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OtherRealms Issue 18 Part 04
Electronic OtherRealms #18
Fall, 1987
Part 4
Scattered Gold
Reviews by
Charles de Lint
Copyright 1987 by
Charles de Lint
I'd like to mention something straight away which is that I prefer to
talk about books I like. Approaching this column, I do so as though I
were sitting down with you to talk about a few good books over a beer
or a cup of coffee. So While I'll warn you away from the odd clunker or
disappointment -- as we would do for each other in such conversation --
mostly we'll be talking about the Good Stuff.
I don't consider myself a critic -- I'll leave that to weightier souls -- but
more a reviewer. Though what I really want to do is just sit down and chat.
As you get to know my tastes, you'll be able to gauge for yourself
whether we think along similar lines, or whether I'm so far out in left
field you don't know what I'm doing here in the first place, mouthing
off about books and the like. Either way, I hope the actual reviews
(yes, yes -- we'll be getting to them) will steer you to some good
reads, or conversely, save you some cash on a clunker you were just
about ready to spend your hard-earned money on.
The title for this column, by the way, comes from a fiddle tune by the
Scots bard Robin Williamson called Her Scattered Gold. She is the Muse,
and her gold is that ten percent of the Good Stuff -- by Sturgeon's
reckoning -- that's scattered in amongst the foxfire, flash, and fizzle.
But enough preamble. Let's get on to that Good Stuff.
Land of Dreams
by James P. Blaylock
[*****]
Arbor House, August, 1987
264pp, $16.95, Cloth
ISBN 0-87795-898-X
Jim Blaylock won the 1986 World Fantasy Award for his short story
"Paper Dragons" (Imaginary Lands, Robin McKinley, ed. Ace, 1985) -- a
story that six years ago was a part of the original draft for this
novel. As the mood's similar, those of you familiar with that story
should have an inkling as to what lies in wait for you in the pages of
Land of Dreams. If you haven't....
Imagine a Dickensian cast of characters in a Northern California that
never was, where the fog rolls in from the sea to creep down the
streets of the village of Rio Dell with its haunted orphanage and
ramshackle buildings; where 19th century technology mingles with magic
and every twelve years during the Solstice a carnival appears, crabs
migrate from the ocean, curious figures are seen in the fields and
woods nearby, and the otherworldly Land of Dreams can be seen and
sometimes crossed over to by means of various potions.
The principal characters are three young orphans: Helen the artist who
paints in the orphanage's attic with a ghost for company; the pudgy
Skeezix who's as much concerned with food as he is adventure; and Jack,
whose father crossed over to the Land of Dreams during the last Solstice.
Blaylock's principal skill is as a stylist -- his prose is so rich it
literally sings -- and a creator of idiosyncratic characters that are
either utterly charming, or utterly evil. His earlier books were much
like those described as Jack's preference -- "the sort of book that
didn't seem to need a beginning or end, that could be opened at any
page without suffering for it -- slow, candlelight reading." Land of
Dreams shows that Blaylock can plot when he wants to -- but then a
Blaylock plot proves to be just as idiosyncratic as his characters can be.
The carnival appears, run by the insidious Dr. Brown, who is sneaking
about trying to steal a bottle of potion that was given to Jack by a
mouse- sized man in a mouse costume. Jack's friend, Dr. Jensen, is
collecting giant artifacts found washed up on the shore -- an enormous
shoe, an immense set of spectacles. Jack and Skeezix follow clues that
they hope will lead them to the Land of Dreams through one of the
carnival's rides....
In other words, a great deal goes on, in fact there's the usual rushing
about that one comes to expect from a Blaylock novel, but rather than
remaining unresolved, this time Blaylock ties it all together with some
fascinating plot twists, as well as some original ideas about magic and
time. And one can just imagine the grin on Blaylock's face as he trots
out a fight between miniature people using salt shakers and forks for
weapons, or the strange wheezing sound that accompanies one of the
somewhat human- looking Solstice fish drawn out of the ocean. His
vision is slightly askew, but its strength is such that it allows us to
see our own world through his glasses, and realize that there are
wonders all around us, as magical as in any tale.
Stylistically, I'd place this on a shelf all its own, but very near to
John Crowley's Little, Big (Bantam, 1981) and AEgypt (Bantam, 1987),
Paul Hazel's Winterking (Atlantic Monthly Press, 1985), Evelyn E.
Smith's The Copy Shop (Doubleday, 1985) or even Jonathon Carroll's The
Land of Laughs (Viking, 1980) -- all of which undoubtably tells you
more about me than Blaylock's work.
You're better off reading it for yourself, and discovering the magic in
Blaylock's charming prose on your own. But for those of you who did
read "Paper Dragons," if you remember that enormous crab everyone was
waiting for --
But no. That would be telling.
To Make Death Love Us
by Sovereign Falconer
[***]
Doubleday, Summer 1987, 181pp, Cloth
ISBN 0-385-17628
Every once in a while Doubleday slips in a truly original Fantasy or SF
novel -- with very little fanfare, no advertising, often not even as a
part of their SF/Fantasy line. The above mentioned smith title is a
good example. Or Joe Landsale's charming The Magic Wagon (1986) that
was marketed as a Western. Or how about To Make Death Love Us by Craig
Kee Strete writing as Sovereign Falconer?
The book is a fascinating character study of six members of a carnival
freakshow who, during a storm, become trapped in a truck balanced on
the edge of a cliff. Past and present mingle as the carnies struggle to
win their freedom, while Strete's deft ability to show emotion without
sentimentality provides a solid backbone of understanding that reaches
out beyond the pages to touch the reader.
(This column appears to be developing a carnival theme. By that
reckoning, perhaps I should find room in it to have a look at Dean R.
Koontz's wonderful Twilight Eyes (Berkley, 1987) as well. If there's
time....)
I don't really want to discuss what the Fantasy element is in To Make
Death Love Us -- the novel's so short, and tightly written, that if I
was to say much more about it, I'd just be spoiling it for you. But I
will say that it has to do with that wonderfully odd and entirely
appropriate title.
The only unfortunate thing that I have to mention is that the book's
divided into very short sections and in some of them Strete makes that
cardinal error of telling instead of showing -- slightly spoiling what
could well have been a much better book.
War for the Oaks
by Emma Bull
[****]
Ace, July, 1987, 309pp
$3.50, Paperback
ISBN 0-441-87073-2
Before this first novel, Emma Bull was better known as the attractive
half of the editing team for the Liavek shared-world series (sorry,
Will) and as a short story writer. But for all her lack of experience
with novel-length fiction, she still comes up aces.
In Scottish folklore there are two warring factions of Fairy -- the
Seelie (which could well come from the world "sainly" which also means
"blessed") and Unseelie Courts. In Bull's Minnesota folklore (entirely
her own, I might add) those same Courts are still busily at war -- only
this time it's in the contemporary streets of Minneapolis, rather than
the highlands. Caught up in their struggle is the young musician Eddi
McCandry who's been unwillingly drafted to fight the good fight.
There's plenty of excitement in this novel, but its true heard is the
relationship between Eddi and the phouka that the Seelie Court assigned
to guard her. Never mind the magic, or the fact that the phouka's a
creature of Fairy (and Bull handles both with consummate skill), its
the relationship here that's honest and draws you in.
Combined with elves playing rock'n'roll, the very real trials and
tribulations of a new band trying to get off the ground, and the fairy
element, this is a contemporary fantasy that takes a large step ahead
of the ever-growing pack. There are so many find touches, from the song
titles used to name chapters to the perfect balance bull uses to play
the contemporary world against the realm of Fairy.
If you like some grittiness with your magic, this is what you've been
looking for -- a fairy tale set to a rock'n'roll beat. And to complete
the musical connections, at this summer's Fourth Street Fantasy Faire
in Minneapolis, Bull had a party in a local bar to launch the book,
complete with electric traditional band Boiled in Lead to put everybody
in the proper mood. Wish I could've been there.
Wyrms
by Orson Scott Card
[***]
Arbor House, July, 1987, 263pp, $16.95, Cloth
ISBN 0-87795-894-7
Seventh Son
by Orson Scott Card
[****]
Tor, July, 1987, 241pp, $17.95, Cloth
ISBN 0-312-93019-4
Some time ago -- way back in the 1970's -- Orson Scott Card burst upon
the SF/Fantasy scene, writing some good books, copping some awards and
big advances, and all sorts of people started dumping on him -- not so
much because they didn't like what he was writing, but because they
felt he hadn't paid his dues and didn't deserve the recognition he was
getting.
Card withdrew for a while, then came back with fiction stronger and
better than ever, copping some more awards and one assumes some more
big advances, and once again people are lining up to dump on him. And
again it seems that the greater portion with nothing to say about him
are cutting him down, not because of his writing but because he's
winning awards they feel they should have won. Because they feel he's
not writing their version of Great Literature. Or, as in a recent case
chronicled in the now-defunct Fantasy Review, because the critic is
putting her own bizarre interpretations upon the thematic thrust of his
work, attacking things that just aren't there.
It's too bad. With his short fiction and novels, Card's giving readers
some good solid helpings of the Good Stuff.
Wyrms, though, just squeaks by. On the surface, it's a quest novel set
on a distant planet where, through genetic manipulation, a number of
various humanoid races exist. The young Heptarch (read Empress of the
world) Patience journeys across her world with an unlikely band of
companions (well, only unlikely if you've never read a quest novel
before) to confront her planet's greatest foe -- the Unwyrm.
The writing here is as good as Card's writing ever is, and at the heart
of the novel is a symbolic journey through the human heart and mind
that rewards the reader far more than the simplistic plot would seem to
promise. But there's too much a sense of predestiny involved. While I
was pleasantly engaged through my reading of Wyrms -- strong
characters, insightful speculation, deft writing -- I was never really
taken with the quest; never really feared that it would not succeed.
Ah, but Seventh Son. Now that's another matter.
I've been waiting for a writer to use the Matter of America properly --
Native beliefs, folk lore, and magic, the frontier -- and Card does
just that in this first mostly self-contained installment of a
projected six novel sequence set in an alternate American where magic
works, mostly through the various "knacks" that people have -- second
sight, dowsing, charms and hexes, etc.
The opening section of the novel chronicling the young Alvin Miller's
birth first appeared in Asimov's (August, 1986). From that point we
skip ahead in time to find Alvin as a young boy, protected from danger
by his family and neighbours and a mysterious benefactor who never
appears on stage in this book. (If you're curious as to who this is and
don't want to wait for the second volume of this series I recommend
"Runaway" in the June 1987 issue of Asimov's.)
Alvin is the seventh son of a seventh son, destined for greatness,
perhaps even to become a Maker -- one who can use Earth, Wind and Fire
to create new things -- though there hasn't been a Maker in hundreds of
years. His great enemy is Water -- the unmaking element -- but while
Water threatens him time and again in this first novel, it is the
enemy's more human agents that dominate the stage here, especially the
preacher who teaches that all knacks and the like are the work of the
devil and Alvin's brother-in-law Armor-of-God who suns all magic and
knacks.
Card's ability with characterization shines throughout this book. The
antagonists are realistic -- not wholly evil; more disturbing because
they are good men led astray. The protagonists are wonderful,
especially Taleswapper, a wandering vagabond-type who trades stories to
get by in the world. The narrative voice has an old-fashioned country
flavour to it without ever descending into an incomprehensible dialect.
This is Card at his best -- mixing the fresh and the familiar in a
heady brew that would charm even his severest critics...if they'd only
read it. Unfortunately, they won't, although I don't doubt they'll
critique it all the same. But that shouldn't stop the rest of you from
enjoying it. And if, like me, you find that Seventh Son and "Runaway"
have only whetted your appetite for more Hatrack River stories, the
September 1987 Asimov's has yet another installment, "Carthage City."
The Shelter
by Mary Kittredge
&
Kevin O'Donnell, Jr.
[**+]
Tor, August, 1987
376pp, $3.95 Paperback
ISBN 0-812-52066-1
The city of Meadbury is sentient and takes care of itself. Those who
wish to harm it, or don't fit in, are either dealt with in a permanent
manner, or recycled to become productive citizens.
It's not a new idea -- John Shirley's City Come A-Walkin' springs to
mind as another example, and a good one -- but there's nothing wrong
with using an old idea. The real problem with this first collaboration
between Mary Kittredge and her husband is that the book's narrative
thrust has a certain lack of focus.
The prose here is good -- it's smooth and lean, and that's partly what
kept me reading. I was also interested in the characters: Nicki
Pialosta, the gung-ho news reporter; Tommy Riley, the teenager in love
with her; Ben Ibrani, the newspaper editor and closet rebel; and many
of the others. The trouble is, there's something lacking in the novel's
multiple viewpoint narrative. We're with characters at the beginning of
the book, then lose them for stretches of fifty pages at a time. Major
characters don't take on their larger roles until two-thirds of the way
through the book.
The root at the heart of many horror novels is silly to begin with --
vampires, monsters, sentient cities -- so the writer has to work twice
as hard to keep the tension building. Mostly it's done through
characterization, especially a strong sharp focus on one or more
characters that the reader can follow throughout the book. When this
focus becomes diffused, the reader starts to think about the silliness
that's at work at the heart of the book, and then everything begins to
fall down like a knocked- over house of cards.
And that's just what happened for me here. It's too bad, because with a
bit more tightening, the authors of The Shelter could have had
themselves a real winner.
A Mask for the General
by Lisa Goldstein
[****]
Bantam/Spectra, November, 1987, 201pp
$14.95, Cloth
ISBN 0-553-05239-X
The only other book I've read by Lisa Goldstein was her fascinating,
but to my mind flawed, The Dream Years (Bantam/Spectra, 1985) concerned
with the surrealistic movement in Paris during the early part of the
century, the student riots in the 1960's, and in the far future. It was
in the latter segment that the book fell apart for me -- it just got
too off the wall - - although considering the nature of surrealism, it
was obviously necessary direction for the book to take.
Her new novel, however, while it's also dealing with rebels, is a whole
different kettle of fish. After a collapse of the American banking
system, a General Gleason -- the General of the title -- takes military
control of the U.S. and retains it through a systematic tyranny that
outlaws anything even smacking of individuality. The rebels in this
case are the tribes -- people who wear masks of their totem animals and
reject the current system. The new shaman of the tribes are the
maskmakers who travel in dreams or visions to the land of animals to
discover a person's animal spirit before making that person a mask.
While the background of her near-future setting, and her sections
dealing with the maskmakers and tribes, make for some wonderful
sections of writing, it is with her characters that Goldstein really
shines. No black and whites here, but real people. Grey. Trying to get
by. Wanting to do well, but screwing up.
It's a "small book," in that the plot is focused on just a few
individuals rather than a major take-over of the harsh political
system, but it's all the more satisfying for that, with an ending
intelligent enough that readers can make up their own minds as to the
greater impact this small story had on that future world.
On Stranger Tides
by Tim Powers
[****+]
Ace Books, November, 1987
325pp, $16.95, Cloth
ISBN 0-441-62683-1
Tim Powers. Pirates. Voodoo.
If you're already familiar with Power's sure-handed prose and the wild
antics of his imagination, I doubt I'll have to say more than the above
to have you snap up a copy of his latest book. What's that? You haven't
already been captivated by the time-tripping Egyptians of The Anubis
Gates (Ace, 1983), the future world of Dinner at Deviant's Palace (Ace,
1985), or the magical use to which the darkest of brews is put in The
Drawing of the Dark (Del Rey, 1979)?
Trust me on this one.
In the best traditions of Robert Louis Stevenson, Alexandre Dumas and
Dickens, young puppeteer John Chandagnac is on route to Jamaica when
his ship is boarded and captured by pirates. Given the choice between
death and joining the buccaneers, Chandagnac logically opts for the
latter. Soon he's known as Jack Shandy and becomes enmeshed in a
complex webwork of plots involving the famous pirate Blackbeard, voodoo
ceremonies and magic, any number of despicable villains, and a True
Love, who naturally, once she finds out he's a pirate, wants nothing to
do with him.
There's a wonderfully grotesque scene near the end of the book -- and
no, I won't spoil things by telling you what it is -- but it's a
pivotal scene, which has its roots in the opening chapters, showing
just how intricately Powers plots his work. And how in control he is at
all times. Come back to me after you've read the book, and we'll talk
some more about it.
The prose is rich, the characters painted with full, broad strokes, the
story flies along from one improbably but highly appropriate moment to
the next, and there's never a missed beat. If you enjoy realistically
conceived historical Fantasies, or just admire superb writing, don't do
yourself a disservice. Read this book.
Well I'm already out of room and I haven't nearly covered everything I
wanted to. Like a couple of recent books by Richard Bowker. Or that
Koontz title. We'll have to leave them until next time.
What say we meet here again -- at that table in the corner where the
lights aren't so bright -- and talk some more. If you've something you
want to share with me in the meantime -- that doesn't necessarily fit
into the OtherRealms lettercol -- drop me a line care of the magazine
and I'll try to get back to you. Until then.
Cheers.
Stuff Received
Ace/Putnam
Heinlein, Robert A. To Sail Beyond the Sunset, 416 pages, $18.95. July
original novel.
Arbor House
Blalock, James P. Land of Dreams, 264 pages, $16.95.
Card, Orson Scott. Wyrms, 263 pages, $16.95.
Atlantic
Monthly Press
Kennedy, Leigh. Faces, 152 pages, $15.95. First American printing of a
British collection.
Avon/Discus
Boyer, Robert H. and Zahorski, Kenneth J. Fantasists on Fantasy, 287
pages, $3.95, 1984. A collection of critical essays on Fantasy
by Fantasy authors including Lovecraft, James Thurber, Tolkien,
C.S. Lewis, Peter Beagle, Andre Norton and Ursula K. LeGuin.
Avon
Fantasy
Anthony, Piers. Vale of the Vole, 324 pages, October, 1987, $3.95. Start
of a new Xanth trilogy.
Bisson, Terry. Talking Man, 192 pages, $2.95.
Avon
Fiction
Penman, Sharon Kay. Here be Dragons, 773 pages, $4.95. Historical
Romance set in the time of King John.
Townsend, Sue. The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole, 243 pages, $3.50.
First mass-market of a 1982 book.
Avon
Science Fiction
Arnason, Eleanor. Daughter of the Bear King, 239 pages, $3.50.
Baen Books
Baen, Jim. New Destinies Volume II, 232 pages, $2.95. Fall 1987
edition of the paperback magazine.
Dalmas, John. Return to Fanglith, 280 pages, $2.95.
Mitchell, Betsy, ed. Free Lancers, 248 pages, September, 1987, $2.95.
Anthology of three novellas by Card, Drake, and Bujold.
Scott, Melissa. The Kindly Ones, 371 pages, $2.95, September, 1987.
Zahn, Timothy. Triplet, 369 pages, $3.95.
Bantam
Benford, Gregory. Across the Sea of Suns, 353 pages, August, 1987, $3.95.
Cadigan, Pat. Mindplayers, 276 pages, August, 1987, $3.50. A First Novel.
Flint, Kenneth C. The Dark Druid, 326 pages, $3.50. Conclusion of a
trilogy that includes Challenge of the Clans and Storm Shield.
Hogan, James P. Endgame Enigma, 408 pages, August, 1987, $16.95.
Bonus Books
Melamed, Leo. The TENth Planet, 304 pages, $8.95 trade paperback.
Carroll & Graf
Publishers
Wolfe, Bernard. Limbo, 413 pages, $4.95. reprint of a 1952 cautionary novel.
Dell Books
Fuller, John G. The Interrupted Journey, 350 pages, $3.95. Non-fiction
reprint of a 1966 book about the fully documented travels of a
couple abducted by extraterresterials.
Pocket Books
Bonanno, Margaret. Strangers from the Sky, 402 pages, $3.95. July
original novel. A Star Trek novel. The story of the first
meeting of Humans and Vulcans.
Johnson, Shane. Mr. Scott's Guide to the Enterprise, 126 pages (8.5x11
format) $10.95. July, 1985. A Star Trek book. Based upon the
engineering logs of Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott.
St. Martin's
Press
King, Bernard. Starkadder, 243 pages, October, 1987, $16.95. A Nordic Fantasy.
Signet Books
Cook, Glen. Sweet Silver Blues, 255 pages, August, 1987, $3.50. Mystery
Fantasy.
Irwin, Walter & Love, G.B. The Best of TREK #12, 206 pages, August,
1987, $2.95. Latest collection of stories from TREK, the Star
Trek fanzine.
Rosenberg, Joel. The Heir Apparent, 319 pages, $3.50. Book Four of
the Guardians of the Flame series.
Spinsters/Aunt Lute Books
PO Box 410687
San Francisco, CA 94141
Hall, Sandi. Wingwomen of Hera, 180 pages, $8.95. ISBN 0-933216-26-2.
First book in the Cosmic Botanist Trilogy.
Starblaze Graphics
Asprin, Robert & Abbey, Lynn. Thieves' World Graphic #5. Art by Tim
Sale, 63 pages 8.5 x 11 b&w graphic novel, $3.95.
Tor Fantasy
Anthony, Piers and Margroff, Robert E. Dragon's Gold, 282 pages, $3.95.
July original novel.
Bear, Greg. The Forge of God, 474 pages, October, 1987, $17.95.
Norton, Andre and Adams, Robert. Magic in Ithkar 4, 278 pages, $3.50.
July original anthology.
Norton, Andre. Tales of the Witch World, 343 pages, September, 1987,
$15.95. Anthology of stories set in Norton's Witch World.
Tor Horror
Bloch, Robert. American Gothic, 246 pages, $3.95. July reprint of a
1974 novel.
Laws, Stephen. Spectre, 275 pages, $3.95. July reprint of a 1986 novel.
Pfefferly, Seth. Stickman, 279 pages, $3.95, July original novel.
Tor
Science Fiction
Carr, Terry. Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year #16. October,
1987, 416 pages, $16.95. The last best of the year by one of
the best editors in the field.
Chalker, Jack L. The Shadow Dancers, 284 pages, $3.95. July original
novel. G.O.D. Inc. number 2.
Dalmas, John. The Varkaus Conspiracy, 285 pages, $2.95. July reprint
of a 1983 novel.
Dickson, Gordon R. Beyond the Dar Al-Harb, 253 pages, $2.95. July
reprint of a 1985 collection.
Robinson, Kim Stanley. The Planet on the Table, 241 pages, $3.50. July
first mass market anthology.
Saberhagen, Fred. The Veils of Azlaroc, 216 pages, $2.95. July reprint
of a 1978 novel.
Writer's Digest
Books
Williamson, J.N. How to Write Tales of Horror, Fantasy & Science
Fiction, 242 pages, $15.95.
Fan & Other Zines
Delineator #4. Edited by Alan White. Irregular from Alan White, 455 E.
7th St. #4, San Jacinto, CA 92383.
Entropion #7. Edited by Nick Shears. Irregular British
personal/genzine, available for the usual or #1.00 from Nick
Shears, 27 Chiltern Road, Wendover, Aylesbury, Bucks. HP22 6DA, UK.
File 770 #68. Mike Glyer. Fannish newszine, on this year's Hugo
ballot. 5/$5.00 from 5828 Woodman Ave. #2, Van Nuys, CA 91401.
Hardwired Hinterland Volume 1 #3. Edited by Rich Jervis. Irregular
personalzine that includes parts of an computer mailing list,
available from P.O. Box 743, Notre Dame, IN 46556.
Loco #10 & #13. Edited by Janne Wallenius. Available from Pl 2215, 460
20 Sjuntorp, Sweden. Interesting looking, but in Swedish, so I
can't comment on the content. Where is my English to Swedish
dictionary?
Pandora 17. Edited by Jean Lorrah. Short Fiction magazine. Pandora has
been sold to Reluctant Publishing, 44825 Cass, Utica MI 48087,
so it may change in the future. According to Scavenger
Newsletter, will be bi- monthly, digest size, #18 will have a
Piers Anthony story. Acting editor is Meg MacDonald.
Remember Lindisfarne. Edited by Heidi Lyshol. Norwegian APAzine
published (in English) for Worldcon. Maridalsvn. 235 A, N-0467
Oslo 4, Norway.
Scavenger's Newsletter #42. Small Press market report by Janet Fox, 519
Ellinwood, Osage City, KS 66623. $8/yr.
Spung #1, The Fanzine that Stands at Attention. Ted White, 1014 N.
Tuckahoe St., Falls Church, VA. 22046. Irregular.
Starline, Volume 10, Issue 3. Newsletter of the Science Fiction Poetry
Association, 18 pages. bi-monthly. $6.00 for six issues and
membership to P.O. Box 6398, Albany, CA. 94706.
The Texas SF Enquirer #21. Pat Mueller, editor. Irregular. For the usual
for $6/6 issues. A Hugo nominee for 1987.
OtherRealms #18
Fall, 1987
Copyright 1987 by Chuq Von Rospach.
All Rights Reserved.
One time rights have been acquired from the contributors.
All rights are hereby assigned to the contributors.
OtherRealms may be reproduced in its entirety only
for non-commercial purposes. No article may be reprinted
without the express permission of the author.
