Activate All Talismans of Good Fortune...

by Don Webb

Jerry is not only Wright but right on one point, for sure: we can’t blame Bush II for everything; he did have help. And Jerry is also correct to observe that the new President will be faced with tasks worthy of a superhero. Santa Claus seems a logical choice. We may note in passing that the Great American Cargo Cult has actually worked, but it’s paid off only those at the top.

The Great Meltdown of 2008 began long ago, and Bush the First’s observation about “voodoo economics,” many years ago, now seems eerily prescient. That’s why our unofficial motto about talismans concludes “voodoo optional.” You pays your money and you takes your chances.

Nonetheless, Bewildering Stories continued to provide riches to our readers in 2008. Our new New Year’s holiday feature, the Annual Review, shows as much.

As you may infer from our News bulletin, your Editor takes a slightly jaundiced view of the Preditors & Editors poll. It’s a smooth operation as far as it goes, but I think it’s too brief. And while its categories are good, one can easily suggest others. Jerry is off to a good start with his nominations, but they obviously raise the question Where do you stop?

Despite praiseworthy precautions, the poll is also subject to ballot-box stuffing. I have four e-mail addresses and could vote four times over. But, to quote another politician, “I am not a crook.” Wait... nobody will believe me, either. Okay, I’m too busy. Nope, still self-serving. Oh, all right: I’m too lazy. Now that’s a reason everyone will instantly accept, sight unseen.

As we say, the P&E poll is fun during its brief, ephemeral existence. But we stand by our Reviews, which, like the rest of Bewildering Stories, are all on line all the time. We know of no higher honor on the Net. We think they reward our contributors and provide a practical service to our readers. How are they arrived at? Pete Sierra and I touch on that subject in this issue.

Happy Bewildering New Year, everyone. With this added tidbit, which probably deserves to be a new unofficial motto: On n’est jamais si heureux ni si malheureux qu’on le croit — A rough translation of La Rochefoucauld’s succinct epigram: “We can always be better off — or worse off — than we think.”