Index

 

This is SKYRACK 45, published on 4th September 1962 by Ron Bennett, 13 West Cliffe Grove, Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. 6d per copy, 2/6d for six issues. 35 cents for six issues in USA (airmailed for 65¢) where subscriptions should be sent to Bob Pavlat, 6001 43rd Avenue, Hyattsville, Maryland. News of interest to sf fans always welcomed, and as you can see, Skyrack didn’t fold, thanks to this issue’s five hundred or so contributors. Cartoon on the left is by Ol’ Faithful Arthur “Atom” Thomson.

FIRST, I THINK, WITH THE NEWS. Terry?

 HUGO FOR HOTHOUSE - D.C. in SIXTY THREE!

CONGRATULATIONS TO B.S.F.A. CHAIRMAN BRIAN ALDISS. His “Hothouse” stories in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction have won the Hugo for the Best Short Fiction in the Annual Science Fiction Achievement Awards presented on Sunday at the 20th World Science Fiction Convention in Chicago.

The Convention was held at the Windy City’s Pick-Congress Hotel last weekend, 31st August-3rd September, and was attended by British TAFF Delegate Ethel Lindsay, the first femme-fan to travel under the Fund, and Walt Willis whose tenth anniversary visit this was to the States - and Chicago. In 1952 Walt had to leave his wife behind in Belfast, but now Madeleine is travelling with him. An Overseas Guest Reception party was thrown at the Con on Saturday afternoon and was well attended.

In addition to the Hothouse award, Hugos were awarded as follows:
Best Novel – Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein.
Best Dramatic Presentation – Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone.
Best Professional Artist – Ed Emshwiller.
Best Professional Magazine – Analog.
Best Amateur Magazine – Richard Bergeron’s Warhoon.

Ed Emshwiller took the Best Artist award for the third year in succession, as did Serling’s Twilight Zone in the Dramatic Presentation category. Analog Science Fact & Fiction’s award was for the second year in succession, while Heinlein’s last novel, Starship Troopers, won a Hugo two years ago. Brian Aldiss was awarded a Hugo three years ago for “Best New Author”.

Washington D.C. will house next year’s Worldcon.

Ethel flew to New York Monday 20th August. Was met at airport by Don and Elsie Wollheim. Stayed with Dick & Pat Lupoff who threw party. Driven to Con by Dick Eney. Willises stayed with Larry & Noreen Shaw. Both visiting teams hope to visit West Coast after the Con.

PRO-NEWS: Jim Ballard’s long novelette “The Drowned World” in SFA 22 has been written into a novel which is described as “very powerful” and which will published about the end of the year by Gollancz, though possibly not as SF. Brian Aldiss and Kingsley Amis have both read it and are tremendously enthusiastic. The American edition will be published by Berkley Books, who are also putting out a second collection of Ballard’s entitled Billenium (The first collection, The Voices of Time, is already on sale).

James White’s recent New Worlds serial, Field Hospital, has been bought by Ballantine Books for publication soon. The British distribution of his earlier Hospital Station is planned for late Autumn, with special displays in Belfast, with a projected autographing session in a large departmental store, plus a feature write-up in the local press.

Brian Aldiss has edited a Best Fantasy Stories collection for Faber & Faber, coming soon, and John Brunner has sold a collection of shorts to Gollancz, to be called No Future in It. Ace Books in New York has just bought a new novel from Ken Bulmer entitled Professor’s Plunder (as of now). Aldiss has a short murder story coming up in Rogue magazine. Panther will shortly be publishing the early Carnell anthology Gateway to Tomorrow.

Doubleday Book Club titles for September and October are Garrett’s Unwise Child and Eric Frank Russell’s The Great Explosion.

There is a strong possibility that ACE (American) pocket books may be generally imported into this country next year.

Penguin will next year be launching a series of SF reprints. Already appointed as Penguin’s Outside SF Editor is (naturally) Brian Aldiss. Projected titles are Last & First Men, Case of Conscience, Dragon in the Sea, The Day It Rained Forever and the Penguin SF II.

John Hynam (John Kippax) authored the BBC play Amanda (4 Aug) and has three more radio plays to come, including a SF piece called Closed Planet.

Aussie Fan John Baxter has a Guest Editorial coming up in New Worlds, the first fan-commissioned Nova Editorial in four years and is highly regarded in pro circles as an up and coming name. Congratulations, John!

(and thanks to E. J. Carnell, Brian Aldiss and Ken Slater for the above coverage)

AXE recently announced the death of John Champion, the young west coast fan who was such a leading light in the fanzine world or five or six years ago. John died in car accident and as one who remembers his thoughtful letters and his fanzine, Impasse, to which I contributed, I’m stoned and extremely sorry to learn the news.

On the brighter side… Charles Wells to be married next year… Daughter Elizabeth Ellen born 5th July to Shelby and Suzy Vick… Son Robert Ian born to Bob & Sadie Shaw… One time Hyphen contributor Sally Ann Bloch (daughter of one Robert Bloch) married 2 June in Los Angeles… Son Paul, weight 6½lbs, born 19th August to Jimmy and Dorothy Ratigan. Mother and son doing well. Congratulations, all!

Brian Aldiss has been holidaying in Denmark and Sweden, guest of Harry Harrison and meeting Torsten Jungstedt who is responsible for Swedish radio’s “Werewolf Hour”. ::: Who goofed? New BSFA printed notepaper lists Hon. Treasurer as Miss G. T. Adams. Do we hear background chuckles from husband John and daughter Penny? ::: Future of BSFA Library, largest SF Lending Library in the World, shadowed by imminent departure from Cheltenham of Librarian Peter Mabey. ::: Peterborough Convention Committeeman Dave Barber recently spent a week in hospital. Trust you’re out, about and well, now, Dave.

HEADLINE NEWS IN ANY OTHER NEWSZINE: Arthur C. Clarke left Colombo, Ceylon, Sunday 12th August for Britain to receive treatment for a spine injury. Clarke became ill after knocking his head on a doorway in his Colombo home. The knock injured his spine and he became partly paralysed. He has recovered sufficiently to walk and swim, but intends to see a specialist in London, where he is now staying for five or six weeks. Clarke had a book, Indian Ocean Adventure, published 10th August by Arthur Barker, with photos by Mike Wilson. Another book, Profiles of the Future is due to be published in November. Clarke was covered in a Daily Express write-up last week which gave prominence to the predictions he has made in the SF field (“In 1945 he accurately predicted Telstar – and no one took a scrap of notice.”) and a similar treatment was afforded the author when he was interviewed in the BBC Radio Newsreel programme of 27th August. Rumour has it that Clarke is due to pay a visit to the Globe next Thursday, 6th September.

TALK OF THE GLOBE reminds that business is looking up for the London Circle’s regular first-Thursday-in-the-month meetings there. Amongst those gathered there on 2nd August I picked out Max Jacabowski, Ted Ball, John Furrer, Ken Potter, Bill Temple, Pat Kearney, Alan Rispin, Diane (Nell) Goulding, Mike Moorcock, Sandra Hall, Peter West, Dick Ellingsworth, Keith Otter, Alan Bale, Pete Taylor, Sid Bounds, Ted Carnell, Bob Presslie, Les Flood, Frank Arnold, Arthur Sellings, Walter Gillings and a psychiatrist friend of Arthur Sellings who was mercilessly ribbed by Arthur Thomson.

LIVERPOOL GROUP’S 11th August Bank Holiday party was a wild success, reports Ella Parker, who tripped up to the west coast port for the occasion. A new card game, switch, was in evidence (Liar’s Poker, played with Italian cards, is the rage in Harrogate these days), and two teams comprising Geoff Collins, Audrey Eversfield, John Roles, Stan and Marjorie Nuttall, Eddie Jones, Ella, Tony Walsh, Norman and Ina Shorrock and John Humphries went bowling. An early Sunday morning trip out to the river for a Hovercoach sighting ended in some disappointment when bad weather cancelled crossings for the day.

FAN GATHERING in Wisbech reported. 2nd August get together to discuss formal plans on the Eastercon and gather informally and fannishly. Present were Ken & Joyce Slater, Dave Barber, Chris Miller, Carla Rooney, Mark Ashby and David Eggleton. The Peterborough Convention plans are swinging, it appears. Recorded membership now stands at ninety! Five shillings is all it takes, if you haven’t registered as yet. Write Ken Slater, 75 Norfolk Street, Wisbech, Cambs. Con Newsletter East Fanglian Times delayed because of duplicator mechanical troubles. A new line in Con adverts, car window stickers are available from Ken on request. Quarter page adverts for the con will appear in Nov, Dec and Jan BRE Analog and F&SF. Convention room bookings will commence towards the end of October.

THE SCIENCE FICTION CLUB OF LONDON are planning a charter flight weekend in Paris, kicking off Friday 26th October. The price, including that of the hotel, is £10 per head, with a reduction if the party numbers more than 14. (sliding scale on rates over this number). Four more people are still needed to make up this minimum number and anyone interested in what promises to be a wild fannish and darn interesting weekend should contact Ella Parker.

SFG now permitted to call itself Oxford University Speculative Fiction Group. New term officials will be Chris Miller (President), Howard Leigh (Secretary), Marcus Wigan (Treasurer) and Howard Nichols (Librarian). Brian Aldiss is the group’s only Honorary Member to date.

VECTOR 16 (Summer 1962; o-o BSFA; edited by Ella Parker, published by J. Michael Rosenblum, 7 Grosvenor Park, Leeds 7) Ah, just like old times, JMR publications with crinkly staples! Ella and Michael take up where Jimmy Groves left off, with an interesting melange of official reports, sf news and general chatter. Philip Harbottle surveys in detail the contribution to the genre made by John Russell Fearn.

BANE 7 (August 1962; Vic Ryan, 2160 Sylvan Road, Springfield, Illinois; 25¢) Another good all-round issue with contributions from Don Thompson, Buck Coulson, Mike Deckinger and Bob Tucker. Some very refreshing, dateless material.

THE SCIENCE FICTION CLUB OF LONDON is to sponsor a yearly Art Award for artwork displayed at British Conventions, beginning with next year’s Peterborough EasterCon. The Award is an open one, and overseas fans are eligible to enter, as are British fans. The Award will be given for artwork in any form, oils, water colours, sculpture, photography, of a science fiction or fantasy nature. The award itself will take the form of an illuminated certificate, plus 70/- ($10) worth of art material of the artists choosing. No member of the SFCoL may be eligible for this Award, or take part in the judging.

TAFF. Third TAFF Progress Report from Ron Ellik shows that 203 fans voted in the campaign which has sent Ethel Lindsay to the Chicago Worldcon as Britain’s delegate. 186 voted either for Ethel (122) or Eddie Jones (64) with various write-ins. The TAFF kitty is healthy with $400 on hand at the moment. Nominations opened 1st September for candidates to compete for the trip to the 1964 British EasterCon. Write Eric Bentcliffe for details.

E. J. CARNELL, editor of the Nova chain, noticed that in the last issue Harry Douthwaite inferred that Ted is experimenting with new art cover layouts and so Ted writes: “I’m not. One of the experimental covers was the July one with the Karloff TV photograph. This will be followed from time to time by other photographs, either from films, TV or pictorial articles, when possible. The second cover layout is on the August issue and once again dispenses with cover art. I know that there will be howls from some quarters but I have a strong line of reasoning behind this radical change, primarily that over the years a vast number of ordinary s-f readers (other than regular magazine readers) will not pick up an s-f mag because of the cover picture. To date, about 100,000 people have bought Penguin S.F. 1, edited by Brian Aldiss and I feel that many of those people will be tempted to purchase New Worlds from the bookstands if they see a sedate non-pictorial cover. We shall see. Cover illustrations already on hand for New Worlds have been switched to Science Fiction Adventures, where I do not contemplate a change of face. This means that at least two Gerard Quinn paintings will appear on that magazine. I have also found another new artist named Singleton - so Spanish artist Enrique is not likely to have anything coming up for a long time, if at all.”

APOLOGIES are due to everyone out there for the way Sky skipped an August issue. In previous years July–September has been Sky’s peak period with the editorial offices moved to London to cope with the rush. It would probably have been the same this year, too, had not the Sky staff decided to follow Sid Coleman’s path to Istanbul. We got sidetracked down the leg of Italy after adventures in Paris, the French Alps and Turin and a week later found ourselves in Foggia after having behaved like tourists in Pisa, Leghorn, Rome, Naples and Pompeii. Anyone want to buy any earthquakes cheap?

LES SPINGE 9 (July 1962; Dave Hale, 12 Belmont Rd., Wollescote, Stourbridge, Worcs; 1/- or 15¢; 40pp) Vastly improved layout marks this ninth offering from the wild Worcester Wollescotian ably assisted by Ken Cheslin. John Berry classifies fandom from the future. Mike Deckinger contributes flying experiences and Jim Linwood reviews fanzines. Steve Leon-Paul compares men with insects and Leon Collins compares fans with men. The issue is especially notable for a complete Harrogate EasterCon coverage by editor Hale, Sid Birchby, Ken Cheslin and Brian Jordan. Les Spinge continues to entertain when editor Dave wants it to entertain. A serious minded attempted survey of a fannish political situation is marred by lack of facts and much woolly thinking. Thankfully there is more of entertainment value in the zine than the would-be sercon.

PROSE OF KILIMANJARO 3 (Summer 1962, published primarily for SAPS by George Locke, 85 Chelsea Gardens, London SW1) A highly personalised zine which is well worth the having. Brian Varley writes on fair play and a few modern era sports. Old timer Fred Brown of the London Circle hints on collecting and George himself writes on Pearson’s Weekly, on gliding and on a recent radio programme. Recommended, but I wish it has been Smoke.

HAVERINGS (Unnumbered; 6d from Ethel Lindsay, Courage House, 6 Langley Avenue, Surbiton, Surrey) Fandom’s leading fanzine reviewzine. In addition to Ethel’s thoughtful comments there is another short column by Tom Schluck who should write at greater length.

PARKER'S PEREGRINATIONS (Or The Harpy Stateside; Ella Parker, 151 Canterbury Road, West Kilburn, London NW6; 10/- or $1.50) I have previously only mentioned Ella’s Stateside trip-report for ten shillings seemed somewhat steep and I delayed in buying a copy. I have to confess that I bought a copy, too, as I’m a report completist but having read this thirty page offering I hasten to recommend Harpy. Thirty pages may not seem much for 10/-, but wait! This is only the first part. The 120 pence that you pay entitles you to the complete report of course and who can say how bulky it will be, for this 30 page booklet covers only Ella’s first few days in the U.S. The report itself is extremely readable; the writing flows so well that it is with some degree of surprise that one finds the last page has been reached. Illustrated by Atom, this is a good buy.

THE PANIC BUTTON 9 (Les Nirenberg, 1217 Weston Road, Toronto 15, Ontario, Canada) Summer issue of fandom’s leading Terse Commentary Fanzine. Home fan Colin Freeman analyses the Daily Express.

OBELISK 3 (Lenny Kaye, 418 Hobart Rd., No. Brunswick, N.J., USA) 24 page informal anniversary issue featuring Ella Parker on the Harrogate EasterCon. Ah, those were the days.

WARHOON 16 (July 1962; 20¢ from Richard Bergeron, 110 Bank Street, New York 14) Hugo nominated and probably favourite for the award because of its range of subject and depth of viewpoint. Blish, Baxter, Breen and of course another notable Willis Harp column.

CRY 162 (August 1962; Box 92, 507 3rd Ave., Seattle 4, Washington). Another Hugo-nominated fan zine, focal point (if I may be excused the term?) of faantype fandom. The Busbys, Weber, Berry, Terry Carr. A wonderful WesterCon report by Wally Weber particularly notable.

SHANGRI-L'AFFAIRES 61 (June 1962; 25¢ from Al Lewis or Ron Ellik, 1825 Greenfield Av., Los Angeles 25, Calif). How to take pics of Joni Cornell in a bikini.

NEWS A LINE FROM HERE THERE AND GHOD WHERE’S THE ASPIRINS? Recent SFCoL outing to Whipsnade ::: US fans Sid Coleman and Ruth Berman recently in London. ::: Bruce Burn holidayed in Scotland and Ireland. Visited Ken Cheslin, Ron Bennett and Walt Willis (I hear) ::: Jimmy Groves holidayed Shetland Isles, visiting Fred Hunter ::: Betty & Michael Rosenblum holidayed Switzerland, visiting London fan circles on return ::: Peter West recently in Africa. Recently (also) involved in Trafalgar Square Colin Jordan rally, arrested for breaking microphone. Case thrown out of court. ::: Ted Forsyth new SFCoL Chairman. Keith Otter Secretary ::: TAWF Money on UK side totalled £22 and $3 ::: Brian Burgess spent two weeks in Middle East last month. Had £10 stolen in Istanbul. I’m glad I didn’t make it ::: Cheltenham Circle may shortly lose two members ::: Bruce Burn & George Locke spent 10 days in Devonshire retrieving gliders at a rally. ::: Request for Fan Directory in from East German State Library! ::: Congratulations Bob Parkinson, newly minted B.Sc ::: Sandra Hall recently featured in D. Express. Setting out Sept for Middle East “to search for ancient manuscripts on ancient magic.” ::: Les Nirenberg hopes to run 1,000 copies next issue Panic Button ::: Congratulations Archie Mercer’s beard, one year old 19th June – and thanks for the photos ::: Constantine Fitzgibbon’s novel When The Kissing Had to Stop, borderline sf, is to be screened in a 2½ hour version on ITV. Let’s hope the programme is better than the book, one of the most stilted offerings I’ve handled for years. ::: Very meaty July-Aug issue of The Australian SF Newsletter just in from Mervyn Binns and John Foyster.

Changes of Address Dept:
Charles Wells, Rm 12B, Mens Grad Center, Duke Sta., Durham, North Carolina, USA (15 Spt).
Archie Mercer, c/o BSFA Library, (Basement) 130 London Road, Cheltenham, Gloc.
Sgt. Don Geldart, Sgt’s Mess, Intelligence Centre, Maresfield Park Camp, Maresfield, Nr. Uckfield, Sussex.
Mervyn Barrett, 1 Egan Street, West Richmond, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.

Archie Mercer has moved from North Hykeham, Lincoln and after a spell in Cheltenham, is now in Bristol. The address listed above is a permanent address for all mail.