The SF Site: Letters to the SF Site

Letters to the SF Site

We love letters. They make us think. They make us laugh. They make us sit up and take notice, and get a payment in before service is disconnected.

Mostly, though, we enjoy hearing what you have to say about the SF Site. No publishing enterprise can survive long without paying close attention to its audience, and we're no different. If you've got a comment or thoughtful suggestion, or if you just want to complain about that durned dead link, we want to hear about it.

Betty Swanwick information found

From: Noel York

Dear Sir

I have recently visited your website which I found most interesting and informative. My attention was drawn to a request by Rich Raiskin, on one of your Letters pages, for information on the artist Betty Swanwick. I am quite familiar with this artist's work and would be willing to pass on information etc., but as I'm not yet fully conversant with computers or the internet I would be grateful if you could pass my name and address on to Rich Raiskin. If this is possible I thank you and thank you for producing a good website.

Yours sincerely,
Noel York

Thank you for helping us answer Rich's question, Noel.
We received Noel's handwritten letter by regular mail, which is quite unusual for us, as you can imagine!

Limbo

From: Kat

I am looking for a science fiction book that I read about 15 years ago. I don't know the title or the author, but it is about a teen who finds himself in "limbo," as it is often referred to in the book. He slowly becomes invisible to everyone, but finds others who are also in limbo. He can see and hear everything in the "real world," but he can't participate, be seen or heard, eat "real food," etc. If someone could help me find this book, I would be so grateful and happy. I have been looking for over a year now, and have been ready to read it again for much longer!

Sorry, but we're not familiar with it. It sounds a little like a book that I remember from my high-school library calledThe Boy Who Could Make Himself Disappear. I don't know who wrote it, but I hope that it rings a bell for you.

As always, it's not such a bad idea to search many places at once. It isn't a bad idea to try posting your query to the newsgroup rec.arts.sf.written. We've heard that it's a fine source of information.

The Monarchies of God

From: Kevin Barrett

I recently read with interest your review of Paul Kearney's The Iron Wars. I have to say that I agree with your comments.

You mention that Book 4 of this saga will be available in Feb/March 2000. Where can I get this confirmed (or at least the title, so I can place a forward order with my local bookshop)?

Many thanks for your help.

Monarchies of God Book 4: The Second Empire is scheduled for hardcover release in March from UK publisher Victor Gollancz. It should be on the shelves soon.

Editor's Choice

From: Shawna Lee

Would you know where I could locate a review group that is called Editors Choice? I seem to have run out of book review request forms. Would you know where I could get some?

We haven't heard of Editors Choice, but maybe some of our readers have?

Searching for Dan Simmons Fans

From: Lee Cobb

A while back I asked you guys if you knew of a Dan Simmons ng. Well, I found one when I switched internet service providers. For those interested the ng is alt.books.dan-simmons. I was surprised to find that the ng is virtually empty -- there are only three or four of us there (sorry if I left anyone out). If anyone knows of any other possible Simmons discussion forums, please email me.

Thanks for the email. We've added your link to www.sfsite.com/depts/ngrps01.htm. If anyone else out there has more active Dan Simmons news groups up and running, let us know and we'll pass them on to Lee, and add them to our newsgroup page.

It's nice to see that we're starting to get some responses back to questions that have been asked in previous columns. If I've learned anything in the 15-plus years that I've been dealing with the science fiction community, it's that people are usually more than willing to help you find whatever book or short story it is you're looking for. Next time, it could be them.

As pleased as I am that people are writing to us and using this space to share useful information, the letter column is not just for that purpose. If you read one of our reviews or articles and have a strong opinion about a reviewer's take on a book, or disagree with an important idea or approach in that review, we want to hear that as well. Life is enriched by lively exchanges of opinion.

Until next time.
Kristen Chew
SF Site