Ariel Cinii's Chapbook

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TheWar with the Zylv, Marianne Porter's latest DragonstairsPress chapbook, goes on sale this Saturday at noon, Philadelphia time, and since it is printed in an edition of 100 (numbered, signed, and hand-stitched) chapbooks, could take hours to sell out.

The story itself is a science fiction tale of first contact, invasion, and war with an alien species. It was inspired by a piece of artwork by Ariel Cinii, which is reproduced on its cover.

But who was Ariel Cinii?

Goodquestion. Ms. Cinii, who also used the names Abra Cinii, Sodyera,and Winterbrucke, but was known to her friends as Abby, was an activemember of science fiction fandom as a filk singer-songwriter, artist,and all-around fan. She was also the first openly trans individual infandom.

If I ever met her, it was one of those myriad acquaintances where you chat amiably on occasion and after a couple of years realize that it's too late to politely ask for a name without giving offense. But at Boskone, a month short of three years after her death,her friends had a table at which they were cheerily giving away herart to whoever wanted it. How could they possibly bring themselves todo this? Well... it turns out that she left behind some 1,300 worksof art. Giving it to the community she loved seemed to them the bestway they could keep her memory alive.

Theseare, yes, fan art in their themes—spaceships, aliens, futuristiccars, fantastic cities, and the like. But the skill and care thatwent into the art and its preservation indicate a high seriousness onMs. Cinii's part. Which combined with elaborate symbols with whichshe labeled her pictures in her invented language Sartine, puts herin a nebulous space somewhere between “fan art” and “high art.”Let's just call it art.

Ipicked up three 17” x 14” images and over the following monthswould look at them and think about what stories they might tell. Whenone came to me that I felt would make a good story, I pitched it toMarianne. She agreed that it would be an appropriate way to pay backMs. Cinii (and her friends) for the artwork.

And,you may ask, did we . . . ?

Yes,of course. Marianne and I paid Ariel Cinii's estate for the use of herartwork.

Thisis a motto and a matter of honor in our household: The Artist Always GetPaid. I've known artists to break out in laughter when I saythat. But we're sticking to it. Because it's how one shows respectfor the artist.

Thiswas the other way we paid back Ms. Cinii for her work.

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