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Contents
Heartless Special
Ditto, Oct 1997
Book Reviews
Harvest the Fire by Poul Anderson
Solis by A A Attanasio
When Heaven Fell by William Barton
Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold
Prodigy by Jan Clark
Final Orbit by S V Date
Present Tense - The Great Game by Dave Duncan
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert by Stephan Elliott
Zipper, An Exploration in Novelty by Robert Friedel
People of the Silence by Kathleen O'Neal Gear & W Michael Gear
Echoes of the Great Songs by David Gemmell
Winter Warriors by David Gemmell
Beggars Ride by Nancy Kress
The Chalice and the Blade by Glenna McReynolds
Knightshade Tower by Martin Middleton
Myst The Book of D'Ni by Rand Miller with David Wingove
Myst The Book of Tiana by Rand Miller with David Wingrove
Phases by Elizabeth Moon
The Bohr Maker by Linda Nagata
Dark Skies: The Awakening by Stan Nicholls
The Carpet People by Terry Pratchett
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
Dog in the Manger by Mike Resnick
A Miracle of Rare Design by Mike Resnick
Solo Flights Through Shared Worlds by Mike Resnick
Future Earths edited by Mike Resnick & Gardner Dozois
Widowmaker by Mike Resnick
Widowmaker Reborn by Mike Resnick
Freeware by Rudy Rucker
World War: Striking the Balance by Harry Turtledove
Paris in the Twentieth Century by Jules Verne
How To Sneak Into The Movies by Daan Zamudio
Cover
Get well messages on cover
A personal and science fiction fanzine, written and published by Eric Lindsay, when I have enough material and time to do an issue. ISSN #0310-9968 Web site www.maths.uts.edu.au/staff/eric/sf/geg.htm
Front Cover: Extracts of comments via email on Jean's reports about my recent heart attack. David Stirrup turned up at the door, and shouted, "Bring out your dead", to which I responded with the traditional Monty Python reply, "I'm not dead yet!"
Heartless Special
Jean and I arrived back in Australia on Wednesday 3rd December 1997, having survived the excesses of the Comdex computer show in Las Vegas. We had even relaxed for Thanksgiving at her parent's home in Lacey, Washington.There is, I suppose, a very small chance, perhaps one in a hundred, that my subsequent problem was triggered by a thrombosis from being inactive in a plane for ages. But I doubt it.
Thursday 4th December 1997
My first day back at work, and every pressure to get things done immediately was present as usual, almost as if I'd never been gone. Given that most of the tasks I'd planned to do simply sit until I return, that isn't surprising. I was late for lunch, and late leaving work, as was Gordon, however I'd managed a reasonable quantity of urgent tasks.Ran for the train, making a good pace, with the decade younger Gordon rushing for his train also. By the time I bought a ticket, and collapsed in a seat, less than five minutes and several blocks away, I was feeling more than slightly worse for wear. In typical macho male fashion, I dismissed my discomfort, and as I read, it eventually went away. Mind over matter - if you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
Friday 5th December 1997
At home alone for the first time in six weeks, I threw myself into preparing things for our not very planned move, by selecting and moving books and stuff into the garage. This was rapidly followed by chairs, bookcases, and lots of heavy stuff I carried down the stairs.After lunch, I sat down and had a heart attack, complete with writhing on the floor in agony, nausea, profuse sweating and feeling faint. I phoned Jean and then emergency services on 000. An ambulance turned up at the door five minutes later. I was pretty impressed by the service, even if I did have to walk down the stairs to let them in. I wasn't at all certain I could walk down the stairs. I wasn't however thinking straight enough to pack a bag and some books.
They gave me glyceryl trinitrate tablets (Anginine), some 2.5 mg shots of morphine for the pain, and a smooth ride to Nepean hospital.
Nitrates like I was given in the ambulance help relax the coronary arteries, allowing increased blood flow. Anginine (Glyceryl Trinitrate), Nitrolingual spray, Isordil, Imdur, nitroglycerin patches, Nitrodisk, Transiderm Nitro are some of the brands, hence the references to nitrogycerin tablets in films.
The triage entrance at Nepean brought blood samples, enzyme tests, ECG, and lots of questions about potential risk factors for a heart attack. The only major risk factors I had were being male and over 50, and I couldn't do much about that. I have never smoked, my cholesterol readings were fine, and even my blood pressure was not excessive.
Well, maybe stress. Circulation, the journal of the American Heart Association, reports tests of heart rate and blood pressure increases in men challenged by mental tasks set up so that no more than 60% of tasks could be accomplished. The thickness of the carotid artery wall was measured by ultrasound, and the men most prone to blocking of the arteries were found to react most strongly to the stress. The one fifth of men who reacted most strongly had an average artery wall thickness of 0.89mm compared with 0.85mm in the calmest one fifth of men. Previous studies had shown an 11% increase in heart attack risk for each 0.1 increase in thickness.
The hospital emergency room gave me heparin from a drip to thin the blood, and TPA to help remove blood clots. The TPA (or maybe it was Streptokinase) seemed to be the new favourite drug for heart attack victims, but it apparently has to be given within six hours of the heart attack.
A beta blocker to treat angina, high blood pressure and abnormal heart rhythms. They reduce the workload on the heart by slowing the heart rate and preventing disturbances of rhythm. Atenlol (Tenormin or Noten), Metoprolol (Betalo or Lopressor),Sotalol (Sotacor) are the brand names, and if I read their charts right, I got Metapopolol. Unlike in the past, they no longer seem to keep you on beta blockers for very long.
Even the drips are high tech now, with a flexible plastic connector plugged into your bloodstream, rather than the old metal needles. Considering how long they stayed plugged in I'm glad they weren't metal needles.
Anginine again at 5:30 and 6:10 in hospital, and then I was off to the heart ward, and a nice private room with my own personal ECG, little electrodes all over me, a drip in each arm, and a plastic oxygen mask. It is a real pity Jean didn't manage to get a photo when she came to visit late that afternoon. That setup would have gotten me a lot of sympathy.
Blood pressure was 140/100 on admission, according to the chart I sneaked a look at, way up from the 110/70 it used to be. After all the drips and tablets, it is much lower these days, more like 100/65. I found an old note showing that it was 110/70 in 1984, but since I hadn't been to see a doctor in the past decade, I have no idea what it was normally.
On 150mg of aspirin daily. Aspirin helps thin the blood, and assists in preventing clot formation. Sometimes called Cardipri, disprin or Cartia, but as far as I can tell it is just aspirin. The hospital said that was for life.
The blood vampires came often, even during the night, stealing blood each time. Enzyme levels from damaged tissue kept getting higher for some considerable time after I was admitted, and they weren't too happy about that.
Saturday 6th December 1997
Some pain overnight, another fancier ECG, and increased doses of heparin. The blood vampires came around and stole blood at 3 a.m. I was not all that impressed by the 3 a.m. visit.
It was a very boring day, despite Jean visiting for very lengthy periods.
Sunday 7th December 1997
Sitting up, still on heparin, but at least the second drip was out. I was allowed to take a shower, still clutching the confounded drip.On 600mg potassium chloride daily, because my blood tests showed potassium was low. Well, hell, I wasn't exactly eating a full meal at that stage, and the blood vampires kept stealing any blood I did have. I also gather that potassium levels drop a lot following a heart attack.
While Jean was visiting a pair of pigeons fluttered around outside on the balcony. One laid an egg on the fifth floor balcony. Pigeon brains!
Moved to room 3 late in the day, still clutching the confounded heparin drip. At least by then I had some books to read.
Monday 8th December 1997
Started on Enalapril as 5mg tablets morning and evening (ACE inhibitor). ACE inhibitors improve the heart's ability to pump and reduce blood pressure. The ACE seems to stand for angiotensin converting enzyme, whatever that means. Versions are Captopril (Capoten), Enalapril (Renitec which I think is called Vasotec in the USA), Lisinopril (Zestril). Costs about $10 a week, and that also is probably for life.By now I was somewhat more interested in eating, but with the menu being collected around midday for the following day, I'd asked for far too little food, so I was often hungry. I was also on a low fat, no salt diet, which didn't help inspire me to eat heartily. The food was actually pretty good, given its restricted nature.
Carted off on my bed to the ground floor (they had run out of wheelchairs) for an echo cardiograph, a 4 MHz ultrasound probe that showed all the moving bits in my chest doing their job. Not, unfortunately, as well as they should be. Measurements showed right ventricle expulsion fraction (how much blood you move) was around 40 or perhaps a little below, against closer to 55 in a healthy heart, or maybe 25-30% function lost. I hadn't realised that they pressed the ultrasonic transducer against your ribs just about hard enough to leave bruises.
Three arteries branch from the aorta to feed the heart muscle. Right coronary artery, anterior descending artery (front of heart), circumflex coronary artery (lateral surfaces of heart). My blockage was to the anterior artery. The loss of blood flow kills off some heart muscle. If you are lucky, a tough scar forms. If you are unlucky, the scar isn't tough. Whatever happens, you have reduced heart muscle function. Over the following weeks, extra blood vessels called colaterals form, and these help distribute blood around the heart muscle past the original blockage, so the heart muscle gets sufficient blood supply. However you still lose some pumping capacity due to the scarring and loss of muscle. Of course, if you never reach any level of exertion that requires more than the capacity you still have, you never notice the difference.
The view from the new room included the demolition of the old hospital. It beat most of the alternatives as something to watch. Jean and I particularly liked the machine that grabbed pieces off the top of the 5 story high building. Got to watch a large water tank crash to earth. Some idiot building worker was standing on top of the next section of the building being demolished, watering to keep down the dust. I wouldn't have been up there for quids!
Tuesday 9th December 1997
Bored, but I was off the heparin drip finally, able to shower, get dressed and wander around a little.The hospital dietitian came to see me, and made various helpful suggestions about diet. Well, there goes the bacon and egg McMuffins for breakfast (think bread or cereal), and the home made ice cream made with whipped cream (try gelatto or Vitari), and probably butter gone from bread (try substitutes). The dietitian wasn't originally going to see me, because my blood tests showed no problems. One of the nurses found out about my usual diet (probably from Jean), and insisted the dietitian set me straight.
Read lots of books. Jean was teaching nearby, so she didn't get in until nearly two.
Wednesday 10th December 1997
The big test. A light exercise stress test set for my 169 cm height and 72 kg weight. A treadmill, with yet another ECG. I managed the 10 or 12 minutes of slow walking, and mild hills. Since I didn't have another heart attack doing it, everyone was happy, especially me. The nurse running the treadmill told me that many patients didn't manage the full time on the treadmill - said most ran out of breath rather than having heart probems. That sure says something about the amount of walking most people do.Blood pressure that day 111/81 102/65 122/80, but I didn't record which was taken under which circumstances.
On a new experimental drug called carvedilol at 1:25 p.m., second dose at 10. This is part of a double blind study I signed up for, over the next few years. They are testing whether it increases cardiac function. I sure hope so, especially if I am on the drug, and not the placebo.
Thursday 11th December 1997
Third dose of the new drug. Since I didn't show any adverse reactions, I got to go home with Jean after lunch.I've been feeling pretty good, after the first few days. I've been told to take things easy at first, and have to admit that whenever I didn't take things easy, I rapidly tired. I've been back to the hospital once a week for checkups, as part of the tests on the carvedilol. I've also had find a doctor, something I've not worried about for over a decade.
Been walking each day, gradually increasing the distance. In mid January I start a cardiac rehabilitation program at Westmead hospital. I gather that after another (more strenuous) treadmill stress test, I will get to do a series of supervised exercises several times a week.
I've been back to work for an hour or so a couple of time, to do entertaining things like spend lots of their money on computers, and to turn off their Unix systems over the Xmas break when the air conditioning is off. Although I felt fine, it was tiring after an hour or so. Luckily I have a lot of accumulated sickleave from the past ten years, something over 1000 hours according to human resources.
Ditto Trip, 1997
Thursday 23rd October
Jean drove me to the airport for United flight 816 to Los Angeles. 25,000 frequent flyer points had put me upstairs in the Boeing, with lots of other people who had upgraded.Seating wasn't as comfortable as I hoped, due to the bulkhead being too close, and the service wasn't startling by comparison with economy. Still, it had individual table clothes, real glasses for the wine, and a somewhat better meal. I did get to use the Red Carpet club in both Sydney and Los Angeles. That made the wait much more comfortable.
Once again my trip was plagued by computer problems before leaving. My Psion 3c started developing a bad display connection that blanked one vertical line in four. No spares available in Australia, and no time to send it off and get it back even if there were spares. It stopped being intermittent during the trip and became permanently bad. I got to spend an hour or so in the Los Angeles Red Carpet moving my entire life from a backup SSD into my old Psion 3a that I'd packed a spare. Then I got to delete stuff I didn't have room to keep.
It turned out that all my flights were upgraded. I'd been expected the short Chicago to Cincinnati leg to be in economy, and had misread the seat number as 16 rather than 1B. I still can't drink sufficient on a flight to cover the cost difference (I guess the airlines have figured that one out). The service on the internal flights was much better than on the international this time. I'm not complaining, because all were acceptable to me (but I have low standards - some other passengers on the international leg were grumbling).
I arrived at Cincinnati at around 8 pm, and had my luggage almost instantly. Pat and Roger Sims arrived soon after, and we hung around until George Flynn arrived on a later flight.
Pat and Roger took us in their fancy new Lincoln Towncar to the Blue Ash Hotel at 5901 Pfeiffer Road. www.blueashhotel.com It was a comfortable medium hotel, however I was on the fifth floor rather than grouped with other fans. Since hotels rarely manage to block, I wasn't real surprised, and it wasn't a problem. In fact, given others complained about party noise ... from mundane parties ... I may have had a better room than most.
There were only a half dozen early arrivals at the con, mostly locals, but we chatted until midnight. There was some thought of a pool as to when Dick and Leah Smith would arrive, as they were driving down after work. I think we settled on 10 p.m. as being a likely time for them to leave Chicago.
I was fading out by then after all the travel.
Friday 24th October 1997
I was up before there was any action at the con suite. Wandered about the parking lot and small shopping center. The only interesting store was an Office Depot with a wide range of palmtop computers at ruinous prices. I was amused to see a Psion 3c at $399, and a Psion 5 at$699, while the HP320 WinCE machine was $599 and the Casio and Compaq were down to $299. That seems to show the good systems are holding their value despite very heavy discounting of poorly thought out ones like the original WinCE systems. It will be interesting to see if that holds on Version 2 of the WinCE systems, due out for Comdex.
The committees at Octocon 34 (which was also Ditto 10) consisted of Bill Bowers, Pat and Roger Sims, with Dick and Leah Smith on Octocon, and Bill Cavin and the Sims the Ditto committee.
Lunched at the Bob Evens across the parking lot, on cheap food, with a half dozen fans, including Nicki Lynch, Linda Bushyager, Bill Cavin, Mark Linneman. Not startlingly good, but it sure was cheap.
We were concerned that there was still no sign of Dick and Leah, since our "worst case" guesses had them leaving Chicago around midnight. They appeared after lunch, having left work far later than any of us had guessed.
Leah Zeldes Smith had her traditional annoying game competition, as part of her programming. Match a clue with someone else. I got a prize the next day for matching "dictator to the CFG" with Murray Moore's Lou Tabakow clue. And then magaged to lose the prize (and Aussie flag tea towel). I hadn't realised that not attempting to participate would not stop Leah. She caught up with me at Dave Rowe and Carolyn Doyle's "remembering Lynn Hickman" party. There were a lot of the FLAP membership turning up (Lynn had been a member). It was a pretty good party, with plenty of opportunity for talking.
Got to bed at 5 a.m. and failed to get to sleep. That was a good start. I was sharing the room with Joel Zakem, DUFF candidate for 1997, but hardly even saw him.
Saturday 25th October 1997
Up at ten, which was in plenty of time for the minimal program. Roger Sims had done a one sheet, four page Ditto X program book,
Fanac on the web demonstration, showing the world wide wait. As is often the case, there were technical problems, but considerable surfing was done. I think most fanzine fans present figured paper was better.
The Nature of Fanishness was really about change to Minicon following a fannish revival. Karen Cooper explained why they were trying to halve the membership. Timothy Lane was a noisy presence at the panel. I hadn't expected to see him (or Joe Major) at Octocon, but it was good to put some faces to the names behind Fosfax.
There was a DUFF auction at 8:30 that evening, but things were a little slow, what with the small audience.
Sunday 26th October
The Ditto powers decided Ditto 11 would be somewhere in New England (Providence, Salem?) in Autumn (November?} 1998. George Flynn, Mark Olson, Poscilla Olson and Bob Webber the organisers. Memberships were $25 to 1 December payable to MCFI, PO Box 1010, Framingham MA 01701 or email molson@camsoft.com
Bob Webber never did turn up, leading to concern since he had intended to drive from Boston. Leah determined that his frozen body hadn't been discovered on route, by phoning various state police. We eventually heard he'd had a crisis at work and had to cancel.
Richard Brandt was another who cancelled, with reports of a detached retina, but I was later to see him at Comdex.
Fans who did turn up included Judy Bemis, Bill Bowers, Linda Bushyager, Bill and Cokie Cavin, Karen Cooper, John and Michelle Donat, Carolyn Doyle, George Flynn, Chris and Neil Kaden, Tim Lane, Hope Liebowitz, Stephen and Denise Pasley Leigh, Mark Linneman, Michelle Lyons, Joseph Major, Murray Moore, Mark and Priscilla Olson, Tony Parker, Patty Peters (on crutches), Carol Resnick (who reported Mike stranded in Denver by a snowstorm), Dave Rowe, Tom Sadler, Bruce Schneier (who was to be in China when I got to Mpls), Nancy Tucker Shaw, Pat and Roger Sims, Leah Zeldes Smith and Dick Smith, Misty Tucker, Larry Tucker, Gail Walker, Joel Zakem.
Dinner with Neil & Chris Kaden, Dick and Leah Smith, Bill & Cokie Cavin, Pat and Roger Sims at Bennigans, a fine restaurant a mile or so up the road.
Only Neil and Chis Kaden left in the hotel that evening, so we posed for the smallest dead dog party photo available. Well, it helped keep the room nights up, and we didn't have to rush and pack. I don't think I've had a good talk with Neil since he was in Australia for Aussiecon Two, although I've seen him at a few cons since.
Monday 27th October 1997
The big excitement of the early morning (yawn) was walking along Pfiffer and checking if there were any restaurants in which to have breakfast. None to my liking, and the computer store I found wasn't open, but since I'd only intended tyre kicking it didn't matter. I checked the Office Depot (again), since I've been looking for makers of stacking desk trays with a full enclosed drawer rather than just an open tray. I figure my only chance at keeping my desk tidy is to lock each project away in its own space.
Met Cris and Neil Kaden, and we sat and chatted in the lobby until Bill Cavin arrived to do the final hotel negotiations. He drove us to the airport for the Kaden's flight. That airport sure is a long way away.
Lunch with Bill Cavin, at a Chinese buffet in Norwood. While their food wasn't great, it was more than acceptable, and was all you could eat, and a good price. The sort of place I'd have sought out, had I been more interested in food at any time in my life. We chatted about the effect genetic engineering and cloning might have on society. It seemed an appropriately sfictional topic.
We saw Carl Sagen's Contact at the $2 Central Parke cinema complex. I was impressed by how well a long novel (and often badly organised) had been compressed into film length. Jodie Foster did a fine job as the protagonist. The special effects had some wonderful understated moments that left me wondering how they had done it. The flashback to the child running up a flight of steps, transforming into a view of the same scene in the mirror, for example. This film will not appeal at all to some Star Wars fans, however I think it is the best adult science fiction film I've seen since 2001.
After the film, Bill and I waited at Pat and Roger's home. Cokie arrived soon after us, and Roger called from the hospital saying he would leave in a half hour. We chatted until Roger arrived, and then went to Macaroni's for dinner. I was not all that surprised to discover the pizza I ordered was about twice as large as I could eat. Back home it would have been sold as a family pizza.
To the hospital with Roger after dinner. Pat was looking terrible, although no longer under the influence of the anaesthetic.
That evening late I think Roger got me to check whether he could run run his old Wordstar. He was running out of low memory, and high memory, and all the routines in his config.sys and autoexec.bat appeared necessary. I finally just changed the PIF enough to start Wordstar. He also asked about Microsoft Word. After you get a hard drive larger than 100 MB was about the answer. How quickly things become obsolete.
Tuesday 28th October 1997
To the hospital as soon as we could. Pat now looked a lot better, although I told her she could go the CFG meeting on Saturday as the Bride of Frankenstein. She had a wonderful array of surgical staples, and had better not try to walk though one of those airport metal detectors for a while.
After the visit Roger took me to Staples, where I looked for something to keep my desk tidy. No, not a broom, although that would probably be appropriate to the dungheap of history on every flat surface at home. We visited Barnes and Noble, and discovered a nice range of $1 books, which neither of us could resist.
Nearby, at Kenwood Plaza, we visited Cyber Exchange, a second hand computer software store. I figure that is how Roger can get his software.
Back to the hospital at midday, where Pat was now ready to leave. The hospital wasn't as ready, so Pat even got a meal while waiting, however she was home by two.
Roger took me to Sams Club, and Office Max. Both had lots of interesting items, all in areas I didn't need, couldn't afford, or coudn't carry home. And I still couldn't find anything to keep my desk tidy.
Only one activity after that. Dump the recyclables from Octocon Ditto. It seemed really inappropriate to be hauling trash in Roger's flash Lincoln Towncar. That was probably the last of the Ditto Octocon tasks.
Finally got around to phoning a few fans, to try to organise times to meet them.
Wednesday 29th October 1997
A lazy morning, writing up my trip report. I went for a walk to nearby Glendale after a brief lunch, feeling that I needed at least some minimum exercise. I thought it was under a mile, Roger later measured it as a mere 1.2 kilometer. The little computer store there did have $100 hard drives somewhat larger than that Roger had, so there is a possibility of an upgrade from the 116 megabytes he presently has.
Visited Dave Locke and Jackie Causgrove across town. Jackie looked even more frail than ever, but joined in the conversation. Dave had heaps and heaps of neat internet stuff setup on his computer, including Opera, Columbine, CNotePad, CyberKit, AltaVista Personal Extension.
More visiting of stores like Office Depot and also hardware stores. Despite seeing many interesting storage ideas, I never did spot any paper sized stackable slide out sets of drawers. I figure that is what I need to keep my desk tidy, but haven't seen much evidence that anyone makes them.
Dinner was at Tommys all you can eat buffet, and they had more than I could eat by a considerable margin. Present were Mark and Lynne Aronson, Bill and Cokie Cavin, Mark Linneman, Mike and Carol Resnick, and Pat and Roger Sims. One topic Mike mentioned was even more authors having publishing problems. I'd not heard about Jack Chalker being in that group.
Thursday 30th October 1997
Visited the Cincinnati Zoo, second oldest in the country, with Roger leading the way. They had very well presented exhibits on insects, and also on reptiles. Roger told me Pat won't go in the reptile house. and certainly some of the snakes should't be encountered on a dark night. The elephants appeared, as always, far too confined. The bald eagles were magnificent, and a telescope (a quarter) was available for viewing or still photography. There was also a video camera connection to a telescope with remote positioning and zoom. Great idea. The cat exhibit had a wonderful variety, but cats are always popular. There was even a Tasmanian Devil, running around its pit, but not posing well for photographs.
We walked around for several hours in the autumn sunshine. To my surprise, it was around 70 degrees, shirtsleeve weather, and I certainly didn't require my jacket.
It was difficult not to find the number of species marked as endangered discouraging and upsetting. Although some were hunted out for fur, many simply couldn't cope with humans occupying and changing existing habitats.
I pretty much avoided eating all day, as we are heading for the Montgomery Road Rib King. As I write this I'm hungry, but whether this can translate into eating a whole slab of ribs is another thing.
In company with Roger and Don Carter, we each managed a full slab. I was astonished at this demonstration of the power of positive starvation.
After dinner Roger and I collected Pat from work. She really looked tired, and didn't attempt to come to Stephen and Denice's party.
At Stephen and Denise Parsley Leigh's new home, partying with Bill Bowers, Bill and Cokie Cavin, Mark Lineman, and Roger Sims (and a very energetic dog). Mark told me I should read my Aussiecon email; I reponded I wouldn't see it until December. I didn't realise then I wouldn't be reading it until mid January!
Friday 31st October 1997
Halloween. Why can't programmers tell Halloween from Xmas? Because Oct 31 is the same as Dec 25.
I had no idea that whole television news programs would go off promoting costumes and the Frank Baum Oz material (mainly the movies raher than the books, I admit). Roger went and got a large pumpkin to carve, so the front step here will eventually look like many other nearby front steps. And I'll admit that the candle illuminated pumpkins did look neat in the evening.
Don Carter phoned to say he would be over after midday. Meanwhile Roger took Pat back over to the doctor as a precaution, and Pat ended up with yet a different variety of antibiotic.
We drove in Tanya's fine Land Rover to Micro Center, where (as last year) I splurged on cheap CD-Roms, and computer magazines. Spent a lot of time there, looking mostly at CDs and books. Their pocket computer section had old prices, not at all competitive. They wanted $399 for the Cassiopia, and $399 for a 1 MB Psion 3a or the later 2 MB Psion 3c. I didn't bother to check the Psion 5.
Travel was interesting, as we did a series of manouvers to avoid traffic disruptions and construction.
To Tom Case's Debco Electronics, at 4025 Edwards Road. I'd never have found that myself. Lots of second hand computer gear, plus lots of electronics gear. I was real tempted by it all. Got one of their neat catalogs, just in case I couldn't resist.
Back at Pat and Roger's place, Mike and Carol Resnick dropped in to leave some review books for me. That is one reason there are so many fine Resnick books mentioned this issue.
I'm still having problems with tme zone changes. Hope it eventually gets better, rather than me continually being almost asleep.
Saturday 1st November 1997
I awoke with a real sore throat which by the end of the day was obviously a cold.
Don Carter wasn't able to visit as planned, but Roger and I went to the computer show at Cincinnati Gardens, where Roger picked up gadgets for me to install. Lots of cheap stuff available for anyone who knows how to put together computers from slightly older equipment. I was tempted by CDRoms, but resisted during this visit. Pity, as back home they are still expensive.
Even copying Roger's 130 MB of material onto Zip disks took the whole afternoon. Very slow drives, when running via the printer port.
Roger's computer turned out to be a Dell, with an exceedingly inconvenient case design that made it impossible to easily get at anything. Why brand name computers are always designed to be a pain in the arse is a mystery to me, but the cheap clones always have an easier and more standard case layout.
There was a Cincinnati Fantasy Group meeting (my first, as far as I can recall) that evening at Bill and Cokie Cavin's home. Present also were Pat and Roger, Bill Bowers, Mark Linneman and the local CFG web site guru.
Sunday 2nd November1997
Definately have a cold now, and tablets are helping only a little.
Spent much of the morning transferring Roger's stuff to his new drive. Took until 12:30.
We sought the Entec open day, where we were to meet Don and Tanya Carter (Tanya works there), They were accompanid by Don's parents, and their German exchange student. Got a little lost, much to Roger's disgust, so we arrived later than expected. That was a large place, with at least a quarter million sets of computer parts, running assembly and configuration in three shifts. I don't know anything at home even close to that size.
Don kindly gave us parts (5.25 to 3.5 converter brackets) to finish upgrading Roger's computer. Finishing it was still long winded, especially with me feeling terrible with congestion. Had to kluge more than I liked also, to do it at all.
Woke up after midnight, quite ill. Don't know if it was a reaction to eating pizza or anchovies, or to the medicine. Passed after a quarter hour, and I started feeling better overall.
Monday 3rd November 1997
Roger dropped me at the airport, so I could travel to Minneapolis. Said he would like to be involved with the daily Aussiecon newsletter. Not the best weather forecast - Mpls was showing 32O, and snow. I located my pullover and carried my coat. Inadequate, of course, but I'm just not used to cold weather.
My cold was slightly less noticeable than yesterday, so I figured it was over.
The United gate at Chicago had a free beverage cart. I thought that was pretty neat. Not exactly Red Carpet, but it would do. I couldn't locate the chocolate bar I thought I'd left in my bag, but figured there would be food on the flight.
Denny Lien collected me at the gate in Mpls, and took me home to meet Dover (the white cat) and Nellie (the black cat) before he returned to work.
I foolishly walked up to Uncle Hugo's bookstore nearby, despite the cold, but escaped after a single pass through the second hand books. Of course, I was planning to return.
Phoned lots of fans, and even reached some of them. As usual, I seem totally unable to adjust to the phone system, and mostly ended up leaving messages on answering machines. I just hope they were the right answering machines.
Tuesday 4th November 1997
Linda Lounsbury kindly collected me around ten for a tour of the city (not for the first time either). As an historian, she provided a wealth of detail, including an entertaining discourse on winter wheat and the nature of flour mills to deal with hard wheat. Through numerous scenic areas, rendered less attractive this time by gray skies, but still impressive.
As always I was amazed at the size of the Mississippi, a river that alone has perhaps ten times the water flow of all the rivers in Australia's dry heart. Seeing gigantic barges on it so far from the sea!
We visited Bandana (?), where there are several model railway shows, and a model railway built by the local club. It has an amazingly large layout, modelled upon the local area in the 1940's. I loved it; I've always thought Universities should encourage model railroad clubs.
By the turn of the Century, Summit Avenue was site of the most expensive houes in town, and the James J Hill house was the most expensive of these, costing nearly a million dollars when it was completed in 1891. Hill was the railway baron who from 1878 and for two decade pushed the St Paul and Pacific Railroad (renamed the Great Northern Railway) north into Canada, then across the Rockie to the Pacific.
The massive four story stone mansion included rooms for the Hills and eight of their nine childen, plus servants. It was obviously built as a family home that would also impress any visitor. The art gallery is two stories high, lit by skylights, and there was a large library, and a dining room with a table for fourteen. Most impressive to me was the hot air heating system, from a large boiler beneath the art gallery. In summer, many wide terraces provided outdoor living and exposure to any breeze.
We visited the Minnesota Historical Society building, where I discovered more about wild rice than I knew existed. Seeing details of how to harvest food reinforces how far most of our lives are away from the land that sustains us. Speaking of food, we hunted ours the modern Americn way, in the cafeteria. I was amused to be able to get a roast lamb sandwich - I thought beef was a requirement in the USA.
Finally there was a brief visit to the sprawing, four story high Mall of the Americas, near the airport. Linda told me some airlines were offering under $100 airline tickets, from places like Omaha, Nebraska, and Butte, Montana. Take you to Minneapolis on a 6 a.m. flight, bus you to the mall, collect you at the mall at 9 p.m. after a day of shoping, and fly you back home. I guess, if you are really into shopping, then it makes sense. I really just thought it was a neat place to walk out of the weather. I did buy a propellor beanie there,
Ethiopian dinner that evening. I started with the kind of puns I'm sure you can all predict when Denny suggested trying it. There were actually several African restaurants in the area near where Denny works. We got a sampler, nearly a dozen types of meat and vegetables, many highly spiced, but very tasty, served on a bed of thin bread. A dish of thin rolled bread pieces was provided as the utensils. You scooped up the food with a fold of bread. At the end, you ate the disk. It was a wonderful meal, albeit too much for me.
Wednesday 5th November 1997
Denny was home today, and started us off with a fine dish of bacon and eggs, hash browns and all that good fattening stuff. I was impressed.
Joyce Scrivner kindly collected me today, somewhat later than she had apparently intended, and promptly rushed me off to lunch. Strudel & Nudel is a German restaurant at 2605 Nicollet Avenue, open during lunctimes only. Given the quantity of food in even their smaller meals, I was pleased I wasn't facing a seven course German dinner.
We drove into Wisconsin to find a potter's gallery, so I got to see more of the countryide, despite the overcast skies. Lots of catching up on fannish acquaintances not seen by one or another of us for several years. To some extent this aspect of conversation is becoming less of a topic, as more and more fans get net access.
Lots of talk about Aussiecon Three, in which Joyce has considerable interest, having contributed much to the bidding with parties at Orycon, Minicon and Wiscon.
Both the potter's galleries we saw had open show rooms, with a basket in which to leave payment for any item that took your fancy. Of course, they were also far out in the countryside, not in the city. I got a small cup, which now prevents my heart medicine from falling off the table.
After crossing the Mississippi, we travelled alongside it to Stillwater, seeking the famed bookshops. There was a considerable impression of a town aimed at tourists, but antique stores were more in evidence. The two antiquitarian (a fancy word for expensive) bookshops were interesting, but luckily I saw nothing I wanted.
We did stop at Tremblay's Sweet Shop on Main Street, a family store specialising in homemade fudge and hand dipped chocolates, and overbought.
Joyce wanted a modem, so we stopped at a CompUSA store, which was very large, and very full of new (but not precisely bargain) equipment. They did have a Toshiba Libretto palmtop on display, as evidence of just how small you could make a standard IBM Pentium clone. Joyce got software, and I avoided geting anything. Now that the barbarians of the computer world have won, I think my interest in this topic is on the wane.
Dinner at Bakers Square, standard US food, which meant lots of it. Having three square meals a day is far too much for me.
Thursday 6th November 1997
Geri Sullivan and Jeff Schales took me to a Gestetner demonstration this morning. Jeff told of the problems professional printers have with all the amateurs not understanding typography, but having lots of fonts available.
Gestetner demonstrated all the latest in automatic stencil cutting from a roll of stencils, water based inks replacing the older oil based ones, interchangeable ink cartridges, at a very low cost per copy. It was great stuff, if only you were printing up enough stuff to cover the high initial cost. I was very impressed, and could see it being perfect for several niche markets, including larger SF clubs with lots of potential editors wanting cheap fanzine repro.
A quick bite at a Burger King, where the quantities were fine, but the quality less so. Still, the company was great.
Geri droped me off at Gordy Dickson's home. It is hard to remember that Gordy is over 70, when he still writes so many novels, and is always so hard at work writing or correcting. It was wonderful to catch up with him once again.
Dave Wixon kindly drove me back to Denny's, so I did get to talk with him for a while. After my experiences with the phone system, I'd rather feared I wouldn't catch up to him.
Denny subsequently found me at Uncle Hugos, buying more books. So much for my plans to downisize my book collection.
That evening we drove to the Cattleman Co, thanks to gift certificates from Gestetner, with Geri and Denny. Had a long and exceedingly large dinner, helped by good conversation.
Friday 7th November1997
To downtown Mpls along Chicago Avenue on the #5 bus. I wandered down to the riverside, looking at the architecture. Decided I would get lost in their Skyway system. Checked out Barnes and Nobel, but resisted the temptation to buy everything.
This was followed by a long and not very well aimed walk, sans map. I eventually found myself out around 15th, and decided I would probably be as well off just walking the whole way to Denny's at 3149.
Peter Toluzzi collected me after two, for coffee at his favourite coffeee shop, with music at his home, and talk of new age mysticism, singularities in trends, and other neat stuff. He seemed in fine form, and it was great to see him again after so long. He went out of his way to drop me in St Paul.
Met Jeanne Mealy at 5th and Market, and then caught up with John Stanley at the sale they wanted to attend. That was neat. Many tacky things I didn't want. Many neat things I couldn't have carried. I did get a dozen classic music CDs at $5 each, mostly obscure titles, so that pleased me greatly.
Dinner at a little all you can eat place at a motel, where I was amazed at how much Jeanne managed to get through for such a slim person. A visit to their new house, still packed with boxes from their recent move. I though I was very lucky to be able to catch them, given how much change had been in their lives of late.
Couldn't sleep that evening, and I had an early flight. Isn't it always like that. Next issue, I meet Jean in San Francisco, and we attend Comdex, the computer extravaganza.
Book reviews
Harvest the Fire by Poul Anderson
Tor, Nov 1997, pp 190, US$5.99
Third (and very much shortest) novel in this hard SF future series. Someone or something has penetrated the communications of the Teramind. A past personality is revived, and in a machine body seeks the Luna misfits most likely to have wanted to rebel. Nicol, a would be poet, is sought by the Luna cabal as a pilot, as his Earth raised body can take higher accelerations than they can handle. And perhaps he can hijack the antimatter the outer colonies of the Oort need for their long term survival.
Solis by A A Attanasio
Harper Prism, March 1995, 214pp, US$4.50
Charlie had his brain frozen when he died, but not being alive, he had no rights. A thousand years later unowned brains are valuable for control applications, and he awakes running an ore carrier in the asteroids. His cry for help reaches a robot. And the robot devises a plan. That is when things get complicated. Little that is new, but poetically presented, and very fast paced.
When Heaven Fell by William Barton
Aspect (Warner), March 1995, 343pp, US$5.50
The Master Race took over Earth with ease, one ship slaughtering eight billion humans. Now humans are slaves. Some working as mercenaries, conquering other planets for the cybernetic masters. And some of the races that have become trusted servants wonder if this too will pass. Atmospheric novel.
Memory by Lois McMaster Bujold
Baen, Oct 1997, 462pp, US$6.99
A Miles Vorkosigan novel, hardly SF, but a lot of clever plotting. Miles is suffering seizures after his cryonic ressurection. He tries to hide his affliction. If you like these stories, you should enjoy this one also.
Prodigy by Jan Clark
Roc, September 1997, 447pp, US$5.99
Why does a respected Fleet captain destroy an envoy ship under circumstances that may start a war? And who really set up the destruction?
Final Orbit by S V Date
Avon, December 1997, 342pp, US$5.99
Not science fiction, rather a murder suspense story set at NASA, with the protagonist an aging astronaut politicing to get his seventh and final ride on the space shuttle. First novel by a newspaper reporter who covered space topics for many years. Fine fast paced suspense, and the NASA tech stuff sounds fairly believable.
Present Tense - The Great Game by Dave Duncan
Corgi (Transworld), Feb 1998, 479pp, A$14.95
Part two of this Canadian fantasy writer's trilogy, set partly elsewhere and partly in WWI
The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert by Stephan Elliott
Currency, Sydney, 1994, 86pp
Screenplay and stills from the movie, thus finally enabling one to read some of the earthier expressions used. A very bitchy script, but about what could be expected of three drag queens taking empty lives across an empty desert in an old bus, looking for meaning, Cult film.
Zipper, An Exploration in Novelty by Robert Friedel
Norton, 1996, 288pp
Social and technological history, describing the invention of the precursor to the zipper by Whitcomb Judson in 1893. It moves through the problems of selling the unreliable Plako gadget, and the improvements and final design by Gideon Sundback in 1913 after nearly a decade of effort.On the way it covers the need for inventors to link with both innovators and manufacturers, and also with inspired sales efforts. It covers the successful attempt to sell zippers for children's clothing so they could dress themselves, and the fashion discovery of the zipper in the late 1930's.
Commentary on the first use of the zipper as a sexual image in Aldus Huxly's Brave New World, in multiple films, and in much other fiction. Urban legends of embarrassing moments caused by recalcitrant zippers are also recounted. I thought the book was facinating, but then I would, wouldn't I?
People of the Silence by Kathleen O'Neal Gear & W Michael Gear
Tor (Macmillan), November 1997, 650pp, US%6.99 A$14.95
Novel of the Anasazi, very speculative historical account of why their 11th Century culture failed.
Echoes of the Great Songs by David Gemmell
Bantam (Transworld), January 1998, 350pp, A$24.95 TPB
Heroic fantasy and magic.
Winter Warriors by David Gemmell
Corgi (Transworld), Jan 1998, 412pp, A$14.95
Heroic fantasy in the Drenai series.
Beggars Ride by Nancy Kress
Tor, Dec 1997, 406pp, US$5.99
The conclusion to the series commenced with Nebula winner Beggars in Spain. Sleepless Jennifer Sharifi is out of prison, and the Sleepless are agin holed up in their orbital Sanctuary. And the Super Sleepless have stopped producing the Change syringes that let humans feed without needing crops. Don't expect easy or peaceful solutions.
The Chalice and the Blade by Glenna McReynolds
Bantam (Transworld), Dec 1997, 424pp, US$16 A$24.95
Damsels, dragons and magic in 12th Century Wales.
Knightshade Tower by Martin Middleton
Pan Macmillan, Jan 1998, 388pp, A$14.95
Third in the Living Towers fantasy trilogy by Australian author.
Myst The Book of D'Ni by Rand Miller with David Wingove
Bantam (Transworld), Dec 1997, 318pp, A$35
Fantasy series based on the well received computer game. Beautiful looking hardcover, glue binding, not sewn, despite appearances.
Myst The Book of Tiana by Rand Miller with David Wingrove
Bantam (Transworld), Jan 1998, 478pp, A$14.95
Fantasy series based on the well received computer game.
Phases by Elizabeth Moon
Baen, December 1997, 374pp, US$5.99
Fifteen stories, mostly SF, but maybe three fantasy.
An excellent writer showing mastery of the shorter story.
The Bohr Maker by Linda Nagata
Bantam, April 1995, 325pp, US$4.99
A wonderful first novel, expounding the possibilities of unlimited nanotechnology, within a fast paced story of a man who has only weeks to live, his demise written into his genetic code when his father received the experimental permit that allowed him to be created. But Nikko will stop at nothing, not even bringing about the destruction of the human race, if he can live. And the Bohr Maker can rewrite anyones genetic code, if he can only find a way to steal if from the police.
Of course, just where extensive nanotech will get its energy from is touched but lightly, and nohing is said of just how the control structures will be designed, but it is still a great read.
Dark Skies: The Awakening by Stan Nicholls
Bantam (Transworld), Jan 1998, 300pp, A$12.95
Close adaption of the revisionist history TV series, in which aliens did crash at Roswell and keep kidnapping people through the 1960's. Based on the TV episodes The Awakening, Mercury Rising, Moving Targets, and Dark Days Night.
The Carpet People by Terry Pratchett
Corgi Audio (Transworld), Dec 1997, 2 cassettes, A$18.95
The entertaining children's story, read by Tony Robinson
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
Corgi Audio (Transworld), Feb 1998, 2 cassettes, A$22.95
A tale of the Discworld Xmas, read by Tony Robinson, exceedingly funny.
Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
Corgi (Tranworld), Dec 1997, 445pp, A$14.95
For this season, Pratchett tackles Christmass. Many of us are ill dispossed towards Xmas, but few hire the Assassins Guild to do something about it. After all, you can't just go and kill a legend like Hogfather. Well, Mr Teatime has other ideas, and perhaps the Assassins Guild should have enquired more closely as to just how he managed to lose both his parents at an early age. Never mind, Death does a pretty good job of filling in for Hogfeather, as long as you don't notice the skull behind the beard, or that, beneath the pillow, he really is somewhat ... skeletal.
Dog in the Manger by Mike Resnick
Alexander Books, 1995, 160pp, TPB US$12.95
"The best PI novel ever set in the city of Cincinnati ..." says Barry N Malzberg, but this is far too limited for a wonderful trot through all the cliches of the detective novel (even if the quote is aimed at a different mystery writer). True, Eli Paxton does have his traditional run down office in Cincinnti, but the action takes him to Arizona and Mexico.Mike Resnick is a resident of Cincinnati, and the scenes set in that city ring very true, and evoke areas I know there. However the scenes set elsewhere seem equally true, and I have no idea whether Mike was even in those places.
Eli Paxton is searching for a dog. And before long, people are dying to cover up the loss of a dog that simply isn't worth as much as is being spent on the coverup. Trying to solve the mystery before it was revealed drove me nuts, but the clues were all there.
A Miracle of Rare Design by Mike Resnick
Tor, Dec 1994, pp 255, US$21.95
Xavier Lennox and redemption. The spaceship cover has nothing to do with the story whatsoever. Read it anyway; I don't think Resnick is capable of telling a story badly, even if what he writes are not the stories I think authors should write.
Solo Flights Through Shared Worlds by Mike Resnick
Dark Regions Press, May 1996, 172pp, TPB US$9.95
Stories set in shared worlds, with a Resnick twist. After the first one, he didn't want to do them, so they all share a contrarian viewpoint. Mike gets given the "bible" for the shared world, and then proceeds to write something that conforms to he guidelines, but is absolutely not what the editor expected. From Asimov's Susan Calvin, the origin of Dick Tracy, to Frankenstein at the football, to Hollywood casting for Shakespear. Almost all are very funny,
Future Earths edited by Mike Resnick & Gardner Dozois.
DAW923, August 1993, 316pp, US$4.99
A wonderful anthology of short stories set under South American skies. Included among the dozen stories are The Women Men Don't See by James Tiptree, Jr., Salvador by Lucius Shepard, Doomsday Deferred by Will F Jenkins (Murray Leinster), Trapalanda by Charles Sheffield, The World Must Never Know by G C Edmundson, Invaders by John Kessel, and The Sky People by Poul Anderson.
Widowmaker by Mike Resnick
Bantam, August 1996, 293pp, US$5.99
Widowmaker Reborn by Mike Resnick
Bantam, August 1997, 297pp, US$5.99
The first book reads like a series of short cowboy adventures, as the cloned hero bounty hunter proves he is mighty tough. The second book seems much more mature, and portrays a much more mature hero. Soon to be made into a movie, I understand.
Freeware by Rudy Rucker
Avon (Transworld), August 1997, 288pp, tpb U$13 A$22.95
Independent sequel to Software and Wetware. Lots of cybersex and anarchistic action with nanotech and biotech, plus an interstellar download of intelligence that is going to take over the Mouldies. Fast paced, but I couldn't raise any interest in the fates of the characters.
World War: Striking the Balance by Harry Turtledove
DelRey, Sept 1997, 547pp, US$6.99
Fourth and final volume in this lengthy (and inconclusive) alternate history series. I'm not sorry I read them, but the SF material is minimal.
Paris in the Twentieth Century by Jules Verne
DelRey, November 1997, 216pp, US$11.95
The never published 1863 dark view of a finance and science controlled Paris in 1960. Deserved not to be published.
How To Sneak Into The Movies by Daan Zamudio
Loompanics, 1995, 72pp
I haven't checked out Loompanics in ages, but it seems they continue to publish outrageous books. This covers the basics: Sneak in through the exit, sneak in with a larger group, by one ticket and stay for several movies. Justification given is that most movies are overpriced and bad rip offs. My own method is to hardly ever go to the movies, and certainly never to first release stuff.Original Cover
You don't smoke, your cholesterol level is normal, your blood pressure is normal; your only heart attack risk factors are you are male and over 50. -- Doctor
Well I can't do much about that! -- Eric Lindsay
I expect you both to outlast me and provide me with great role models for graceful ageing. -- Alyson Abramowitz
Try and think of this as an extended Christmas vacation, except that the bad heartburn come - before - the big Christmas dinner. -- Bruce D Arthurs
... _try _ not to flap your arms too vigorously as you fly back and forth across the Pacific, OK. -- David Bratman
Tell Eric to get hopping on that trip report! -- William Breiding
Eric seems the last person to get a heart attack - skinny and healthy and not smoking, You'd think it would be someone overweight like me... Hope it wasn't all that running around at Comdex that triggered it (and those cholesterol filled buffets!) -- Linda Bushyager
I have been a member in good standing (of the community of heart attack survivors) for about 12 years, and with very few changes in habits. -- Don Carter
If (Eric) fails to pay attention to you and his doctors, I will kick his skinny little ass with a smile on my face and a song in my heart. -- Al Curry
You're about the last person I would have expected to be hit with a heart attack! -- Moshe Feder
Tell Eric he is not allowed to get any sicker or else! Besides, I'm expecting him to pick up the first shout when I get over in '99. -- jan howard finder
Tell him to suffer in silence and not bitch & moan to you all the time so as to make you miserable. -- jan howard finder
Remind Eric, that if he doesn't behave, he can't make life miserable for everyone associated with Aussiecon Three. -- jan howard finder
I got a Palm Pilot and am now glad I didn't get a Psion, just in case that turns out that it was the cause of his heart attack. -- D Gary Grady
Jet lag with a vengeance... Wish I could be there to play Scrabble with him and make sure he hides his broccoli under the plate. -- Joe Haldeman
"But he was just in the USA and he looked fine" (fans at SMOFcon). Was the stress of travelling the culprit? -- Teddy Harvia
I've been praying for his recovery,
whether he likes it or not. -- Marty Helgesen"Well if anyone can get Eric to take (Doctor's) order it's Jean" (Seattle fans) - Marilyn Holt
I'm vastly cheered Eric is no longer a drip. Wait. Isn't that what you said? - Lucy Huntzinger
This isn't the first time a fan has made a cheap bid for attention, but don't you think you are over-doing it? This is a warning that no further heart attacks will be countenanced, so better make sure that there is no repetition. -- Arnie Katz
I've been feeling miserable over too many deaths of people I know this year, so it's very welcome to have good news of Eric so soon after the alarming report. -- Dave Langford
Is this what I have to look forward to when I turn 50? -- Lan Laskowski (49)
I was more than a little distressed when you mentioned Eric had none of the risk factors, aside from being male and over 50. That's me - except I'm not quite 50 - and here I have been thinking I at least didn't have to worry about premature heart attacks. -- Eric Mayer
No, no, no! It's the Guests who are supposed to die before Aussiecon Three, not the Board. --- Cheryl Morgan
People younger than me have G*O*T to stop doing things like this...! "... and over 50." Right! 10 MONTHS over 50! His credentials as an Old Coot (or something similar) are tenuous at best. -- Bruce Pelz
... tell him to stop chasing so many girls (or to chase them at slower speeds). --Mike Resnick
I would never want to accuse you of malingering ... but just how long does it take to recover from a fart attack? -- Mike Resnick
I should have known that having to carry around an extra 10 kg of Windows NT documentation was not the greatest thing for your health. Of course, it was your mental health I was thinking about ...:-) -- Alan Rosenthal & Janice Murray
I just heard that Nick Stathopolis had had a heart attack this summer. Is there something wrong with Sydney water? -- Dick Smith
Slow down, smell the roses (do they grow in Australia?) and reread all my great writing. (That should occupy all of 15 minutes.) -- Joyce Katz
Tell Eric to not try to organise the hospital on sounder operational procedures. -- Pauline Dickinson
Tell him not to wear the hip flask in his pocket when they are doing tests. It can fuck up the readings on the machines. -- Terry Frost
Tell him to keep his pecker up - ooer, that sounds rude - and his ticker ticking. Gunny and KPG
These days the survival rate from a heart attack, once recognised and treated, is almost 100%. Medical science can do things thereinafter to prevent further trouble that were only dreamt of a decade ago. -- Craig Hilton
They were going to have another patient at the hospital in the drug trial. But he had a shower and died before they could start the trial. -- Eric Lindsay
... he was the last person I thought would have a heart attack!!! -- Richard (now worried) Hryckiewicz
I'm not quite ready yet to deal with that stage of adult life, where the body starts to remind us of all the things we _ should _ have been doing for the last twenty years. -- Geoff Jagoe
Marc and I ... came to the conclusion that of all the fans we could think of Eric seemed the least likely - we said, patting our stomachs. -- Perry Middlemiss
A bloke in a user group was telling us he'd had to have cardiac tests. Two days later he was in hospital having a bypass operation. Thinking of stress factors, I've always felt your work was a source of stress. Or is it all just grumbling! -- John Newman
Tell the silly bugger to slow down. (We're not thirty anymore - none of us ...) -- Marc Ortlieb
Have a recovery-led new year -- Lucy Sussex
The email for this issue.