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Editorial
The Senior Editor's usual drivel about whatever...
What is wrong with me? Am I the only person on the planet
whofeels no desire at all to go see the new "Star Wars" movie?
I saw the previews for "A New Hope" while I was still in high
school, or shortly thereafter, and was hooked. I bought the paperback
the first time I saw it. I bought every magazine I saw that had
articles about it. I stood in line opening night to see it. I saw it a
dozen times or more during its first run. And I waited breathlessly
for the sequels - both of which I saw multiple times in theaters during
their own first runs. I bought the soundrack albums, the comic books,
the videos - even the special edition ones, the computer games... In
short, I was the typical fan.
I've even had friends who had the soundtrack played at their
wedding- and I didn't laugh.
So why don't I want to go see the new one? I've seen the ads,
the movie looks good. I like the idea of more history from the "Star
Wars" universe being added - something that I'd been waiting for and
wanting since I first learned that "A New Hope" was to be part 4 of a
series. I even wished that George Lucas would go ahead and release the
rest of the serial chapters in book form so that I could read the whole
story. I like detail, lots of detail - "Dune" is one of my favorite
books of all time - and I enjoyed everything about all three of the
first "Star Wars" movies.
So where did I get lost from the wonder? Did I change? Was it
that theater tickets had tripled in price in the last 25 years? Was it
the hype? Was it that I just (gasp!) grew up?
Damifino.
I've been a Sci-fi fan since an early age. The first book
that I ever checked out of a school library was Jules Verne's "Journey
to the Center of the Earth" back when I was in the 4th grade. My
parents bought me "Tom Swift Jr." books, "Dig Allen, Space Explorer"
books, H.G. Wells books, and more. I've seen every sci-fi TV series
that I can think of, I own over 2500 sci-fi and fantasy paperbacks,
I've bought masses of comic books. I haunted the library when I was in
college - every day I'd read something new. I drove 90 miles to see the
first "Alien" movie. I've never lost my love for sci-fi, for adventure,
but still I have no desire to go see "Phantom Menace".
So what has changed? I don't know - maybe I'll never know -
but
something is different. I'm going to try and force myself to go to a
theater this week and see "Phantom Menace", but the desire to do so
isn't there. Which is strange, because I really can't wait to go see
"Mystery Men" later this month when it comes out. I guess that tells me
that its not the theater itself that I'm avoiding, but just this movie.
I guess that its a silly thing to babble about, but it still worries
me. I feel as if I've lost something over the years, something besides
my youth. But I've also gained a lot over the years. Now I can write my
own adventures. Is that it? Because I'm now a writer I'm avoiding
someone else's work? Nah. I can't accept that. I won't accept that.
I will go see the movie. I won't just wait for it to come out
on video. If you see me at the theater, be gentle. It'll be my first
time in a long time.
Thanks for your time.
Dan
I'd like to thank those of you who have sent e-mails or signed into the
Lettercol for your feedback. Keep those messages coming, folks! Without
those messages we will never know what we need to improve upon. Hope
you like the improvements so far!
Superhero
Nation -Part 3 of 5-
By Mike Tanier It's 2049, and any kid can call
himself a superhero if
he's willing
to spend a little money and break a
few laws.
The Journeyman
-Part 3 of 5-
By Allen Woods Nothing in their lives could ever have prepared the
citizens of Ithica,
GA for the Journeyman.
Dreamer
-Part 1 of 3-
By Dan L. Hollifield A rare foray into pure fantasy,
just to prove that I can do it.
This story ran in 5 parts in the
second incarnation of Dragon's
Lair webzine in 1997.
The
Planting
By Harlon Stafford After Soolah died, Mirak carried on alone. Then one
day he
found the gift she had left behind.
The
Receptacle By Peter Spaeth A simple side trip for extra cash leads to a life
draining encounter.
A
Six Day Journey By Kelly D. Tolman In the eyes of a starving boy, the path to glory in
war is less savory than a mouthful of crusty bread.
The
Gadarene Redemption By Rich Logsdon "The ending--the shattering of light bulbs and glass
by unseen forces--is based upon an experience a very good friend of
mine, a pastor, shared with me years ago. The following night we went
to a basketball game together and he was so badly shaken that he
actually began a kind of gradual withdrawal from the really intense
aspect of his ministry. I know; sounds crazy, and I still
wonder if he was delusional or just reporting things as he saw them...."
Aphelion's
Daily Comics
By ark Stanley, and Steve Troop Did he say daily? Yep, Aphelion is proud to feature two
of the funniest comic strips on the Internet, Mark Stanley's "Freefall"
and Steve Troop's "The Melonpool Chronicles". Bookmark this page, you
don't want to miss a single installment!
The
Writing Process
from outline to submission
by Dan L. Hollifield From an idea by Jeff Williams... Wherein I detail
how I go about writing stories and the editing involved. And
coincidentally, how to ready a manuscript for submission to an e-zine-
because that's the direction most of my stories see publication.
Wayward
Musings by Kim Holec Kim just got back from Dragon*Con, and boy are her
arms tired. A detailed account of all there was to do and see at the
largest multi-genre SF con in the southeast.
Double
Wide
by Jim Parnell On the Road -- Where it goes, nobody knows! WARNING:
Contains language.
A
Word In Your Ear
by Rob Wynne Rob Wynne rememers DeForest Kelley, who passed away
in July...
The
Reading Room
by Rob Wynne Rob Wynne takes a look at books of note in this
semi-regular column. In this issue: The Ultimate Melonpool by Steve
Troop (an Aphelion author!)
Mare
Inebrium
Wallpaper Page 51 JPGs you can download and convert to Bitmaps for
wallpaper. This is a slow-loading page, but well worth it.
P.S.
In case anyone is curious as to exactly what's been keeping
me so busy, I've planed a few webpages that show the progress of my
landscaping, interior decoration, and housework. Look for it in my
personal pages at Casa
Vila. Its the begining of a sort of photographic timeline of
my yardwork and such. I don't know why anyone would want to see it, but
Rob thought that someone might so I worked it up. Expect it to be
updated as I get new film developed and scanned.
Dan
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As always, this mailing list will only be used to notify
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I hate spam as much as you do!
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Back Issues:
Instead of the back issues the banner below now takes you
to the Archives-where all our past stories are available for you to
read.
I've decided to ditch the back issues in favor of the
Archives. The Archives are easier to use and can be indexed by author
or story title. Hopefully this will ease the task of finding a favorite
story. We may start a page of our past cover art, if there is a call
for it. Thanks for your readership for without you, nothing we do has
any meaning.
When the
Mare Inebrium is threatened by a Culture Clash, its up to the Social
Conscience to save the innocent.
