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Aphelion: The Webzine of Science Fiction and Fantasy

Issue 45, Volume 5 -- March 2001

Issue 46, Volume 5 will be online 1st week of April.

"And if you believe that- you'll buy this watch..."
Saint Robere Guilams



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Editorial

The Senior Editor's usual drivel about whatever...

Hello and welcome!

Well, that time has come again-- another new issue of Aphelion and you want to know what has been on my mind over the last month. Well, I've been busy with the IRC channel, #AphelionWebzine running on the Filknet IRC servers. Our latest addition to the website is the IRC channel for a 24-hour live chatroom. I've been spending a lot of time in there with the IRC program running in the background while I do other things. I can check my e-mail, surf webpages, run searches, write-- and still have the IRC channel running for me to peep into at odd moments when someone visits. The channel is fast becoming a production tool, also. That was proved during the layout of this very issue. I recieved all the info by e-mail that I needed from Cary and Jeff to do the story links for this issue and met with Jeff online to check my work. He did and sparked off another fit of creativity in my humble self. Thus this editorial was born... As for the chat channel? It has been going very well, with the free flow of ideas having already paid off in new story ideas for several chatters. Anyone can visit whenever they want, and the Aphelion staff tend to pop in and out at any time. As is illustrated by this recent conversation in the channel;

Vila: Serials updated.
Vila: Now for the short stories...
doc: ok, shower and shopping...back later
*** doc is now known as doc_afk
Vila: OK. The working copy for March is now online for checking.
Geoffrey: okidokee
Geoffrey: Looks good so far
Vila: drafting the editorial... but its trying to flee to Canada.
Geoffrey: I still like that background
Geoffrey: What's the editorial about?
Vila: Nothing, so far. That the chat has been working out well.
Vila: First paragraph stuff.
Geoffrey: How about promoting it as a terrific place for writers
to talk with other writers about their problems, revisions, rewrites, etc
Vila: I oughta quote you in that- using preformated text tags in
the editorial.
Geoffrey: Which quote?
Vila: "How about promoting..."
Geoffrey: Oh :)
Geoffrey: *whistles innocently to himself*
Geoffrey: Max, give me a lite
* Max places a flaming hoop in front of Geoffrey
*** Wormtongue has joined #AphelionWebzine
Wormtongue: Apologies if I suddenly drop out - my server keeps
disconnecting me!
Vila> Hi, Wormtongue.
Wormtongue: evening all, how goes the struggle?
Vila: Going well.
Vila: We have been busy programming Max.
Geoffrey: Sorry...Franci is still being endlessly fascinated by Max
Geoffrey: I feel like a child with a new toy :)
doc_afk: s'ok. back later, folkes.
Wormtongue: Am i missing half the conversation here?
Vila: Bye Rob.
Vila: Bye Rob.
Geoffrey: Bye Rob
Wormtongue: Bye Rob
Geoffrey: Max...Max is the new toy.
Max: yes, Vila?
Wormtongue: OOOOOkay! Go Max
Vila: What are you, Max?
Max: I am an AI- an infobot: if you address me
by name I can store and retrieve useful factoids
for you. /msg me with the word 'help' for more information...
Vila: Max, what do you do?
Max: That's simple, really. I hang out here
and keep the channel open.
Wormtongue: Repeat: OOOkay
Wormtongue: max?
Max: yes, Wormtongue?
Wormtongue: coolness!
Vila: He's a bartender, short order cook, and
infobot all in one.
Vila: OK-- The editorial for March is done.

As you can see, its a forum for serious debate and brain-storming, as well as a fun time. Max is always online to keep the channel open, so no matter what time it is where you are, feel free to check out this new IRC channel. There are links scattered about the page that will lead you to the chat channel. I'll repeat then here for you; Aphelion IRC Chat Info & Schedule if you want to read up on what schedule has evolved for staff visits or IRC in general before chatting, and Aphelion Instant Java Chat for those of you who want to dive right in to see what the fuss is about. With 50 to 150 hits a day registering on the counter, I know that there are readers out there that might want to pop into #AphelionWebzine once in a while.

I asked Jeff for a quote about the chat channel:
*** Geoffrey has quit IRC (Ping timeout)
*** Geoffrey has joined #aphelionwebzine
Geoffrey: I REALLY need to disable call waiting
Vila: LOL!
Geoffrey: Especially when it is some damn telemarketer
Vila: I've been getting a lot of them this week too.
Vila: What would you say about the channel to someone reading my editorial?
Geoffrey: It's a genuine mix of boisterous fun and serious discussion about
writing; the arts in general; and life, the universe, and everything.
Vila: OK, that's a great blurb.
Geoffrey: Best of all, it's true too

'Nuf said. I'm through blathering about Chat. Now I'm going to blather about the great review that Rickey R. Mallory wrote about Aphelion over on the "Suite 101" website.

In his intro to his February 28th review, he begain by saying "Aphelion Appeals to the Senses: Aphelion SF/F Webzine is one of the oldest, and probably best, webzines out there, dating back to 1997, and descending from the now defunct, but excellent Dragon's Lair." And he goes on from there to get really complimentary. The review itself is at Science Fiction and Fantasy Webzines as are many other Webzine revirews Rickey has done.

I like to take this time to thank Rickey for his glowing review. And I'd like to hope we've gained another loyal reader, also.

Thanks for your time.

Dan


Tell us what you think in Aphelion's Lettercol!

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!

Aphelion Staff:

Dan Hollifield
Senior Editor, Publisher
Kim Holec
Poetry/Filk Editor
Robert Wynne
WebMaven
Cary Semar
Short Story Editor
McCamy Taylor
Asssistant Short Story Editor
Jeffrey Williams
Production Editor/Serials Editor
Ralph Benedetto, Jr.
Asssistant Serials Editor
Roger Bennett
Editor Emeritus

Serialized Stories & Novellettes

  • The Drop
    By Aaron Beatty
    While on his most challenging mission yet, Trevor is faced with an even more difficult decision involving a woman he thought he had lost forever.


  • Living in the Present
    By Guy Hasson
    Communication through time may actually be only a few years away. This story offers a new solution to the time paradox: No coincidences, no tear in the fabric of space-time, and absolutely no parallel universes... Something else.

  • A Change in the Weather
    By M. A. Taylor
    There is a storm building in the upper atmosphere. There is a chance of alien showers, devastation and the possibility of a light giggle with strong gusts of splatter. Please stay indoors and if possible head for the hills. There will be no "Singing in the rain"...ever again!

  • A Study in Alizarin Crimson --Part 2--
    By Dan L. Hollifield
    When Sherlock Holmes is hired to investigate a suspicious man who seems to be planning to burgle the British Museum, the trail of clews leads straight to the mysterious owner of the Mare Inebrium!



  • Read more great stories from the
    Aphelion Archives
    And
    Aphelion Back Issues

    Or Take

    - 8\8\2000 - A Challenge to Writers...
    Not a contest, but a series of ideas to spark off a story.





    Short Stories


  • The Knight, the Lady, and the Fool
    By John Devlin
    A poignant, whimsical tale of love set in courtly medieval times.
  • Candlelight is the Playground of Shadows
    By George K. Mowles
    From the author of "Ambrosia" a creepy tale about a potential serial killer...

  • Jewfish
    By Robert Thurston
    Here is a warning for those that abuse the planet.


  • Fiona's Revenge
    By Heath Hallman
    There is no escaping the blade of a determined assassin.

  • Revenge of the Monkey's Paw
    By McCamy Taylor
    There is only one way to end this curse...

  • The Poet's Shack
    By Wanda C. Fitzgerald
    On a dark moonless night in Wales, a woman receives an invitation for a meeting in a deserted landmark.

  • From Time to Time
    By George M. Scott
    A missing brain, a mysterious traveler from the future, and a computer virus send two LAPD homicide detectives on the ride of their lives.

  • Invader in the Realm
    By Peter Bergman, Jr.
    In a post-apocalyptic world, two siblings fight side by side in a desperate bid to save their people.



  • Read the updated Submissions Guidelines
    Aphelion Submissions Guidelines Page


    Poetry and Filk Music

  • Dreadful Sorry
    By Maureen O'Brien

  • The Ballad of Big Jim
    By Iain Muir

  • Through Morning Fog
    By I.J. Albright

  • Woe
    By Christine Smalldone


  • The Mare Inebrium

    Links Updated -- 9-10-00 --
    Each of the three links below have changed. Please take note and adjust your Bookmarks if necessary. The first link below gives you the introduction to the Mare Inebrium, the banner link now gives you access to all of the Mare stories, and the third link now gives you acess to the Mare Inebrium Online Starter kit. The online Starter Kit will be updated as often as Mare writers make necessary.

    The Mare Inebrium shared universe project
    I open up my own Spaceport Bar to other writers!
    This link takes you to the full introduction to the project.

    Tales of the Mare Inebrium
    All the Mare Inebrium Stories to date.

    The banner above links to
    all the Mare Inebrium Stories on one page!

    The Mare Inebrium Starter Kit.
    --Updated 12/10/2000--

    This is a link to all the background information for the Mare Inebrium stories so far.
    This is a must read for all Mare Inebrium writers and fans!




    Features

  • Aphelion's Daily Comics
    By Mark 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!

  • Double Wide
    by Jim Parnell
    "Interview with the Jasper"
    WARNING: Contains Language.


  • Dan Hollifield reviews:
    "Wizard Sword"
    -- The new novel by William Hill
    A classic fantasy with a unique take on some of the familiar elements of the genre.
  • The Listening Room
    by Rob Wynne
    Rob Wynne gives a listen to the 20th Anniversary CD Release of Meg Davis's "Captain Jack and the Mermaid"

  • The Awards Page
    All of the Awards that Aphelion has won.

  • A Challenge to Writers...
    --8\8\2000--
    Not a contest, but a series of ideas to spark off a story. Challenge 1 is the paintings of Daniel Hannaquand, Challenge 2 is a collection of narrative hooks composed by Dan Hollifield.
  • Aphelion Links Page
    --1\22\2001--
    Click here to see the Links Page. Our fellow E-zines, Astronomy, research material, entertainment, and much, much more!


  • Aphelion IRC Chat
    --2\16\2001--
    Information about a new feature for Aphelion. IRC Chat is a fun way to talk to our readers, writers, staff members, and other netizens. This link takes you to a basic intro and provides further links to the IRC software that you can download for free. Look for new updates as we refine this feature.
  • Aphelion JAVA Chat
    --2\12\2001--
    For a quick look at the JAVA chat client, this link launches a new browser window that takes you to a Log-in form for a JAVA-based chat in your browser window. No specian programs are needed. This will be a very simple, but passable IRC client, very no-frills. This will also tell you if there's anyone else in the chatroom, by the way.


  • Aphelion Banners
    And banner artwork for links.

    If you want to link to Aphelion and want more than a text link, then this page is for you. Some of these banners are finished, but most of them lack only my adding text to make them complete. Unfinished banners can be completed and e-mailed to you within 8 days. The banner HTML code-- and image --can be e-mailed on request, or can be more simply copied from the "View / Page Source" option in your web browser. Finished images can be copied from the banner artwork page itself. An exchange of links or banner links is always welcome.
    Link Swap E-mail should be sent to: Dan Hollifield



  • If you would like to receive notices from Aphelion when this page is updated, please join our new, revised, automatic mailing list. To subscribe:
    Send a message to majordomo@america.net with the following in the body of the message:

    subscribe aphelion <email address>

    As always, this mailing list will only be used to notify you of new issues and will never be given out to anyone else... 'cause I hate spam as much as you do!

  • --7\21\2000-- Click here to see the Links Page
  • Link Swap E-mail: Dan Hollifield

  • Excentrivial Musings: Dan Hollifield's Original Cartoon Page. Not updated in a long time.
  • Dan Hollifield reviews: The reviews index page.
  • Review Inqueries E-mail: Dan Hollifield
  • Review Query FAQ: All the info you need to mail a book or CD to Aphelion for review.
  • Short story submissions: Cary Semar
  • Serialized stories: Jeff Williams
  • Poetry: Kim Holec
  • Features: Robert Wynne
  • Mare Inebrium Stories: Dan Hollifield
  • Click here to see the Submissions Guidelines Page.
  • Aphelion Explanations and Thanks Where the name "Aphelion" came from and other info.


  • 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.

    Aphelion Back Issues!

    You can e-mail the Senior Editor by clicking here.


    Sideways to the Mare Inebrium!

    Sideways to the Mare Inebrium, homepage of Aphelion's Editor: Dan L. Hollifield

    Click HERE to vote for this page as a Starting Point Hot Site.


    Aphelion Webzine is © 1997-2000 by Dan L. Hollifield