Superhero realities examined
“Superheroes”
Edited by John Varley
Ace Fantasy Publishing
Grade: A
Have you ever wondered what it
would be like to be a superhero?
What would you do if you got sued
or thrown in jail?
“Superheroes” is a book that
tries to answer these questions and
more. Hugo and Nebula award
winner John Varley has gathered
25 short stories about never-seen
before, “alternative” heroes.
The authors of these stories
range from fellow award-winning
science fiction authors to longtime
comic book writers.
Many of the stories are not about
heroes with super powers, but about
normal humans with super-natu
ral drives. In “The Long Crawl of
Hugh Glass,” we find a late 19th
century tracker on a trek through
the wilderness with two broken
legs. Native American legends
come to life in “Four Tales of Many
Names” and “Basic Training.”
For the most part, though, we
see a lot of spandex-wearing, su
per-powered heroes, most in rather
comical situations.
In “Peer Review,” Revenant is
brought before a jury of superhe
roes and asked to defend several
unlawful deeds. This story raises
the question of whether a super
hero should take action if the law is
hurting someone.
“And the Sea Shall Cast Him
Out” tells how a superhero could
love a villain and how they might
work things out. “Contract Hit”
sees what could happen if heroes
signed contracts with cities like
they were sports figures, while
“Empowered” takes a look at why
heroes are legally responsible for
the damage that occurs during
fights.
One fascinating story takes a
look at a superhero in a world with
no supervillains. “Reflected Glory”
follows the public relations man of
Ultima, a super-strong hero who
j ust cannot seem to pull his punches
and consequently kills hundreds of
criminals.
It did not seem to be a big deal
at first, but soon everyone from
citizens to police were condemn
ing Ultima for being judge and
executioner.
Other exceptionally written
pieces include Jerry Bingham’s
“Basic Training,” a story about a
Native American boy on his quest
to be a man, and a story from the
editor himself called “Truth, Jus
tice and the Politically Correct
Socialist Path.”
This is a wonderful satire that
traces Soviet history and asks, what
if Superman as a baby had crashed
in Russia? In this version, we get a
super communist who would turn
over his own parents for the good
of the Mother Land.
Most of the stories held in “Su
perheroes” are worth reading.
Comic and science fiction fans will
definitely love to laugh at this book.
—Greg Schick
BretGottschall/DN
ThE tUymiMikET
826 P Street
(402) 477-2171
Symphony
Continued from Page 11
others over the last 20 years.
Slatkin may be leaving the St. Louis
Symphony Orchestra, but his memory
will remain with the group.
Slatkin will continue to direct, this
time on a national scale, George said.
“He was named music director des
ignate of the National Symphony Or
chestra beginning with the ’94-’95
season and will become that
orchestra’s music director in ’96-’97,”
she said.
For his last Nebraska show, at least
with the St. Louis Orchestra, Slatkin
will be conducting “Violin Concerto
No. 1 in g minor” “Op. 26” by Bruch
and “Symphony No. 5 in C-sharp
minor” by Mahler.
George said the concert would be
well worth watching.
“He’s really an incredible man,”
she said. “He’s brought the masses
into classical music.”
The concert will begin at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are $38, $35 and $32 and are
half price for students.
Band
Continued from Page 11
ence directing marching bands of
approximately 300 people, the same
size as UNL’s.”
The first candidate will be in
terviewed this week; the last leaves
on Feb. 26, Mallett said. After con
tract negotiations, the school hopes
to make the selection by the middle
of March, he said.
“Hopefully we’ll have a verbal
commitment by March 15,” he said.
Mallett said the introduction of
a new director should not create
any radical changes or problems
for the marching band.
“We’ve been extremely pleased
with the direction the marching
band has taken,” he said. “As far as
the tradition of the marching band,
those things will not change.”
-1
1
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