Conference noted::sf

I thoroughly enjoyed _The_Many_Colored_Land_, the first book in the Saga of
Pliocene Exile.  But like several other series which come to mind, the
author dragged it on much too long.  There just isn't enough plot to fill
the pages of four large volumes.

My biggest complaint with _The_Many_Colored_Land_ is that I had a lot of
trouble keeping the many characters straight in my head.  I had to keep
returning to the short chapters near the beginning in which each character
is introduced to remember who "Elizabeth", "Richard", and the rest were.

On the plus side, May's prose is beautifully sculpted and very rich.  Before
I started the series, I remember hearing, perhaps in SF-LOVERS Digest, that
_The_Many_Colored_Land_ was wonderful material for reading aloud.  I
heartily agree.

Despite the flaws, whether hard SF, fantasy, or just good writing is what
you like, you'll find something for you in this book.  If you're drawn on to
reading the other books in the series, though, be prepared for a let-down.

					  -  o
					 - -/-->
					-  @~\_

					Roger

re:.0

(nit pick)

	"Dune Roller" was not a book, but a novelette published in the
December 1951 issue of ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION.

--- jerry

	Thanks for the correction - but have you read the series, and if so
what is your review?  Also, I agree with response .1 that the characters are
somewhat difficult to follow in the beginning, but if you stick with it their
development pays off in understanding underlying motives later on.  I don't
agree that May runs out of good ideas in the story.  I found each book and 
subplot (of which there are many), to be exciting and enjoyable reading.  I
could not put this series down.  That's my cut.
	I did not mention before that there is a prequel series to this saga
titled "The Milieu Trilogy" consisting of the books "Jack the Bodiless",
"Diamond Mask", and "Magnificat".  I haven't seen it in the bookstores yet, 
but I'll keep looking for it.  
			(nitpick accepted)         John E. Casella --

No, I haven't read the series yet. I haven't had much time for reading
lately, and to be honest, the Pliocene books are not high up on my list
of books to read. Not that they don't look good --- it's just that there
are a lot of books that I *want* to read first.

I'm not sure when the first book in the new series is due. I'll check
my LOCUS and SF CHRONICLEs.

--- jerry

    THERE IS ALSO ANOTHER PREQUEL TO THE SERIES CALLED INTERVENTION.
    THIS TELLS THE STORY OF HOW THE PEOPLE OF EARTH WERE ACCEPTED INTO
    THE GALACTIC MILLIEU(WRONG SPELLING). IT HAS NOW BEEN RELEASED IN
    PAPERBACK, AND I THOUGHT THAT IT(AND THE REST OF THE SERIES) WAS
    QUITE GOOD.
    
    (A DIFFERENT)ROGER                                                

Re .3 and .5

Actually, INTERVENTION is one of those bridging novels that is
not only a prequel, but a sequel as well.  The framing sequences
clearly take place after the events in the Pliocene Exile
tetralogy, while the historical sequences (the bulk of the 
material) occur well before the tetralogy.  The Milieu trilogy 
will cover the events after INTERVENTION, but before the 
Pliocene novels.

The hardcover of INTERVENTION was one novel, but it is being
split into two parts for paperback consumption.  There is a
logical splitting point; the hardcover is written in two sections.
To the best of my knowledge, only the first part is out in paperback
at the current time; the second part is due out two months after 
the first.

				Andrew

    I have read "The Many Colored Land" and "The Golden Torc" and I
    have enjoyed the Saga so far.  I hope the second half of the tetralogy
    doesn't run out of steam as Roger hinted.  At least at the end of
    "The Golden Torc" there were some interesting possibilities imaginable
    for the remaining sequels.
    
    Yes I had some difficulty initially remembering who's who in the
    eight members of Group Green, whose biographical sketches comprised
    the introductory chapters, and also difficulty in keeping track of
    the numerous other characters in the story.  But that's not a major
    flaw.  
    
    Nevertheless, I guess it's tough to develop all those characters
    fully.  Some are shallower than others.  Among those that made more
    of an impression, I find Felice Landry and Aiken Drum not quite the 
    kind of heroine and hero I like.  Elizabeth Orme, somewhat cold and 
    aloof but complex, is more to my liking.
    
    Something I'm waiting to find out how it will be resolved in the
    end, whether there will be an interesting treatment of the paradox
    (or lack thereof) due to the time travel.  Since this is SF/Fantasy,
    I think the author should be able to take some liberties with the
    origin of the human species and accepted evolutionary theory.
    
  --Simon
    

    "Aiken Drum"!?!?
    
    I spoze there's really nothing wrong with re-using names from scots
    children's songs, but it does feel weird to see.
    
    						=maggie
     

    Having read the boooks, (and loved every one of them) I have to
    believe that the reference is significant.  A majority of the series
    concerns itself with myth, legend, and history.
    
    I highly (as highly as possible) recommend the series to anyone
    with interests in any of the above, as well as s.f. or fantasy.
    
    Andy_who_has_just_bought_Surveliance_and_is_REALLY_looking_foward
    to_reading_it!!!!!

    I've made it through the entire saga.  Happily, I did not feel the
    let-down that Roger warned about in .1.  Nonetheless, maybe I was
    getting a bit worn out by the end of the fourth book.  For better
    enjoyment, perhaps I should recommend not trying to work through
    the whole saga without a break.  (Don't get me wrong.  I did work
    and see my family.)
    
    May writes very well.  She does test one's vocabulary, though.
    (After E. R. Eddison, she's the second author who made me feel almost
    illiterate.)
    
    I've also read The Intervention.  Although the paperback version
    comes in two books, The Surveillance and The Metaconcert, I recommend
    buying both books together for reading as one book.  I enjoyed
    this "sequel" (sort of) even more than the original saga.  The book
    does lead me to wonder whether May is herself originally a French-
    speaking Catholic New Englander.  I got this feeling first while
    reading The Adversary (the last book in the Saga of the Pliocene
    Exiles), but it was even more so reading The Intervention.
    
    I do look forward very much to the Milieu trilogy, which I expect
    to pick up where The Intervention left off.  But I guess I have
    to wait at least another year if not more, before the next book
    comes out.
    
  --Simon
    

	Having read Intervention (available in one volume of paperback here in
the UK), I feel that maybe Julian May will attempt to bring about a 'full
circle' approach to the whole story. Try this:


	1) At the end of the "Adversary", Marc and Elizabeth go to 'a distant
	   planet'
	2) Marc Remillard has the immortality Gene, (as does Rogatien, &c.)
	3) Therefore, Marc will live a very long time.
	4) At the end of 'Intervention', Rogatien calls the Family Ghost 'Marc'
	5) What if the Lylmiks are the descendants of Marc and Elisabeth?
	   After all, they have had 6 Million Years to evolve and work on a
	   world mind of their own.

			HRM

    
    
    Has anyone heard anymore about the Mileu Trilogy ??
    
    (Jack the Bodiless, Diamond Mask and Magnificat) 
    
    I read the Saga of the Exiles 3 yrs ago and am sill waiting patiently
     ....
    
    

>    Has anyone heard anymore about the Mileu Trilogy ??

	Yes. The prelude to the trilogy ("Intervention") is out. It's in one
	paperback volume here in the U.K., and I think it's two volumes
	paperback in the U.S.
	
	It's a very good book, explaining the first stirrings of metapsychic
	operancy here on Earth.
	
	For more information, there is a note on it elsewhere. Just can't think
	where...
				HRM

    Intervention is possibly *the* best SF novel I've ever laid hands
    on . Having read the Saga about three or four years ago , I was
    just about giving up hope of ever seeing anything else promised
    at that time
    
    Then , two weeks ago , I found Intervention in the local bookshop
    and whipped out the cash immediately and settled down to read it
    at home ten minutes later .
    
    The imagery and emotions put across by JM's writing are stunning
    and I am now on the second read through . This book is a very worthy
    successor (predecessor?) to the Saga , the writing has actually
    improved from the first series , which I thought was impossible
    and I find myself unable to put this book down once I pick it up.
    
    If anyone out there has been toying with the idea of buying
    Intervention , stop dithering and get it !!
    
    PETE (Pete Cook @ BST)

    re .11:  Yeah, I got the distinct impression that Julian May wanted us
    to think that.  But that would be too easy.  I wonder if she is staging
    another surprise when she's done with the Milieu Trilogy?
    
    --Simon
    

    I approached the Pliocene Exile series after Reading INTERVENTION
    before that I had seen the exile series in the bookshop but had
    not been interested. 
    
    Intervention changes my mind. I can't say that I like her style
    for the exile series as much as I do the intervention one but
    nevertheless the books are really good.
    
    To those who have read intervention - the hardback version states
    that the first book in the new series "Jack the Bodiless" was due
    this year. However, the latest news is that Julian May has not as
    yet started to write the book - HELLLLLLLP I wish she would hurry
    up.........................

    Seconded . Promises promises , and we're all left on the edge of
    our seats waiting for more scribblings .
    
    PETE

    What do we think of the "Goodnight, Marc" comment?
    
    Is it that: 
     
    1) the Lylmiks are Marc's decendents (perhaps Atoning Unifex
    is Marc himself, now bodiless)
    
    or
    
    2) Atonining Unifex assumed Marc's form late in the War to stop the 
    Metapsychic Rebellion?
              
    or
    
    3) Marc was always Atoning Unifex, "created" because the Rebellion
    was somehow necessary in the "probability lattices?"
    
    I know that all will probably be revealed, but would anyone care
    to speculate?
    
    Adam.
                  
    

    I think therefore I am bound to get it wrong....
    
    I think that Marc and Elizabeth are the ancestors of the Lylmiks
    who are in some way related to the Tanu and Firvulag - perhaps the
    amalgamation of the two as a result of the successful initiation
    by Marc and Elizabeth of the Duat people into operancy. 
    
    Remember how they managed to cure the black torced baby and raise 
    him to operancy.     
    
    Another definite reference to the fact that the Duat people are
    somehow linked with the lylmiks is the mention of twins sun in both
    their solar systems (can't remember where I read it though)
    
    That Marc is Atoning Unifex is perhaps slightly hard to believe
    - can he really survive six million years without a body? If this
    is true then is Jack truely dead or merely in a deep sleep?
    Where is Elizabeth? 
    
    At the end of intervention Rory Shouts at the Ghost claiming that
    he did not act to stop Marc even though he knew what was going to
    happen - we can therefore assume that the Metapsychic rebellion
    had an important part to play - If nothing else to prove the value
    of the Unified Mind of humans....
    
    One could go round and round in circles for days and still never
    get it right - after all it is as if we were trying to read Julian
    May's mind.
    
    BTW I read on the back of the pliocene companion that Julian May
    had originally thought of writing about the Milieu at the time of
    the Birth of her first book the Many coloured Land. So why is it
    that Three or four years later she still hasn't got anywhere with
    the series.........GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
    
    Tahi-awaiting-May-and-Edding-with-mounting-frustration

    re .19
    
    Good points you made there, but I disagree about the immortality
    bit. I understand that Jack was killed, rather than dying. No reason
    why Marc should pop off.
    Do we have any info on how long the Lylmiks have been around? I
    seem to remember a mention somewhere of how long they were alone.
    Six million years isn't such a long time in biological evolution,
    but it would give plenty of space for metapsychic change?	
    
    Adam.
    
    P.S. Both the Duat and the Lylmik had living ships.......
    

    If I can quote incorrectly here....
    
    There is a passage in intervention that relates to the fact that
    the Lylmick Race is considered so old that it is thought that they
    had recreated their solar system or come out of another universe
    etc., (I must re-read it and find out the exact statement). 
    
    This sort of contradicts that Duat is the Lylmick planet somewhat.
    However, this may be a ruse on the part of the Lylmick race. On
    the other hand Duat was rather old so the Lylmicks may have had
    to adapt their habitat to make it more livable...
    
    Regarding the six million years needed to produce the bodiless Lylmicks
    It took humans six millions years to reach that state with regard
    to Jack - while the majority of humans have developed latent to full operant
    powers. The people of Duat are already endowed with metaphysic powers
    (latent in the case of the Tanu) and six million years with the
    aid of Marc and Elizabeth should surely lead to Full operancy and
    bodilessness.
    
    Also to be taken into account here is the fate of the remainder
    of the Tanu and Firvulag. Do they integrate fully into human society
    - both those who migrate to older earth and those who stay behind
    in the pliocene. The interesting twist is that of whether man would
    have reached operancy if it had not been for Tanu ancestry and if
    not so, would the Lylmicks have have existed?
    
    Here is a theory regarding the need for the Metaphysic rebellion...
    For years the mind of Marc Remilliard has been fixed on an ideology
    of mental man on Earth. He has not looked to the stars for another
    codunate mind. If the metaphysic rebellion had not taken place than
    Marc would have never ended up in the Pliocene Earth - similarily
    if Marc had won the Rebellion than again he would not have escaped
    to Pliocene Earth...so the question is Do they Lymicks have some
    part to play both in forcing the Rebellion to take place and yet
    at the same time ensuring that it actually fails - do they deliberately
    sacrifice the lives of Diamond Mask and Jack or is this necessary
    to the mental state of Marc before his escape into exile and his
    subsequent search for another coadunate mind in the stars..
    
    Here's to the continued discussion on Intervention and the Lylmicks
    
    Cheerio
    	Tahi_in_need_of_reading_material

    Tahi, I think you've got it.
    
    Your ideas fit together so well that I would not be in the least
    suprised if you turned out to be almost completely accurate. 
    
    This leaves me with two explanations.
    
    1) "Tahi Massari" is an anagram of "Julian May".
       Nope, don't work.          
    
    2) You are in fact, a traveller from the future who has read the
       books. 
    
    I just hope Julian hurries up so we can find out!
    
    Adam-waiting-just-as-impatiently-as-you-but-without-such-insight.
    
    

    You may be interested to know that they are planning on re-releasing
    the Pliocene books and "Intervention" in Hardback in the next month
    or so. This is as a prelude to the release of the second book relating
    to Intervention : "Jack the Bodiless " Early in the spring
    
    I can't wait - Paperbacks will probably be out six months after

    I have just finished re-reading INTERVENTION and have a big favour
    to ask -
    
    If anybody out there has a HARDBACK copy of Intervention that they
    are willing to sell please mail me at 'Tahi Massari @Bio'
    
    Apart from that here is an interesting set of information I found
    during my second read.
    
    SPOILER**********************
    
 1. In the opening pages when Uncle Rogi passes by the University
    campus the students have been building snow sculptures and one
    of them is Kuhal sitting on a Chaliko - I wonder what part he
    and Cloud might play in the future ??? It would also seem that
    the Tanu were well accepted into post intervention Earth (Thanks
    to the Lylmicks perhaps?) 
    
 2. In the family trees at the back of Intervention these facts become
    very clear - Aiken Drum's father is Jamie McGregor (well the banked
    sperm was Jamie's anyway).
    
    Also Denis's son Paul the father of Marc and Jon will marry Laura
    Tremblay both of whom have the same Great Grandfather (i.e. Donatien
    Remaillard who is the father of Denis and Victor who in turn are
    the fathers of Paul and Laura respectively)
    
    Futher compicated a relationship is that of Illusio Diamond Mask
    and Jon both of whom share a Remillard Ancestor in the guise of
    Donatien again. This time he is the father of Annarita Lattimer
    who marries a MacDonald and leads to the birth of Dorothea Mary
    MacDonald. 
    
    There is a similar complex relationship between Cyndia Muldwoney
    and Marc who falls passionately in love with her (this is mentioned
    in Intervention)
    
    Obviously, much of this intermarrying was necessary so that the 
    powerful genes that lead to Jon, Marc and Dorothea could develop
    in such a short span of time.
    
    One of the more touching items I found in the Family trees is the
    fact that Kuhal and Cloud have a child that they name Paul MarcAnge
    - a fitting tribute to Marc, his brother Jon and father Paul.
                                                                 
 3. I have also reconsidered my earlier stand and can positively confirm
    that Atoning Unifex must be Marc. The name is not only quite
    appropriate but it is obvious from the speach of the Lylmicks that
    Atoning Unifex is hard to understand as if it were aware of of events
    before their occurrence and also not quite as dispassionate as the
    other lylmicks.
    
    Finally Uncle Rogi gives the secret away by saying that the book
    he is writing is dedicated to all Remillards both living and dead
    but most especially to the one that is both.
    
    
    
    
    All that should keep the folks busy for a while
    
    Tahi

    _Jack The Bodiless_ has just been released as a hardback.  I've got it,
    but haven't read it yet.  I'll let you know what it's like if anyones
    interested (after I finish the Heinlein collection!).  The subtitle is
    something like "Book One of the Galactic Mileau". 
    
    This is a big thick book.  _Over_ $20.  Looks like I'll need at least one
    weekend for this one :-). 
    
    Oh, by the way, _beautiful_ cover art!!!
    
    - Russ.               
    
    

Hi,

Could you please post the publication details for Jack - ie where released & 
by which publisher?

Thanks

'Chele

Don't know all the details but it is out in Nashua and is publish by Knopf.


I'm about 100 pages into it.  Boy, can May write, in my opinion.  Reading
her work is refreshing and exciting.

John PIekos

    >    _Jack The Bodiless_ has just been released 
    
    I was beginning to wonder if she'd ever come out with the next book.
    
    >Boy, can May write, in my opinion.  Reading
    >her work is refreshing and exciting.
    
    Amen to that.
    
    --Simon
    

    I also love to read her works.  She can get very intricate and still
    make you want to keep on reading! Seldom slow. 
    
    Here is the publishing info:
    
    Alfred A. Knopf Co.
    ISBN 0-679-40950-5
    
    After I bought it at the store I got my Science Fiction Book Club
    bulletin and it is one of the Selections of the Month.  If you are a
    member or have a friend who is it's a better deal at $10.95 rather than
    the publishers $20+ .
    
    Can't wait to start reading it!
    
    - Russ

    I took a peek at _Jack_the_Bodiless_.  The first sentence is:
    "It was a dark and stormy night."  (I think those were the words.)
    
    --Simon
    

If "Jack the Bodiless" is the 1st book of the Mileu
series waht about the the 3rd book in the Intervention
series? I thought the next book was to take up where
Metaconcert left off...

	Intervention was one book; in the UK it was published as such. In the
US it was published as two books - Intervention : Surveillance and Intervention:
Metaconcert (I think). Intervention is described as "A root tale to the
Galactic Milieu Trilogy, and a vinculum (sp?) between it and the Saga of the
Plicocene Exiles". ([Mis-?]quoted from the title page of Intervention).

	Intervention was just to "set the scene" for the Galactic Milieu Trilogy
(which should recount the events of the Metapsychic Rebellion, with any luck).
So in a way, Jack the Bodiless IS the next in the Intervention "series" in
that it should pick up where Intervention left off, more or less.

	Peter.

    I finished _Jack the Bodiless_ last week.  Good book!  May has kept up
    to her usual good writing standards.  It has a wonderful and somewhat
    unexpected ending! 
    
    The last page says the next volume will tell the story of Dorothea
    "Diamond Mask" (Jack's wife? I think) , her early years and such. 
    
    I guess the third story will be the rebellion. 
    
    Highly recommended.
    
    - Russ.
    

    Well, I just found in the used bookstore this week an "Advance Readers
    Copy" of Jack the Bodiless.  On the back it says "This is an
    uncorrected proof".  It's in the format of a full-sized trade
    paperback.
    
    Seems like I read somewhere that these advance copies can be worth some
    money, if you can find them, and if it's a popular book.  I got it 
    for $7.50. 
    
    Can anybody help me shed any light on the potential future value of
    something like this?  
    
    (It looks like it's never even been read). 
    
    Thanks, 
    
    -Russ
    
    

    Most proofs are worth at least $20.00. Of course it depends on the
    author, title, number printed, etc.
    
    I tend to collect the proof (or state of the proof as there are
    sometimes several) in cases where the proof is for the first edition
    where the first is a paperback.  Also just about any other proof by
    major authors when I can find a 'undervalued' proof.  Most recent find
    was a copy of Steel Beach by Varley for $10.  Most unusual in my
    collection is a bound galley of "Of Space, Time and the River" by
    Benford.  1 of 3 copies; Benford didn't even know the state existed
    until he autographed mine :)
    
    Herk 
    
    Herk

    Thanks.  I think I'll just hold on to this for a few years and see if
    it becomes valuable.  Maybe check around at cons periodically. 
    
    - Russ

It's my hunch that May's work will be very valuable some day, given the quality
of her writing.

John Piekos

    Based on a quick check of the current catalogs from several dealers
    shows the Saga of the Pliocene Exile selling for $25 dollars a book.
    $35 for autographed copies.
    
    Interesting that no one is listing a set of the "limited editions".
    A small group of each of the Houghton-Mifflin first editions were set
    aside and issued later as a boxed set, signed and with a limitation
    statement either in Many-Colored Land or on the box itself (I forget
    which and I have a copy :}).
    
    There was also a handout at DENVENTION that consisted of 1-3 chapters
    excerpted from Many-Colored land, stapled and issued in a zip loc bag.
    If I remember correctly these were passed out as people were entering
    the auditorium for the GOH speech.  I've seen this going for as much as
    $100 signed.
    
    H

>    Based on a quick check of the current catalogs from several dealers
>    shows the Saga of the Pliocene Exile selling for $25 dollars a book.
>    $35 for autographed copies.

Can you post the names and addresses of these dealers?

Thanks,

John Piekos

    I'll recommend one.  I get catalogs from several but I would only
    really recommend one.
    
    LW Currey, Inc
    Water Street (Box 187)
    ELizabethtown, New York 12932
    (518) 873-6477
    
    I have never been unpleasantly surprised with a purchase from Currey.
    The books I bought from him (1000+) have always been exactly as
    advertised.  Plus his catalogs are a good source of material for the
    collector.
            
    I am also a dealer myself, specializing in small press publications
    and op's (all hardcovers).
    

Hi,
	I have just re-read the Pliocene Saga for the nth time, and am currently
	well into Intervention, with Jack The Bodiless waiting to be read (again)

	It was very interesting reading the stuff about the rebels in the
	Saga...having already read JTB made Marc much more real - the first
	time through the Saga I was not really gripped by the chapters
	on the Rebels.

	As has been said before, it seems likely that the Lymlik are the
	descendants of the Tanu & Firvulag that Marc and Elizabeth would have
	raised to operancy on the far away home-galaxy of the exotics.  Marc
	is clearly Atoning Unifex - 'I cannot show you as I am, however I
	can show you as I *was*' - is how he tempts his reluctant Uncle into
	writing 'Intervention'.

	About the Saga - there seems to be something strange about Dougal (apart
	from the Narnia  fixation).  He sometimes reads Aikens mind, and his
	own mind cannot be read - is he perhaps an operant?  His reply
	as to why Aiken cannot read his mind is strange.

	Then there is Noddon's (sp?) son, and Mercy's child.  All that is still
	to be resolved when the end of the final book is reached - there is
	plenty of scope for the Saga to be continued, but perhaps it is better
	if it were not.

	Finally, the identity of Fury in JTB...My own theory is that 'it' is
	Felice/Cullaket, from the Saga. On the other hand the end of JTB implies
	that it is a person, so I don't know - what do you think.

	Damian.

PS - what happened to the 'flyer' that was left orbiting the earth with a dying
pirate and his dead lover in the Saga?

re: the flyer

I think that one could conjecture that the orbit would tend to decay over
several million years. (It was the Pliocene after all)

re: Atoning Unifex

I thought that at the end of "Intervention" it was pretty clear when
his uncle (Rudy?) said "Good night, Marc".


						/Brad

	I've been re-reading the Saga of the Exiles over the past couple
of weeks. I'd recently finished Jack the Bodiless, and wanted to go back
to refresh my memory on what happened in the Saga, especially w.r.t. Marc.

	I must say, I've found it a bit of a chore. This is the second time
I've tried to reread the series, and I'm not sure whthwr I'll succeed this
time, either. It seems very easy to put down.

	I've just finished The Golden Torc, so the next two books may get
better, but here are my thoughts at the moment :

	- Not that much happens in The Golden Torc. Especially in the
	middle of the book, it's just page after page of different groups
	of people involved in political intrigue for different purposes.
	I found this interesting for a while, as I was given a clear insight
	into the relationship between the Tanu and humans (and hybrids), and
	it was interesting to read of the different attitudes held by opposing
	factions in both human and Tanu circles. BUT after a while this just
	seemed like a method of padding the book to ~400 pages.

	- The different metafunctions seem to bleed into each other more; they
	are not as distinct as in later books. Also, the boundaries and limits
	of metafunctions seem to be very fluid - it is very difficult to imagine
	what a certain character could or couldn't do.

	- Furthermore, Felice and Aiken seem to get used to their metafunctions
	very quickly. I don't mean the strength of their metafunctions, but
	their control over them (which you would think could only come from
	practice). For example, to change into a dragon, fly and breathe fire
	would involve a fairly subtle balance of creativity (of both illusory
	and energy creation) and PK. And Aiken and Felice seem to be able to
	do this (and more complex things again) just by willing it to happen.

	All in all though, it is interesting to get aquainted with the Tanu
and Firvulag civilisations again. I hope May does continue this series, as
there is still a lot that can be explored here.

	Peter.

FYI:

There is a mailing list for the discussion of Julian May's work.

Send mail to DECWRL::"[email protected]"

with the body

subscribe milieu Your Name

	Cheers,
		/Damian

(usenet posting with the announcement follows)

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (Aaron 'Wigs' Wigley) writes:
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From: [email protected] (Aaron 'Wigs' Wigley)
Subject: Milieu: Julian May Mailing list
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A mailing list for a discussion of the works and characters of Julian May's
Saga of the Exiles and Galactic Milieu has been created, and is open for
subscription. It has been running for a few days now, and stable. 

To subscribe, send an email message to

	[email protected]

with the body:
	subscribe milieu Your Name

The list itself is 
	[email protected]

Other requests should be directed to
	[email protected]

Aaron Wigley
[email protected]

any new on new books?
It has been over 18 months since the release of "Jack..." - has anyone heard 
if "DiamondMask" has been completed or is due for release?

Chele

>          <<< Note 218.45 by GIDDAY::BURT "Plot? What plot? Where?" >>>
>                                   -< more? >-
>
>any new on new books?
>It has been over 18 months since the release of "Jack..." - has anyone heard 
>if "DiamondMask" has been completed or is due for release?
>
>Chele

This came over the internet Julian May distribution list recently - seems
like it will be published in May 1994:

READY:
display item 1
 
93-37802                                 ITEM 1 OF 158 IN SET 1      (LCCC)
 
May, Julian.
  Diamond mask : a novel / by Julian May.  1st ed.  New York : Knopf, 1994.
p. cm.
 
LC CALL NUMBER: PS3563.A942 D53 1994 *CIP - NOT YET IN LC*
 
PROJECTED PUBLICATION DATE: 9405
 
SERIES TITLES (Indexed under SERI option):
  Galactic milieu trilogy ; v. 2
  Galactic milieu trilogy ;
SERIES (Indexed under AUTH option):
  May, Julian. Galactic milieu trilogy ; v. 2.
 
DEWEY DEC:  813/.54 dc20
 
ISBN:  0679433104 : $22.00
LCCN:  93-37802
READY FOR NEW COMMAND:
quit

Is Jack, the Bodiless out in paperback (yet)?  Any idea where I can pick it
up (in that form)?

-Joe

The paperback version of Jack was released in Australia about 6-12 months ago, 
so I daresay it has been in that format elsewhere for a while (we always seem 
to get books later than the rest of the world...)

Chele

    Yet too see it in the UK.
    

    
    Her next book in the series, "Diamond Mask", is scheduled to be on the 
    shelves March 1st, according to Waldenbooks. Hardback. 
    
    - Russ 

	I checked at Walden books yesterday.  They checked the computer listings and the response was we expect it
any minute now... :-)

Tracey 

  Diamond Mask is listed as a selection in the SF book club me friend belongs
to.  I would think it would be in stores also.

kbear

It's been out in the stores for some time.  I just haven't had the cash to 
pick up the hardbound version.  I'm waiting for the library to step in here.
Or wait till it goes to soft cover.

PeterT

    I noticed the 3rd volumue of the Galactic Milieu (sp?) in Barnes and
    Noble yesterday.
    
    Magnifcat
    
    It opens with Rogi in his Hawaiian retreat, finishing up the 
    end of "Diamond Mask"  or at least it appeared that way in a 
    brief glance.
    
    PeterT

Hurray!

(now it just needs to hit the shores of Oz in paperback format 
 - hmmm, maybe 12 months 
 - aaargh)


\C