William Huckabee, New Orleans LA

It's been many years since I've so much as seen a fanzine, but now here's Challenger #27. In many ways it marks a return to thrilling days of yesteryear, when I was an active SFer attending NOSFA meetings and trying my hand at zines for the club apa, George.

I note from Ken Mitcheroney's signature on his cover art that the piece was drawn in 1980-something. Despite its age, I imagine no one had any trouble recognizing Ripley and the Alien. Does anyone agree with me that the third movie in that series must be the most disappointing sequel of all time?

Not just disappointing, but offensive. Alien3 did its best to destroy the series and drown everything that went before in nihilism and bile. I consider it one of the worst movies ever made.

Is the coincidence fortunate or unfortunate that brings Joseph L. Green's "Janus" article to publication so close to Arthur C. Clarke's demise? Clarke's death was noted on CBS Sunday Morning, and they not only mentioned 2001: A Space Odyssey, but also showed clips from the network's moon landing coverage. Clarke, Walter Cronkite, and Wally Schirra were a great broadcast team. I was glad that they didn't show Clarke's quasi-debate on the value of space exploration with Kurt Vonnegut. Vonnegut compared people in favor of the space program to stamp collectors! I also recall that Robert A. Heinlein gave an interview on that program in which he suggested that future calendars would be dated from the landing. It's very sad the way things worked out. I doubt more than 1% of today's population could even tell you why July 20^th is a significant date.

Aside from being the date of the first moon landing, July 20th also the day von Stauffenberg tried to kill Hitler, the date of the fall of the bridge at San Luis Rey, and the birthdate of Diana Rigg, Sir Edmund Hilary … and your humble obedient editor! Obviously, 7/20 should be a national holiday!

I curse my gafia over the past several years. It caused me to miss Ruth Judkowitz when she visited New Orleans in the past. Might she soon return?

In our dreams.

Alan Moore looks like he needs to get both a shave and more sleep. Mike Resnick's [and Laura Turtledove's] listing of fantasy-oriented musicals is awe-inspiring.

Your account of Confederation, and the bid for the 1988 worldcon, is an important piece of fan history. You deserve kudos for printing the story of the who-won-the-worldcon hoax, despite your being the butt of the joke. [Fame is fame is fame.] You mention some of the fans who have passed on since 1986. Others have disappeared. I wish I knew where Charlie and Cheryl DuVal were now. Their PanOptiCon was one of the best media conventions I've ever attended, and Cheryl was a fine cartoonist. I have an original of one of her portraits of Dr. Who.

The call goes out to fandom. Where are the DuVals?

I really liked your note on the passing of the actor, George Grizzard. Apparently his Twilight Zone episode made a difference to you. Is that the one where he turns out to be a robot?

Grizzard brilliantly played a dual role in "In His Image", a malfunctioning android and his neurotic creator. Great show, quite moving, inspiring hope in my adolescent self that happiness might be possible in this world. Grizzard also starred in a very funny TZ called "The Chaser".