 February 22, 2019 - 5:23am | Admission1: the author did not spell this out in black and white but instead hinted at it. Admission2: My belief is that the story does have problems and should be treated as a holo drama for kids produced by Star Play. and that said this item could be just the fertile imaginative creation of the writer. i'm convinced that the author of villians thought things out and "the Boss" character is also a Sathar. That there are more than one sathar and they use this special disk of the Boss. Kyiki finds this disk in a special locked draw in the storage room that only by pure dumb luck he was able to open. he uses the special holo disc to impersonate the Boss and when its reported that the special disk is missing the Boss by radio orders and massive search of the whole facility. at one point Kyiki, worried that he might be discovered with the disc sticks it to the back of one of the pirates having set the time delay activation. when it activates and makes that pirate look like the boss they all assume he is the traitor. Kyiki recognizes its as some sort of holo disc but is at first baffled by it a little. Comments by a dralasite in the book state that the Boss seems to be be everywhere and that he also seems to creep them out- which i take for a hint that the boss is the sathar even though he tells the pirates at different points he's going to meet with the sathar. Also some of the mineral surveyors of the mega corp have an almost laughing attitude about screw Universal Minerals because now the sathar is going to pay them. Again the author doesn't spell it out but the implication is that they have been hypnotized by the sathar/ Boss. Initially I found it odd that characters in setting would brag about getting paid by the sathar knowing how the sathar are enemy #1 and STar Law's whole initial reason for existance is to track down their agents. Details of operation: 1. time delay activation 2. limited internal power source- i would go with an SEU power disc as seen in Zebs except as per other discussion this site I would make it 8 SEU- i believe base 8 math was something we kicked around for the sathar 3. compatible with Frontier holo screen belts 4. does not seem to have the standard chance for it to be seen through as Frontier holo screen technology. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 22, 2019 - 5:29am | In story there is a holo disc labelled Jac that is used by a dralasite to impersonate the kid's vrusk tutor. When they are riding a hovercycle together Kyiki sees through the holo screen and sees leathery gray arms instead of his tutors arms. The dralasite makes comments that he was with the kid on the star ship and caused it to crash on volturnus. Because the holo field is seen through by the kid and he immediately recognizes it, I judge it to be standard frontier holo technology. some runnings of the story involve Jac actually assisting in the capture of the pirates so this is not a consistent story line in the book. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
 February 23, 2019 - 10:26am | In story there is a holo disc labelled Jac that is used by a dralasite to impersonate the kid's vrusk tutor. When they are riding a hovercycle together Kyiki sees through the holo screen and sees leathery gray arms instead of his tutors arms. The dralasite makes comments that he was with the kid on the star ship and caused it to crash on volturnus. Because the holo field is seen through by the kid and he immediately recognizes it, I judge it to be standard frontier holo technology. some runnings of the story involve Jac actually assisting in the capture of the pirates so this is not a consistent story line in the book. Good observations. I had that book years ago. Although there is a partial version online at starfrontiers.com, I don't think it gives the whole run through. What you bring up brings back some of my memories. I think you may be correct about the sub-plot. I think the author of the book is still alive -- at least when I last checked about three years ago. Maybe it might be interesting if I can try to interview her? Joe Cabadas |
February 23, 2019 - 9:36pm | I think the author of the book is still alive -- at least when I last checked about three years ago. Maybe it might be interesting if I can try to interview her? did she write anything else for starfrontiers? I can begin the process of researching her. Zeb Cook was an easier interview to write because he loomed so large at TSR and because of his role in star frontiers. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 23, 2019 - 11:40pm | From prabooks.com Jean F. Blashfield Edit Profile Jean F. Blashfield, American editor, writer. Member American Association of University Women (board directors Geneva Lakes branch 1991), Mystery Writers American, National Science Writers Association, Society Children's Book Writers. BackgroundBlashfield, Jean F. was born on December 2, 1939 in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Daughter of Floyd Artwill and Cecil Iola (Mauldin) Blashfield. EducationBachelor, University of Michigan, 1961. CareerManaging editor, Young People's Science Encyclopedia, Childrens Press, Chicago, 1961-1964;juvenile editor, Thomas Nelson & Sons, London, 1964-1966;natural history editor, Paul Hamlyn Group, Ltd., London, 1966-1967;editor-in-chief Above and Beyond: Encyclopedia Aviation & Space Sciences, New Horizons Publications, Chicago, 1967-1969;editor-in-chief Young Student's Encyclopedia, Funk & Wagnalls, Xerox Education Publs., 1969-1972;editor, co-founder, Journal Aerospace Education, 1973-1976;editor, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Report to Educators, 1973-1976;managing editor book division, TSR, Inc., Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, 1982-1988;senior editor, CrimeBooks, Inc., Wilmette, Illinois, 1989;president, founder, editor, B&B Public, Inc., Fontana, Wisconsin, 1989-1994.
MembershipMember American Association of University Women (board directors Geneva Lakes branch 1991), Mystery Writers American, National Science Writers Association, Society Children's Book Writers. InterestsConnectionsMarried Wallace Byron Black, December 18, 1976 (deceased). Children: Winston Edward II, Chandelle Cecilia.
Joe Cabadas |
February 23, 2019 - 11:46pm | Anyway, I'd probably have to track her down through one of the publishing houses. I can't find any information on how to contact her directly. Joe Cabadas |
February 24, 2019 - 6:33am | Here is my thought: it does not appear that she wrote any other Endless Quest books, just this one. I dont believe that she wrote anything else for TSR. the interview might be really short. and she might not really remember writing this book. it looks like she was brought in to do the job. I think she should be applauded for the excellent job she did do. that she carefully studied the setting and worked within its frame work whereas Catherine McGuire, who wrote Trougle on Artule, clearly did not. So that said Important questions to ask: 1. how do you come to be involved at TSR? Did you play RPGs like Dungeons and Dragons and Star Frontiers? Favorite story? Managing Book Editor at TSR from 73-76 what did you work on in that position? Important to know what she did before you ask if possible and drill down on th 2. Did you ever meet Gary Gygax? What was he like? Funny story? 3. What was your impression of Star Frontiers? 4. How did you develope the story for Villians? 5. How much direction did TSR give you in for the story? (If you get any sort of details to this answer you have to drill down on them) Its also important to have a grasp of her career and ask intelligent questions about that. It seems that she wrote a lot of youth fiction and science youth fiction, is this her passion? is this why they chose her to write Villains? or perhaps why did they choose her? Know what awards she has earned over her career. What has been the most rewarding aspect of writing youth literature? In your career what are you most proud of? So that's my initial list of question without researching her. EDIT: when I did the Zeb Cook interview, at the very end last question I actually asked him if he'd consider writing something for the fan magazine. He said "we'll see" which is parental langauge for i dont want to say no outright to your face and I'm putting you off with a maybe. I didn't publish that question in the SFman. It was more about seeing if you could get a Legend to contribute to the magazine which would have been a big coop on my part. Non the less as a magazine editor always looking for new content 'm just cheaky enough to ask. So i'd like to be involved in an interview so that I can be the cheaky bastard that I am and respectfully, of course, ask at the end. She's use to being paid so the question has to be phrased right so that she understands that we cant pay. However, if I understand anything about authors its entirely possible she might decide to contribute and again a short story from an author of her stature is not small potatoes. I might not be a dralasite, vrusk or yazirian but I do play one in Star Frontiers! |
February 24, 2019 - 11:08am | Those look like some good questions to start off with. Ah, she's on LinkedIn: Joe Cabadas |
February 24, 2019 - 11:09am | Of course, there is a wikipedia entry for her (not that I would trust it to be 100% accurate) After graduating from college, Blashfield was hired by Wallace Black at Children's Press in Chicago, where she started working on a 20-volume science encyclopedia. Within a few months, she was promoted to Managing Editor, and handled all the editing and production, managed a staff of 20, and wrote a number of articles for the encyclopedia. The Young People's Science Encyclopedia was first published in 1962.[1] Blashfield commented, "The most exciting event of my professional career was the publishing of this first encyclopedia. With that job, I was ballooned into the mainstream of publishing before I had even known where I was heading. It was a thrilling, enriching experience — being with experts in their fields, top consultants from many walks of life, and enjoying the concepts of the varied artists. I think being involved with the compiling of a major reference work of any kind is a stirring (and exhausting) experience."[1] In 1964, Blashfield took a job in London: "The logic of that move escapes me now, except there was no position in Chicago at the time that I was interested in, and the thought of moving to New York scared the wits out of me."[1] While in London, her first works for the company were published - a series of Gilbert and Sullivan operas illustrated and retold for children, also published in the United States by Franklin Watts. She comments: "I also wrote a book on scientific experiments, and served as American consultant on several adult 'coffee table books,' one of which was a book of photographs by Lord Snowden, Princess Margaret's ex-husband".[1] In 1967, Wallace Black started his own company, New Horizons Publishers, and asked Blashfield to come back to Chicago as his editor-in-chief to create a 14-volume aviation and space encyclopedia: "It seemed like too good an opportunity to miss, so I left London and came back to the United States. It was quite a challenge overseeing the work on a science encyclopedia for high school students and adults. The science was much more involved than it had been on the earlier set, but there were a lot of benefits, too [...] The Air Force flew me to a number of special events, including the rollout of the C-5 aircraft where President Johnson spoke. I saw the launch of the first Saturn V rocket from Cape Kennedy, and I spent a lot of time in Washington, D.C."[1] Above and Beyond: The Encyclopedia of Aviation and Space Sciences was published in 1968. After that, Blashfield moved to Washington, D.C., and worked as a freelance editor and writer.[1] In 1976, Wallace Black, now widowed, had come to Washington on business. "We got together for dinner one night [...] and three months later we were married."[1] The next year, the Blacks moved to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and then had two children, a son, Winston, and a daughter, Chandelle.[1] A friend introduced her to Rose Estes, who wrote a number of the early Endless Quest books for TSR. "I didn't know about TSR, even though it was only a few miles away. I had heard of the Dungeons & Dragons game, of course, but I had no idea it was published in Wisconsin."[1] As she was already an experienced industry editor, Jean Black was brought on as Education Editor for TSR's new education department, which was intended to sell classroom modules to teachers.[2]:14 She worked with Jim Ward to put together an education program.[1] The education department ultimately failed because TSR decided not to hire educational sales staff; Black would later push other educational ideas, such as books that combined World War II history with wargames, but TSR did not take advantage of these educational opportunities.[2]:14 Black became the Managing Editor of TSR's new Book Department, and would use the success of TSR's gamebooks to aid in the release of the Dragonlance novels.[2]:14 Black picked Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis to write Dragons of Autumn Twilight (1984) and the rest of the Dragonlance Chronicles series.[2]:16 She also wrote a number of gamebooks, including Master of Ravenloft (AD&D Adventure Gamebook #6), Ghost Tower (Super Endless Quest Book #2), and Villains of Volturnus (Endless Quest Book #8). Joe Cabadas |
