey to survive. After some exploring, Dee finds the home of the insect-like Lady Daydanda, who lives in a hive-like colony. After First Contact, Dee and Petey are persuaded by telepathy to be rescued by Daydanda’s hive, who take them back to their home. Daydanda as a Mother and a Lady of a Household is fascinated by them, especially as they seem to have travelled beyond the skies. The end of this first part leads to Dee and Daydanda meeting and, despite Dee’s initial and understandable reluctance, communicating with each other.
The character of Dee is lovely – a nine-year old who is brave, strong and resourceful in a way that I usually only see Heinlein achieving. She is no child prodigy, though, and Merril does well to make her seem like a nine-year old and not a child wunderkind. However, the triumph of this story is that through Daydanda, Merril manages to create aliens whose thoughts and concepts are logical and yet definitely alien. Daydanda’s initial mistaken ideas about Dee and Petey are understandable given the nature of her race, but much of the latter part of the story shows her resourcefulness, bravery and intelligence as she tries to both look after the orphaned children and understand them.
The story’s definitely worth reading, but like the reprint of Arthur C Clarke’s Sunjammer story in New Worlds in March 1965, it takes up space that could perhaps be better filled with new material. Therefore, although it is, as Kyril suggests, one of the best stories in the issue, I have removed one mark from my original score to make it 3 out of 5.
Summing up Impulse
The stellar group of authors in last month’s issue have been superceded by a smaller group of more varied and less well-known writers.
This could be seen as a return to normal, of going back to basics, and as a result a bit of a let-down. It doesn't help that the Merril is half of a reprint.
However, despite there only being four stories in this issue, I am impressed by the quality of what’s on offer. At least three out of the four are great, whilst the Rackham is a little bit of a placeholder, I’m afraid. Nevertheless, this is a good issue.
The Second Issue At Hand
Editor Mike Moorcock does not have Kyril’s crisis of confidence this month. He spends his time talking about the difference between ‘truth’ and ‘untruth’, which for most sf writers is difficult, involves total intellectual and emotional detachment and discipline. The reason for this musing is to allow Moorcock to suggest (again) that the best of the ‘new SF’ does this, unlike the ‘old’, and then use that point to say how good JG Ballard’s story in this issue is. That cover is awful, though.
To the stories!
Illustration by Unknown
The Assassination Weapon, by J G Ballard
After his book reviewing in New Worlds and his story in Impulse last month, we have a return to fiction by Ballard in New Worlds.
There has been an interesting trend in the New Wave fiction in recent months. Moorcock’s done it as James Colvin, referencing Eva Braun and Adolf Hitler in a story in the September 1965 issue, and Richard Gordon brought the Marquis de Sade back to a trial in the November 1965 issue. Here JG manages to use JF Kennedy, Harvey Oswald and Malcolm X in a much darker story, connecting them together in his usual cut-up disparate fashion.
My understanding of the story may be unclear. I get the vague impression that this one may even be beyond me, but Moorcock in this month’s Editorial summarises the story by saying that Ballard ”questions the validity of various popular images and modern myths which remain as solid and alive as when they were first given concrete form in the shape of the three assassinated men who continue to represent so much the atmosphere of their times. Ballard does not ask who killed them, but what killed them – and what combination of ideas and events created and then destroyed them?”
To do this Ballard writes a number of short paragraphs from different perspectives, all evoking people we ‘know’ and sometimes images Ballard has used before – the terminal beach, decaying cars, cityscapes – in a dazzlingly assembled group of seemingly disconnected elements which together form a patchwork of a story.
Personally, I am torn between admiration of such a bold idea and a feeling that the story is just taking American culture and trying to shock. The fact that Moorcock has to explain to me what the story is about, rather than me being able to work it out for myself, is a minus.
Despite this, Ballard has imagined a deliberately controversial story here that will confuse many (like me) yet at the same time make the reader think. Therefore typical Ballard, on form. 4 out of 5.
Skirmish, by John Baxter
The return of Australian John Baxter, last seen in these pages back in February 1965 with More Than A Man. This is the story of a hopelessly damaged spaceship, the Cockade, and the remaining crew’s attempts to finish their mission and survive against the alien Kriks. Well written but predictable Space Opera. It’s a bit of a relief after the intense Ballard, frankly. 3 out of 5.
No Guarantee, by Gordon Walters
We’ve met Gordon before with his story Death of an Earthman in New Worlds in April 1965. You may know him as George Locke. No Guarantee is a comical attempt to publish a monograph about the Moon landing but along the way discusses Literature and the members of the “Leicester Literary Longhairs”. The overall point of the story to me seems to be “Don’t go to the Moon!” It is written almost as a stream of consciousness, part comedy, part horror story, but the combination seems forced and it doesn’t really work for me. 3 out of 5.
Illustration by James Cawthorn
House of Dust, by Norman Brown
Yet another new name. Another post-apocalyptic tribe story about a group’s struggles to eventually return to the deserted city of their past. Not particularly original. 3 out of 5.
Illustration by Douthwaite
The Ruins, by James Colvin
James’s first story since the serial The Wrecks of Time, which started really well but disappointed me in the end. Here Maldoon is wandering in a set of ruins. He seems to encounter a city with cars, people and cafes, and then stranger things but in reality all of this seems to be hallucinations experienced whilst in the ruins as his mind breaks down. More drug related allegory that didn’t really mean a lot to me. Again, Colvin's story isn’t really bad but fails to excite. 3 out of 5.
Cog, by Kenneth Harker
A new writer to me. The title suggests something that is part of bigger machinery, but actually the word Cog is short for “cognito-handler”. Or at least I think so. Through this story there are a number of alternatives suggested – Chaser of Gloaming, Chance Orbit Gambler, Clerk Ordinary Grade, even Castor Oil Gargler. It is a mildly amusing joke that overstays its welcome and attempts to cover up the fact that this is an overworked satire. 3 out of 5.
Eyeball, by Sam Wolfe
Another new writer. A short but deliberately lyrical story about an Earthman from planet Alpha 762 who is the involuntary host of an invading Martian spaceship inside their body – actually, in one of his eyeballs – to gain intelligence before invasion.
There’s some wonderfully florid descriptive passages here. Try the first few lines as an example: ”Irritation surrounds the glowing softness, the jelly mass light sponge crisping in the raw sunlight attack. The red streaked itch and harsh grains of invisible sand dust. Ganglion strands sucking away protective juice,” which I suspect you will either love or, like me, feel that it is a little overworked. A story of style over substance, perhaps. 3 out of 5.
Illustration by James Cawthorn
Consuming Passion, by Michael Moorcock
A story about a man known as “Pyro Jack”, who can set off fires at will and does so across London for fame and triumphant recognition by the police and public – a sort of pyromaniac Jack the Ripper! He is arrested but escapes to a library, determined to make his last act memorable. Wonder what Ray Bradbury would make of this one? 3 out of 5.
The Evil That Men Do (Part 2)), by John Brunner
The second part of Brunner’s creepy story now. If you remember, Godfrey Rayner’s party-piece was that he is a hypnotist. When he puts reluctant Fey Cantrip into a trance she talks of a nightmare involving a white dragon. We found at the end that Rayner’s psychiatrist friend Dr. Laszlo has a patient with what sounds like the same dream.
This month Godfrey tries to get more about Fey’s background in order to help her. He talks to her few acquaintances and meets the patient Alan Rogers in Wickingham Prison. Through hypnosis Rogers reveals a sad and perverted background that seems to be centred on a pornographically explicit book, The Harder Dream by Duncan Marsh. To try and get to the bottom of the issue and help Fey, Godfrey travels to Fey’s original home in rural Market Barnabas, where we find that Fey has also had access to this book. The story ends in a fury of Weird Tales-ian psychosexual violence.
Last month I said that this is OK and read easily. This month the point of the story is revealed, as a sexual tale designed to shock. Whilst undeniably violent and sexually intense, It is still readable, but I much preferred the other Brunner on offer this month. 3 out of 5.
Articles and Book Reviews
First this month is an article from Bill Butler, he being the author of the poem From ONE in last month’s issue, which talks of William Burroughs and his work. As you may have noticed, since Moorcock’s uptake as Editor in New Worlds there has been a fairly regular indulgence in the deification of William Burroughs. We continue this here. Whilst I realise that there may be new readers to the magazine who may not have read this before, the long-term readers (of which I see myself as one), will recognize it.
Two points sprang to mind after reading this – one, the first part of the review does little more than summarize what J G Ballard said in issue 142, which, although relevant, rather bores those of us who have been here before, and second, it’s never a good idea to spend paragraphs explaining why Burroughs is deliberately obtuse and then berate fans of his work for not understanding his writing. I appreciate the enthusiasm of the article, but this feels like what you Americans call “a puff-piece” and so undoes the promotion that it seems to be trying to do.
George Collyn then continues this look at New Wave writers by examining the work of Kurt Vonnegut. Because I haven’t read this before, although it is not the first time Mr. Vonnegut has been mentioned lately in this magazine, I was more interested. Collyn points out that if Ballard is the British version of New Wave the Vonnegut is the American. Personally, I disagree (I think Zelazny, Ellison, and Samuel Delany fit the description, myself), but I understand the point he is trying to make. Like Ballard, Vonnegut plays with form and writes in a way that is not what most people may think of science fiction, even when there are elements within. Reading this article further I’m fairly sure Vonnegut doesn’t think he writes science fiction, either. The rest of the essay is expectedly rather gushing.
Assistant Editor Langdon Jones, under the intriguing title ‘Wireless World’ Strikes Again reviews Voices from the Sky by Arthur C Clarke. As one of the old guard of writers, and as this is a book of non-fiction essays, I was rather expecting these trendy reviewers to denigrate the book. I am pleased to read that they are surprisingly complimentary. “Only Clarke (with the possible exception of Asimov) could write about Space Flight and the Spirit of Man without descending into dreadful pseudo-poetry and bathos.” It sells the book well, which may be the point.
There are no Letters pages AGAIN this month, though we are promised letters on Science vs Religion next time.
Summing up New Worlds
In this 161st issue of 160 pages, there’s a lot to like, despite the dodgy cover. Moorcock has (deliberately, I think) gone for a wide range of stories, often from new writers. This was part of his mission statement a few months ago, and it is pleasing to see him keep to his word.
Unfortunately, whilst appreciating the chance to read new writers, many of the stories are clearly work from writers still learning their craft and frankly they are not always that good. The Colvin disappoints, the Moorcock is good, though a minor piece. The Ballard is the selling point this month, but one story does not make an issue. There’s a lot here that seems to be simply trying too hard, which is why I liked rather than loved this issue. It was a little ironic that I felt at the end that New Worlds had more “typically Bonfiglioni space-fillers” this month.
Summing up overall
Less of a difficult choice this month. Whilst both magazines still seem to be blazing a trail, and all the better for it, the relative inexperience of the work in New Worlds and the quality of the Keith Roberts and John Brunner in Impulse means that Impulse has my vote this month.
Next month, the return of Bob Shaw, a name we’ve not seen for a while, in New Worlds!
Until the next…
Tsk. Dinging "Homecalling" for circumstances beyond its control just compounds the disrespect this quite good story has already suffered. It is by far the most ambitious story Merril had written by the mid-'50s and she no doubt expected–reasonably–to sell it to Campbell at ASTOUNDING, Gold at GALAXY, or Boucher/McComas at F&SF. But it sank through the market to about the lowest level of salvage (certainly of payment), SCIENCE FICTON STORIES, where despite its length and substantiality, it wasn't even noted on the cover, that distinction being usurped by a meretricious (and slightly misogynistic) story by Murray Leinster called "Women's Work." Well, that was a rather clear message of how women's work was valued. I've often wondered whether discouragement at the fate of this piece doesn't help account for Merril's noticeably reduced productivity during the rest of the '50s and beyond. You're right, the space could have been used for new material, but as older material goes, this story is little known and well worth resurrecting, unlike (say) almost any of the contents of the mostly-reprint AMAZING and FANTASTIC of these days.
Fair point, John. In my defence, I was at pains to say how good the story was (so far at least). It is not the fault of the writer, but the editor/magazine.
But it again raises the issue, as has been raised here before, about whether New Worlds and Impulse are the places for reprints, My own personal view is "No", no matter how good the story and despite the fact that I enjoyed the Clarke and the Merril (so far).
If the magazines are being sold on the idea what they do is current and new, to show the latest ideas and styles, my mind is that they should do that – even when they're not entirely successful.
I am aware that some of the American magazines reprint regularly, but to my mind this is the beginning of a slippery slope for the British magazines (of which there are many fewer!) if it becomes a regular thing. It's not as if there's enough new material in the slush piles to choose from, after all!
Starting my readings of these with Impulse.
Kyril Bonfigoli's editorial gave me a smile given he has also been reading Priest's reviews with a bit on an eyeroll. Personally I have enjoyed "Bonfigoli's Space-Fillers" as much as disliked them. Yes the longer pieces have been on average slightly better but there has also been some nonsense like Plague from Space, Hunt The Wild Dream or In Reason's Ear. I like more short experiments than longer pieces that play it safe. Which probably brings to not having as positive feelings on this particular issue than others recently.
I am sorry, I tried to be positive in the first part but I thought The Lady Anne was absolutely dire. I found it dull, flimsy and contrived. He seems to be trying to fill the place by doing the trick of French 19th Century writers of giving us sensory overload in short sharp descriptions, but he has none of their skill. Also add on top of this the anti-Catholic subtext seems to have become text here and the terrible attempt at doing a relationship…You lost me again Mr. Roberts.
I personally thought Room with a Skews was fine but was certainly not crying out for a sequel. Rackham's work has never risen above mediocre for me. This does nothing to change my opinion.
Brunner's story I believe is actually a sequel to his Imprint of Chaos, recently reprinted in his collection Now Then. I wonder if it was the positive reception which made him decide to return to the same world. (Interestingly it pre-dates the first Elric story so I wonder if Moorcock was actually inspired by Brunner a bit?). It is nice to see the return of the kind of thing we used to get in Science Fantasy. Enjoyable if not exemplary. The best story in the magazine.
On the Merrill I feel similarly to you, it is good but is it really necessary to be in this magazine. She seems to be having a bit of a moment right now (both Outpost Mars and Shadow on the Hearth are apparently getting paperback versions later this year) so I don't imagine it would be that long before these either gets picked up in an anthology or she is asked to expand it into a novel. I would much rather space was saved for newer things.
So overall not impressed, particualrly as it is an issue of sequels and reprints. Thankfully New Worlds looks like it will be much better when I pick it up. Hopefully tomorrow.
The only "anti-Catholic subtext" in Pavane is the one that is in your head. Just because the Catholic Church happens to be the background villain in this piece doesn't mean that the text, or the author, are "anti-Catholic". I could go on at length.
PS You'll enjoy the next story in the series, "Brother John"–it's about a group of priests who spend their time finding sin whether or not it's there in the first place.
Thanks for your thoughts, as ever, Kris.
And thank you for the Brunner/Elric comment. I wasn't aware of the earlier story, which seems to have passed me by but I will look out for. If it was a success, why the 5-year gap, I wonder?
Brunner recently wrote a piece for a fanzine which may shed light on this.
British publications pay a lot less, so in order to make a decent living as a writer he has to be prolific and sell to the US market. Whilst he was still writing for UK publications, it was around this time he started selling a lot more to Ace and the US Magazines, so (I am guessing) he decided it wasn't worth concentrating on compared with the kind of stuff Campbell would pay him for.
With the UK pay rates going up and him doing well out of his older stuff for Carnell in reprint he probably felt it was worth returning to. Maybe see if he can't do enough of them to get Ace or Ballantine to do a fix-up book?
On to New Worlds:
Whenever I look at the cover I keep thinking it is one of those coin operated binoculars you get at the seafront, rather than a pink radio telescope with some photos on it. Definitely an….interesting choice. I wonder why they keep having Roberts do these odd covers when Jim Cawthorn does much better internal illustrations and did the great early Moorcock covers? At least mixing it up would be nice.
I liked The Assassination Weapon, but less than his similar You, Me and the Continuum. What I took from it is that the same elements that caused the assassinations we are talking about are the same elements that would cause the destruction of civilization, America's obsession with sex and violence. However, it felt like it was a bit flimsy, filled with too much shock value and the "might be mad" element is one that should be added to story ideas that should be banned from magazines going forward.
The Baxter was an enjoyable bit of space opera. Nothing amazing but I still liked it.
I really liked No Guarantee as a piece of metafiction, looking at how science fiction stories form and ideas come together.
House of Dust, as you say, was fine but unoriginal. I would almost say it was typical New Worlds filler except it had slightly less pondering than usual.
Mr. Moorcock, was it really a good idea to put your post apocalyptic story right after another one? That just seems bad editing. Overall felt like this could have been more than it was.
Cog was absurdly silly, weird they let this be the 2nd longest piece in the book when it probably could have done it all in a couple of pages.
Eyeball, on the other hand, it wish it had been longer as there was much you could do with the concept but doesn't do much with the style.
Two of Moorcock's stories in one issue? I am wondering if this, along with the Merrill reprint, is a sign they are having trouble sourcing good quality stories for the greater length? Hopefully, if that is the case, it is a temporary problem and they will be able to readjust soon.
On Consuming Passion itself, it isn't bad but I feel like Moorcock is reusing some of his ideas he did better in The Fireclown.
Finally, The Evil That Men Do ended up being a disappointment felt like it was more written for shock value and not Brunner at his best.
So overall New Worlds takes it for me this month, with an average of 2.73 to Impulse's 2.5. But Impulse gets the better Brunner which could definitely be considered a win.
Despite the Roberts, Kris! *grin* I think we're saying similar things overall, which is always good to hear.
Been thinking about the Brunner stories more, following your comments. Is the author deliberately trying to widen his repertoire? If so, then I think he's succeeded!!
It feels to me like he realizes there are value in many types of stories, as he had written a lot of this kind of short fiction for Carnell back in the 50s and early 60s. Possibly Squares of the City, Now Then! and The Whole Man sold well enough for it to be as lucrative as some of the mediocre stuff he used to do for Amazing and Analog.
Well, writers need to write different styles for different markets. And I guess they all have good days & bad days! Editors too… and whilst I have read good and bad Brunner before (as well as early and later!) this one has struck me how varied they can be.
Perhaps John has raided the pile of unfinished work and gone back to finish some off to sell to the British market? Must admit, The Evil That Men Do does feel like an earlier work to me… not subtle at all!
Late to the party, so just a few quick comments.
Starting with Impulse (and, as usual, skipping the serial):
I enjoy the Pavane series. Like the dance from which it takes its name, it's slow and stately; not for all tastes. Almost like mainstream fiction from this alternate universe.
The fencing thing was very bad. Silly and pointless and repetitious.
Brunner's sword-and-sorcery/horror story was quite effective. Again, maybe not to all tastes, but I liked the dark, decadent feeling to it.
On to New Worlds:
Reading "The Assassination Weapon," I feel like a philistine looking at an abstract painting and asking "But what is it a picture of?" But I can admire the author's way with words.
"Skirmish" doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the magazine at all. An old-fashioned problem story, albeit grimmer than most, that could have come from Analog.
I didn't get much out of "No Guarantee." One big in-joke.
"House of Dust" had some interesting ideas — the survivors of the holocaust having, then losing, psychic powers — but it was otherwise typical post-apocalyptic stuff.
"The Ruins" was the kind of "inner space" story which seems to show up a lot in New Worlds. Average of its kind.
"Cog" wasn't as clever as it thought it was. I got tired of all the COG acronyms pretty quickly.
"Eyeball" was more "inner space" stuff. For something like this, the short length helps.
"Consuming Passion" managed to blend just a touch of New Wave (the changes in narration from first to third person) with more traditional fiction, and pulls it off pretty well. I thought it was the best story in the issue.
I much preferred Impulse's few long stories (with one dud) to New Worlds' mediocre multiple short ones (with one or two very good ones.)
I actually enjoyed Anne pretty well, but it's one of those stories that you're reading, appreciating, even admiring, and all of a sudden, the spell breaks and you wonder why you're reading it.