Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Not The Baseball Pitcher on William Rotsler's The Far Frontier

(from the William Charles Rotsler site)



Check out this very nice little review of William Rotsler's The Far Frontier ... out now in a brand new edition from Digital Parchment Services/Strange Particle Press:
We’ve all heard that saying “science fiction is nothing but westerns in outer space.” In THE FAR FRONTIER, William Rotsler takes that idea and runs with it. 
The planet Zikkala is “way out at the end of the Orion spur of the Perseus arm,” the frontier in other words. Trade ships only stopped several times a year and subjective time being what it was(one year of travel on a starship at light speed was equivalent to twenty-four point eight real time), one never knew what interesting new devices, weapons, products might arrive. 
Several trading posts were spotted around in the outer regions away from the few cities, those primitive by standards farther in. Horses were the main transportation, frozen ova and sperm brought with the first ships to arrive and a nursery of sorts was maintained to produce more. Horses were more efficient than machines that might break down and need fuel. By this time, the breeds were all mixed up: Arabian, Clydesdale, quarter horses, others, whatever combination produced the hardiest breed. 
The native population, the Kaleen(that’s them on the cover), are the Indians of this west. They like to test their mettle against the humans to prove their “manhood.” The use spears, slings for their rock missiles, and a few captured weapons, sometimes lasers, sometimes needle guns, whatever they took from any kills. 
Rader is a trapper, partnered with Korda, a black man, and his woman, Liana, an Oriental. A tougher pair couldn’t be found to partner with. They also took shoka furs for sale. A huge herd beast, the three made a point of only killing the old, ill, or those attacking them. Just enough to make a good living. Rader wears a sidearm in a holster, a laser pistol that fires bolts. 
Headed back to town from their cave dwelling, they come upon a cleanboot(a tenderfoot) about to be slaughtered by the Kaleen. Both his horses, the ride and a pack animal are already dead. In rescuing him, they lose a horse and a pack of furs. His name is Wolf Briggs, short for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Briggs. And you know the old saying. You save a life, you’re responsible for that life. 
In town, Rader visits his favorite pleasure dome run by Alena, a beautiful blond woman. Of course, the locals call it what it is, a whorehouse. Alena tells him she needs a champion. Not just for her pleasure dome, but for the whole planet really. 
An outfit called Startraders is buying everything up, putting pressure on those not inclined to sell, some even suffering fatal “accidents.” They want to turn Zikkala into a pleasure world. A nearby planet has been discovered with huge plants that secret a pearl-like ball, from fist sized up to head sized, that is the current “most valuable” item. It takes a lot of men a lot of time to squeeze these gems out of the dangerous plant. They need a place for relaxation and recreation for the men, who otherwise might move on to the next big thing. Zikkala is the closest planet and Alena has learned plans are already being drawn to flood a big valley, the Grand Canyon of Ziggala to form a recreational lake. 
Rader is not happy. He's been on twenty-three different worlds in his life and seen this kind of thing before. Whenever the pearls run out, or something more valuable is found, they’ll move on, leaving Zikkala a ruin. Rader likes the life here and joins happily in to save the planet. 
He’s outmanned, outgunned, and soon on the wrong side of the law. But when has that ever stopped him.

Read 5 Time Hugo Winner William Rotsler's Patron Of The Arts ($2.99 - Free on Amazon Unlimited) and The Far Frontier ($2.99)

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

BESTSELLERS (October, 1977) Loves Passing For Human

(from the official Jody Scott site)

Check out this very nice review for Jody's Passing For Human (coming very soon in a new edition from Digital Parchment Services/Strange Particle Press) from Bestsellers (October, 1977):


PASSING FOR HUMAN

Mgrird Nixon is the name of Brenda Starr's robot-slave. Or slaves, as she owns several hundred. But Brenda Starr is not really Brenda Starr. She is one of several spare bodies put to use by Benaroya. a 36-foot, dolphin-like extraterrestrial who is furthering her anthropological studies on earth as she hunts down the evil cosmic being who is wor­shipped on 11 primitive planets as the Prince of Darkness. Scott's dar­ing and sense of pure fun makes her first novel a memorable one. a splen­did blend of satire and sf adventure.

Nebula Nominated Arthur Byron Cover At Westercon '63 (2010)

(via Arthur Byron Cover's site)

Here's a very fun little video of Arthur Byron Cover at Westercon 63 (in 2010) ... via NeverendingPanel:


ANCIENT CHICANO SCI-FI WISDOM BY THE RIVERSIDE

(from Ernest Hogan's Mondo Ernesto Blog)


Look out! Ancient Chicano Sci-Fi Wisdom will be coming at you at the 38th Annual Writers Week at the University of California, Riverside. I'll be teaching a master writing class on Feb. 4. The knowledge I've picked up from decades of writing will be free for taking.

Or, to put it in proper sideshowese:

"Step right up, folks! We've got one of the weirdest mutations to come out of East L.A. here for your examination -- a Chicano with sci-fi growing in his brain! Don't be afraid! Come on, get a good, close look! We're pretty sure his rare condition isn't contagious . . ."


Thursday, January 22, 2015

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

READ "THE FAR FRONTIER" SF NOVEL BY STAR TREK TOS WRITER WHO CHRONICLED THE “FINAL FRONTIER” IN FIVE BESTSELLING BOOKS

THE HUGO & NEBULA FINALIST & ST: TOS WRITER WHO CHRONICLED THE “FINAL FRONTIER” IN FIVE BESTSELLING BOOKS ... AN ENTHRALLING NOVEL OF THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE FAR FRONTIER!

From the authorized Star Trek TOS biographer who gave Uhura her official first name (Nyota, Swahili for “star”) comes this thought-provoking tale of a weary star voyager who finds Paradise, only to discover a nest of vipers planning its destruction. Using the classic TOS trope of a planet with parallels to Earth history, the late William Rotsler makes sharply observed comments on human proclivities and foibles. A novel sure to please all science fiction fans, and especially Star Trek enthusiasts.

“A vivid, fast-paced story, rich with color, insight and passion.” —Robert Silverberg

Raider had wandered for years from world to world through the voids of the final frontier. Now, at last, in its farthest realms, he had found a world he wanted to call home. To a war-weary starman like Rader, the planet Zikkala was paradise. Unfortunately, Zikkala had two drawbacks: The indigenous stone age level population had a long tradition of proving their mettle by attacking each other in duels to the death; and with the arrival of Terrans, they had transferred that tradition to attacking outworlders. Meanwhile, a megacorporation from the Earth had targeted Zikkala for acquisition. They had their own army — and if they couldn't buy they planet, they planned to conquer it. And, if that weren't bad enough, Alena, the one woman he cared for, ran the best cathouse in town, and the megacorp had targeted it for a take over. Raider wanted to help, but he was outnumbered, out gunned — and on the wrong side of the law. Failure meant a quick trip to an interplanetary boothill!

“Rotsler takes that idea and runs with it ... A lot of fun. Rotsler was a fine writer.” —Randy Johnson

“Good, fast space opera. What science fiction is supposed to do.” —Larry Niven

Bonus: An interview with William Rotsler about writing science fiction, Star Trek books & media-tie-ins.

Buy The Far Frontiers - only $2.99 in Kindle at Amazon.

Bill Rotsler at Saint Louiscon (1969)

(from the William Charles Rotsler site)

Courtesy of Fred A. Levy Haskell via Amazing Stories here's a fun shot of Bill Rotsler attending Saint Louiscon in 1969 .. and enjoying ice cream.




Read 5 Time Hugo Winner William Rotsler's Patron Of The Arts ($2.99 - Free on Amazon Unlimited) and The Far Frontier ($2.99)