Another editorial. Another end of the year. Where is all the time going and why can’t anyone put it back? There’s no reset button in our reality and things can progress in either direction, towards individual prosperity or rack and ruin. Never cared for the rack myself. Don’t like bashing my head going through doorways. Gives a terrible headache. Should another year passing mean that we’re all more than a year older chronologically or just the way we see things?

I wonder how many of you people out there think times running away from you or things might be changing much too quickly? It’s isn’t even the passing of years that makes us feel older but how are attitude changing at a different rate to the times. Isn’t so much that the world might not be making as much sense as it used to, just the changes that are happening so fast as, well, the changes in computer technology every 18 months or so and we all cope with that, usually replacing the bits that need replacing. We’re getting good at doing that with our own bodies but haven’t got quite that good with the mind yet.

Remember how, when we were young, we used to look at adults and wondered whatever they saw in their music and other social activities? These days, we find youngsters - not all so far fortunately, looking the same way at our tastes. Mind you, how much current music is going to be used for advert music will demonstrate how little will be memorable...unless it's a re-make? In a couple more generations, they’ll probably see Elvis and Hendrix as footnotes in ancient history and punk as the downfall of popular music cos it provided a means for producers to have too much control over what is put on the market and they couldn’t put the clock back. That is providing they care at all. There seems to be a lack of interest in immediate history in the upcoming generations let alone anything beyond the last century. Does a lot to put things into perspective, doesn’t it? Living for the now is all well and good but we do tend to learn things from history.

Not so in the realms of SF where most realities make the assumption that sooner or later we’ll be out there in space, worrying about a new set of problems or maybe an old set of problems with a different background. Written SF might take this a tad more seriously than visual SF via films and TV where it could be accused of sexing up the image than making significant progress in, with some exceptions, developing SF themes. Then again, it could be considered different aspects of the same medium.

With visuals you want some action rather than a lot of talking heads. With the written word, it needs a lot more skill to depict action at a pace without a score card. Either side of SF can borrow from the other’s strengths but neither can be a true symbiote of them both...well, unless it’s an ‘art’ film but they only get seen by a minority anyway through being so slow and looking at the setting.

Therefore it makes sense to ensure that there are strong visuals to catch the eye with SF films and TV series. The action heroes and heroines these days wear skin-tight togs or maybe black leather or PVC and we’re hitting the fantasy element that supposedly appeals to the so-called ‘adolescent SF fan’ who supposed gets their kicks that way. At least, that was what ‘they’ used to tell us when I was young as well but more with the heroic wishfulfilment mode. They’ve moved on to what the characters wear these days. Then again, that being the case, this generation should also be classed as adolescents with a fetish cos until ‘Terminator’, black leather wasn’t SF vogue either. Since then, this kind of look has spread across the spectrum. Presumably cos it looks mean and menacing and, if the example of a school visit around a leather shoe factory is anything to go by, probably smells a tad unpleasant - at least to me - as well. Mind you, if you like the smell then you’re part of their target audience. I just watch the programmes, I don’t have to smell them.

Of course, it can be argued that such costumes are practical or that it ensures maximum exposure(!!!) in the media mags. Look at how many actresses grace the front covers in such attire. Is this sexing up SF or merely a means to maximise cover space? If it brings more viewers to see the SF film or TV series and hook them into the idea that there is actually a decent story behind the get-up to hang out for the rest of the season, why should we complain? Still, it does raise that odd question about how much of this is SF and adolescent wishfulfilment fantasy and are they good companions and is it done to attract the SF fan or the passing trade? Would we accept 2001’s Monolith if someone gave it a leather jacket to wear cos it looked cool? Things have to be there because they fit the situation or our willingness to accept that this is the norm for the reality we’re watching. Even so, this change in SF media's role to catch such viewers could easily be regarded as sexing up SF.

Assuming the production crew also knows this, one has to wonder at who’s pushing the buttons in the hopes of higher viewing figures? Are they targeting basic urges more than the attraction we have to the fantastic? Or maybe the ones with the real fetish are the producers, costume designers, the actors who go for it or whoever? Notice how I’m diversifying blame? Don’t want a lawsuit or any other costume sent to me. Maybe it is fan wishfulfilment. Dressing in outlandish clothing at, say, a particular fetish ball would be considered wrong by some wearers elsewhere. At an SF convention, it would be seen as the norm, too. I did wonder the other week with men dressed as women for ‘Children In Need’ in my town in November that it’s the perfect opportunity for transvestites who don’t really look like women to have their own wishfulfilment without anyone being the wiser. Nothing against any of you folk, just making observation that perhaps our media is just reflecting an outlet for some of our culture.

Now, I’m not saying that this is the be all and end all of audience manipulation but there’s no denying the number of pretty actresses and actors in any series will automatically be eye-candy and audience pullers for either sex for any series. That’s happened early on with beefcake Buster Crabb becoming Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers. A beefcake star can appeal to both sexes. With men, it's someone to emulate and with women, someone to sigh and fancy. No one was really concerned too much about what they wore if it was appropriate to the setting and it made, in the case of men, a change from all those suits in that time period.

The cheesecake effect probably didn’t really hit home until much later, probably with Ann Francis in ‘Forbidden Planet’, Raquel Welch in ‘Fantastic Voyage’ and probably Jane Fonda in ‘Barbarella’ - pioneers all. It gave men something to fancy and women the desire to see better role models in the media. By the way, I point these ladies out more than early TV SF actresses cos those were these mostly as secondary roles and were really purely eye candy. These days, the cheesecake is more acceptable as being in action roles even if it reduces the number of male role figures. Viva women’s lib. Then again, I suppose there is some appeal for both sexes in seeing a woman trash men opponents. Who wouldn’t find a woman who can look after herself appealing? Another adolescent fantasy no doubt being exploited as ‘they’ would say. SF and fantasy films and TV series has always been seen as expressing some of our more outlandish outlooks...some of the time.

Whether this is being seen as a level of equality or up the ratings is debatable. With SF, we tend to have a bit more variety and have some pretty nifty looking aliens as well. ‘Pretty’ sells no matter the latex as well as interesting and intelligent but is it sexing up to meet the market or just matching the changes in attitude in the world? More importantly, what will be the next step in SF fashion statement? More flesh showing cos it sells to the increasingly aware adolescent outlook on life? Keep that thought in mind should any production company be considering filming Larry Niven’s ‘Ringworld’! Allegory will only go so far before censors rush in. Acceptability and the level of censorship changes with each generation as something becomes more acceptable to the public eye.

All right, in fiction there is more of a dependence on description that the cover artist might use to put a pretty character on the cover but I doubt if it could be exploited in a manner that could be used to ‘sex’ up the cover unless the character is in the altogether. Outside of John Norman’s ‘Gor’ books or Edgar Rice Burroughs’ Venus and Mars SF/fantasy book series, no publisher has taken the naked cover route, as far as I can see, in years. Probably figuring that notoriety over wordage would only make a book a 5 minute wonder or too notorious, not to mention what you can get away with in one country would be taboo in another. You might take such books home to read but I doubt if you’d read them in public with the cover showing. Tends to give the wrong signals to the people about your tastes. It’s bad enough, even today, that you like Science Fiction after all and seen as a hopeless case. The fact that the number of ‘hopeless cases’ is rising hasn’t occurred to them. The sexing up of book covers is therefore somewhat safe for the present even if there might be more liberty on the written page but who can spot that without looking over your shoulder..

The effect on the sexing up of the SF visual medium is a different matter. How far can it go before it is questionable? Granted certain age groups are targeted these days even if it tends to fail. Buffy, Roswell and Smallville were aimed at the late-teens and keeping them into young adults as the characters aged. At least these series acknowledges that people grow and age. It also brought in other age ranges who enjoy the genre in all its forms so it didn’t matter where the setting was. In its own way, it makes a lot of sense but there is a limit to the kinds of dangers one can present around the American high school scenario without a need to change the target audience. Presumably, that means moving back to more adult orientated fare and that also means imagery that is borderline fetish. Does SF really need or could survive unnecessary flak from the ‘they’ brigade again?

It could be argued that SF has enough supporters and diversification to survive such accusations in today’s world as so much is acceptable any more. The real problem is whether SF will be used to test questionable taste purely because it might still be seen as a backwater and hey, you people can survive on repeats for a few years if visual SF is disowned, right? Always remember, you vote for what you want with viewing figures, so make ‘em count.

Anyway, depending on what part of the month you read this editorial, this is the last editorial of 2004 and nearly 5 years from the next celebratory SF date, according to Saint Clarke, when we make contact in 2010. Well, that is if you want to watch the terra or stellar-forming of Jupiter into a secondary sun which would hardly be classed as a first contact situation anyway. Shame we aren’t making as much progress as we should to getting out into space. Any alien species looking at us and all they see is a small orbiting space station and a few scurrilous probes checking the planets is hardly likely to think we’re worthy to share their knowledge with let alone help us out to go out amongst the stars. Probably have a few close encounters to collect specimens, watch a bit of our TV and be on their way. We’re far from ready to go anywhere yet, folks, let alone settle our differences.

Here’s hoping terrorists develop consciences.

Be happy. Be safe. Have a happy new year. Enjoy the rest of the website.

Thank you and good night

Geoff Willmetts

editor: SFCrowsnest.co.uk

(Less Serious) Thought For The Month # 1: With the likelihood of merchandise being small with the third Star Wars film, ‘The Revenge Of The Sith’, do you think there will be any chance for the Darth Vader barbecue snacks next year??

Observation For The New Year # 1: As I make my way through the Star Wars Trilogy set, I can’t help wondering why the Empire only employed human officers, especially considering how many alien races that were around. If nothing else, it does reflect that humans are xenophobic even in a galaxy far, far away.

Observation For The New Year # 2: Do you realise that there was no leading American Captain on any of the USS Enterprises or leading Starfleet vessels after Christopher Pike (actor Jeffrey Hunter) and he didn’t last beyond the first pilot of ‘Star Trek’ until the last decade. Despite claims from coming from Iowa, Kirk aka Bill Shatner was Canadian. Picard aka Pat Stewart played French even if he was a Brit. Before anyone mentions Sisko aka Avery Brooks, he never captained an Enterprise and didn’t get his commission until long after the first American Captain in the form of Katie Janeaway aka with USS Voyager. So, technically, Archer aka Scott Bakula is really the first long-term American actor captaining an Enterprise.

PS If you’ve survived this far in the editorial, let me reiterate something from the website newsletter and the above editorial. As you can see from the main page, we have one of the biggest SF/fantasy/horror monthly reviews columns on the Net. Our success has increased the number of books that comes in and our policy is to read everything before giving a review. You want the bottom line about what you’re going to choose to read. We roadtest books so you have some idea of what you’re letting yourself in for. That means actually reading the product and telling others what you think. For that, we’re always on the outlook for more reviewers.

Apart from the ability to put words into sentences, you also need to know how to précis, either know or do a little research on associated subjects and can express opinions constructively expressing good and bad points about the books you read. You’ll even get a little editorial help in how to write good copy. I did say you have to love books and willing to read beyond your favourite authors, didn’t I?

If you like reading books in the genre, think and show you can write a decent review and, most importantly, live in the British Isles (sorry, expense, time and distance travelled prohibits elsewhere), contact me below for my ‘Reviews Flyer’ - put this in the subject ebox and we’ll see if you’ve got what it takes. We can’t pay you but a review for the price of a book has to be a good incentive.

We have one of the most popular SF review columns on the Net. Do you think you’re up to writing a review?? If you think you can, then you’re really going to think you’ve landed your hands in the biscuit tin.

PPS: For those keeping track, I’m still about 20 months (late January 2003) behind.

With going through the ebook samples, I have removed some who’ve gotten published elsewhere. Thank you for your patience but let me know if you’ve sold elsewhere so I can reduce my pile or if you’ve changed address, especially e-mail address. I can’t give you my comments unless either is up to date. Currently, doing spot-checks to see if you’re still there when I reach your sample in the pile is making it easier on my time and catching up on the slush pile.

This isn’t much of a repeat, just to show you’re not forgotten. Those sending in ebook samples, be prepared for a long wait and read the Guidelines elsewhere on this website. They are there to help you do some of the right things and reduce the number of times I’m repeating myself over silly grammatical errors and spelling mistakes that you shouldn’t be making. It makes editing a lot easier if any editor has less work pointing out poor English which should have been sorted out in the first place and more focused on other areas of your work.

There’s an old editorial adage, if you can’t aim for perfection why should an editor nurse-maid you to that state? If you’re a writer, then you should understand the words and grammar of the job you’re supposed to be writing or are you considering it as mundane and boring as any other job to get right? Fall in love with making every sentence the best you’re ever written, read up and understand the rules of grammar. Be prepared to put a story away for a few weeks and go back to it for a self-edit. A lot of the time, errors will just stare you in the face when you didn’t see them the first time round. Once you know where your weaknesses are, they can be sorted and allow you to move a little higher up the ladder towards making your material look its best.

Please don't confuse this with my short story slush pile which is kinda low at the moment. We’re always willing to give short story writers a chance to be seen if they can withstand my scrutiny even if we can’t pay for their efforts. Don’t forget also, we’ve got a teaching ground of one page stories, so check out the rules elsewhere on the website.

SFcrowsnest e-mail: gfwillmetts@REMOVE.FOR.SPAMhotmail.com
terrestrial address:
74 Gloucester Road,
BRIDGWATER, Somerset TA6 6EA, UK.
SAEs (International Rates: include at least 2 IRCs or enough to cover return of manuscripts if sending in material) will always get replies.

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