Alien Creations
By Phyllis Gotlieb

Mr.  Szambil
Double Star Route  #297Ω
Rigel 13  OR

February 9,  1987
Dear Mr. Szambil,

You don't give any name or initials,  so I'm assuming on spec that you're male.  This is a nice,  well written little story you've sent me,  but the first-contact theme has been worn & hackneyed for fifty years.  I'm returning  Made by Hand,  but I like your style & I hope you'll try us again.

Do add the right postal code,  please.  The mail is bad enough without encouraging it to be worse.

Sincerely,

William Wabish,  Editor

STREAMING STARS

Science Fiction

E.T. Szampil

Double Star Route #297Ω

Rigel OR  10101

February 27, 1987

Dear Mr. Szampil,

 Thank you for trying us with Untrod by Human Feet.  Unfortunately, 

though you do seem to have a lot of enthusiasm for depicting aliens,  these characters as you present them are just ordinary guys & gals in scales & fur.  You really have to get into the character of an alien from the alien's point of view to succeed at this.  You've come so close to what I want,  I do hope you'll keep on working at it.  Incidentally,  your story  (returned herewith)  took just one day to get here from Oregon.  The mail service must be improving.

Cordially,

William Wabish,  Editor

STREAMING STARS

Science Fiction

----------------------------------------------------------------------                                      

 E.T. Szampil

Double Star Route #297Ω

Rigel OR  10101

March 22, 1987

Dear E.T.,

Thanks for your letter.  No, I don't think it's worth your while to rewrite Untrod by Human Feet.  It's not an original enough idea to be worth reworking.  I suggest you start with something fresh.  Remember,  you've got to get deep inside these aliens of yours,  make them really strange.

Yes,  I know how remote you feel,  writers often do.  But you've got some of the best sf writers out there in Oregon,  like  Wilhelm,  Le Guin, & Sheckley.  You could probably get to see them at one of your local cons.

Cordially,

Bill Wabish

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 E.T. Szampil

Double Star Route #297Ω

Rigel OR  10101

April 16,  1987

Dear Mr. Szampil,

Your story,  The Cold Shoulders of Doctor Sorghum,  herewith,  is not what I meant by getting inside your characters.  What your protagonists  (of whichever sexes)  do with their tentacles,  orifices,  & electric organs,  is certainly original.  I just don't think I want to know about it,  and I'm quite sure no one else will,  no matter how delicately and beautifully it's described.  Science fiction,  in the past few years,  has come very far,  & gone very far out,  but I'm afraid your stories will have to wait for the future.  Don't let me discourage you.

Sincerely,

William Wabish,  Editor

STREAMING STARS

Science Fiction

-----------------------------------------------------------------------                                     

 E.T. Szampil

Double Star Route #297Ω

Rigel OR  10101

May 9,  1987

Dear Ms. Szampil,

--I suppose I can call you Ms. now,  can't I?--You say that you are going home to lead your brood in taking revenge on Earth.  I'm glad to see you still have a sense of humor,  but I must urge you never to give up and stop trying.

I wonder if,  with your kind of style,  you wouldn't be better off writing romances?  This firm publishes a lot of those,  though I don't have anything to do with editing them.   Or--have you ever tried your hand at detective stories?  You say you live in a cluster.  With a whole bunch of towns close by you must know some pretty hot gossip,  and could work in a lot of local color,  like,  say,  the Miss Marple stories.

It looks as if I was wrong about Oregon,  wasn't I?  I notice the postmark on the envelope says what seems to be ORION.  That can't be right.  I think what looks like an N must be a smear,  and I mistook the H for an R,  and you come from Ohio?  Yes?   That 10101 zip code looked funny for Oregon. 

Anyway,  it was a privilege reading your very interesting stories,  Ms. Szampil,  and I wish you lots of luck with the baby and all your other plans for the future.  You'll see yourself published in one of our magazines yet.

Best,  Bill.