Date: Thu, 6 Jan 2005 17:56:45 -0500 (EST)
From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at KeithLynch.net>
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>
Subject: [WSFA] Re: Is it real? Or Memorex?
Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at WSFA.org>

As usual, the SF authors who *admit* they are SF authors were way
ahead of the curve:

  Date: 14 MAR 1980 1302-PST
  From: FORWARD at USC-ECL
  Subject: [WSFA] Hard science behind DRAGON'S EGG
  To: ( at FILE [DSK:DUFFEY;SFLVRS DISNMS]) at MIT-AI

  . . .

  DRAGON'S EGG was written on a computer, using TECO and SPELL for
  editing and corrections, and MRUNOFF for producing the drafts.  I
  could not have done it without those programs, thanks -- whoever you
  are that produced and maintain them.  I don't think this is a first
  for a SF novel, since Jim Hogan is a former DEC employee and probably
  used a computer.  However, I think this may be the first SF novel that
  was transferred via ARPA-net FTP (to Moravec at SAIL to have him check
  over some of the science on the use of magnetic monopoles).

  DRAGON'S EGG will not be printed until April, and is slated for a
  May release date (although some stores may have it in late April).
  It will only be available in hard-cover, with the paperback version
  coming out in the fall.  It has not been picked up by the SF book
  club, alhough I am sure Ballantine is trying.

  I will be glad to autograph copies when and if we meet, and if that is
  not likely, I would be glad to send a special acknowledgement through
  net mail, and you can paste a hard-copy of the message on the inside
  of the book.  (Anyone have any good ideas on transmitting a scribbly
  signature with ASCII symbols?)

ARPAnet was of course the predecessor to the Internet.