Book Review: The Texas-Israeli War: 1999

Book Review: 'The Texas-Israeli War: 1999' by Jake Saunders and Howard Waldrop

3 / 5 Stars

‘The Texas-Israeli War: 1999’ (209 pp) was published by Del Rey in 1974; the cover illustration is by Dean Ellis. 

Portions of the book appeared previously as the short story ‘A Voice and Bitter Weeping’ in Galaxy magazine in its July – August 1973. It also is compiled in the 2003 hardcover, small-press anthology of Waldrop's short fiction, 'Custer's Last Jump and Other Collaborations'.

In the early 70s Howard Waldrop and Jake 'Buddy' Saunders were among a group of sci-fi writers known for their Texas origins, so the insights into the state and its culture that inform 'The Texas-Israeli War' certainly are legitimate. While neither writer has been prolific, Waldrop went on to write the well-received novel ‘Them Bones’ (1984). 

The 1999 of 'The Texas-Israeli War' takes place five years after the outbreak of World War Three, and the USA is not in the best of shape. Nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons have whittled the population down to a fraction of its former size, depleted crops and livestock, and left many urban areas abandoned ghost towns. Conflict continues to smolder with  Chinese forces in Alaska and Canada. 

To make matters worse, Texas has decided to secede from the Union, taking its valuable oil refineries with it. To shield its act of rebellion, the state holds the President captive in Fort Deaf Smith outside of Crystal City.

The federal government, barely able to hold the other states in line, cannot allow Texas to break away. A desperate effort is launched to retrieve the President and crush the rebellion. To spearhead the effort to retake Texas, the government hires a team of Israeli tankers led by Colonel Sol Ingelstein. 

One of the few nations to emerge from WW3 intact, Israeli is now a world power, and its laser-armed tanks are among the most lethal weapons in the field. Its growing population has led many of its citizens to emigrate to other countries, where, in exchange for land and cash, they will fight for the highest bidder.

For all his armored superiority, the mission confronting Sol Ingelstein and his mercenaries isn’t an easy one. First they have to clear the Texas forces from the Dallas – Ft Worth area. Then they have to travel overland down to Crystal City and Ft. Smith without being detected by the state militia. And once they arrive at the Fort, they must free the President and get him to safety before the enemy can mount a counterattack. 

There’s only one chance to get it right…...or the USA ceases to exist...............

‘Texas-Israeli War’ is a straightforward SF adventure novel with an offbeat setting. While nowadays presenting the Israeli military in a favorable light is very politically incorrect, back in 1974 one could do it without incurring too much opprobrium. 

The Israelis are prone to uttering Psalms in Hebrew when under duress, or in more celebratory moods, a religious attitude which distinguishes them from the more cynical tank-driving combatants usually peopling this genre of sci-fi (e.g., David Drake's 'Hammer's Slammers' franchise, or Keith Laumer's 'Bolo' franchise). 

Readers interested in military SF will want to give 'The Texas-Israeli War: 1999' a try, but be warned: being long out of print, copies of the book in very good condition are acquiring ever-higher asking prices (i.e., $30 on up).

Killraven: 'Amazing Adventures' No. 30

(May 1975)

The May 1975 issue of ‘Amazing Adventures’ No. 30 features one of the more iconic representations of Killraven and the Marvel ‘War of the Worlds’ storyline. 

The cover of the British edition was  used by author David Kyle in his section on H. G. Wells’ novel in 'A Pictorial History of Science Fiction' (1977, Hamlyn, London).

It’s also featured on the back cover of the 'Marvel Essentials' black & white collection of the Killraven saga.

 

Unfortunately, however striking the cover, the contents of this issue leave a lot to be desired. By Spring 1975 Marvel’s publication schedule was so over-ambitious that it wasn’t unusual for Stan Lee to recycle previously published material in order to fill the necessary page count and meet  deadlines. For Amazing Adventures No. 30, pages from issue No. 23 (‘The Legend Assassins’) and issue No. 24 (‘For He’s A Jolly Dead Rebel’) are inserted under the ruse of a ‘flashback’ storyline featuring the High Overlord.

[In fairness to Lee, he wasn’t alone in shamelessly recycling comics during the 70s. Over at Warren publishing, James Warren was regularly reprinting previous strips into new issues of Erie and Creepy. Maybe, like Warren, Lee was reluctant to expand his payroll when he could wrest sheckels from the unwary buyer for the old stuff in new packaging…..]

The last page of the book tells us that, far from dying in the assault that killed their mother when they were boys, Killraven’s brother Deathraven is alive and well… and awaiting our hero at Yellowstone National Park. It’s the only really rewarding tidbit present in one of the more forgettable issues of the Killraven saga........

Gallery of 70s SF paperbacks 

from David Kyle's 'A Pictorial History of Science Fiction', Hamlyn, London,1977

Book Review: Through Darkest America

Book Review: 'Through Darkest America' by Neal Barrett, Jr.

 5 / 5 Stars

This paperback edition of Barrett’s novel 'Through Darkest America’ (1986) was published in 1988 (256 pp.) by Worldwide Library as part of its ‘Isaac Asimov Presents’ imprint. The cover art is by Vincent DiFate. The sequel is ‘Dawn’s Uncertain Light’ (1989).

The novel takes place in the US several centuries after World War Three has converted society to an agrarian level equivalent to that of the mid- 19th century.

Howie Ryder is a young boy growing up on a prosperous farm in the southeastern region of the country; he shares a home with his little sister Carolee, his mother Ev, and his father Milo. For Howie and his family life is good, despite the burdens of the weather and an economy beset by the existence of a war in the West, between the government and a force of rebels led by a man named Lathan. To fund the war, the government is increasing taxes on its farmers, something Howie’s father accepts only grudgingly.

The book’s major contrivance is that beeves have been replaced as a food animal by a race of simpleton humans, who are referred to as ‘livestock’. Cannibalism is seen as something perfectly ordinary and commonplace, as most of the continent’s animal population was eliminated by nuclear war. The shock value – if there is any – to this feature of the narrative wore off for me rather quickly, and I felt the book would not have suffered if Barrett had simply retained beeves as his livestock of choice.

In any event, Howie’s pastoral life comes to an abrupt halt when the government decides to rely on harsh measures to exact tribute from its citizens. Howie finds himself the subject of a manhunt, and flees west to seek safety among the wastelands. But he soon finds that the West is no safer a place than any other part of the country, and sometimes a young man must do morally objectionable acts if he is to survive. Through various adventures Howie lands in the middle of the conflict between the rebels and the government, and his life will be in danger no matter which side he chooses.….

I found ‘Darkest America’ to be reminiscent in some ways of Leigh Brackett’s classic SF novel ‘The Long Tomorrow’ (1955) which also deals with a boy’s abrupt transition into adulthood when circumstances converge to force him to survive on his own in a hostile world where violence lurks just under the surface of society. Like Len Colter, Howie must learn the hard way as to how to negotiate a post-apocalyptic civilization, where those best able to scrounge for the artifacts of the dead can achieve the greatest power.

‘Darkest’ is of course much more violent, even gruesome, in its depiction of lawlessness and cruelty and is definitely not a novel for Young Adults. The novel is also much more cynical and downbeat than other examples of 80's post-apocalyptic fiction, such as Brin's 'The Postman' (1985), Graham's 'Down to a Sunless Sea' (1986), or Strieber and Kunetka's 'Warday' (1984).

The narrative consistently moves at a quick pace, sending Howie into one dire situation after another, culminating in a final 40 pages that are truly suspenseful and worthy of the term ‘page turner’.

Fans of post-apocalyptic fiction with a unique Western flavor to it- think of a depraved Louis L'Amour novel- will want to have this book on their bookshelves.

'Heat Wave' by Guy Colwell

oil on canvas 1976; reproduced here from the May 1980 issue of Heavy Metal magazine; appeared as the cover for the comic Inner City Romance No. 4, 1977 (Last Gasp Eco-Funnies). Guy Colwell website: www.atelier9.com/

'The Bus' by Paul Kirchner

Book Review: The Trial of Billy Jack

Book Review: 'The Trial of Billy Jack', by Howard Liebling

3 / 5 Stars

It’s 1974 and the hippie movement of the 60s has fast dwindled to nostalgia. The remnants of the counterculture retreat to communes and group living, while everyone else sells out to the hedonism and self-absorption of the 70s (perhaps hosting a ‘key party’ like the one depicted in the movie ‘The Ice Storm’).

For the half-breed Billy Jack, his girlfriend Jean, and the groovy kids of the Freedom School in the rural southwest, things aren’t going well in their struggle against the Establishment. Billy is tried for the murder of a redneck townie (which took place in the previous movie ‘Billy Jack’, 1971) and sentenced to four years in prison.

In his absence Jean and the Freedom kids embark on a campaign to record and document acts of corruption by the town and state governments, whose elected officials are intent on closing down the school and driving all those troublesome hippies out of the state.

Jean and the kids also must confront acts of bigotry and malfeasance waged against the vulnerable Indians of the surrounding territory by the White Man. When Billy Jack is released on parole, it’s time for rejoicing, as the school’s mentor and hero is back on the scene with new words of wisdom, and assurance, gained from a Vision Quest in the surrounding desert.

However, the Men in Power aren’t going to let Billy’s return deter them from their plans. It’s only a matter of time before the rednecks and Billy have a series of confrontations…and however much Billy wants to renounce violence, he’s going to have to defend the School and its pupils if they are to have a future…

‘The Trial of Billy Jack’ is a novelization of the film’s script (written by its star and director, the actor Tom Laughlin, who first portrayed Billy in 1967’s ‘The Born Losers’). The book contains an insert of black and white stills from the film.

‘Trial’ was a big hit back when it was released. Laughlin’s outfit of a black, wide-brimmed hat with a Navajo band around the crown, and a cropped-length denim jacket, was the perfect uniform for a counterculture hero who took his shoes off (?!) before launching karate kicks at nonplussed rednecks.

The Freedom School kids of either gender all have shoulder-length hair parted in the middle, and washed daily with Herbal Shampoo. They sport bell-bottomed polyester trousers or jeans, and pursue 'mellow' pastimes such playing acoustic guitar and singing treacly folk tunes.

While the film’s plot may have wandered, it never strayed far from its theme of confrontation between the pure people – exemplified by Billy and his followers - and the loathsome Establishment bigots.

But I suspect contemporary audiences are going to find the film unimpressive. Too much camera time is devoted to the antics and speeches of the school kids, which will seem dated and downright corny to modern viewers. The action sequences are few and far between, and while the movie’s climactic battle is memorable and effective, the viewer is forced to sit through a lot of tedium before things start to come together script-wise.

This novelization is a good way to experience the Billy Jack scene without having to sit through the entire film in all its flawed glory.

'Heavy Metal' magazine: July 1980

The July 1980 issue of ‘Heavy Metal’ features a front cover illustration by Carol Donner titled ‘Invaders From Mars: Part II’ and a back cover by Tito Salomi, titled ‘And the Children Play’.

This issue contains some major advertising (at least by the historical standards of the magazine); Kawasaki bought an inside front cover ad for their KE100 dirt bike, and the opening page of the magazine has a full-page ad from Bic cigarette lighters. ‘Starlog’ magazine purchased the inside back cover ad space. Things were looking promising for the sales and marketing staff of Heavy Metal…

The contents of this issue include a new story by Bilal titled ‘Progress’,  the first part of a mediocre strip by Moebius called ‘Shore Leave’, another installment of ‘The Alchemist Supreme’ by Ribera and Godard, and ‘Kraoo’ by Sokal. 

Among the more visually interesting short pieces was ‘A Message from the Shadows’ by Druillet. Its striking orange-and-red color scheme loses some intensity when scanned thirty years after being printed, or at least when using a bright-setting LCD monitor to view things, but (hopefully) my tinkering with the ArcSoft Photo Studio app should correct things a bit…..

Book Review: Them Bones

Book Review: 'Them Bones' by Howard Waldrop

4 / 5 Stars

‘Them Bones’ was among the first of the ‘new’ iteration of Ace Science Fiction Specials that saw print in 1984 (others being ‘Neuromancer’ by Gibson, ‘The Wild Shore’ by Robinson, ‘Green Eyes’ by Shepard, and ‘Palimpsests’ by Scholz and Harcourt). The cover art for ‘Them Bones’ (225 pp.) is by Marvin Mattleson.

The novel's overarching plot deals with time travel; specifically, the US in 2003 seeks to change the course of history and avoid the wars and destruction that have turned the nation into a radiation-soaked wasteland. By sending a force of scientists and soldiers back into early 20th century America, the hope is to alter the timeline so as to prevent the advent of armageddon.

Subsumed within this plot are three main storylines. One concerns the adventures of Madison Yazoo Leake, a time traveler who is sent into the past….but too far into the past, as it turns out. Leake winds up in what at first glance seems to be Louisiana, at the time before the Europeans colonized North America. But the mound-building Indian tribe that adopts him is clearly not lodged in the same timeline of Leake’s future, for there are Arabs sailing the Mississippi and woolly mammoths roaming the countryside.

Another storyline deals with the detachment of 147 troops and scientists sent through the time portal to rendezvous with Leake. Something has gone wrong and they have missed the target time and place; to make things worse, the local Indian population soon turns decidedly unfriendly.

A third storyline deals with a team of archeologists, who in 1929 are excavating mounds in Louisiana, in territory alongside the Mississippi river. When a laborer discovers a horse skull displaying what appears to be a rifle bullet wound, the excavation team realizes that they may find artifacts within the mounds unlike anything before encountered in a pre-Columbian dig….

‘Them Bones’ is a well-written SF adventure novel. Waldrop uses a clean, fast-moving narrative prose style and short chapters to keep his three intersecting storylines untangled and coherent. The Madison Leake story thread is the major one of the novel and features plenty of dry humor; in the last fifth of the book, it involves an exciting chase sequence that Mel Gibson may have ripped off for his 2006 film ‘Apocalypto’.

‘Them Bones’ continues to be one of the best entries in Terry Carr’s Ace SF Specials from the mid-80s.

Sabre image by Paul Gulacy

'Sabre'

from the 1978 comic book by Don McGregor and Paul Gulacy