BBC interviews of 10 SF Authors now on CD

Science Fiction Writers
British Library Board 2011
Interviews date from 1977 through 2001.

Distributed by the University of Chicago Press

Reviewed by Ann Wilkes

I completely enjoyed listening to the interviews on this CD. The majority of the interviews were conducted in such a way as to bring out interesting anecdotes and facts of which I was formerly unaware. The authors interviewed are as follows:

Douglas Adams
Isaac Asimov
J G Ballard
Ray Bradbury
Arthur C Clarke
Ursula K Le Guin
Michael Moorcock
Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Also included is what seems to be a joint panel discussion or lecture led by Brian Aldiss and Doris Lessing as there is not interviewer on that recording. These are ALL previously unreleased recordings.

The gems you'll hear on this crisply mastered CD include an interview with Isaac Asimov on his 70th birthday in which he states that the kinetic theory of gases is what sparked his idea of psycho-history that is the "science" running through his Foundation series. Brian Aldiss tips his hat to Mary Shelley for writing what he thinks is the first truly science fiction novel.

Doris Lessing said she was struck by the defensiveness of pulp sci-fi authors in the States. She also said that though she thoroughly enjoyed Asimov's Foundation series, it's not really sci-fi, because there's no science. She goes on to say the Foundation series contains "brilliant sociology." Since when are robots, space travel and sociology not science?

Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. explains why he chops up his books in short bursts. He also addresses his use of social commentary and satire, pointing out the reason why the defenders of the Alamo were really fighting in his novel, Hocus Pocus: for their right to own slaves.

Did you know that Ray Bradbury had a hand in the archetectural designs of Epcott Center, Disneyworld and World Fairs? A builder in Glendale (CA) even made a mall based on an article of his about a city of the future. He talks of his dream of globalism and a united space exploration instead of men of the same planet fighting one another. "Men want to be destroyed. But they should be destroyed for a good cause and the good cause is space."

The woman who interviewed Ursula K. LeGuin basically asks her if she would fancy being a father and a mother like the characters in The Left Hand of Darkness. And asked her if she thought of herself as an anarchist because she wrote about anarchists. Why is it that the one woman actually interviewed was interviewed by someone who obviously doesn't understand science fiction? LeGuin, however, handles the situation with aplomb and grace with wonderful tidbits like, "You can have books and babies. They are not mutually hostile occupations."

I highly recommend this CD for any sci-fi fan or writer. For more information or to buy your copy for $15, visit the University of Chicago Press.

U Minus 90 - sf flash

Char rubbed the back of her sore neck. She'd been poring over the jigsaw puzzle of variables between universes without a break ever since the Cornerstone indicators and three quantumly-tagged people ceased to exist twelve hours ago. Something — or someone — changed the timeline. She had to determine when and how. Who would be nice as well. She told herself to get up, move around, hydrate, eat.

Hearing a thunk behind her after a brief whir of a generator and a flash of light, she nearly jumped out of her chair. Everyone had long since gone home and the underground lab had been as quiet as a church on Monday. Her heart raced. No one was expected through the U-Gate. She whirled around, registering a scuffling sound and a sharp, burnt toast odor.

A man pulled himself to his feet just outside the U-Gate. His blond, shoulder-length hair stuck out in every direction. A filthy khaki uniform clung to his gaunt frame. His blue eyes darted around, then stared at her from over his stubbly cheeks.

"Who..." he rasped. He swallowed hard and licked his cracked lips.

"Who is in charge?" he said.

Char gawked at him. There hadn't been an incursion for thirty years. The QPP (Quantum Purity Protocol) Lab didn't even post guards any more; just left motion-sensor cameras running 24/7. The troops will be minutes away. Judging by his obvious distress and condition, whatever U he was from wasn't a good vacation spot.

"Not me," she finally answered. "Military personnel are en route. My name is Dr. Charlotte Banner. Who are you?"

"Randall Stevens. Water. Could I..."

"Of course." Char was glad for the normal request and the excuse to move away from him and collect her thoughts. She went to the sink by the wall, pulled down a clean mug from a peg and filled it with water. Is he the first of a steady stream of refugees from a troubled world? Is he a forward scout for an invasion force? Is he a mad scientist who just found the way between the Us? He doesn't appear to be armed. That's a good sign.

As she came toward him with the mug, he seemed to struggle to stay upright, his body swaying slightly and his feet shifting frequently.

"There's a cot over here. Would you like to recline? You don't look so good."

"Thanks. Yes." Her visitor gulped the water and gave her back the mug with a shaking hand. He collapsed onto the cot just as the grunts rushed through the door, guns at the ready.

"What's the situation, Doctor?" said the Sergeant.

"Easy, Sarge. We're just talking. He's unarmed. Are Doctor Schilman and Professor Einstein on their way?"

"Yes, Doctor," said the Sarge. He shifted to parade rest and signaled to his men to stand down.

"Good. You boys have a seat." She sounded a lot more confident than she felt.

Char got the man another mug of water while she thought about what to ask him first. And what she could reveal. She handed him the refilled mug and brought a stool from one of the computer stations to the cot. "Can you answer a few questions now?"

He nodded. His eyes darted around again, lingering on the soldiers squatting on the floor like loaded springs.

"Mr. Stevens," Char asked in what she hoped was a calming voice. "How have you come here?"

"Through a World Splitter. I've come from an alternate reality. A world like yours, but not yours. Do you have this capability here?"

"The leaders of this project will get to your questions in due time. First, why have you come here?"

"To seek your help. Our world has undergone a shift. A faction from another reality has taken someone from our world. No, taken is not the right word." He rubbed his stubbly chin. "He was eradicated. Removed from our history. Never born. Do you understand?"

"Let's say that we do for now. Go on," she prompted.

"Without him, our society is lost. Now my world is a stagnant police state filled with video-addicted sheep. The people let the government tell them what to do, what not to do and even what to think."

"But this is your world, is it not? How do you see these changes?" she asked.

"I was off-world when it happened, you know, in another reality. I can't go back because my world no longer has a World Splitter to receive me. People in the alternate reality I came from can move between realities, but not through time."

"And you think we can?"

"That is my hope," he said. "That man needs to be born. Our enemy erased him by having his mother miscarry."

"I see."

"Do you?" His eyes sparkled and the corners of his mouth turned up.

Gazing at his eager face, Char believed him. But it didn’t matter what she thought. And it could still be an act.

"Hypothetically speaking, how far back in time would you need to go to prevent this miscarriage?"

The Sergeant cleared his throat meaningfully. Char had just crossed a line and she knew it. But the words were out there. She couldn't take them back.

"1920. Their agent put something in his mother's morning tea on March 22, five months before he would have been born."

"Who was this guy? A scientist, politician, world leader?"

"He was an author. He predicted all of it! He warned us what could happen."

***
Happy 90th Birthday, Ray Bradbury!




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Max Headroom and Ray Bradbury get it right

Next Sunday, August 22, is Ray Bradbury's 90th Birthday. Few science fiction authors have contributed as much to the genre, or for as long. His contributions have impacted a wide audience between his books and TV series.

UCLA posted A Bruin Birthday Tribute to Ray Bradbury this week.

Farenheit 451 reaches many students, as it is so often chosen for required reading. He makes us think and challenges us to fight for our right to information.

Yale National Institute, today, posted a paper on the subject by Elouise E. White-Beck. Our Right to Read, to Learn, and to Think: Ray Bradbury's Prediction

And here's his take on the dangers of technology from Ray Bradbury Theater.



And somewhat less academic, but nevertheless entertaining, is an article at I09 on the various ways in which one of my all-time favorite Brit shows, Max Headroom, predicted the future (our now) accurately. Max Headroom predicted my job, 20 years before it existed

If you haven't been following me long, perhaps you haven't heard me urge everyone to give Max Headroom a go. For those who have, forgive the repitition. But I LOVE that Max. There are some great clips in that I09 article.

On my own writing front, I received another lovely rejection today. The blow, however, was softened by the arrival of an ARC of the final book in the Void series, The Evolutionary Void, by Peter Hamilton. I've already dived in.

I also had the unique opportunity this week to meet a distant cousin for the first time face to face and introduce her to my 88-year-old Great Aunt who's visiting from Arkansas. They are first cousins once removed from the Younger branch of the family. Remember the Younger Brothers? The bank and train robbers who rode with Jesse James? They're distant cousins, too. Actually, it was really the Younger gang before Jesse came along. But people remember Jesse.

It's tidbits like that that make genealogy interesting. And I friended a fellow Fowler (Grandpa's side) who is also a fellow Every Day Fiction author just this week on Blog Catalog. Good stuff. Check out In medias res.

There are some interesting stories behind those genealogy names and dates. Perhaps they'll show up in my sci-fi one day (the names changed to protect the criminals, of course :).


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