John’s latest book, Null-A Continuum, arrived on our doorstep. The book is a sequel to World of Null-A and Players of Null-A by A. E. Van Vogt — John’s favorite books when he was a child.
These books were bestsellers in the Forties and Fifties, back when “Fans were Slans” and fans lived in Slan Shacks. (Slan, which would make a great YA novel, was also written by Van Vogt.) Van Vogt is not as well remembered today as some of the writers he influenced, such as Asimov, but even as late as the Sixties, polls of SF fans still listed Van Vogt as the number one most popular SF writer.
John and I both picked the book up and examined it in amazement and awe because there had been so many times when we thought this book would never see print! Every step was fraught with difficulties. And yet…here it is — a solid reminder that miracles can happen!
John called Lydia Van Vogt, the widow of A. E. Van Vogt, and they rejoiced together.
Apropos Slan, since its a story few would appreciate, but you and John would.
I discovered much to my pleasure that one of my favorite H.S. teachers was a fan of science fiction. He revealed that, much to his humor, that a gravestone in a cemetery on the Island had a “science fiction novel” name:
Yep, you guessed it, the tombstone read “Slan”
Congratulations!!!
Grats! I cannot wait to read this book. ;) I tracked down copies of the first two books this year to be prepared, and loved them both.
Apropos Slan, since its a story few would appreciate, but you and John would.
I discovered much to my pleasure that one of my favorite H.S. teachers was a fan of science fiction. He revealed that, much to his humor, that a gravestone in a cemetery on the Island had a “science fiction novel” name:
Yep, you guessed it, the tombstone read “Slan”
Congratulations!!!
Grats! I cannot wait to read this book. ;) I tracked down copies of the first two books this year to be prepared, and loved them both.