Recursive Science Fiction

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MacDonald, James D. & Doyle, Debra,"Why They Call It That"

When editor Walter Arbuthnot is poisoned by one of his rejected contributors, the devil Lilith offers him the chance to edit Infernal Review.  Since the alternative is brimstone he accepts—and then learns what Hell really is.

Swashbuckling Editor Stories (edited by John Gregory Betancourt), The Wildside Press, October 1993; lettered hardcover 1-880448-21-1; numbered hardcover 1-880448-20-3; trade paperback 1-880448-22-X (pp.23-25)

MacDonald, John D., "Vanguard of the Lost"

Larry Graim is a science fiction writer—Sideways in Space, Loom of Lural, and Jenyeb, the Elder.  He is upset when thousands of alien spaceships come to Earth because neither they nor humanity reacts according to the standard stfnal plots. He meets Alice Fiddler, a letterhack who has a history of panning his stories. She gives him a brief and effective course on realistic human interactions. After the aliens are disposed of, she tells him that she is marrying him to help improve the level of science fiction stories.

Fantastic Adventures 12:5 May 1950 (pp.60-)

Amazing Stories 40:9 December 1966 (pp.46-69)

Macdow, Gerald pseudonym for Thomas N. Scortia

Machen, Arthur, The Three Imposters

Dyson, one of the idle gentleman whose investigations frame this episodic novella (and its sequel, "The Red Hand") is "a man of letters and an unhappy instance of talents misapplied," enchanted with the fantastic in literature as in life. "He had chosen to be perverse...exalting the claims of the pure imagination" against the dry rationalism of his friend Phillips. His estimation of the realistic mode in literature is most ungenerous, though at one point he is so shaken by circumstances that he resolves "to abjure all Milesian and Arabian methods of entertainment" in favor of middlebrow fiction. His adventure begins when he chances upon a fabled Roman coin of extraordinary provenance in the gutter. How it ends you, gentle reader, must discover for yourself.

London:  John Lane, The Bodley Head, 1895

New York: Knopf, 1923

Ballantine Books 0-345-02643-8 June 1972

MacIntyre, F. Gwynplaine, "An Actor Prepares"

Lon Chaney, researching his role in London After Midnight, seeks technical advice from a real vampire.

Albedo One #20, 1999 (pp.8-11)

MacIntyre, F. Gwynplaine, "The Man Who Split in Twain"

F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre rents the London rooms where Mark Twain lived. He gathers a large collection of items relating to Twain. On the night Halley's Comet is in the sky, he returns to find Twain in his room. It turns out that this is not Twain but a doppelgänger, a creature from the comet who resided in Twain's mind during his life. He appears to the authors as a twisted dwarf [see Twain's "Carnival of Crime", Atlantic June 1876]. Later Twain appears to resolve some issues left unsettled. Afterwards Ambrose Bierce makes a brief appearance but the author has had enough and chucks him out. [The author claims that F. Gwynplaine MacIntyre is a character in a Twain story for the Buffalo Express.]

Amazing Science Fiction Stories 61:1 May 1986 (pp.28-50)

MacIntyre, F. Gwynplaine, "Teeny-Tiny Techno-Tactics"

Augean Press editor Sam Kurtz receives a submission from agent Scott Richards containing a novel Nano, Nanette by Max Porlock. The novel is "typed" on one sheet of cardboard; it turns out that the text is made up of nanorobots that are programmed to increment the pages as the cardboard is turned over (of decrement it if it is turned in the opposite way). These robots are also programmed to enter the editor's body via a paper cut and force him to buy the book for publication.

Analog Science Fiction and Fact 117:3, March 1997 (pp105-113)

Maggin, Elliot S., Superman: Miracle Monday

In one episode Superboy reads a copy of The Martian Chronicles and is taken by Bradbury's writings. After reading everything in the library by and about Bradbury, he flies to Los Angeles where he and Ray Bradbury spend the day at Disneyland.

Warner, 1981

Maguire, Gregory, Lost

Winifred Rudge has come to London to stay with her step-cousin. She is researching for a new novel about a woman haunted by the ghost of Jack the Ripper. His step-cousin's house was owned by Winifred's great-great grandfather who was purportedly the model for Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge. She finds the house deserted and apparently haunted. As she tracks down the ghost she finds it is neither her ancestor nor Jack but something older and perhaps more malign.

Regan Books HarperCollins, 0-06-039382-3, October 2001

Regan Books HarperCollins, 0-06-098864-9, 2002

Main Michael, "Saving Astounding"

At eighteen, Isaac Asimov is sent by his mom to John W. Campbell. Jr.'s office to see why the July 1938 Astounding didn't arrive for display at the Asimovs' family store. There Isaac meets Frederik Pohl, as well as John Campbell himself, and his secretary Miss Edison. She is either the  robot Helen O'Loy (Lester del Rey's story in that issue), or a robot invented by Thomas Alva Edison. Generating wings, she flies away with the only copy of that issue. Asimov and Pohl take the airship Skylark (a la E.E. "Doc" Smith) to recover the issue. Later Asimov proposes marriage to Miss Edison/Helen O'Loy. Nikola Tesla (Thomas Edison's old archrival) also appears as the villain.

Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine 4:6 (#23), 2005

Major, J. Michael, "The Book Review"

Willy Snodgrass is giving a bad review to the science fiction novel And the Outermost Stars Flowed Sombre (by Robert L. Caldwell). Snodgrass' concerns are the appearance of style, characterization, and believable females instead of the required stress on teaching science (the Gernsback Delusion), cardboard characters, and goshwowboyoboy pulp stories.

Pirate Writings 3:3, 1995 (pp.44-45)

Malmont, Paul, The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril

The major theme of this book is the relationship and its development between Walter Gibson (aka Maxwell Grant—creator of the Shadow) and Lester Dent (aka Kenneth Robeson—creator of Doc Savage). Originally, there is great animosity and professional jealousy but this changes as they go through some horrifying adventures. North in Providence, "shudders" writer Howard Lovecraft is exposed to a gas that causes a hideous lingering death. This gas is now destined for use in China both in civil war and against the Japanese. During Gibson's and Dent's activities they are assisted by cowboy poet Lew Moore and a young pulp writer L. Ron Hubbard, as well as a man using the name of Otis P. Driftwood who turns out to be Robert Heinlein. John Campbell has a cameo.

Simon & Schuster 2006 ISBN-10: 0-7432-8785-1; ISBN-13: 978-1-7432-8785-2

Malzberg, Barry N. joint author with Harry Harrison

Malzberg, Barry N. joint author with Bill Pronzini

Malzberg, Barry N., "Another Goddamned Showboat"

In an alternate world, Ernest Hemingway tries desperately to sell his science fiction stories to Astounding.  John Campbell continues to reject them.

What Might Have Been, vol. 2: Alternate Heroes (edited by Gregory Benford & Martin H. Greenberg) Bantam 28279-4, January 1990 (pp. 139-144)

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.165-169)

Malzberg, Barry N., "Corridors"

A brief introspective life study of SF writer Henry Martin Ruthven up until his guest of honor speech at the Worldcon in Cincinnati. Ruthven articulates many of the beliefs that Malzberg has been expressing in his other essays in this volume.

The Engines of the Night, Doubleday 17541-8, February 1982

Bluejay 94141-2, December 1984 (pp. 182-198)

The Nebula Awards #18, (edited by Robert Silverberg), Arbor House, November 1983

Light Years and Dark (edited by Michael Bishop), Berkley 07214-2, November 1984

Inside the Funhouse, (edited by Mike Resnick), AvoNova 76643-4, August 1992 (pp.231-246)

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.259-268)

Malzberg, Barry N., "A Delightful Comedic Premise"

Ed Ferman, editor of F&SF, commissions a humorous story from Barry Malzberg based upon Barry's friends' contention that he has a marvelous sense of humor. Three stories are proposed—each more depressing than the last. The author cannot understand why the editor does not find them funny. Just as the author protagonist of the third proposal cannot distinguish between his fiction and his reality, so the author of these exchanges goes off the Aqueduct to perhaps live out his second proposal.

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 46:2 February 1974 (pp.94-100)

Antigrav: Cosmic Comedies (edited by Philip Strick),Taplinger Publishing, January 1976

The Best of Barry N. Malzberg, Pocket 80256-9, January 1976

Space Mail, Volume II, (edited by Isaac Asimov, Martin H. Greenberg, & Charles G. Waugh), Fawcett 24481-4, January 1982

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.137-144)

Malzberg, Barry N., "Down Here in the Dream Quarter" [Article]

Although listed in the table of contents as a short story this is actually an impressionistic and subjective history of the field—a paean. It is followed by an afterward by the editor, Ted White, who corrects and adds some details of the history of Amazing.

Amazing Science Fiction Stories 50:1 June 1976 (pp.76-81)

Down Here in the Dream Quarter, Doubleday 12268-3, December 1976

Malzberg, Barry N. (as K. M. O'Donnell), Dwellers of the Deep

The protagonist is SF collector-completist, Izzinius Fox. For a true collector, completing runs of magazines - filling in lacunae - is the ultimate pleasure. The process itself becomes the end and the contents of the magazines fade away. Malzberg steps him through job loss, alien invasion, sexual awakening, and fan feuds. All trufen know which of those is the most frightening. The bookstore in which some of the action takes place is that of Stephen Takacs.

Ace 27400, December 1970

Malzberg at Large, Ace 51650-5, September 1979

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.1-60)

Malzberg, Barry N., Galaxies

As this novel unfolds the author interjects discussions of how the novel should be written, the tenets and conventions of the SF field, and the author himself. The story is based upon articles by John W. Campbell on black holes and is dedicated to him.

Pyramid V3734, August 1975

Gregg Press 2548-X, May 1980

Carroll & Graf 491-8, April 1989

Malzberg, Barry N., "A Galaxy Called Rome"

This is the shorter version - see Galaxies.

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, 49:1July 1975 (pp. 105-122)

Best SF: 75, The Ninth Annual, (edited by Harry Harrison & Brian W. Aldiss), Bobbs-Merril, 1976

Years's Best Science Fiction No. 9  (edited by Brian W. Aldiss & Harry Harrison), Orbit 894-9, June 1976

Down Here in the Dream Quarter, Doubleday 12268-3, December 1976

Alpha 7, (edited by Robert Silverberg), Berkley Medallion, July 1977

The Arbor House Treasury of Modern Science Fiction, (edited by Robert Silverberg and Martin H. Greenberg), Arbor House, 1980

Top Science Fiction (edited by Josh Pachter), Dent 04647-0, 1984

Great Science Fiction of the 20th Century, (edited by Robert Silverberg and Martin H. Greenberg), Crown Avenel 64124-0, 1987

Inside the Funhouse, (edited by Mike Resnick), AvoNova 76643-4, August 1992 (pp.4-24)

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.125-136)

Malzberg, Barry N. (as K. M. O'Donnell), Gather in the Hall of the Planets

The usual coterie of aliens want to invade the Earth. They will succeed unless Sanford Kvass, SF writer can foil them during the 1974 World SF Convention. Malzberg predicted that the convention would be held in New York; it was actually held in Washington, D.C.—however, that was not known until a year after the book was published, about two years after it was written. Unlike some, Malzberg was aware of the World SF Convention then-extant geographic rotation plan and placed the convention in the proper [Eastern North America] region.

Ace 27415, September 1971

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.61-116)

Malzberg, Barry N., Herovit's World

This is a series of incidents in the life of hack SF writer Jonathan Herovit. His story is interwoven with that of his character Mack Miller. Eventually his pseudonym, Kirk Poland, takes over his life, his wife leaves him and eventually he is subsumed into Mack Miller. The SF field and a number of its most prominent characters are mercilessly parodied here.

Random House, 48141-0, June 1973

Pocket Books 77753-X, September 1974

Arrow 912920-5, June 1976

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.169-258)

Malzberg, Barry N., "January, 1975"

In an alternate universe, writer Barry Malzberg tries to convince editor Ben Bova to buy a series of short stories based upon a universe in which John Kennedy won the 1960 election and was assassinated three years later. Editor Bova is less than enthused. Malzberg threatens to take it to the union.

Analog 94:5 January 1975 (pp63-64)

Down Here in the Dream Quarter, Doubleday 12268-3, December 1976 (pp113-115)

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.145-146)

Malzberg, Barry N. (as O'Donnell, K. M.), "July 24, 1970"

This is written as a letter from the editor of a science fiction magazine to K. M. O'Donnell. The editor is critiquing a story idea in which O'Donnell goes back in time to kill his grandfather. The editor objects to this old idea and to the fact that the story ends in the middle of a word. There is an added twist in that the editor of the magazine would be a relative who would also disappear. The editor suggests that the author revise this story as he is afraid that rejecting it outright might cause his disappearance. The letter ends in the middle of a word.

Venture Science Fiction 3:1 May 1969 (pp.92-93)

In the Pocket and Other S-F Stories, Ace 27415, September 1971 (pp.71-73)

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.117-118)

Malzberg, Barry N. & Yasgur, Batya Swift, "Letters in the Wall"

The 1967 Worldcon is in Jerusalem and Guest of Honor Lester del Rey wants to hold the Hugo Ceremony at the Western Wall. Co-chairman Jake has been given a prayer by his father to put in the Wall. The SF convention is not consistent with serious observance of talmudic and halachic regulations (and why should it?).

Alternate Worldcons and Again, Alternate Worldcons (edited by Mike Resnick), WC Books, September 1996 (pp.177-185)

Malzberg, Barry N., "The Passage of the Light"

This is a sequel to "Corridors."  Henry Martin Ruthven, former Worldcon guest of honor, former Boskone special guest, now widowed, is at the 1993 Eaton Conference in California. He is depressed about the meaningless of his science fiction writing, the invasion of academics into the field, and general sexual malaise. A note of interest: in our universe in 1980, because of the upcoming Noreascon Two in Boston, Boskone was scaled back, called BoskLone, and held in Danvers, Massachusetts. There was no special guest.

Science Fiction Age 2:1 November 1993 (pp62-65)

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.269-274)

Malzberg, Barry N. (as O'Donnell, K. M.), "A Question of Slant"

John Constantine is a tired SF writer of 43. In the middle of his latest novelette "Survey Starlight" he decides to scrap SF and write sex novels. After four fast pages of this his wife discovers what he is doing and destroys the manuscript. He returns to his SF story, but with some sort of satisfaction. The point being that the difference between pulp SF and pulp sex is mainly one of vocabulary.

In the Pocket and Other S-F Stories, Ace 27415, September 1971 (pp.99-102)

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.123-124)

Malzberg, Barry N., "A Science of the Mind"

Theodore Sturgeon develops Hermeneutics, a new science of the mind. He tries to get Horace Gold to buy it for Galaxy.  Horace eventually rejects it. An attempt to sell the concept and text to John W. Campbell is equally unsuccessful.

Alternate Skiffy (edited by Mike Resnick and Patrick Nielsen Hayden), The Wildside Press 1-880448-54-8, December 1997 [dated 1996] (pp.11-16)

Malzberg, Barry N., "Sedan Deville"

Auto mechanic Kurt Delvecchio is communion with the Cadillacs he repairs. He writes their stories and is able to sell them as science fiction to Terrific Science Fiction. After that magazine fails, he tries to sell them through an agent who turns out not to be satisfactory. He packages all the correspondence and sells it as a story to The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction.

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 47:6 December 1974 (pp 86-90)

Malzberg, Barry N., "Some Notes Towards a Useable Past"

In eight notes, Malzberg pokes fun at a number of science fiction's tropes and sacred cows including John Campbell, E. E. Smith, time travel paradoxes, fans, and writers.

Printed with "The Conquest of Mars" under the title "Two Odysseys into the Center."

Nova 2 (edited by Harry Harrison), Walker May 1972 (pp57-62);SFBC 5367, October 1972

The Passage of the Light: the Recursive Science Fiction of Barry N. Malzberg (edited by Mike Resnick & Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 0-915368-59-5, June 1994 (pp.119-122) [as "Notes Toward a Usuable Past"]

Malzberg, Barry N., "Thinking About Thinking About Science Fiction" [Article]

Malzberg considers the category of recursive science fiction, which he prefers to term "decadent" science fiction. He is especially interested in the idea that such a category is inherent in the nature of the field.

An Annotated Bibliography of Recursive Science Fiction, (compiled by Anthony R. Lewis), NESFA Press 47-1, October 1990

Malzberg, Barry, N., "Verses for a Golden Age" [Poem]

Written for the 50th anniversary of Amazing, this poem is a listing of 65 important writers and editors in the field—it omits Barry N. Malzberg.

Amazing Science Fiction Stories 50:1 June 1976 (pp.115,119)

Marshall, William, Sci Fi [Mystery]

Murder and theft at the All-Asia Science Fiction and Horror Movie Festival. The major SF element here is the venue; otherwise, it is a competent "Yellowthread Street" murder mystery.

Holt, Rinehart & Winston, 1981

Owl 071063-4, 1984

Martens, Paul E., "Creature for Hire"

An alien, who is the only survivor of s spaceship crash on Earth finds himself out of work in the movies and television. As a last resort he becomes a science fiction writer and is a great success.

I, Alien (edited by Mike Resnick), DAW Books April 2005, 0-7564-0235-2 (pp.39-50)

Martin, Michael A. "Spelunking at the Cavern"

The protagonist, an employee of Alternitech, has come back almost two centuries to make sure that John Lennon remains the most influential New Wave SF writer (author of The Walrus Man, The Sun Kings, All Shine On; editor of Walls and Bridges of the Imagination and War is Over—with Jerry Pournelle). His counterpart from another line wants to ensure that Lennon become a member of a famous rock band—the Beatles. They join forces to foil yet a third counterpart on whose line Lennon invented time travel.

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 90:6 June 1996 (pp.11-20)

Martindale, Lee, "Neighborhood Watch"

Ellen Moore is a vampire living in a quiet neighborhood supporting herself as a horror, fantasy, and gothics writer. Detective Mike Whitaker may have found this out but he finds it better to ignore the whole situation.

Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine 10:4, Summer 1998 (pp. 24-27)

Matheson, Richard, "Letter to the Editor" [a.k.a. "Advance Notice"]

SF writer "Dick" writes Imagination editor Bill Hamling that he can no longer write sf. Dick had planned a series involving a Martian invasion which began when inexplicable lights in the sky apepared near the moon, and now those lights have appeared, as news programs all over the earth have reported; somehow Dick feels he willed them into existence. Hamling, who has heard nothing about such news reports, assumes Dick's letter was intended as a hoax story, but is puzzled by the fact that the postmark on the envelope is dated 1957, five years into the future. [summary by Dennis Lien]

Imagination Science Fiction 8 January 1952 (pp.102- 109)

SHOCK WAVES, Dell 1970 [as "Advance Notice"]

Collected Stories of Richard Matheson, Scream/Press October 1989

Matheson, Richard, "Pattern for Survival"

Following a destructive nuclear war, one damaged man finds a kind of sanity (that is, survival) by taking on all the aspects of the SF printing chain—writer, mailman, secretary, editor, publisher, typesetter, newsstand agent, and reader as well as the major character in the stories. As an author his name is Richard Allen Shaggley; his latest work is Ras and the City of Crystal.

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 8:5 May 1955 (pp.75-77)

Richard Matheson: Collected Stories, Scream/Press, October 1989

May, Julian, The Metaconcert [Intervention]

In Chapter 6 the protagonist attends the 1995 Boskone at the Sheraton Boston (this would be Boskone XXXII). This interlude, while incidental to the larger work, does sharpen part of his character development. Boskone XXXII was actually held at the Sheraton Tara, Framingham, Massachusetts. Boskone XL (2003) returned to the Sheraton Boston.

Houghton Mifflin 43782-2, August 1987

Collins 223086-0, November 1987

Pan 30309-0, October 1988

Del Rey 35524-5, February 1989 [The Metaconcert, book 2 of Intervention]

McAuley, Paul J., "Alien TV"

Alan Smith is meeting his old friend Howard Hutton at the ExoCon 8 at Liverpool. For eleven years, aliens living on a planet (and a moon) about 50 light years away have been beaming TV signals. Howard is one of the GoHs (these conventions seem to have evolved or branched from SF cons--one is held over the Labor Day weekend in the U.S.). The world has been changed in many ways by technology gleaned from these broadcasts but most people like Alan have lost their sense of wonder and just accept it.

Interzone 142 April 1999 (pp.25-28)

McAuley, Paul, "The Two Dicks"

The two Dicks are Philip K. Dick and Richard Nixon. This appears to take place in a universe where Dick's agent has steered him away from science fiction into the mainstream. His famous SF novel The Man in the High Castle exists only in a pirated Korean edition (Dick blames SFWA for this). His letter to the President brings about an interview with Nixon who is revealed to be a puppet of Haldeman. In fact, the entire world seems to resemble a Dick novel from our universe.

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction 101:2 August 2001 (pp.50-68)

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Nineteenth Annual Collection (edited by Gardner Dozois), St. Martin's Press 0-312-28878-6, 2002 (pp.653-670)

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Nineteenth Annual Collection (edited by Gardner Dozois), St. Martin's Press 0-312-28879-4, 2002 (pp.653-670)

McCollum, Michael, "Dream World"

Paula Kaplan is a commercial traveler in cosmetics. While on a business trip she meets a science fiction writer Morris Cramer in a bar. He tells her that this entire world of 1993 is his imagination—the background for stories he is writing. She doesn't believe him. As she leaves we see that the bar and city have changed. The next day she will try to sell cosmetics to extraterrestrials.

Amazing Stories 68:1 April 1993 (pp26-30)

McCoy, Glen, Doctor Who—Timelash

This is the novelization of Timelash (story 105, script 6Y, broadcast 9 and 16 March 1985; written by Glen McCoy). The 6th Doctor returns to Karfel where he visited during the 3rd Doctor's time. The evil dictator, the Borad - disfigured by his Morlox experiments - coerces the Doctor to go to 19th century Earth to recover Vena, who has fallen through the time tunnel, and the amulet she carried. While retrieving her, the Doctor acquires a temporal hitchhiker, Herbert George Wells, who will later make use of this experience in writing The Time Machine.

W. H. Allen, 1985

Target Books 20229-5, May 1986

McCrumb, Sharyn, Bimbos of the Death Sun [Mystery]

Neo-pro Jay Omega is attending his first SF convention, Rubicon. The ambiance is marred somewhat by the murder of the guest of honor. This is one of the more exaggerated extreme views of what happens at these gatherings.

TSR Windwalker 455-7, February 1987; 455-7 October 1988

Penguin 011848-9, September 1989

McCrumb, Sharyn, Zombies of the Gene Pool [Mystery]

This is the sequel to Bimbos of the Death Sun again featuring Jay Omega and Marion Farley. One of the professors at their university turns out to be the famous SF writer C. A. Stormcock, author of The Golden Gain [see Rudyard Kipling, The Fringes of the Fleet, Doubleday 1916, pg. 19 for a complete explanation]. The protagonists attend a convention that is a reunion of the Lanthanides, a group of fans active in the 1950s; some have become quite notable. One activity will be to open a time capsule after 30 years. This contains some unpublished short stories that may be quite valuable. One fan, Pat Malone, shows up; but he was known to be dead. Is this really Pat Malone—or someone else?

Simon & Schuster,70526-1, February 1992

Ballantine 37914-4. March 1993

McDaniel, David pseudonym of Ted Johnstone

McDevitt, Jack, "The Fort Moxie Branch"

There is a secret library, the John of Singletary Memorial Library that travels through space and time collecting unpublished and lost works of literature to be saved until humanity is at peace and worthy of them. Wickham is a writer, author of Independence Square.  The library appears to him during a power outage in his town. They want a copy of his book which will be a failure in his lifetime. Some of the books he sees in the library are Starflight (H. G. Wells), More Dangerous Visions, Morgan (Mary Shelley), and collections of short stories by Terry Carr and Nathaniel Hawthorne. There are also four short stories by Arthur Conan Doyle—"The Adventure of the Grim Footman", "The Branmoor Club", "The Jezail Bullet", and "The Sumatran Clipper."  He finally decides to refuse them permission to obtain his book.

Full Spectrum (edited by Lou Aronica & Shawna McCarthy), Bantam Spectra 27482-1, September 1988 (pp.39-50)

[The story is listed throughout the book as "The Fourth Moxie Branch."  However, within the story the correct spelling is used.]

McDevitt, Jack, "To Hell With the Stars"

It is a thousand years in the future and mankind has terraformed and settled Venus and Mars and various asteroids. The stars have been ignored because there is no short-term return seen. On Venus, Will Cutler is given a copy of a book found in a time capsule on the Moon. This is a science fiction anthology Great Tales of the Space Age edited by Isaac Asimov and Martin H. Greenberg. All over the solar system, the stories in this book inspire the next generation to once again take up the path to the stars.

Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine 11:12 December 1987 (pp.18-23)

Christmas on Ganymede (edited by Martin H. Greenberg), Avon 76203-X, 1990 [first edition is missing the last few paragraphs—totally changing the mood and point of the story]

McDonald, Ian, "Empire Dreams (Ground Control to Major Tom)"

In order to cure psychologically dependent cases, computer controlled dreams are used. Here, the young boy with cancer is in a universe where he and his father battle against the evil Zygons (the cancer cells). The background is basic Star Wars with a larding from other places such as Dr. Who, Battlestar Galactica, etc.

Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, December 1985

Empire Dreams, Bantam Spectra 27180-6, February 1988

Space-Fighters, (edited by Joe Haldeman), Ace 77786-4, April 1988

McDowell, Ian, "My Father's Face"

The narrator is a write of horror stories who has sold a novel to Doubleday. He is haunted by the face of his father; it is not only visible to him but material. No one else can perceive it. He finally accepts and wears it.

Amazing Stories 67:4 July 1992 (pp29-33)

McGarry, Terry, "The Best Little Worldcon In..."

At Conmigo, the 1964 Worldcon in Tijuana, Mexico, the reality-enhancing device of a somewhat eccentric fan really works and the atrtendees become their inner fantasies. After the machine breaks down, only the attendees remember the actual convention.

Alternate Worldcons (edited by Mike Resnick), Pulphouse Publishing 1-56146-448-1, September 1994 (pp.29-37)

Alternate Worldcons and Again, Alternate Worldcons (edited by Mike Resnick), WC Books, September 1996 (pp.129-37)

McIntyre, Vonda N., The Entropy Effect

This is a marginal item. At one point Lt. Hikaru Sulu and Lt. Cdr. Mandala Flynn are discussing old literature including science fiction. There is a brief argument as to whether all true SF must pre-date the age of space and whether that should be taken as the launch of Sputnik I (Sulu) or the Apollo 11 moon landing (Flynn). None of this has any bearing on the story as a whole.

Pocket Books Timescape 83692-7 [Star Trek™ novels #2], June 1981 (pp.33-34)

McKinney, Jack, Artifact of the System

The Black Hole Travel Agency is proceeding with its plans to turn Earth into a tourist trap. Their laterst plan is a "theme" cruise where the aliens pretend to be humans dressed up as SF characters. The SF writer, Bixby Santiago took the details of the plot and put it into his book Edge of Space.  As punishment, Black Hole gave him cancer.

Del Rey 0-345-37054-6, August 1991

McKinney, Jack, Event Horizon

A tale of interstellar intrigue involving a future eco-fascist Earth. The protagonist, Lucky Junknowitz, is abducted by mistake from the restroom at PhenomiCon, a science fiction convention. One of his friends, Braxmar Koddle is writing a science fiction novel to close out the 32-volume "Worlds Abound" shared universe (originally based upon the novella "Tug of Space" by Etaoin Shrdlu, later adapted by Richard Rymer into the hit motion picture Zone Defense).

Del Rey 37053-8, June 1991

McKinney, Jack, Free Radicals

Book 3 continues the battle with the Black Hole Travel Agency. Brax Koddle works on his novel Gate Crashers which will blow the whistle on the plot. But first he must deal with an alien wannabe writer.

Del Rey 0-345-37078-3, May 1992

Melchior, Ib, "The Vidiot"

Don Hartley is the video technician for the SF Space Opera The Planeteers.  While working on a special effect to triplicate one of the characters he accidentally comes up with a technique that allows the cameras to focus on scenes that are normally hidden. Initially, he plans on selling this concept but decides after some thought that the world is not quite ready for it.

Fantastic Universe Science Fiction 5:2 March 1956 (pp.51-58)

Mercer, Archie, The Meadows of Fantasy

Subtitled "The Story of a Golden Age", this is a pastoral novel of British fandom during the early 1960s a exemplified by the activities of members of the Thisbury and District Science Fiction Circle. The major characters are fictitious but quite a number of the supporting characters are prominent British pros and fans of the time. This book was mimeographed in the U. K. with major distribution in the U. S. through Locus Publications.

Mercatorial Publications, 1965

http://efanzines.com/Meadows/index.htm

 

Mieville, China, "Reports of Certain Events in London"

This short story, in the form of a collection of fictional documents supposedly "received" by the author, presents the idea that there exist certain autonomous streets which phase in and out of existence, living complex and mysterious lives of their own, and even having romances and violent feuds amongst their alley selves. The street that is the focus of the story (Varmin Way) is also mentioned in Un Lun Dun briefly. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Looking_for_Jake

McSweeney's Enchanted Chamber of Astonishing Stories, (edited by Michael Chabon),Vintage 16 November 2004 1-40007874-1 [ 978-1-40007874-5]

Looking for Jake, Del Rey 30 August 2005 0-345-47607-7 [978-0-345-47607-4]

Pan Macmillan 2 September 2 1-405-04830-1 [978-1-405-04830-9]

Miles, Paul  co-author with Klaw, Paul

Millar, Jeff, "Toto, I Have a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore"

Timmy Brown has used equipment from Edmund Scientific to halt his aging and bring Des Moines, Iowa from 1975 back to 1956 and trap it in a bad movie—It Came from Beyond the Sky.  He threatens to trap it permanently in I Led Three Lives unless Robert A. Heinlein is brought to his house. The Chief of Police cannot get Heinlein but bribes Clyde the Clown to impersonate him. This solves the problem but Clyde warns them that the Police Chief of Montgomery, Alabama had better be able to find Theodore Sturgeon.

Orbit 17  (edited by Damon Knight), Harper & Row 012434-2, October 1975 (pp.57-72)

Miller, Ann and Rigley, Karen Elizabeth, "It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's...Supercat!"

Jackie Carlson is a SF writer living in the Rio Grande Valley with her cat, Clark Kent. A UFO, landing to take on fresh water, has one of its zoo specimens escape. The manifest officer, Worl, stays behind to capture it. With the help of Carlson and her cat, the mission is successful. The cat, invited to accompany Worl, decides to stay with Jackie, who has a new story plot based upon this incident.

Catfantastic (edited by Andre Norton & Martin H. Greenberg), DAW (#785) 355-5, July 1989 (pp.255-272)

Miller, Jr., Walter M., "The Will"

A young boy is dying of leukemia is inspired by a TV science fiction program Captain Chronos. He puts together a time capsule of stamps and autographs with a request that time travelers come back to cure him using the funds obtained from selling the contents.

Fantastic, January/February 1954

The Best Science Fiction Stories and Novels 1955, (edited by T. E. Dikty), Frederick Fell, 1955 (pp.311-329)

The View from the Stars, Ballantine, January 1965

The Science Fiction Stories of Walter M. Miller, Jr., Gregg Press, December 1978

The Best of Walter M. Miller, Jr., Pocket Books SFBC 2065 K35, October 1980 (pp.13-28)

Moesta, Rebecca joint author with Kevin J. Anderson

Monteleone, Thomas F., "Looking for Mr. Flip"

Jack Trent (R. Jackson Trent), a wildly successful writer of horror fiction, has a complete writer' block. He can write nothing and the deadline is coming up for his next book. While riding the subway he meets a young woman who is also a writer. Over a meal she tells him that he must return to the place of his childhood to recover where he was shaped. He is successful. By the way, Jack is a former Secretary of SFWA. Kurt Vonnegut has a cameo role.

The Horror Writers Association Presents Peter Straub's Ghosts (edited by Peter Straub), Pocket Books Star 0-671-88599-5, April 1995 (pp.219-253)

Monteleone, Thomas F., "Present Perfect"

William Rutherford is the editor of Incredible Science Fiction Magazine.  He is at home, reading and rejecting stories, all of which seem to be repetitions of ones he has read before. The last manuscript is from Thomas F. Monteleone; it begins with the introduction to this story.

Fantastic 23:6 September 1974 (pp.61-63)

Moon, Elizabeth, "Creative Criticism"

The protagonist is a biologist and a science fiction reader. While reading a trashy novel lent to her by the supermarket checker, she mentally rewrites the story into a science fiction novel. However, after returning the book she finds out from the checker that it has been changed to what she imagined. This problem, or opportunity, spreads to other areas of her life—such as the university.

Science Fiction Age 3:1 November 1994 (pp.64-67)

Moore, Raylyn, "Out of Control"

George Mapstead is taking adult education classes in order to learn to be a writer; it doesn't seem to help. However, after his nervous breakdown he creates a fantasy world and finds himself in it. He is able to modify this world by writing on his typewriter (the opposite of the situation in Typewriter in the Sky). This control enables him to improve his mundane life and he decides to dismantle the fantasy universe. However, he does so complete a job that he finds he has forgotten to provide himself with the means of returning home.

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, 39:2 August 1970 (pp.118-128)

Laughing Space, (edited by Isaac Asimov & Janet O. Jeppson), Houghton Mifflin 30519-5, March 1982 (pp.374-382)

Morrow, James, "Apologue"

In the wake of 9/11, the movie monsters the Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, Godzilla (the American version), and King Kong comfort New Yorkers (a rather touching story)

http://www.scifi.com/tribute/apologue.html 2001

The Cat's Pajamas and Other Stories Tachyon Publications 1-892391-15-5, July 2004

Moscoe, Mike, "Summer Hopes—Winter Dreams"

The protagonist is a seventy-five year old who started out as a Star Trek and SF fan. His son is completely turned off by the whole issue and goes into insurance and real estate, backs politicians and winds up as an ambassador at the conference that finally solved the world's security problems. This frees up a huge amount of resources that can be used for research. His granddaughter, Ellen, also becomes a Star Trek fan and winds up as communications officer on the world's first starship—Enterprise. After returning from Alpha Centauri, she invites him aboard for a cruise to Mars.

Analog Science Fiction - Science Fact 111:4 March 1991 (pp.149-156)

Mottier, François, Philip Jose Farmer Conquiert l'Univers

Philip Jose Farmer is a character in this French novel. There are two references to it in The SF Book of Lists (p.67 and p.70), ed. by Maxim Jakubowski & Malcolm Edwards.

Editions Jacques Glenat (Grenoble), 1980

Munson, Ronald, Nothing Human[Mystery]

The story of The Jaguar, a serial killer in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The villain, John Haack, works in a bookstore. He is currently after one of his customers—Jill Brenner, a freelance journalist. The climax comes at Boscon [sic]; Jill is covering the convention. Here Haack, costumed as Paul Atreides. makes his final attempts on her life.

Pocket Books/Simon & Schuster 0-671-73024-X, July 1991

Pocket Books 0-671-31367-3, November 1991

Murphy, Pat joint author with Eileen Gunn, et al.

Murphy, Pat, Adventures in Time and Space with Max Merriwell

"Susan Galina's long-deserved vacation, aboard a cruise ship attending classes taught by her favorite author, begins to go terribly awry when she actually meets her idol, Max Merriwell—not to mention the other passengers on the ship, who include various other-dimensional versions of Merriwell AND characters from his books, along with Pat Murphy, herself, the author of this work of recursive science fiction." allbookstores.com

Tor 0-312-86643-7, November 2001

Myhre, Vyvind, En himmel av jern [Norwegian Mystery]

The title means A Sky of Iron.  Jens is an SF editor; his friend who is an SF author tells him that he must disappear. Soon afterwards the writer's cabin on a ferry to Britain is found empty with a suicide note. Part of the story takes place at the NorCon 78 SF convention. Other interesting items involve bheer, a fantasy illustrator, a strange cult, and Locus. Some of the characters are based upon well-known Swedish and Norwegian fans.

Oslo: Cappellen 1980 [Norwegian]

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