From: John Marsden

Dear Mr. Dodds,

I want to thank you, not so much for your positive responses to the books [The Tomorrow Series by John Marsden, reviewed by Georges T. Dodds, Mid-December issue], because that's not something you can control (your emotional response, that is), but for your wonderfully thorough and intelligent discussion of the books. In an area where reviewing is often incredibly puerile and patronising, lacking in even basic intelligence, it's great to see such a wide ranging and thoughtful review. I especially love the reference to Sweet Valley High! I am also a huge fan of Richard Hannay, and of "Rogue Male."

All the best and thanks again.

Behind the Fantastic Curtain

From: William Sanders

Your entry on Lord of the Fantastic (the Zelazny memorial anthology) contains a fairly serious misstatement, though you can't really be blamed for making an incorrect assumption.

The Silverberg and Williams stories are NOT "reprints" - they were originally written for this anthology. Then Avon screwed around and kept delaying publication, so Silverbob and Walterjon went ahead and re-sold the rights elsewhere.

In a sense the stories in the antho are "reprints" in that they were first published elsewhere, chronologically speaking; but they were definitely written for the anthology, and had been accepted (and, as far as I know, paid for), for that purpose, well before the authors sold them to ASFM.

I don't know the facts on the third "reprint" you name but wouldn't be surprised to learn that it was a similar case... but anyway, with that possible but not probable exception, ALL the stories in Lord of the Fantastic were originals, commissioned for the collection. (And well paid for, too.)

Note that this mistake occurs in your August Book Column, not in the review itself.

William Sanders

Thanks for the correction, William. We've changed the entry in the Books column. Whatever the case, it's a fine book, and one we highly recommend.

Hunting For Dyson Spheres

From: James Fowler

Hi everybody! Nice Site!

I am an amateur astronomer and am interested in Dyson Spheres. Do you know of any projects actively looking for them? What would be the minimum equipment necessary for a search for Dyson Spheres in our "neighbourhood"?

Thanks,

James Fowler
Hokkaido, Japan
hoa@cocoa.ocn.ne.jp

Sadly, we don't know of any site specifically related to Dyson Spheres. However, you may want to try some of the links we have listed on www.sfsite.com/depts/fact01.htm. They may help narrow your search.

From: Derek Treuer

I am trying to find some stories I read in the early 1960s about an inventor named Gallagher who would wake up after drinking beer to find a strange invention which he had built. The stories revolved around his efforts to discover precisely what the device was intended to accomplish.

I read these stories in a hardcover anthology. However, I don't remember either the author and titles of the stories. I would appreciate any assistance you might provide in finding these stories.

Sure thing. They stories were by Henry Kuttner. You should be able to find the titles (and plenty of other good stuff) at http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?Henry_Kuttner.

From: Paul Howard

I recently heard of a book by S. M. Stirling titled Power. I do not know anything about it, but I know it is out of print. Have you ever heard of it? I do not know if it is Science Fiction or not.

Yes. It's an SF anthology about energy/power -- how to generate it, keep it and use it. It includes some non-fiction articles including alternate forms of energy. You're correct about it being out of print, though. There are some terrific search services on the Web for out of print books -- they should be able to help.

From: Brian Kibble-Smith

I am trying to find a sci fi story published sometime in the seventies and I am stumped. Can you help? The title is "The National Pastime" and I don't know the author. It is the story of a television executive who invents "Combat Football", a game combining football, boxing and wrestling. Eventually, City-based teams (i.e., Chicago Bears) are replaced with ethnic/social group teams (i.e., "Black Panthers," "Gay Blades", etc.) and final scores include points for both teams and fan casualties for each side. I would love to find this story again and I don't know where to begin.

Regards,

Brian Kibble-Smith
Oak Park IL
Crstybunkr@aol.com

You got us. Sounds like something we'd like to read, though. Perhaps one of our readers can help.

From: Spunki1394@aol.com

I had some Star Wars wall paper that had the child Luke Skywalker on it and Obi Won Kenobi now I can't find it? Do you know where I can find it?

Ummm... no. Have you tried the attic? Seriously, check out any of the many official Star Wars websites at www.starwars.com, www.lucasarts.com, or have a look through some of the other Star Wars links which appear at www.sfsite.com/depts/wars01.htm.

Next issue

In the mid-February issue of the SF Site we'll have plenty of reviews of exciting recent releases, including:

Moonlight and Vines by Charles de Lint
Of Swords and Spells by Delia Marshall Turner
Vigilant by James Alan Gardner
Diplomacy of Wolves by Holly Lisle
Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay

Plus a series review of the next three books in John Marsden's Tomorrow series, the next installment of our Mark V. Ziesing Book List, and our usual columns and detailed New Arrivals features. Be sure to join us on February 15th. We'll be here.