Showing posts with label Raymond Feist. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Raymond Feist. Show all posts

Monday, December 28, 2020

SFL Archives Vol 16b readthrough update 01

100% completion, 149 bookmarks

-Movies & tv series mentioned: TERMINATOR 2, GREYSTOKE, NAKED GUN 2.5, HOOK, STAR TREK 6, ALIEN 3, ADDAMS FAMILY, HIGHLANDER 2, DISNEY BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE FINAL COUNTDOWN, MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN, THE ROCKETEER, CIRCUITRY MAN, SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN, THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS, THE FISHER KING, EVIL DEAD 2, C.H.U.D., HARDWARE, HELLRAISER 3, CAST A DEADLY SPELL, BATMAN 2, SUPERMAN 4, SAPPHIRE AND STEEL, BLADERUNNER DIRECTORS CUT, THE BLUE LAGOON.

-Stories and books mentioned:  HALO, TEKLORDS, HERALDS OF VALDEMAR, BARDIC VOICES, MARTIAN RAINBOW, TEKLAB, LIFE DURING WARTIME, LOST ART, FOUCAULTS PENDELUM, THE TIME BENDER, THE WORLD SHUFFLER, MEMOIRS OF AN INVISIBLE MAN, KILLDOZER, PIGS IS PIGS, EYE OF ARGON, THE ROCKETEER, LOST CITY OF ZORK, THE GENERAL, BOOK OF EBON BINDINGS, SKYFALL, OUT ON BLUE SIX, DAMAINO, EARTH ABIDES, STAR ROVER, RAISING THE STONES, TRAVELS IN HYPERREALITY, A HISTORY OF SECRET SOCIETIES, THE NEGOTIATOR, GORD THE ROGUE, LUNAR DESCENT, GODEL ESCHER BACH: AN ETERNAL GOLDEN BOND, NEEDFUL THINGS, THE TROUBLE WITH LICHEN, MAN WHO AWOKE, THY NEIGHBOR'S WIFE, IN PURSUIT OF VALIS, HARPY HIGH, CASTLE PERILOUS, RATS AND GARGOYLES.

-Pop culture references: Lily Marlene, Punxsutawny Phil, PostScript, Nanptechnology, Eye of Argon, Hayes 1200 smart-modems, Whole Earth Catalog, the BBC tape library archives purge, C.H.U.D., SKYNET, whoever the "Cabana Boys" are, ROM, SpaceKnight, Captain Jacks Rum, the SciFi Channels initial slate of scheduled programming, Paul Reubens masturbating in that movie theater, Madonna, the American tv series pilot of RED DWARF, the movie book option to 'THY NEIGHBOR'S WIFE"

-Death notices: Gene Roddenberry.

-SFLer's from almost everywhere in the world are popping up. Japan, Australia, Africa, Europe, India, Turkey, Scotland, Germany, Mexico, Canada, Indonesia, navy.milnet, etc. 

-Repeated instances of public sex happening at TimeCon 1991, along with another extreme SF&F convention called EROTICON SIX, tailored to the BDSM enthusiast crowd. Keeping with this trend, discussion of SF Porn, and there is many examples I'm not going to re-transcribe here.

(2020 note: If you are curious to see what was mentioned, word search SFL Archives Volume 16B for "SFPorn".)

-Commentary on George O Smith's THE EARTH ABIDES features the very first time an author is called a Nazi, or an authors work is declared Aryan propaganda in SFL Archives history.

-The forgotten SF works of Jack London

-The details finally leak about how Jerry Pournelle lost his ARPANET access forever.

(2020 note: Pournelle lost his ARPANET access back in 1982 or 1983, and I wondered exactly how Pournelle lost his ARPANET access a few times earlier in my SFL Archives readthrough summaries.)

-Discussion of Umberto Eco's published stories, more specifically how to catch all the layered secret society references in Eco's FOUCAULTS PENDELUM.

-Michael Straczynski is noted as having been hired to write the pilot episode for a reboot of the 1980's "V" series.

(2020 note: The description of what happens in the JMS written pilot sounds a lot like what happened in seasons 2 & 3 of BABYLON 5.)

-How various SLFer's would go about designing SKYNET to make it work better and remove any possible pesky time-traveller hijinks.

-The beginning of TERMINATOR movie franchise dueling timelines discussion: Does Terminator 2 invalidate Terminator 1? How did the T-1000 travel back in time? Are the dates off? Does John Connor seem to old/too young for the dates GoodArnie recites to Dyson & Sarah Connor?

(2020 note: Thanks to the SFLers repeatedly mentioning organic sacks, sort of want to see a scene where the T-1000 travelled back in time inside a giant pumpkin. Which if you stretch things might result in a PEANUTS The Great Pumpkin/TERMINATOR franchise mashup that I would pay to see.)

-BLADERUNNER: DIRECTORS CUT discussion vs the original 1982 theatrical release. Various scenes been cut and added. SFLer's claiming it is Ridley Scotts final vision for the film. Mention is made of Mary, the All-American Mother Replicant.

-Everything terrible inside the Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle & Michael Flynn novel FALLEN ANGELS. Cannibal black people, slavery, global warming is fake, hero SF&F fandom saving everyone, evil treehuggers, hard men making hard calls, different versions of slavery, other libertarian things, etc. 

-SFLer's note that H Beam Piper's theft of Robert Heinlein's flat-cats in the H Beam Piper LITTLE FUZZY stories are not theft because according to Heinlein his "flat cats" are just Ellis Parker Butler's "dago pigs" with the serial numbers filed off.

-The before-before times for 1991 SFLers, when Isaac Asimov wasn't so openly pompous about himself in AISFM editorials and hadn't totally iced John W Campbell out on co-creation rights for the THREE LAWS OF ROBOTICS

-Science Fiction stories of the 1920's, '30s, '40s, '50s being incomprehensible to modern 1990's readers due to dated references to vacuum tubes, physically cutting antennas, toggles, etc. On the same note, SFLer's start debating the merits of 1991 SF&F magazines, and none of the commentary makes sense to a 2020 reader.

(2020 note: Funnily, steampunk & maker communities mean that some of those long-dead technologies mentioned aren't so dead anymore. On the other hand, Analog magazine is dead? Asimov Magazine is dead, Amazing Stories is super-dead, Pulphouse is probably dead, etc.)

-The people of usenet group rec.arts.sf-lovers get tired of seeing messages posted from non-usenet users/the SF-LOVERS mailing list gateway onto rec.arts.sf-lovers, and vote to sever the two-way mirroring. The SFL Archives mailing list-moderator grudgingly disconnects the two-way link after months of delays, then re-enables a one-way gateway link on the down-low for "content/This mailing list moderator position gives me internet power" reasons

-The former co-heads of BOSKONE 25 Jim Mann & Laurie Mann become super-toxic about conventions when discussion about the voting for WorldCon 1994 comes up. Sadly conventions is all that Jim & Laurie Mann ever post about in the SFL Archives. Their toxicity comes from the Mann husband-wife adopting a "I see nothing negative. I hear nothing negative. I know nothing negative." towards their own preferred conventions/friends conventions, but then proceed to drag up dirt regarding competitors conventions.

-A resurgence of Marion Zimmer Bradley discussion.

-STAR TREK 6 went over well with most of the SFL. The main cast of TOS seeming to act out of character, wonky special effects, design spec changes of the Enterprise, those damn gravity boots from ST5 appearing, Kim Cattrall's character not having a standardized Vulcan name, Michael Dorf & Christian Slater cameo appearances, how TNG series canon effects ST6/how ST6 effects TNG series canon, etc. 

 George Takei's 15 minutes of screen-time as Captain of a non-Enterprise spaceship had many vocal SFLer's hoping for the adventures of Captain Sulu (while sidelining or preferably killing Kirk) in a possible Captain Sulu spinoff tv-series.

-Raymond Feist ripping off the TEKUMEL setting comes up again repeatedly. The same person from SFL Archives 1987 & 1990? is back making the same "I have a document with 300 points of similarity between Tekumel & Feist's Riftwar books". Stuff like metal poorness, laquered armors, identically described lizardous subraces, city names, geography, etc. A few SFLer's make the claim that Feist wasn't ripping off Tekumel directly, Feist was merely stealing the setting/characters/plotlines of the homebrew RPG campaign of  a un-named GameMaster that Feist had a character in...and that the un-named GameMaster running the homebrew RPG campaign was the person with the all Tekumel/D&D/Tunnels & Trolls sourcebooks, not Raymond Feist. 

(2020 note: I really don't care what the true background behind Riftwar is. Many SF&F authors have based some of their works off of other authors or sometimes incorporate one or two interesting tidbits from RPG sourcebooks. It's the wholesale copying without acknowledgement that bothers me, especially if Feist ripped off the work of a un-named GM for 10+ books)

-First mention of R.A. Salvatore in the SFL Archives, along with the rumor that Salvatore also writes under a pen-name.

(2020 note: I have no idea, and refuse to look this up. Want to say that R.A. Salvatore has released roughly 40 books since the 1990's, so if he was also writing under a pen-name too, that is impressive output.)

-PRESERVE YOUR SOFTWARE AT ALL COSTS. THE REST IS MEAT. vs PRESERVE YOUR HARDWARE AT ALL COSTS. THE REST IS NOISE. 

-A advertisement for CONFLAGRATION 1992, a convention catered towards SF pornography and so much more.

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 91 18:24:32 GMT

From: davep@milton.u.washington.edu (David Ptasnik)

Subject: CONFLAGRATION ChiCon Room Party


Everyone is invited to the CONFLAGRATION room party at ChiCon.  Look for

our signs for the day, time, and room number at the Hyatt!

                                      

       CONFLAGRATION

The Convention Your MAMA Warned You About

  UNDER 21 NOT ADMITTED!

      June 19, 20, 21

   1992

     Alderbrook Resort

     Union, Washington


Guest of Honor

ANDREW J.  OFFUTT

Creator of "Shadowspawn"

Author of "Conan" Novels


Author Guest

VICKI MITCHELL

Star Trek Novel "Enemy Unseen"


Artist Guest

PHIL FOGLIO

Hugo Award Winner


Fan Guest

JOY DAY

Costumer Extraordinaire


Master of Ceremonies

JON GUSTAFSON

Professional SF Art Appraiser & Expert


Special Appearance By

JOHN CLEVE

"Spaceways"and "The Crusader" sagas


JUICY PANELS

JUICIER FILMS

FILTHY FILKING

WEENIE ROAST

MASQUERADE

BONFIRES

DEALERS

GAMING

ARCADE

BhEER

WhINE

ORGAzMS

HOSPITALITY

PARTY COTTAGES

UNCENSORED ART SHOW

SATURDAY NITE ART AUCTION

BEACH SIDE RESORT

OUTDOOR FUN

INDOOR POOL

JACUZZI

TENNIS

FISHING

SAILING

GOLF


No one under 21 will be admitted to the Northwest's ONLY

Adult Science Fiction Convention.


IS THAT A SPACESHIP IN YOUR POCKET,

OR ARE YOU JUST THINKING ABOUT CONFLAGRATION?

For something new and fresh in a Fantasy and Science Fiction Convention, we

cordially invite you to attend CONFLAGRATION in June of '92.  Our

convention will be an SF and Fantasy convention with traditional panel

discussions and activities, famous people to talk to and learn from, and a

whole bunch of outdoor fun at a gorgeous waterfront resort.  CONFLAGRATION

will include adult themes, and will be restricted to adults over 21 (photo

ID at the door, please).  We think you will really enjoy the opportunity of

taking a weekend off at one of the nicest getaway spots in the Northwest.

Plus you will be able to do it in the company of people who understand and

share an important aspect of all of our lives: fandom.  Enjoy every aspect

of SF and Fantasy without having to look over your shoulder for fear of

offending a mundane, or setting off a riot among the kids.  Register early,

we could be sold out before the convention.

Dave and Cindy Ptasnik, co-chairs


HERE ARE THE SORDID DETAILS -

FEEL THE HEAT:

At the Alderbrook Resort on the breathtakingly beautiful Hood Canal.  The

entire resort will be ours!  No kids, no mundanes, no inhibitions.

Sleeping bags and extra towels OK'd by the resort.  For reservations call

1-800-622-9370.

A credit card or personal check will guarantee reservations.

About 1 1/2 hours from Seattle in Union, WA.

About 2 1/2 hours from Portland.

Canadians use those kilometer thingies, and nobody knows how far anything

is from there.  This is a very nice (AAA recommended) facility.  Virtually

every room and cottage has an amazing territorial view of mountains, water,

and forest.  2nd and 3rd floor rooms all have balconies.  Ground floor

rooms are wheelchair accessible.  Some rooms are designed for use by the

differently abled.


SUBMISSIVE BEHAVIOR:

The staff at the Alderbrook Resort has had it's collective passion enflamed

by our coming.  They haven't had this much fun since the transvestite

convention.  Costumes are encouraged in all resort areas, including the

restaurant and lounge.  They even seemed to pant a little at the thought of

well armed virtually naked barbarians.  Small pets (no, a sheep is not a

small pet) are welcome with some conditions (ask the resort).

FOREPLAY:

Registration will be strictly limited to 350 (um) members.  Please register

under your legal name, you may also provide a badge name.  Info:

CONFLAGRATION

12345 Lake City Way

Suite 2001

Seattle, WA  98125

1-800-989-2001

206-527-2001 (Canada and Seattle area)

Please send SASE for return correspondence, there will be progress reports.


PROS:

They do it for money AND satisfaction!

Andrew J. Offutt is the finest, funniest, and downright steamiest author we

have ever encountered at a con.  From his Conan novels to Shadowspawn of

Thieves' World, Uncle Andy is the master of lurid Heroic Fantasy.  His

readings are an absolute must-hear.  The ladies will swoon over his sexy

soft drawl.

Vicki Mitchell is the hottest new best-selling author in the region, and a

true veteran of Star Trek warfare.  Meet this rising star, and learn how to

work with publishers and studios.

Phil Foglio, a recent transplant from the Midwest, is the illustrator of

the M.Y.T.H. Adventure series, and creator of Xenophile (the only explicit

American comic published in Sweden).  Let's give the author of Buck Godot a

warm (maybe even cozy) Northwest welcome.

Joy Day is one of the best costumers and most dedicated fans around.  She

has won countless masquerades nationwide, as well as a major award at a

WorldCon.

Jon Gustafson is the only professional appraiser of SF and Fantasy Art.

His knowledge is encyclopedic, which explains why he wrote the artist

biographies for The Doubleday Encyclopedia of Science Fiction.

John Cleve will make a special appearance to discuss sex and science

fiction.  The author of Spaceways (the red hot 19 volume series of Playboy

books) and the positively lustful five volume Crusader epic will light your

fire.


Are you a Pro?

Drop us a line, we would love to have you participate in CONFLAGRATION.

VENUS BUTTERFLY:

Not even the National Endowment for the Arts would fund this Art Show and

Auction.  Libidinous contributions will be solicited from the finest

artists in the nation.  (The sculptures ought to be particularly

interesting.)  Bring your wallets for this one, we are encouraging artists

to send originals.  Even better, we will be holding the Art Auction on

Saturday Night.  If you don't get your first choice at auction, we will

have special Sunday Sale prices to let you fulfill your flaming desire for

the real thing, original art.

Artists: Give it to us straight, we can take it.  Unchain your wildest

fantasies for this uncensored presentation.  Show us how well you are hung.

Call or write for a copy of our art show guidelines.

BAZAAR OF ALL EARTHLY DELIGHTS:

Where Anything may be for sale.  Our dealer room will have a limited

number of tables specially selected for your Every Need or Desire

(Batteries not included).

Dealers:  send a description (or better yet a dirty picture) of your

goodies.  6' x 2.5' tables will be $10 each, membership(s) purchased

separately.  We will give a preference to theme appropriate wares, and

will try to balance our selection of merchants.  If you are not

selected, your money will be promptly refunded.

WATER SPORTS:

Wet and wild.  Sailboats, paddle boats, inner tubes, water ski tows, crab

pots, fishing gear and more will be available on the Resort's 80 foot

(that's a big one) dock.  Salt water swimming in a large roped off area

and beachcombing are free.

TALK DIRTY TO ME:

. . . in the panel rooms.  Try the panel on kissing techniques, or how to

get a bust in the mouth.  After all, that's what you're really after at

these things, right? (Hey you, with the pocket protector, stop that!).

It's guaranteed to get pretty steamy.

THERE'S A VOYEUR IN THE FOYEUR:

If you like to watch, come to the video room.  Flesh Gordon is just the

beginning.  You won't see this stuff on the Disney Channel.

THE WET SPOT:

Don't avoid this one - a HUGE indoor pool in its own building.  There is

even a jacuzzi that sits 22 (or more) friendly people.  The management

requires that something be worn at all times in the pool, like, say, a

wristwatch or earrings.  There will be a special swim for overweight

people, we can be rather shy around you skinny types.  Bring your best for

the Outrageous Inflatable Pool Toy Competition (Now where did we put those

Love Ewes?).

SHOW AND TELL:

Create your wildest costume ever for our red hot Masquerade!  No lip

synching.  No pre-judging.  No censorship.  Let your conscience be your

guide (do whatever it says you shouldn't).  Bribing the judges is

encouraged.  Awards will be given for Hottest of Show, Hottest SF, Hottest

Fantasy, Most Provocative, Most Humorous, and Least (that's right, just

Least).

ORGY CENTRAL:

Gamers do it in groups.  The festivities will be indoors and outdoors (at

last gaming comes out of the closet).  Scandalous Scavenger Hunt (it's not

OK for the ribbed condom to have been used); Clothing Optional Volleyball

(just kidding); Explicit Role-Playing tournament; Jello Snarffuling (it

sounds just as disgusting as it sounds).

GROUP GROPE:

Sex, er, uh, six cottages have been specially set aside for room parties.

If you plan to have such a party, please request one of these cottages when

making your reservation.

CLIMAX ROOM:

Our hospitality cottage will be an ultimate delight of sinful pleasure.

Chips, dips, BhEER, WhINE, PB & J (not on the sheets, please), coffee,

popcorn, candy, cake, soda pop, and munch, munch more.  We'll even have

REAL food.  Join us at our complimentary BONFIRE AND WEENIE ROAST on Friday

Night!  (Talk about oral gratification.)  Oh yeah, and our own signature

drink, The Orgazm.  We hope you will find this the most hospitable offering

on the convention circuit, with longer hours, and more good stuff all the

time.  There will be no "kitty" begging for Hospitality Suite donations.

You've already paid for the food and drink by registering.  Take your

smoking outside, that's for after the climax.


SEE YOU THERE!!!!!!!!!

------------------------------

Monday, October 12, 2020

SFL Archives Vol 12b readthrough update 03

 100% completion, 92 bookmarks.

-1987 technology level: How booksellers were able to determine what books were in print/what new titles were coming out before the Internet existed, a phonebook sized catalog released every 6 months named BOOKS IN PRINT.

-1987 technology level: a dismissive SPACE HARRIER arcade game reference, also the first mention of arcade games since the constant PAC-MAN puns back in 1980/1981 .

-The first appearance of "Trelane is Q" regarding STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION in SFL Archives history. There will be more statements and reworkings of this initial post.

-SIGN OF CHAOS discussion kicks off. Motivations of Dara, Jurt, Luke, etc. Merlin being extremely dim aka Roger Zelazny's series planning/lack of series planning, etc.

-STAR TREK chat: TransWarp. Why doesn't the Enterprise wrap everything in Vernor Vinge stasis-field bubbles/bobbles? SFLer's that have only read Larry Niven KNOWN SPACE stories and understand only the Nivenian take on stasis technology start to finally interact with SFLers that have read Vernor Vinge stories/ understand the Vingian bobbles/stasis fields.

-Western business have been increasingly importing (translated) Japanese business books (Kaizen and popular fiction in an attempt to replicate the dominance Japan automotive companies have shown vs Western automotive companies. KAIZEN & THE BOOK OF FIVE RINGS are mentioned.

-The PRINCESS BRIDE movie comes out, the movie adaptation of George RR Martin's THE NIGHTFLYERS comes out, the MAX HEADROOM tv series gets cancelled after two seasons of poor ratings (ironic),  and the now vastly forgotten BEAUTY AND THE BEAST tv series starring Linda Hamilton & Ron Perlman airs in the fall of 1987.

-THE HIDDEN 1987 movie comes out and lots of SFLer's notice the similarities in it to Hal Clement's Needle series about 2 alien life-forms coming to Earth/living inside bodies/1 of alien lifeforms being evil, and the other alien lifeform being a intergalactic cop hunting them down.

(2020 note: THE HIDDEN 1987 movie aged pretty well.) 

-A few SFLer's are confused by the concept of SPACE ELEVATORS in David Brin's SUNDIVER novel. 

(2020 note: To be fair, space elevators are a rare geeky subject in 2020, especially so circa 1987.)

-The Winter 1987 version of now forgotten weird SF&F themed tv-shows: CAPTAIN POWER the lightgun focused tv series, the Andy Griffith SALVAGE 1 tv-show comes up again, HERCULOIDS, TEEN FORCE, OTHERWORLD, THUNDARR, THE PEOPLE, SHAZAM!, BATMAN AND THE SUPER SEVEN, CLIFFHANGERS, etc.

-One of the first mentions of M John Harrison in the SFL Archives. The VIRICONIUM series and THE CENTAURI DEVICE are discussed. First mention of Brian Herbert(son of Frank Herbert) and his GARBAGE CHRONICLES series

-SPACE EATER (David Langford), DOOMSDAY EFFECT (Thomas Wren), REINDEER MOON (Elisabeth Marshall Thomas),  Change War stories by Fritz Leiber, WORD-BRINGER (Edward Llewellyn), EC Tubb's DUMAREST SAGA, IT: THE TERROR BEYOND SPACE movie, TRAVELLERS REST (David J Mason), URTH OF THE NEW SUN/EMPIRES OF FOLIAGE AND FLOWER (Gene Wolfe).

-SFLer's debate future policing methods of the 2030's in fiction and what they think will happen IRL and the IRL predictions are so far off the target from a 2020 viewpoint it is painful to even mention.

-Upcoming Convention notices in the SFL Archives break out of the moratorium they have been under since 1983. This leads to the first standalone posting of the NECRONOMICON convention in the SFL Archives.

-MORIGU: THE DESECRATION illustrates the differences of opinions SFLer's have on books. One SFLer loves it and recommends it to others because the dwarven behavior in it is such a amusing loutish contrast to the uptight Elves also in it. Another SFLer found it dark and brooding and filled with way too much blood, gore and hyper-violence to enjoy MORIGU or bother reading any sequels to it.

-First mention of a Net interview occurring with crowd-sourced questions for the interviewee in the SFL Archives. Vonda McIntyre is the interviewee and the SFLer requesting unique questions lays out the now standard ground rules of "don't be an asshole/don't doxx their personal life/don't be sexist". 

-A slight uptick in why F&SF books get published over others leads to mentions of Judy-Lynn Del Rey's (rip) efforts to get some older iconic fantasy and science fiction stories republished, which lead to SFLer Chuq Von Rospach establishing themselves as the 1987 SFLer who knows everything book publisher/author/SFWA related.

-I find myself agreeing with Mark R. Leeper on certain books/movies (LIFEFORCE). Turns out that Evelyn & Mark Leeper are capable of delivering good critiques and reviews on things F&SF related, if they take the time to do so. Unfortunately, Evelyn & Mark Leeper prefer posting extremely rushed "First Impression" 60 second reviews of everything Fantasy & Science Fiction they come across. 

-Vampire stories/Dracula focused stories suddenly becomes a thing for 3 or 4 dedicated SFL Digests. Dracula backstory/future history after resurrecting, with Anne Rice's LESTAT series and her earlier under a pen-name vampire stories coming up.

-A SFLer wants to know the rules to the PYRAMIDS poker game variant in the BATTLESTAR GALACTICA 1978 tv-series. 

-SFLer Tim Iverson establishes themselves as the SFLer willing to throw down 24/7/366 over William Gibson/NEUROMANCER criticism.

-Raymond Feist RIFTWAR series discussion. Feist has come up a few times before but nothing serious that lasted beyond 2 posts until now. Raymond Feist writing his novels for audiences pre-conditioned to understand the references and monsters that Feist brings up, but never describe in detail. Feist's RIFTWAR series being based on a real RPG setting, with Feist working at a few RPG development companies while planning out/writing the RIFTWAR books.

-7th Doctor DOCTOR WHO series feedback trickles in as 1987 closes out. SFLer's who post about the 7th Doctor episodes really cannot stand Bonnie Langford, with the final Doctor Who related post in SFL Vol 12b being about a new female Companion called Ace replacing Bonnie Langford. 

-The 2nd thrugh 5th episodes of STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION come out in the fall/winter of 1987. SFLer's initial to the 2nd episode are still mostly complaints/nitpickings, with mild hopes Q was/is a one-off character. Proto-Incels start referring to Troi as BETAMAX. Mild complaints about Data and Wesley being over-powered in the 2nd episode. Hating on Tasha Yar tapers off,  SFler's note Troi not really having a function on the bridge. The infamous flower-hippies episode airs, and then the mildly racist Ferengi episode, then the creepy Traveller -that-has-grooming-plans-for-Wesley airs. By the time the 5th TNG episode airs gradual acceptance of most of the TNG cast except for Wesley Crusher has sent in. A vocal subset of the SFLer's who watch ST: TNG start  theory-crafting ways Wesley Crusher could be killed/aged up and sent to StarFleet Academy ASAP, etc.  

-A SFLer reposts an infamous circa 1987 open-letter to Gene Roddenberry about STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION and the canned response it got.

------------------------------

Date: Fri,  6 Nov 87  11:56:59 EST

From: NCC1701%UMASS.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu

Subject: The letter...


                                                Linda Peterson

Mr. Gene Roddenberry

"Star Trek"

ABC

Dear Sir:


  Although I am not a confirmed "Trekie", I looked forward to the

new Star Trek television series.  My overwhelming disappointment

caused me to write this letter.


  My concerns:


       Do you really believe in white male supremacy?  Surely the

       future will be more equitable - such as...


          An "Asian type" captain (we are outnumbered now by Asian

          peoples).  Also, baldness in the future?  I doubt it.


          Jonathan Frakes just does not have the face of a strong,

          aggressive "Number One" - perhaps a Latino, or a Jimmy

          Smits type.


          Do you really see "Miss Emotion" going into battle in a

          mini-skirt?!  The costumes in general lack imagination.


          Mr. Data looks like PeeWee Herman with his off-white skin

          and slicked back hair.  All the hairstyles seem to some

          from yuppie America.


          Do we really need another TV show with the young wiz-kid,

          who will obviously save the day.  Heck, why not add Lassie

          to the cast.


  Yes, the show did have some strong points.  The storyline fit the

mold.  The Klingon and "Blind" crew member are interesting.  Surely

the show will progress.  Maybe there will be an accident and some of

the crew will have to be replaced.  I won't change the channel yet.


  Thanks for listenning.

                                   Sincerely,

                                   /s/ Linda Peterson


10/5/87

------------------------------

Date: Fri,  6 Nov 87  11:57:40 EST

From: NCC1701%UMASS.BITNET@wiscvm.wisc.edu

Subject: The Reply...


Paramount Pictures Corporation

October 27, 1987


Ms. Linda Peterson


Dear Ms. Peterson,


Thank you for your recent letter to Gene Roddenberry.  Although his

schedule doesn't permit him to respond to you personally, he has

taken the time to read your comments.  He is glad you felt strongly

enough about STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION to let him know your

thoughts about it.


Many of the suggestions we received in letters such as yours have

merit and may influence future episodes.  We hope you will continue

to watch STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION to see these developements.


Sincerely,


/s/Susan Sackett

Susan Sackett

Assistant to Gene Roddenberry

SS:akd

------------------------------