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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
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!
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.
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 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"
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!
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.