AustLit

Chandler provides some insights into the writing of his alternate history novel about Ned Kelly, and offers some thoughts on the man and his legacy.

A brief biographical account of his life as a science fiction fan an his career as a merchant seaman and author.

Chandler writes candidly about the practice of abridging novels, aiming his barbs in the direction of Reader's Digest. He also recalls the time that Ace books exercised a chapter from one of his novels, The Rim of Space, but failed to tell the cover artist. It was subsequently released with a cover depicting action that did not appear in the edition.

Chandler writes about his friendship with Harlan Ellison following the American author's joint-guest of honour appearance at the 1983 Syncon (Sydney, NSW).

Chandler writes about his experiences with Tokyo publisher Hayakawa, including some of his responses to the covers the company produced for its Japanese readers.

Chandler recalls his visit to Japan as guest of honour at DAICON IV (1983).

Chandler writes about the all-too common mis-use of apostrophes, either as quotation marks or to indicate the possessive case, by writers and/or their editors.

Chandler has a whinge about another of his pet hates - slovenly or non-existent research by authors, and particularly those who set their narratives in or around the sea.

Chandler writes about some of the things that raise his ire and put him in a bad mood. One was a visit to the Mitchell Library (State Library of NSW) and the other his first first reading of an interview with an Auckland Herald journalist. The 'pet corns' that were stamped upon are the use of 'Christian' rather than 'given' name; the use of 'sci fi' instead of 'sf' when referring to him as a science fiction author; and the way in which a driver’s license is demanded as proof of identity.

Chandler writes about his return to New Zealand after some sevenyears for the 1981 Norcon convention (Auckland).

Chandler writes of his trip to a number of International Science Fiction Conventions.