Fallen Angels
Picture the world, some years from now, under the effects of an encroaching ice age. Public opinion has turned violently against scientists and science in all forms, believing them to be responsible somehow for the inexorable spread of the polar ice sheets.
A small orbital community is left stranded as support for space research dwindles to nothing, and they must survive by their own devices or not at all. When two members of a routine flight to gather air from the upper atmosphere are shot down and crash on the North American ice sheet, survival seems impossible. Their only hope is a group of eccentric and disorganised science fiction fans who must evade the authorities and somehow return the astronauts to orbit.
In what seems to be a tribute to the often weird and wonderful world of SF fandom, Niven et al. weave a believable and tense story. Very enjoyeable (although the fan jargon can often be confusing).
Character References
Many of the characters in Fallen Angels are actually based on real-life people, i.e. Larry and Jerry and Steven, some are other SF authors, some are personal friends the authors and other name references in this book were auctioned off as prizes at SF conventions to fans.
This character list came originally from the rec.arts.sf.written newsgroup, posted by Alexander Kerste, compiled by Lee Gold.
Many of the characters in Fallen Angels are actually based on real-life people, i.e. Larry and Jerry and Steven, some are other SF authors, some are personal friends the authors and other name references in this book were auctioned off as prizes at SF conventions to fans.
This character list came originally from the rec.arts.sf.written newsgroup, posted by Alexander Kerste, compiled by Lee Gold.
Real Life Person | Character | *...on Page # |
---|---|---|
Larry Niven | Nat Reynolds | Page 26 |
Jerry Pournelle | Wade Curtis | Page 26 |
Steven Barnes | Steve Mews | Page 25 |
Harlan Ellison | Cordwainer Bird | Page 26 |
Greg Bear | Gregory Lutenist | Page 109 |
Clifford Simak | Andy Atwood & Enoch Wallace | Pages 190 & 191 respectively |
Poul Anderson? Gordon Dickson? A fusion? |
Poul Dickson | Page 387 |
Lonnie Hopkins | Lon Atkins | Page 10 |
The Harrigans | Soren Haroldsson, Lisbet Haroldsson | Pages 14 & 15 |
Thor (60s/70s fan) | Thor | Page 22 |
Mike Glyer | Mike Glider | Page 23 |
Bruce Hyde | Bruce Pelz | Page 23 |
Chuck Umber | Charlie Brown | Page 26 |
Tom Digby | Tom Degley | Page 26 (see p327) |
Ed Buchman | Crazy Eddie | Page 26 |
George Scithers | Cpt. Scithers | Page 37 |
Leigh Strother Vien | Cpt. Lee Arteria | Page 71 |
Ed Buchman? | Edward Two Bats | Page 87 |
Fang van Took | Fang | Page 87 |
Calvin Throop | Throop Amos | Page 88 |
Forrest J Ackerman (aka 4SJ) | 3MJ aka Tremont J. Fielding | Page 88 |
Hank Stine | Henry Stiren | Page 93 |
Seth Breidbart? | Seth of the Lunarians | Page 95 |
Ben Yalow | Benjamin Orange | Page 98 |
Ted Marshall | Himself | Page 102 (p 277) |
Leslie Fish (Filker and long-time fan) | Jenny Trout | Page 114 |
The late Frank Gasperik (friend, fan and member of the LN-L mail list). As a point of interest, Frank is also "Harry Reddington" (AKA "Hairy Redd") in Footfall and Mark Czescu in Lucifer's Hammer. | Harry (Czescu) | Page 114 |
Don Simpson, Russell Seitz | Ron Cole (Cloak of Anarchy) | Page 127 |
Pat Davis (Artist) | Himself | Page 131 |
Steve Jackson | Himself | Page 164 |
Simak's Big Front Yard | Hiram Taine | Page 198 |
Toni Weisskopf (Executive Editor of Baen Books) | Terri Whitehead | Page 213 |
Richard M. Stallman (who wrote emacs) | RMS | Page 238 |
Ron Ellik (LASFSian who died in late 60s, killed by drunk driver. TAFF winner (report called A Squirrel's Tale). He also wrote and UNCLE novel. | Ron Ellick | Page 275 |
Adrienne Martine-Barnes | Adrienne Martine-Barnes | Page 279 |
Set up to honor deserving fans, group invented by Eric Jones, Peter Mabey, and Bob Richardson. | Knights of St. Fantory Chivalric Group | Page 283 |
R. A. Lafferty (possible SOB ref) | S. B. O'Rafferty | Page 319 |
Juanita's husband, edited Yandro, a major fanzine reviewzine |
Buck Coulson | Page 326 |
Elliot Shorter | George Long | Page 332 |
June Moffatt | JuneL | Page 333 |
Bot Merlin Null | Merlin NullL | Page 333 |
Craig Miller | CC Miller (aka Cissy) | Page 334 |
Jenny Dazzo (Craig's Wife) | Ginny Miller | Page 334 |
Walt Doherty used to talk about wonderful projects he was going to do starting Real Soon Now. Read AH SWEET IDIOCY for detailed putdown. |
Doherty Project | Page 338 |
Lee Jacobs oldtime LASFSian who wrote faan fiction (collection published), the person who typoed folk into filk. | Himself | Page 345 |
Dave McDaniel, writer of UNCLE books & filksongs? His son Tom McDaniel? | Sgt. McDaniel | Page 382 |
Rick Foss (LASFSian, travel agent) | Rick Foss | Page 386 |
Ken Porter (heavy-set black man) | Ken | Page 387 |
Collaboration, co-written with Jerry Pournelle & Michael Flynn
excerpted in Amazing Science Fiction Stories, June 1991