=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- RUNE'S RAG - Your Best Electronic MagaZine --------------------------------- Dedicated to Writers and Readers of every genre. _-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_- Published by: Arnold's Plutonomie$, Ltd. Vol. 2 No. 5 P.O. Box 243, Greenville, (MAY 1994) PA 16125-0243 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Modem submissions to: WRITERS BIZ BBS 1:2601/522 @ 1-412-LUV-RUNE (588-7863) ********************************************************************** "But, I didn't know it was loaded!" -- the *other* victim. ********************************************************************** RUNE'S RAG is a representation of as many authors as I can coerce into submitting high quality material. All genres are represented. We will strive to present a useful vehicle -- where, You, the reader will receive valuable reading pleasures. Some of the features will be pure unadulterated escapism, to stimulate your pleasure centers -- while others may curl your hair. You, the reader, will have a voice in what is presented. There will be a letters column, space permitting, giving you the reader a voice. You are the most important part of the reader-writer process. Take the time to netmail your comments -- You determine the content of the magazine. If you like the magazine, support its continuation. Enjoy! If you are an author please submit to the above address, Thanks, see the last section of the magazine for more information. ______________________________________________________________________ Welcome, To: "RUNE'S RAG - Bringing YOU the Best in fiction and more." Managing Editor - Rick Arnold ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1994 ARNOLD'S PLUTONOMIE$, LTD., All Rights Reserved Single issue SHAREWARE Registration/Donation - $3.00, Eliminate Ads! ---------------------------------------------------------------------- TABLE OF CONTENTS: Some Beginnings......................... Various...................02 THE REAPER -- could be Grim............. Gay Bost..................03 THE MONSTER MEN -- a serial............. Edgar R. Burroughs........09 WhatNots -- bits of StufF............... Various & Staff StufF.....18 Poetry -- for you....................... Bailey & Westerman........20 SIGN OF THE TIMES....................... Ed........................28 NWU...... In Defense of Writers......... Philip Mattera............31 Subscription info......LOWER rates...... RUNE......................37 Sysop Offer............................. RUNE......................38 Writer's Guidelines..................... Ed........................40 RUNE'S RAG PAGE 02 APR 1994 =-=-=-=-=-=-=- Some Beginnings =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= The limerick packs laughs anatomical, Into space that is quite economical. But the good ones I've seen So seldom are clean, And the clean ones so seldom are comical. "I need new sneakers, too much tripping, my soul is wearing thin." When I was one-and-twenty I heard a wise man say, "Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away. "When in doubt -- you've probably have had too much advice." "Software/Hardware -- if it ain't broke, it'll be outdated in a few months." ===================== # # # ================================ THE REAPER by Gay Bost Did you ever meet someone that changed your life? Sure you have; we all have. I mean one of those people you meet, see a few times and never see again. After they're gone you realize they left a deep impression. In my life it was Maggie. But maybe I'd better start from the beginning. I was looking for ... something. Like the song says 'everybody's looking for something'. I was looking for something special. Maggie was something else. Her first words to me were, "I like to know what makes people tick. It's a Time thing." Her first question was "Why do you hate cats?" I've never hated cats. They fascinate me. Dogs whimper and go belly up. I only killed one dog. I felt dirty for weeks. But cats! Cats fight you to the last breath. They twitch and dig their claws in like they want to take you with them to hell. It's a rush. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 03 APR 1994 I told her I loved to look into cats' eyes. I didn't tell her when. I met her online. Women think you're *safe* if they meet you online. I don't know why; they just do. We talked for weeks before I asked if she'd like to get together for a cup of coffee. She was alone, single, far from family and new to the city. She had two cats and a 10 gallon aquarium. She wasn't desperately lonely, but she could use a friend. Just the girl for me. I know what you're thinking. I do. You're thinking I must be some kind of no-win nerd to have to pick girls up on a computer. Well, sit back, bud. It's a Way. And it works. For what I need it works great. The cash outlay is minimal for getting to know chicks. No movies, no popcorn, no hangover and, with an off-line mail reader, no late hours. If things don't work out you insult the bitch and put her in a twit filter. Life is good! She lived in Minerva Park and I had a place in Westerville. We met halfway. I wanted to be there first so I told her 6:30. At 5:30 I found a quiet booth along the wall facing the door and ordered a hamburger. It was greasy-spoon quality, and cheap. I'd never been in the place. It had been her suggestion. Just a place she saw once in a while when she drove by, she'd said. While I sat and watched two girls came in. Tight jeans, short jackets, that hard-soft look. Trouble revving up for the night. They caught me and flashed teeth and shoulder swivels at me. Makes a guy feel good, even if he's got other fish to fry. I curled my tongue at them. One snarled her face up and jerked her head away. The other winked. Women! Maggy hadn't given me a description. She said she'd come in and catch a stool and check me out. She liked to play games. She'd done that with me on the board. I had the feeling she'd met a few guys this way, too, but I wasn't interested in her purity. When she walked in I knew it was her. She paused just inside the glass door, looking around the place. She spotted the three empty stools at the counter, marked her place with bright hazel eyes and re-scanned the room. Her eyes found mine. A satisfied smile threatened to break out, the corners of her mouth twitching. She'd made me, too. Something electrical flew across the room and hit me below the belt. I actually gulped. She wasn't beautiful but when she crossed the distance between us I wasn't the only one watching her bounce inside her clothes. She stood at the edge of the table, her hand held out, saying "Lee?" I took her hand and held the fingers between mine. I'd seen it in a movie and used it ever since. They liked it. "What happened to the stool gambit?" I asked, dazzling her with a smile. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 04 APR 1994 She returned it, letting her's spread past her eyes and into my soul. She had to know she had a great smile. She slid into the seat across from me, stuffed her bag against the wall and focused her full attention on me. She made me feel like I was the only man in the place. Everything about her said 'alive and planning on staying that way for ever'. I don't remember what we talked about, if anything. I do remember walking out of that place 2 hours and five or six cups of coffee later. I remember putting her in her car, closing the door thinking 'I want you!' I remember thinking and feeling that so much that she got out of the car again, wrapped her arms around me and cleaned my tonsils for me. I logged on as soon as I got home and left her a steamy message. I wanted my hands on her more than anything in the world. There was a message from her to me, posted while we were still in the restaurant, which read "A loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou..." That was it. A chill crept up my spine. I dreamed of her eyes and the curve of her mouth every night for a week. Every night there were messages for me. Every morning I left replies for her. At the end of the second week I started the fight. She had alluded to her political beliefs a few times, but didn't seem to have much passion for a fight. I could care less about any of it, but I needed a prod and thought politics might do it. After the first heated words I called her at home and told her I had to see her. She named a park on the other side of the city, saying she'd bring lunch and a blanket. She told me to bring the crow. "And bring your appetite!" she hissed, slamming the receiver down. I knew the park. I waited in the parking lot, remembering the last time I'd been there. That had been the blonde. She'd gone down with her eyes scrunched tight shut, screaming. A real fun date. I'd had trouble hearing for three days. I was lost in the memory when Maggie rapped on the window. When I got out of the car and took the basket from her she saw how excited I was and thought it was for her. A great reaction and I hadn't even planned it. "Oh, Lee," she said. "I thought..." she shrugged, bouncing softly. "Look, I'm sorry." I touched her throat with one finger, looking deep into her eyes. She smiled, jarring my soul again. "Where do you want to go?" "Heaven?" Right then I thought I might make it. "To eat? To talk? To touch," she said, taking my hand. I remember thinking she was considering taking me wherever I wanted to go. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 05 APR 1994 "They were just words," I said after the blanket was spread on the grass, after she'd pulled out a bottle of wine and two plastic champagne glasses, after a loaf of crusty French bread had appeared. "Hush," and she touched a finger tip to my lips. I hadn't believed she was going to be this easy. I wanted her then, there in the sunlight under the trees. I wanted her bad and it looked like she could be real bad when she wanted to be. I held her and whispered against her ear. I stroked her arms and kissed her. She nuzzled against me and listened to my voice. She asked if I wanted her. She pouted when I told her I wasn't prepared. She teased me and made me wish I'd moved faster. She made a game out of it, playing against the hunger she said she could feel. "I'd like to get under your skin," she confided in a whisper. "I'd like to get into your head." She chuckled against my chest. I started laying it out in my mind right then. She was going to be so good. She might be that something special. 'Yeah, this could be the one,' I'd thought. I made promises to her as the sun set. We laid plans to make our dreams come true the next time we met. I swore I'd be prepared. She put both of her hands on my chest, looked into my eyes and smiled that special smile. She almost purred when she said, "And I'll be ready for you." I considered an unplanned encounter. I'll admit it. She had me that worked up. The first girl I'd ever taken had been unplanned. I'd had to leave that town because of it. Six years later and more than a thousand miles away I almost forgot the uproar that had caused. As Maggie rolled across the blanket to put the empty wine bottle in the basket a car rolled by, reminding me where I was. I didn't know whether to cuss that car or bless it. I still don't. Two days later I attacked her on another political issue. I told her she was politically naive and socially incompetent. I told her not to post to me again. I didn't twit her. I watched her rant for a week. I dreamed intense dreams every night, waking up sweating, calling out her name. I was ready. "You Jerk!" she raved at me when I called her. "How can you even think I'd talk to you after what you said?" I could hear her breathing hard in her anger. "Because I think you love me," I told her. There was silence on the other end of the line. I waited. I thought I heard footsteps. Maybe she'd thrown the receiver down and walked away. This was part of it. I had to have this, too. The uncertainty, the suspense, the possibility that I might not get what I wanted. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 06 APR 1994 "Excuse me?" she said. She sounded out of breath. I could imagine her going to the window and taking deep breaths or hopping on her stationary bike and doing a few miles. "I think I love you," I said. "Lee! You're nuts!" She slammed down the phone. I waited. I had a cup of coffee. I played a few games of solitaire and watched the cards roll down the screen. I had a sudden urge to log onto the BBS and see if she was up to something. A thousand ideas rolled through my head. I called back. "Maggie? Can we try again? Can we meet? Can I..love you?" "What's the matter, Hot Shot? Is your social calendar a blank this week?" "Ah, Maggie! Don't do me that way," I pleaded. "We'll see how long you can stay committed to this," she said. "You give me some decent messages and try not to humiliate me for a week and I might, just might, believe you." "I can't, Maggie. My hard drive crashed this morning," I lied. Again the silence. The receiver clicked. I smiled. She hadn't slammed it down. This was almost as good as the real thing. I waited an hour. I took a shower. I listened to the radio. "The reasons don't hear the Reaper, nor do the wind the sun or the rain. Ah, come on, baby..." I sang, laughing. Oh, I was so ready! On the third call I woke her, she said. "Don't you dream of me, Maggie?" I asked. "Every night, Lee," she breathed. "Meet me at midnight, Maggie," I begged. "I know a place. The night's warm. Bring a blanket and thou. I'll bring the wine." She laughed wildly. I could almost hear her thinking. A chill crept up my spine. For a minute I almost called it off. She was something else. "You better be prepared to reap what you've sewn," she warned, purring. "I am!" I promised. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 07 APR 1994 When she stepped out of her car I said, "Hot damn!" She'd put on a summer dress. Her neck and shoulders were bare. She'd put her hair up with little curls hanging around her face. She looked great. Those eyes hazel eyes shone with energy and life. I ran to her and grabbed her up, swinging her around. She hung on and laughed. I hugged her tight to me. We held hands, arms swinging between us, as we walked up the gravel path to the overlook. A dense screen of trees blocked the view of the silent road behind us. I took the blanket from her and spread it out on the ground, sitting, holding my hand out to her to join me. She dropped to her knees in front of me, taking both sides of my face in her hands. She looked into my eyes, searching for something. She nodded just a little bit like she'd made up her mind. She kissed me then, putting everything she had into it. She reamed my tonsils, and cleaned, polished, and straightened my teeth. "Lee," she whispered, drawing back to look into my eyes, again. "Ah, Maggie," I breathed, pulling her down. She lay silently, looking up at me as I tugged the blanket around to make a pillow for her head. Her lips curved in a soft smile. I kissed her nose, her eyes, her brow. We locked eyes as I brought the edge of the blanket up, and stroked her cheek with it. Her breathing changed pace, matching mine. Caught up in my own need as I was, I noticed that, and wondered why no one else had ever done that. "I'll love you for the rest of your life," I told her. "And I'm going to love you for a long long time past that," she said. I rolled over on top of her. She smiled sweetly. I wrapped my fingers around her throat quickly, blanket between her skin and mine. Her smile deepened. She didn't struggle much. I applied pressure, looking into her, reaching out for that something special. Still, motionless long before she should be, her eyes glowed, a green reflection of something within. Her smile changed. A heat wave way past believing wrapped itself around me, surged through me, and found a place of its own. She laughed like she knew; like she'd put one over on *me*. My hands took on a life of their own, crushing her windpipe, grinding against the cartilage in her throat. She smiled wide, way past her eyes and into my soul. Her legs jerked beneath me. Her torso straightened suddenly. Something, something special happened. Something like a cat hooking its claws and dragging me into hell with it. I collapsed against her, listening for a heartbeat. There was nothing but the sudden pounding of my own, doubly loud in my ears. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 08 APR 1994 I would have left the body there, blanket wrapped around her throat, as I always did. Something else made me roll her up in the blanket and push her over the edge of the rise into the tall grass below. I watched myself do it, wondered why, and followed the urge anyway. I went to her car, pulled the tail of my shirt out and opened the door. The interior light glared. I stood staring at it for a few minutes, questioning myself, before I got into my own car and drove into the warm night. I realized I was in a daze of some kind when the waiter asked, with some surprise, "You want two cups of coffee?" I was in the same diner where I'd first met her. "Maggie's goin' meet me here," I told him. "Maggie," he repeated. "Uh-huh. She's something else. Let me know if you ever figure out what." He looked at me like I had spinach stuck in my teeth, frowning. "What's a matter with you?" "I don't know. I haven't been myself since last time I saw her." ============================== # # # =========================== Copyright 1994 Gay L. Bost ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Gay is a Clinical Lab Tech with experience in Veterinary medicine. Originally from NORTHERN California, she has resided in Southeast Missouri with her husband and an aggressive 6 year old boy, since 1974. She installed her first modem in the summer of 1992 and has been exploring new worlds since. Her first and only publication, a short horror story, came when she was 17 years old. The success was so overwhelming she called an end to her writing days and went in search of herself. She's still looking. You will find Gay's work in the best Electronic Magazines. =========================================================================== Chapter 5, TREASON by Edgar Rice Burroughs On their return to camp after her rescue Virginia talked a great deal to von Horn about the young giant who had rescued her, until the man feared that she was more interested in him than seemed good for his own plans. He had now cast from him the last vestige of his loyalty for his employer, and thus freed had determined to use every means within his power to win Professor Maxon's daughter, and with her the heritage of wealth which he knew would be hers should her father, through some unforeseen mishap, meet death before he could return to civilization and alter his will, a contingency which von Horn knew he might have to consider should he marry the girl against her father's wishes, and thus thwart the crazed man's mad, but no less dear project. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 09 APR 1994 He realized that first he must let the girl fully understand the grave peril in which she stood, and turn her hope of protection from her father to himself. He imagined that the initial step in undermining Virginia's confidence in her father would be to narrate every detail of the weird experiments which Professor Maxon had brought to such successful issues during their residence upon the island. The girl's own questioning gave him the lead he needed. "Where could that horrid creature have come from that set upon me in the jungle and nearly killed poor Sing?" she asked. For a moment von Horn was silent, in well simulated hesitancy to reply to her query. "I cannot tell you, Miss Maxon," he said sadly, "how much I should hate to be the one to ignore your father's commands, and enlighten you upon this and other subjects which lie nearer to your personal welfare than you can possibly guess; but I feel that after the horrors of this day duty demands that I must lay all before you--you cannot again be exposed to the horrors from which you were rescued only by a miracle." "I cannot imagine what you hint at, Dr. von Horn," said Virginia, "but if to explain to me will necessitate betraying my father's confidence I prefer that you remain silent." "You do not understand," broke in the man, "you cannot guess the horrors that I have seen upon this island, or the worse horrors that are to come. Could you dream of what lies in store for you, you would seek death rather than face the future. I have been loyal to your father, Virginia, but were you not blind, or indifferent, you would long since have seen that your welfare means more to me than my loyalty to him-- more to me than my life or my honor. "You asked where the creature came from that attacked you today. I shall tell you. It is one of a dozen similarly hideous things that your father has created in his mad desire to solve the problem of life. He has solved it; but, God, at what a price in misshapen, soulless, hideous monsters!" The girl looked up at him, horror stricken. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 10 APR 1994 "Do you mean to say that my father in a mad attempt to usurp the functions of God created that awful thing?" she asked in a low, faint voice, "and that there are others like it upon the island?" "In the campong next to yours there are a dozen others," replied von Horn, "nor would it be easy to say which is the most hideous and repulsive. They are grotesque caricatures of humanity--without soul and almost without brain." "God!" murmured the girl, burying her face in her hands, "he has gone mad; he has gone mad." "I truly believe that he is mad," said von Horn, "nor could you doubt it for a moment were I to tell you the worst." "The worst!" exclaimed the girl. "What could be worse than that which you already have divulged? Oh, how could you have permitted it?" "There is much worse than I have told you, Virginia. So much worse that I can scarce force my lips to frame the words, but you must be told. I would be more criminally liable than your father were I to keep it from you, for my brain, at least, is not crazed. Virginia, you have in your mind a picture of the hideous thing that carried you off into the jungle?" "Yes," and as the girl replied a convulsive shudder racked her frame. Von Horn grasped her arm gently as he went on, as though to support and protect her during the shock that he was about to administer. "Virginia," he said in a very low voice, "it is your father's intention to wed you to one of his creatures." The girl broke from him with an angry cry. "It is not true!" she exclaimed. "It is not true. Oh, Dr. von Horn how could you tell me such a cruel and terrible untruth." "As God is my judge, Virginia," and the man reverently uncovered as he spoke, "it is the truth. Your father told me it in so many words when I asked his permission to pay court to you myself--you are to marry Number Thirteen when his education is complete." "I shall die first!" she cried. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 11 APR 1994 "Why not accept me instead?" suggested the man. For a moment Virginia looked straight into his eyes as though to read his inmost soul. "Let me have time to consider it, Doctor," she replied. "I do not know that I care for you in that way at all." "Think of Number Thirteen," he suggested. "It should not be difficult to decide." "I could not marry you simply to escape a worse fate," replied the girl. "I am not that cowardly--but let me think it over. There can be no immediate danger, I am sure." "One can never tell," replied von Horn, "what strange, new vagaries may enter a crazed mind to dictate this moment's action or the next." "Where could we wed?" asked Virginia. "The Ithaca would bear us to Singapore, and when we returned you would be under my legal protection and safe." "I shall think about it from every angle," she answered sadly, "and now good night, my dear friend," and with a wan smile she entered her quarters. For the next month Professor Maxon was busy educating Number Thirteen. He found the young man intelligent far beyond his most sanguine hopes, so that the progress made was little short of uncanny. Von Horn during this time continued to urge upon Virginia the necessity for a prompt and favorable decision in the matter of his proposal; but when it came time to face the issue squarely the girl found it impossible to accede to his request--she thought that she loved him, but somehow she dared not say the word that would make her his for life. Bududreen, the Malay mate was equally harassed by conflicting desires, though of a different nature, or he had his eye upon the main chance that was represented to him by the great chest, and also upon the lesser reward which awaited him upon delivery of the girl to Rajah Muda Saffir. The fact that he could find no safe means for accomplishing both these ends simultaneously was all that had protected either from his machinations. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 12 APR 1994 The presence of the uncanny creatures of the court of mystery had become known to the Malay and he used this knowledge as an argument to foment discord and mutiny in the ignorant and superstitious crew under his command. By boring a hole in the partition wall separating their campong from the inner one he had disclosed to the horrified view of his men the fearsome brutes harbored so close to them. The mate, of course, had no suspicion of the true origin of these monsters, but his knowledge of the fact that they had not been upon the island when the Ithaca arrived and that it would have been impossible for them to have landed and reached the camp without having been seen by himself or some member of his company, was sufficient evidence to warrant him in attributing their presence to some supernatural and malignant power. This explanation the crew embraced willingly, and with it Bududreen's suggestion that Professor Maxon had power to transform them all into similar atrocities. The ball once started gained size and momentum as it progressed. The professor's ofttimes strange expression was attributed to an evil eye, and every ailment suffered by any member of the crew was blamed upon their employer's Satanic influence. There was but one escape from the horrors of such a curse--the death of its author; and when Bududreen discovered that they had reached this point, and were even discussing the method of procedure, he added all that was needed to the dangerously smouldering embers of bloody mutiny by explaining that should anything happen to the white men he would become sole owner of their belongings, including the heavy chest, and that the reward of each member of the crew would be generous. Von Horn was really the only stumbling block in Bududreen's path. With the natural cowardice of the Malay he feared this masterful American who never moved without a brace of guns slung about his hips; and it was at just this psychological moment that the doctor played into the hands of his subordinate, much to the latter's inward elation. Von Horn had finally despaired of winning Virginia by peaceful court, and had about decided to resort to force when he was precipitately confirmed in his decision by a conversation with the girl's father. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 13 APR 1994 He and the professor were talking in the workshop of the remarkable progress of Number Thirteen toward a complete mastery of English and the ways and manners of society, in which von Horn had been assisting his employer to train the young giant. The breach between the latter and von Horn had been patched over by Professor Maxon's explanations to Number Thirteen as soon as the young man was able to comprehend--in the meantime it had been necessary to keep von Horn out of the workshop except when the giant was confined in his own room off the larger one. Von Horn had been particularly anxious, for the furtherance of certain plans he had in mind, to effect a reconciliation with Number Thirteen, to reach a basis of friendship with the young man, and had left no stone unturned to accomplish this result. To this end he had spent considerable time with Number Thirteen, coaching him in English and in the ethics of human association. "He is progressing splendidly, Doctor," Professor Maxon had said. "It will be but a matter of a day or so when I can introduce him to Virginia, but we must be careful that she has no inkling of his origin until mutual affection has gained a sure foothold between them." "And if that should not occur?" questioned von Horn. "I should prefer that they mated voluntarily," replied the professor, the strange gleam leaping to his eyes at the suggestion of possible antagonism to his cherished plan, "but if not, then they shall be compelled by the force of my authority--they both belong to me, body and soul." "You will wait for the final consummation of your desires until you return with them to civilization, I presume," said von Horn. "And why?" returned the professor. "I can wed them here myself--it would be the surer way--yes, that is what I shall do." It was this determination on the part of Professor Maxon that decided von Horn to act at once. Further, it lent a reasonable justification for his purposed act. Shortly after their talk the older man left the workshop, and von Horn took the opportunity to inaugurate the second move of his campaign. Number Thirteen was sitting near a window which let upon the inner court, busy with the rudiments of written English. Von Horn approached him. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 14 APR 1994 "You are getting along nicely, Jack," he said kindly, looking over the other's shoulder and using the name which had been adopted at his suggestion to lend a more human tone to their relations with the nameless man. "Yes," replied the other, looking up with a smile. "Professor Maxon says that in another day or two I may come and live in his own house, and again meet his beautiful daughter. It seems almost too good to be true that I shall actually live under the same roof with her and see her every day--sit at the same table with her--and walk with her among the beautiful trees and flowers that witnessed our first meeting. I wonder if she will remember me. I wonder if she will be as glad to see me again as I shall be to see her." "Jack," said von Horn, sadly, "I am afraid there is a terrible and disappointing awakening for you. It grieves me that it should be so, but it seems only fair to tell you, what Professor Maxon either does not know or has forgotten, that his daughter will not look with pleasure upon you when she learns your origin. "You are not as other men. You are but the accident of a laboratory experiment. You have no soul, and the soul is all that raises man above the beasts. Jack, poor boy, you are not a human being--you are not even a beast. The world, and Miss Maxon is of the world, will look upon you as a terrible creature to be shunned-- a horrible monstrosity far lower in the scale of creation than the lowest order of brutes. "Look," and the man pointed through the window toward the group of hideous things that wandered aimlessly about the court of mystery. "You are of the same breed as those, you differ from them only in the symmetry of your face and features, and the superior development of your brain. There is no place in the world for them, nor for you. "I am sorry that it is so. I am sorry that I should have to be the one to tell you; but it is better that you know it now from a friend than that you meet the bitter truth when you least expected it, and possibly from the lips of one like Miss Maxon for whom you might have formed a hopeless affection." As von Horn spoke the expression on the young man's face became more and more hopeless, and when he had ceased he dropped his head into his open palms, sitting quiet and motionless as a carven statue. No sob shook his great frame, there was no outward indication of the terrible grief that racked him inwardly--only in the pose was utter dejection and hopelessness. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 15 APR 1994 The older man could not repress a cold smile--it had had more effect than he had hoped. "Don't take it too hard, my boy," he continued. "The world is wide. It would be easy to find a thousand places where your antecedents would be neither known nor questioned. You might be very happy elsewhere and there a hundred thousand girls as beautiful and sweet as Virginia Maxon--remember that you have never seen another, so you can scarcely judge." "Why did he ever bring me into the world?" exclaimed the young man suddenly. "It was wicked--wicked-- terribly cruel and wicked." "I agree with you," said von Horn quickly, seeing another possibility that would make his future plans immeasurably easier. "It was wicked, and it is still more wicked to continue the work and bring still other unfortunate creatures into the world to be the butt and plaything of cruel fate." "He intends to do that?" asked the youth. "Unless he is stopped," replied von Horn. "He must be stopped," cried the other. "Even if it were necessary to kill him." Von Horn was quite satisfied with the turn events had taken. He shrugged his shoulders and turned on his heel toward the outer campong. "If he had wronged me as he has you, and those others," with a gesture toward the court of mystery, "I should not be long in reaching a decision." And with that he passed out, leaving the door unlatched. Von Horn went straight to the south campong and sought out Bududreen. Motioning the Malay to follow him they walked across the clearing and entered the jungle out of sight and hearing of the camp. Sing, hanging clothes in the north end of the clearing saw them depart, and wondered a little. "Bududreen," said von Horn, when the two had reached a safe distance from the enclosures, "there is no need of mincing matters--something must be done at once. I do not know how much you know of the work that Professor Maxon has been engaged in since we reached this island; but it has been hellish enough and it must go no further. You have seen the creatures in the campong next to yours?" RUNE'S RAG PAGE 16 APR 1994 "I have seen," replied Bududreen, with a shudder. "Professor Maxon intends to wed one of these to his daughter," von Horn continued. "She loves me and we wish to escape--can I rely on you and your men to aid us? There is a chest in the workshop which we must take along too, and I can assure you that you all will be well rewarded for your work. We intend merely to leave Professor Maxon here with the creatures he has created." Bududreen could scarce repress a smile--it was indeed too splendid to be true. "It will be perilous work, Captain," he answered. "We should all be hanged were we caught." "There will be no danger of that, Bududreen, for there will be no one to divulge our secret." "There will be the Professor Maxon," urged the Malay. "Some day he will escape from the island, and then we shall all hang." "He will never escape," replied von Horn, "his own creatures will see to that. They are already commencing to realize the horrible crime he has committed against them, and when once they are fully aroused there will be no safety for any of us. If you wish to leave the island at all it will be best for you to accept my proposal and leave while your head yet remains upon your shoulders. Were we to suggest to the professor that he leave now he would not only refuse but he would take steps to make it impossible for any of us to leave, even to sinking the Ithaca. The man is mad--quite mad--Bududreen, and we cannot longer jeopardize our own throats merely to humor his crazy and criminal whims." The Malay was thinking fast, and could von Horn have guessed what thoughts raced through the tortuous channels of that semi-barbarous brain he would have wished himself safely housed in the American prison where he belonged. "When do you wish to sail?" asked the Malay. "Tonight," replied von Horn, and together they matured their plans. An hour later the second mate with six men disappeared into the jungle toward the harbor. They, with the three on watch, were to get the vessel in readiness for immediate departure. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 17 APR 1994 After the evening meal von Horn sat on the verandah with Virginia Maxon until the Professor came from the workshop to retire for the night. As he passed them he stopped for a word with von Horn, taking him aside out of the girl's hearing. "Have you noticed anything peculiar in the actions of Thirteen?" asked the older man. "He was sullen and morose this evening, and at times there was a strange, wild light in his eyes as he looked at me. Can it be possible that, after all, his brain is defective? It would be terrible. My work would have gone for naught, for I can see no way in which I can improve upon him." "I will go and have a talk with him later," said von Horn, "so if you hear us moving about in the workshop, or even out here in the campong think nothing of it. I may take him for a long walk. It is possible that the hard study and close confinement to that little building have been too severe upon his brain and nerves. A long walk each evening may bring him around all right." "Splendid--splendid," replied the professor. "You may be quite right. Do it by all means, my dear doctor," and there was a touch of the old, friendly, sane tone which had been so long missing, that almost caused von Horn to feel a trace of compunction for the hideous act of disloyalty that he was on the verge of perpetrating. As Professor Maxon entered the house von Horn returned to Virginia and suggested that they take a short walk outside the campong before retiring. The girl readily acquiesced to the plan, and a moment later found them strolling through the clearing toward the southern end of the camp. In the dark shadows of the gateway leading to the men's enclosure a figure crouched. The girl did not see it, but as they came opposite it von Horn coughed twice, and then the two passed on toward the edge of the jungle. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= ? ? ? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- End Chapter 5 -- THE MONSTER MEN. Get the next issue of RUNE'S RAG for the exciting continuation of this story by Edgar Rice Burroughs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Edgar Rice Burroughs has influenced writers and readers for the past three generations, with well over 100 million books produced because of his fertile imagination; this offering is a presentation to those who are unfamiliar with his work -- other than the TARZAN series. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- RUNE'S RAG PAGE 18 APR 1994 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= WhatNots, Why not? =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- News you can Use =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Do you have a question about the Federal government that you can't get answered? Been playing phone tag with too many representitives? Not sure where to even begin? Here are some phone numbers to various Federal Information Centers. These are regional, but if you are in a state not listed, call (301) 722-9000. Or try one of the out of state numbers, and see what you get. Don't forget business hours, they do work for the government. There is a special number for use of TDD/TTY, (Telecommunications Devices for the Deaf), from anywhere in the US: 800-326-2996 Alabama -- 800-366-2998 Minnesota -- 800-366-2998 Alaska -- 800 729-8003 Missouri -- 800-735-8004 St. Louis (ONLY) 800-366-2998 Arizona -- 800-359-3997 Nebraska -- 800-735-8004 Arkansas -- 800-366-2998 Omaha (ONLY) 800-366-2998 California -- 800-726-4995 New Jersey -- 800 347-1997 Colorado -- 800-359-3997 New Mexico -- 800-359-3997 Connecticut -- 800-347-1997 New York -- 800-347-1997 Florida -- 800-347-1997 North Carolina -- 800-347-1997 Georgia -- 800-347-1997 Ohio -- 800-347-1997 Hawaii -- 800-733-5996 Oklahoma -- 800-366-2998 Illinois -- 800-366-2998 Oregon -- 800-726-4995 Indiana -- 800-366-2998 Pennsylvania -- 800-347-1997 Indianapolis -- 800-347-1997 Rhode Island -- 800-347-1997 Iowa -- 800-735-8004 Tennesse -- 800-366-2998 Kansas -- 800-735-8004 Chattanooga 800-347-1997 Kentucky -- 800-347-1997 Texas -- 800-366-2998 Louisiana -- 800-366-2998 Utah -- 800-359-3997 Maryland -- 800-347-1997 Virginia -- 800-347-1997 Massachusetts -- 800-347-1997 Washington -- 800-726-4995 Michigan -- 800-347-1997 Wisconsin -- 800-366-2998 RUNE'S RAG PAGE 19 APR 1994 If your're a tad paranoid, just call an out of state number. But, these people are trained to assist you, and can point you to the specific department you need to get an answer to your question. --------------------------------------------------------------------- =-=-=-=- STuFF =-=-=-=-= Need a copy of your credit report? If you have been declined credit because of a report, contact the reporting agency. They will provide a copy of the report free of charge, as required by law. If you are just interested, here are some sources, however there will be a fee involved. But, if you are planning on a major purchase, a home or a new car, it will be worth your time and expense to check your credit prior to attempting the purchase. Equifax Credit Information Services TRW Consumer Assistance Center Wildwood Plaza, PO Box 749029, 7200 Windy Hill, Suite 500 Dallas, TX 75374-9029 Marietta, GA 30067 Phone: 800-392-1122 Phone: 800-685-1111 Trans Union Consumer Relations Local Credit Bureaus 25249 Country Club Blvd., (They should be listed in PO Box 7000 the yellow pages under: North Olmstead, OH 44070 Credit Reporting Agencies or (216) 779-7200 Credit Bureaus.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------- =-=-=-=-=-=- More StuFf =-=-=-=-=-=-= Need to get a copy of your medical information file: Medical Informaiton Bureau (MIB) PO Box 105, Essex Station, Boston, MA 02112 Phone: (617) 426-3660 If the originating insurance company believes there is sensitive medical information recorded on your file, the company may require the MIB to send your medical file only to your doctor. ------------------------------------------------------------------ RUNE'S RAG PAGE 20 APR 1994 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Even More sTufF =-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Are you being inundated with junk mail and telemarketers calling you every day? You can have your name and number removed from many of the marketing lists. The Direct Marketing Association and its members want happy customers, and are willing to work with you. They will be happy to remove your name and address from their marketing lists. Contact them through the following addresses: Mail Preference Service Telephone Preference Service Direct Marketing Association or Direct Marketing Association PO Box 9008, PO Box 9015, Farmingdale, NY 11735 Farmingdale, NY 11735 ========================= # # # ============================= Do you have tips and hints that would be of service to others? Share them with others; send to: RUNE'S RAG, PO BOX 243, Greenville, PA 16125 or modem to (412) 588-7863 ========================================================================== -<=>-=-=-<=>-=-<=>- The Poetry Cranny ----<====>------- =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Political Poetry to Spark your Imagination: by William Bailey -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- When Whitewater Burst There once was a place in Arkansas Whitewater was it's name Siphoning from saving and loans That was the name of the game But things went sour and banks failed And no one would take the blame A few years later in Washington DC That was the place they came Then Whitewater burst and Bill cursed And Washington was never the same . . . . --------------------------------- RUNE'S RAG PAGE 21 APR 1994 The Big 3 Ring Welcome to the big three ring The greatest show on earth We have an awesome tax machine See it's massive girth There's the funny clown That juggles with our life Who's that there in the center ring The ringmaster and his wife The elephant and the donkey They walk around the ring They stop and look into the stands How much money did you bring The elephant steals a peanut The donkey kicks you down And both will fleece your pockets While they have you down Just remember now in 96 When the circus comes to town Choose wisely then for who you vote Or you may be the clown . . . . ----------------------- Smoker Blues Hey smoker trash'in our air Smok'in them fags everywhere Nicotine stains on your finger tips Remove that thing from your lips That terrible smell in your car That film on your windows, must be tar Your the reason for health care And now you'll pay, your fair share We'll need your money to foot the bill And we'll tax them things and your will RUNE'S RAG PAGE 22 APR 1994 But if your smokes will pay the price The bureaucrats, had better think twice We need more smokers it's plain to see For a short while lets make them free Lets get more hooked, then raise the cost For each one that quits, is money lost . . . . -------------------------------------- Whitewater Hilery and Bill are stuck in Whitewater By the looks of things it's going to get hotter Vince Foster gone a shot to the head And Hilery's health care is all but dead Cabinet members are dropping like fly's But that Bill Clinton, He really tries Bill Clinton thinks, things must get better While Hilery's working on the schreader The Clintons are screaming it's not fair But theres one thing, he really cares ------------------------------------- Soap On A Rope Gays in the military Oh what a joy Hit the showers With all the new boys When they come in How will we cope Better start using Soap on a rope Cause if your soap Slips out of hand Up from behind May be a man . . . . ------------ RUNE'S RAG PAGE 23 APR 1994 Moral Fabric The moral fabric of our nation Is tearing at the seams With all the killing and the drugs So many un met dreams Parents worry everyday They send there kids to school Knowing now that schools have changed Where gangs and hoodlums rule The thugs are treated with kid gloves All because we care Another chance another try Because it's only fair In the days of old we took them on In there battle zone The IRS and FBI took on the mob And captured Al Capone But were understanding and try to fill there pain I think our liberal government Will drive us all insane . . . . ------------------------ The Immigrants They cross our boarders everyday All in search of a better way The thought of freedom in there mind They leave all else behind Leaving behind family and friend All in search of a better end Do they know something we do not Or is it something we just forgot Ours is a freedom to pick and choose And it's our choice to win or lose Immigrants achieve great success While we do so much less Our only limits is in our minds Break those chains and you'll be fine . . . . ------------------------------------- Copyright 1994 William Bailey --------------------------------------------------------------------- RUNE'S RAG PAGE 24 APR 1994 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Selected Works by Karen Westerman =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- MY ANGEL by Karen Westerman I asked my little girl one day What she wanted to be. She thought about it a minute And then she looked at me. "An Angel" she said softly "An Angel from above So I can fly around the earth To spread my wings of love. And then when I get tired I can rest upon a cloud And keep vigil over everyone To make them very proud. An Angel is so beautiful And she lives up in Heaven". My little girl told me this When she was only seven. And then one day an angel came And took my girl away To live with GOD in Heaven Where she would always stay. I missed my little girl And thought that I would die Until one day I saw an angel Flying in the sky. I saw her looking over me As she spread her wings. And then she sat upon a cloud Below a shining ring. Now everyday I go outside And look into the sky And watch my little Angel As she goes flying by. ------------------------------ RUNE'S RAG PAGE 25 APR 1994 BORN TO BE FREE I saw him looking out, from behind a tree His body slim and brown, His eyes so inquisitive He didn't quite trust me, I could tell But he stood his ground and watched me, Then gave a little smell Then suddenly he turned and ran, And stopped and looked at me As if to say you can watch all you want, But I was born to be free And every day he came, He soon became my friend Eating from my hand, And playing in the wind He loved to make me chase him, Then let me give him a pat Before he took off again, To take a little nap And right before the sun went down, He would come for just a minute To let me know he was still around, And I'd better not forget it Then one day as I watied, For this little deer I heard the shot ring out, And I knew my greatest fear I found him lying on the ground, With a bullet in his head I knew as I looked at those lovely eyes, That he would soon be dead My heart was full of anger, My eyes were full of tears I couldn't understand why man, Had killed this little deer I'll never see that deer again, Standing by that tree But in my heart he'll always be, Running wild and free --------------------------------------------------------------------- RED, WHITE, AND BLUE by Karen Westerman He was only five years old, already I could tell his heart and mind were way beyond his years He looked at me that day with eyes so innocent, yet they could see so clear He hadn't seen the hatred, the casualties of war, so I didn't know how to answer when he asked "Mom, what are we fighting for?" How could I tell him what freedom meant, how could I make him see so young, that answers weren't always found with a rifle or a gun Yet I had to let him know sometimes we had to fight for things that we believed in, things we knew were right RUNE'S RAG PAGE 26 APR 1994 Freedom is a precious gift, so easily taken away How could a five year old realize this, what was I going to say I looked him right in the eyes that day and told him what I knew was true "Son, we're fighting for the flag we love, the stars and stripes of the red, white, and blue Many years have come and gone since that son of mine was five Now he's somewhere over the ocean fighting for our lives I pray that he will come home safe from this horrible rendezvouz and I pray that I will never forget that we're fighting for the flag we love, the stars and stripes of the red, white, and blue -------------------------------------------------------------- THE PROMISE You gave me your hand, And I gave you mine And we promised our love, Till the end of time. We looked at each other, With love in our eyes Standing so close, And feeling so shy. We vowed to each other, To always be true For better or worse, We'd see it through. You sealed our promise, With a gold wedding band That you placed on the finger, Of my left hand. Then one day you left me, For somebody new. You said it was over, And that we were through. You got a divorce, And walked out of my life To start over again, With a new wife. You stood next to her, Like you stood next to me And promised to love her, Through eternity. You sealed your promise, With a gold wedding band That you placed on the finger, Of her left hand. ------------------------------------------------- SOLDIER by Karen Westerman He went to fight for his country To protect the ones he loved To hold up for his freedom He was worthy of. He was a brave and devoted boy When he went and took his stand And when he was through with all his hell He came back a discouraged man. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 27 APR 1994 He fought down in the ditches And slept in the freezing cold He asw his fellow companions Die from being so bold. He came back to his country With a mangled leg from the war He found that things were different Not like they were before. No one would let him have a job Nobody seemed to care This man who had fought so valiantly To keep his country from despair. He finally took his life one day there was nothing left to live for He had given his life for the country he loved This brave and wonderful soldier. ---------------------------------------------- THE FRIEND by Karen Westerman The little boy sat In his wheelchair everyday Never taking any notice of people Or what they had to say. His eyes, they looked so vacant As if he wasn't there. It seemed as though the boy Didn't even care. He never got to run and play Like all the other boys. He couldn't even raise his hand To hold on to a toy. The children all would tease him He never had a fiend. I knew that it would take a lot To make his poor heart mend. And then one day I saw a puppy In a little town pet shop. He looked so sad and helpless I knew I had to stop. I carried him home, he was so afraid He layed in my arms and shook. I layed him in the boy's lap And then I saw him look. The eyes that once were vacant Were full of love and joy. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 28 APR 1994 That little bundle of puppy Was meant for this very boy. I know this boy's heart had mended And he had found a friend. And with this puppy in his lap His life could truely begin. -------------------------------- Copyright 1994 Karen Westerman ============================ # # # =========================== =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SIGN OF OUR TIMES by Rick Arnold It's a sad fact that a sign of our times is the frequency of eating disorders diagnosed in our youth -- a very serious illness if left untreated. One in ten (1 in 10) Americans, usually adolescents, die from various eating disorders, recognized by the National Institute of Mental Health. Nearly five percent of the population (figures from NIMH) suffer from *anorexia nervosa* and/or *bulimia nervosa*, with millions of others suffering from *binge eating*. The needless deaths of those with anorexia and bulimia, need not occur, if family members and friends would help by recognizing the problems and encourage the person to seek treatment. *Anorexia nervosa* is a disorder where a person intentionally starves themselves. The disorder, usually starts when the person reaches puberty, and involves extreme weight loss -- at least fifteen percent (15%) below an individual's normal body weight. This, in an effort to look and feel the way they believe is the "normal" appearance for a person in their peer group. Some suffering from anorexia will appear pale and emaciated but feel they are overweight, and need to lose more weight to be acceptable in appearance. This can lead to hospitalization in an effort to prevent starvation. Their weight -- in particular -- and food become obsessions. The person's compulsiveness is demonstrated by strange eating rituals or refusal to eat in front of others. Those with the disorder will often prepare extravagant gourmet meals for family and friends, however will rarely partake of the meals they have presented for the others. Often, they will have rigorous and excessive exercise routines. A disruption or loss of the monthly menstrual period is common for women with the disorder. Impotence often affects men who have anorexia. *Bulimia nervosa* is quite dangerous, because the person frequently uses an excessive amount of laxatives and/or diuretics, as the individual purges their intake of calories and liquids attempting to lose weight. A more drastic measure taken by these individuals is vomiting shortly after eating. Frequently individuals use all of these methods, and will not be detected because they maintain above or near normal body weight. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 29 APR 1994 Those with this disorder often binge excessively, then purge the their intake using one or all the methods mentioned, from once or twice a week to several times a day. Excessive dieting between episodes of binging and purging is quite common. Nearly half of those with anorexia will eventually develop bulimia. This condition typically begins in adolescent women, but also is found in men. Often the victims of this disorder will not seek help until in their thirties or forties, and the condition is more difficult to cure, due to the deeply ingrained habits developed over time. A similar disorder to bulimia is *binge eating*, however the person will not practice purging, and is usually overweight because of their compulsive indulging in over eating binges. People with this disorder usually have a history of extreme weight fluctuations. Two percent (2%) of the general population suffer from this ailment, and is predominantly found in women more so than men. Nearly thirty percent (30%) of people in supervised weight control programs suffer from binge eating. The following symptoms are common to these eating disorders: AN=Anorexia BN=Bulimia BE=Binge Eating AN, - Excessive weight loss in short period of time AN, - Continuation of dieting although extremely thin AN, - Dissatisfaction with appearance and weight, even if thin AN,BN, - Loss of monthly menstrual periods AN,BN, - Unusual interest in food, along with strange eating habits AN,BN,BE - Eating in secret AN,BN, - Obsession with exercise AN,BN,BE - Serious depression BN,BE - Binging -- consumption of large amounts of food BN, - Use of drugs for vomiting, bowel movements and urination BN, - Food binging with no noticeable weight gain BN, - Long periods of time spent in bathroom -- to induce vomiting BN, BE- Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol The causes of eating disorders are complex and involve, personalities, environments, genetics, and biochemistry of each individual. Shared traits among those with eating disorders are: low self-esteem, feelings of help- lessness, and fear of becoming fat. Those with anorexia tend to be good students, excellent athletes, and *perfectionists*. They place a high priority on pleasing others -- over their own needs and wishes. To gain a sense of control in their lives, they restrict themselves to eating only certain types of foods and only in limited amounts. This need for control of their bodies serves a twofold purpose: fulfills the desire to please others by being thin, therefore appealing; and allows *THEM* to have control over someone -- even if it is themselves. Binge eaters (most often bulimic) release stress through eating large quantities of food -- especially junk food -- in their effort to rebel, and relieve anxiety; often in response to feeling dominated. The binging often brings on guilt and depression after the impulsive behavior; and the bulimic is more likely to engage in a risky life style of abuse for drugs and alcohol. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 30 APR 1994 Much of the cause for these eating disorders can be traced to an overly concerned parent, who wishes their child to be physically attractive and accepted by society. Parents or older siblings, who pursue activities such as dancing, athletics, or modeling, or professions where appearance is very important, often create an environment that causes an eating disorder to develop in the younger child(ren). What can you do to help? Often psychotherapy is needed -- depending on the severity of the disorder, and how late it is discovered. Treatment can save the life of one with an eating disorder. Family members and friends can contact local hospitals or medical centers to find out specific information about eating disorders, how to cope with them and how to provide support for the person who suffers from the illness. Even if the person obtains treatment, support and understanding from friends and family are needed to provide an environment conducive to wellness and recovery. The most helpful thing *YOU* can do, treat your children the way you would like to be treated. As a parent, there will be times when sitting at the supper table -- it is better to *bite* your tongue! `Spare the rod; spoil the child' -- has some merit; perhaps it should be: spare the lashing (tongue-lashing that is), and DO NOT denigrate your children. ADDITIONAL HELP: National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) PO Box 7 Highland Park, IL 60035 Phone: (708) 831-3438 Center for the Study of Anorexia and Bulimia 1 West 91st Street New York, NY 10024 Phone: (212) 595-3449 Bulimia Anorexia Self Help, Inc. (BASH) 6125 Clayton Avenue, Suite 215 St. Louis, MO 63139 Phone: (314) 567-4080 Copyright 1994 Rick Arnold ============================ # # # ================================ RUNE'S RAG PAGE 31 APR 1994 =-=-=-=-=-=-= Press Release =-=-=-=-=-=-= National Writers Union April 1994 13 Astor Place New York, NY 10003 Phone (212) 254-0279 (Services provided to members: contract advising, agent database, grievance handling, health care plans, New York and San Francisco Job banks for writers.) STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES ON CONTRACTS BETWEEN WRITERS AND ELECTRONIC BOOK PUBLISHERS by the National Writers Union Produced by Philip Mattera Book publishing is at the threshold of a new era. An industry that for hundreds of years has put ink on paper is now delivering more and more of its wares in the form of floppy diskettes and multimedia CD-ROMs; some publishers are also beginning to distribute books via on-line networks. Although the electronic book publishing industry is young and still very much in flux, it is not too early to try to establish some standards for the writer-publisher relationship in this field. This document represents an attempt by a major writers' organization to come up with some general principles that we hope will be adopted in contracts between writers and electronic publishers, primarily for works distributed in disc form. These principles address the four main types of projects writers and electronic publishers would enter into: ones in which the author of a print work who holds electronic rights licenses them to an electronic publisher; ones involving original electronic projects centered on a writer's text; ones centered on the work of numerous writers or other creators; and ones in which the writer's work plays a secondary role in an original electronic project dominated by other content such as music or video. In all four categories the writer's traditional role is altered. Electronic books, by their nature, involve elements beyond the stringing together of words. The skills of programmers, computer- graphic designers, musicians, videographers and others are also required. Creating a book almost invariably becomes a collaborative effort, in some cases as complicated as that involved in making a film. Figuring out how to participate in the new nature of authorship will be a challenge for every writer who wants to become involved in electronic publishing. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 32 APR 1994 It will also be a challenge for publishers. If electronic publishing is going to thrive, it will need the diversity and talent of the most creative members of the writing community. Setting fair standards will be essential in encouraging writers to make the leap from print to the digital world. I. COPYRIGHT. In print publishing most writers are accustomed to holding the copyright on the books they write. It is only under certain circumstances (textbooks, reference works, etc.) that authors may be put in a work-for-hire position, i.e. one in which the copyright vests with the publisher or other commissioning party. There is no reason why the principle of authors retaining their copyright should not be extended to the electronic realm. In cases where a print work is adapted to electronic form or an original electronic work is centered on a writer's work, there should be no question but that the writer would retain the copyright on the text portion of the work while licensing it to the publisher. Where there are numerous writers, each would hold the copyright on his or her text. Separate copyrights could exist for the user interface, retrieval software or additional multimedia elements inserted in the work. The matter is more complicated when the writer's contribution to a multimedia work is less predominant, e.g. a CD-ROM mostly made up of electronic photographs or video clips, with the text limited to simple captions. In the case of such electronic coffee table books it might not be unreasonable for a writer to be brought in on a work-for-hire basis on the premise that the writing is a contribution to a collective work. However, if the writing is more extensive and has to be closely coordinated with the producers of the other creative content, it might make sense for writers and the other creators (who may be acting in a partnership) to hold joint copyright in the entire content. II. GRANT OF RIGHTS. The publishing rights granted by a copyright holder to a publisher typically cover three main issues: the geographical scope of the rights, the formats in which the rights can be exercised, and the duration of those rights. Electronic book publishers typically want the right to distribute the work throughout the world, and some want rights in all possible formats. Whether the author wants to grant such sweeping rights should be a matter of negotiation, in which a broader grant of rights should be reflected in the size of the advance and the royalty rates. One important principle that should characterize all deals, is that publishers, after some reasonable amount of time, forfeit rights for any formats they have not exploited. The practice of sitting on rights should be discouraged. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 33 APR 1994 In addition, given the rapidly changing nature of electronic publishing, there should--unlike the practice in print publishing--be a time limit even on rights that are exploited. An author should not be tied indefinitely to a publisher that may not be adequately promoting or distributing the work or is failing to keep up with changes in technology. III. CREATIVE CONTROL. It is customary in most print book contracts for the author to have ultimate creative control over the content of the work--except for the publisher's right to ensure that the work conforms with some generally accepted standards of style, spelling, grammar, etc. and that the book is not obscene, libelous or an infringement on someone's copyright. Most publishers will assert greater control over matters such as cover design and jacket copy, but often authors will have the right of approval in these areas. A similar degree of author's creative control should extend to electronic publishing. Texts should not be altered in any significant way without the consent of the author, who should also be consulted on the packaging of the disc. Where there are substantial multimedia elements in the work, the issue of creative control is more complicated. Some electronic publishers may say that, in the same way that print publishers generally don't consult with authors on what typeface will be used, they should have exclusive control over issues such as user interface. This is a mistake. A successful multimedia work is one in which interface, images and sound are in harmony with the text. The best approach is for creative control to be a collective matter, involving publisher, writer and contributors of other creative content, rather than the hierarchical approach used, for example, in the film industry. Indeed, under the Berne Convention and federal law, moral rights protection is much stronger for visually-based works than it is for text. The rights of integrity and paternity will become increasingly relevant for multimedia works. IV. "MANUSCRIPT" ACCEPTANCE. One of the major sources of friction between print authors and publishers is the issue of manuscript acceptability for books that are contracted on the basis of a proposal rather than a finished work. A substantial number of such works are deemed unsatisfactory when they are delivered a year or more later, and the publisher seeks the return of the advance, which the author invariably has long ago spent. Writers' groups charge that many of these rejections are for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of the work--that the real explanation is that the original editor has left, or the house has been taken over and the new owner doesn't like the project, or the house has simply changed its mind. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 34 APR 1994 It's too early to tell whether electronic publishers will adopt these same practices. What would be better is for the industry to regard advances as an investment that entails a certain risk. If by the time the author delivers the text the publisher has for whatever reason changed its mind about the project, or if the writer has made a good faith effort but has produced something unsatisfactory, then the project should be cancelled and the advance written off as a business loss. If the publisher feels the writer has not made a serious effort to fulfill the contract, the publisher should file an arbitration claim (see item X below). V. ROYALTIES. The electronic book publishing industry is still too young to have the kind of more-or-less standard rates seen in the print world. For the time being, rates will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis. However, royalty rates should be higher for electronic books on discs than for print books to reflect the lower costs of production and the fact that the full income potential after cost recovery is unknown, and, at the very least, should be fairly divided and accounted so that authors may share in any long-term financial success of the product. Royalty rates should be even higher in situations such as network distribution of electronic books or "CD-ROM on Demand" kiosks, in which production costs may be negligible. There is one practice, however, that should be adopted widely from the start: that of paying royalties based on the list price of the work rather than the net. The experience of print publishing is that where royalties are paid on net (mostly small presses or reference works), there is simply too much potential for abuse on the part of the publisher. Authors tend to be suspicious of the mysterious figures that appear on royalty statements and often feel ripped off when they realize what a small percentage of the list price they are receiving. It is true, however, that for some electronic publishers, a substantial portion of their sales come from discs that are supplied to hardware manufacturers to bundle with their CD-ROM drives or multimedia kits. Electronic publishers argue that they could not possibly afford to pay list-price royalties on these copies, which are sold at huge discounts. This issue can be addressed by adopting the print publishing practice of paying lower and/or net royalties on those specific copies that are sold outside of normal trade channels. (In the case of electronic books, normal trade channels would include computer and software stores as well as book stores). RUNE'S RAG PAGE 35 APR 1994 VI. ROYALTY STATEMENTS. Royalty statements are the bane of print authors. Most of them are indecipherable documents that seem to conceal more than they reveal. Some print publishers, however, have begun to revamp their statements to provide more detailed data (though this sometimes makes them less rather than more intelligible). Given the sophistication of new technology, electronic publishers should follow the best practices of the print industry. Royalty statements should include complete information on the number of copies produced, shipped, returned, and remaining in stock. Authors should be in a position to know when their work is close to being out of stock or out of "print." Electronic publishers should avoid the antiquated practices of print publishers, in which it typically takes 90 or 120 days after the end of the semi-annual accounting period before the publisher supplies the author with the royalty statement and a check for any monies owed. In an industry producing works for use on computers, it would be only appropriate to follow a time frame more appropriate to the computer age. There is no reason why accounts should not be settled within 30 days of the close of the royalty period. Following the practices of many other businesses, publishers should pay a penalty of 3-4 per cent for each month a royalty payment is delayed. VII. TERMINATION. Print book contracts typically provide for the termination of the grant of rights if the publisher does one of several things: fails to publish the book within a reasonable amount of time, fails to pay royalties, or allows the work to go out of print. All of these provisions should be adopted in electronic book contracts. Yet the concept of "out of print" has to be re-thought in the electronic era, when small quantities or even single copies of a work can be reproduced easily and cheaply. The real criterion for whether a publisher can retain rights is whether the work is still being actively marketed. The sensible procedure would be to require the electronic publisher to notify the author when it has decided that it no longer makes sense to make even minimal efforts to promote the work. At that time the work would be deemed "out of promotion," and the rights would revert to the author, who may choose to purchase all or some of the remaining copies at a big discount. VIII. OPTION. The option clause common in print book contracts is a holdover from a time when the author-publisher relationship was more like a marriage rather than the one-night stands prevalent today. The clauses are ultimately unenforceable (in legal or practical terms) and serve mainly to inconvenience the author. They have no place in electronic book contracts. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 36 APR 1994 IX. NON-COMPETITION. Another controversial provision in print book contracts is the clause that bars the author from publishing another work that the publisher thinks would directly compete with its edition. Some non-competition clauses are written so broadly that they could undermine an author's writing career. If non-competition clauses are going to be used at all for electronic books, they should be written as narrowly as possible, i.e. they should only bar the publication of another work on the exact same subject using the same materials, and for a specific time period that is essential for the success of the original work. In addition, such clauses should not inhibit the right of the author to publish the same material in formats the rights to which have not been granted to the publisher. X. ARBITRATION. The cost and time involved in filing a lawsuit often prevents print authors from challenging contract violations on the part of their publishers. Arbitration helps to level the playing field by making cheaper and speedier justice possible. Electronic publishers should acknowledge the fairness of arbitration and make it a standard feature of their contracts with authors. XI. AFFORDABILITY & ACCESS. Although issues of pricing and affordability of books have not traditionally been addressed in print book contracts, these are matters that should be of concern to both writers and publishers in the electronic book industry. As electronic books begin to replace printed ones, discs should not be priced so high that they are affordable only to a small, relatively affluent portion of the population. As various forms of electronic publishing reduce the cost per unit of manufacturing and delivering book-length works, a share of those cost savings should be passed on to consumers in the form of lower prices. Electronic books, like their print counterparts, will become an essential component of civilization, so they should be as accessible as possible to everyone. Lower prices will also help to make electronic book publishing into the mass market ultimately needed for economic viability. Lower prices alone will not ensure universal access. Many people cannot afford even the computers and CD-ROM drives needed to read electronic books. The electronic book publishing industry, in partnership with writers and other creators, should take steps to expand free access to their products through libraries and other non-profit institutions. # # # For more information, email Philip Mattera: slope@panix.com ====================================================================== RUNE'S RAG PAGE 37 APR 1994 From the Editor: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- SUBSCRIPTIONS: You can have RUNE'S RAG delivered to your doorstep, on disk -- MONTHLY. You will also get a FREE Book on disk and/or other electronic publications. The FREE Book, usually one of the Classics, will be added to YOUR disk FREE of charge! ********** READER SPECIAL: CHECK LOWER PRICES ************** SIZE: 5.25" Floppy 3.50" Flippy DISK TYPE: [ ] 360K DOS [ ] 720K DOS [ ] 1.2M DOS [ ] 1.44M DOS COST: 1 Month Test Subscription......... $ 5.00 [ ] 3 Month Subscription.............. $12.00 [ ] 6 Month Subscription.............. $19.95 [ ] 12 Month Subscription............. $29.95 [ ] First Class Shipping, handling, and your FREE Classic is included in the subscription price. SUPPORT the ARTS -- you get GREAT reading, a reusable mailer, stories to read to your kids, and a free disk.;-) Support the ARTS. SAVE a TREE, NO paper -- use Electronic Magazines! *** If OUTSIDE the Continential U.S. add $1.00 per month.*** *NOTE: A 12 month Subscription includes a 6 month PREFERRED MEMBER STATUS on WRITERS BIZ BBS. FidoNet, EPubNet, Echos, Files, and more! INTERNET Addr: rick.arnold@f522.n2601.z1.fidonet.org FidoNet: 1:2601/522 EPbuNet: 1:2601/522 Mail Check/Money Order and this Form TO: RUNE'S RAG Data: (412) LUV-RUNE P.O. Box 243, Greenville, PA 16125-0243 USA (Please Print) Full Name __________________________________________________________ Company ____________________________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________________________ City _________________________________________ State/Prov___________ Zip/Postal Code _____________________________ Country_______________ Signature: ___________________________________ Date: _________ PASSWORD ___________________ for WRITERS BIZ BBS if 12 months. PRICES and FREE offers SUBJECT to CHANGE. See current issue. ====================================================================== RUNE'S RAG PAGE 38 APR 1994 =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= For Sysops, and others: =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= SYSOPS, would you like a hassle free new door each month? Get RUNE'S RAG delivered to your BBS or Mailer System, formatted and ready to go on-line simply by unzipping the new monthly file. RUNE'S RAG will be delivered to you on or near the 1st of each month formatted in READROOM.TOC format. All you need do is unzip the new file into a unique directory and it is ready to go on-line. I will send RUNE'S RAG via modem to your system as soon as each monthly issue rolls from the electronic press. This saves you time. Time is money. All you need do is initially install the READROOM Door (RDRM30.ZIP produced by EXHIBIT A COMMUNICATIONS), which allows on-line viewing and downloading from the door (your option). Works on most any system, which can produce DOOR.SYS, or with a conversion program of your choice to produce a DOOR.SYS file. The cost of this service is ONLY $48.00 per year. If out of the continental U.S., please add $12.00. You will be able to provide your users with something unique, each and every month -- hassle free. Download RUNE9403.ZIP or FREQ RUNER. Examine it and you will find there is a great deal to this Electronic Magazine. The magazine features work from authors around the country, fiction, non-fiction, essays, poetry and much more. A general interest magazine for young and old alike. Save a Tree -- read RUNE'S RAG. Support the ARTS and Authors. The plain ASCII version is also available for delivery. To participate in this exciting offer, please print and fill out the information form below: (Please Print) SYSOP NAME: _________________________________________________ BBS SYSTEM NAME: ____________________________________________ SYSTEM PHONE: ( ) _____________________ System Fido Address: ____________________ RUNE'S RAG PAGE 39 APR 1994 BBS LOGIN Information: (If needed) PreLog me as: RUNES RAG BBS PASSWORD: ____________________ MAILER PASSWORD: _________________ Postal Address: Address: __________________________________________________ City: _____________________________________________________ State/Province: ________________________ ZIP:_______________ Country:____________________________________________________ VOICE PHONE: ( ) ________________ Mail this form and Check or Money Order To: RUNE'S RAG INTERNET: rick.arnold@f522.n2601.z1.fidonet.org P.O. Box 243, FidoNet: 1:2601/522 EPubNet: 1:2601/522 Greenville, PA 16125 Phone Data: 1-412-LUV-RUNE (588-7863) 12 Months Service: $48.00 6 Months Service: $28.00 3 Month Service: $15.00 (Trial) Sysop Signature: ____________________________________ Date: _____________ Any unused portion of the subscription service, if terminated by the subscriber without notification to RUNE'S RAG, will be forfeited. If RUNE'S RAG receives written notification 32 days or more in advance, the balance of the subscription fee will be refunded upon mutual termination of this agreement. ====================================================================== RUNE'S RAG PAGE 40 APR 1994 RUNE'S RAG -- Your best Electronic Literary Magazine This electronic magazine (no paper save a tree) is RUNES'S RAG, a general interest magazine, published monthly (or as triannual whichever comes second). The issues, some with a small text reader, are displayed in READROOM.TOC (tm) format, and a version which is TEXT (ASCII) based, where the magazine should display on most machines, other versions may be published in the future. Guidelines: RUNE'S RAG, %ARNOLD'S PLUTONOMIE$, LTD., P.O. Box 243, Greenville, PA 16125-0243. Phone: 1-412-LUV-RUNE. Editor, Evelyn Horine; Managing Editor, Rick Arnold. 95.3% freelance written. A monthly international electronic fiction and non-fiction magazine (save your tree), publishing the best in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, satire, reviews, religion, interviews (anything relevant to readers). . . humor noire. Bio given, space permitting. Publishes within 3 months of acceptance. Reports in 4 weeks on queries. Takes first North American Serial Rights. Pays 90 days after publication. Pays $2.00 per article. Length: 100-50,000 words (work over 10,000 words will be serialized). SUPPORT AUTHORS and the ARTS -- Send donations to RUNE'S RAG to ensure continuation of this publication; monies, hardware, and/or software is accepted and may be tax deductible -- contact your tax advisor. Or, you can take a subscription to RUNE'S RAG, see the file SUBSCRIB.TXT. TIPS: Send your ms(s) by modem, First Preference, to: 1:2601/522 1-412-LUV-RUNE Fax: 1-412-588-7863, should be same number (try it). Second Preference Mail: Disk media: 360, 720, 1.2m, 1.4m. in unarced /uncompressed format, PURE ASCII text format on disk media. LEAST Preferred medium: paper, however, if the ms is under 1,000 words -- it will be considered -- we hate to perform data entry. Ensure you provide a contact BBS with Fido Node number for NetMail, or other E-mail address, home phone and your Postal Address, and always send/include a SASE, *especially* if you can not receive Netmail. LAYOUT: Standard submission format, flush left margin, ragged right, with 65 column max right margin, blank line between paragraphs, spell checked, edited, and proofed by YOU! Pure ASCII only, please. We do virtually no editing to your ms, except for layout into the e-mag to fit format needs. Rights: Copyright of each separate contributing article is held apart from the collective work as a whole, and vests initially to the author of the contributed article. The copyright holder of the collective work acquires the right of reproducing and distributing the contributed article, as part of the collective work, any revision of that collective work, and any collective work in the same series. In other words: The Authors retain copyright to their work! And have only sold the first serial rights for publication purposes. RUNE'S RAG PAGE 41 APR 1994 So dig out those moldy oldies, dust them off and submit. The worst thing that can happen is -- you could receive one more, but, highly personalized rejection message. This electronic magazine will attempt to remain a vehicle for new authors to demonstrate their works to their most valued critic -- the Reader. RUNE'S RAG is OUT_ware, a SHAREWARE concept, not Freeware, to the end user -- the Reader. If warranted, a semi-annual or annual may be produced in hardcopy form. The hardcopy issue will be marketed for sale and the proceeds will go towards supporting the continuation of publication and payment to authors. I hope to obtain grant monies, as well as solicit from patrons of the arts, so we may be able to pay contributors a better rate. RUNE'S RAG will be released into as many bit streams as possible for the widest dissemination. RUNE'S RAG is a member of EPubNet, which supports Electronic Publishing. For more information on EPubNet -- contact (via data) Mike Taylor @ (1:273/937) 215-923-8026 or N.L. Hargrove (1:317/317) 505-865-8385. SUBSCRIPTIONS: You can have RUNE'S RAG delivered to your doorstep -- on disk, monthly. You will also get a FREE Book or other electronic publications added to your monthly disk. The Book, usually one of the Classics, will be added to your disk FREE of charge. See SUBSCRIB or download RUNEINFO.ZIP, MORE than you want to know about RUNE'S RAG. # # #