Octopus's Garden

Issue Sixty-Three

12th May 2009

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Sub-editorial

HELLO, good evening and welcome to Octopus's Garden, the subzeen with its very own Railway Rivals opening. It's a subzeen to Jim Burgess' The Abbysinian Prince. Produced by Peter Sullivan, peter@burdonvale.co.uk. It's also available on the web at http://www.burdonvale.co.uk/octopus/.

Pete Tulk: An Apology

The management would like to apologise for Pete Tulk. No, hang on, that's not right...

Pete Tulk writes:

Subject: TROG Rises from the Dead.

Well no, actually it doesn't, but it's a frightening idea isn't it? Don't ask me how, long stories aren't my long suit these days, but I happened upon a copy of Octopus' Garden today, and saw that my name was taken in vain, and I felt that I must correct you. I was actually TIGHT END for the wargoddesses, and not running back, as stated in your article. I trust you will print a retraction and an apology in your next issue. How are you, you damned great monster?((Doing fine. And I am, of course, willing to offer whatever corrections or clarifications may be required regarding your tight end.))

Twenty Years On

Twenty years ago this summer, as a callow youth in-between finishing university and starting work, I went up to Cambridge for William Whyte's 21st Birthday Party. The day after the party, we played a face-to-face game of Railway Rivals, on the France map. I remember that, on one turn, I was just outside Marseille, and was just about to take the six points for both that and Toulon. The only way I could possibly miss out was if the player to my right threw a six. Needless to say, he did, and I lost both towns, to two different players. At the end of the game, I was less than 12 points behind the leader, so that die roll cost me the game. No wonder one of William's friends (I believe Conor Kostik, although after all this time I wouldn't take my oath on it) described the FR map as 'She's a bitch of a map, an' I love her.' All of which is a rather long-winded piece of background for the following announcement:

Waiting Lists

Railway Rivals (France): None (five or six wanted).

If you want in on this, please contact me at peter@burdonvale.co.uk.

Postal rules are at http://www.burdonvale.co.uk/octopus/rr.html.

That was Octopus's Garden #63, a Startling Press production.