. . . Without Mind Food We Can't . . .

R. Bruce Miller

Below is an exact transcription of a letter I recently received. I have every reason to believe that the request is legitimate. I also believe that it is deeply relevant to the content of this book you have in hand. Regardless, even if the request turns out to be fradulent, it still seems worthwhile to respond because sooner or later any books that are sent will be read by someone who may not otherwise have had access to them.

Zoryany Shlyah SF club
c/o Boris Sidyuk
Poste Restante
General P.O.
Kiev 252001
Ukraine
December 12, 1991

	Dear sir or madam,
	We are a SF club called Zoryany Shlyah of Kiev, the capital of
Ukraine (former Soviet republic, now an independent country). We are
the only one in the former USSR who have the section of English-
readings in the club. We even issue our English-language publication
called CHERNOBYLIZATION well-known throughout the world.
	As you probably know the situation in the former Soviet empire is
going on very hard. The people here have lots of problems to survive and
live. It is also hard time for SF community in this country, a part thereof
we are.
	We read SF books, we do love to read ones, to study SF&F in
general, to enjoy this wonderful world. But know we almost have not got
books for reading. It's a whole problem for us, more one than, for
example, to find food. We can go hungry, but without mind food we can't.
	As far as we know your library takes off, from time to time, old
SF&F books and sells them for lowest prices. We do need them, but we
have no cents (I do not mention dollars) to buy even a single of. You do
not need soviet wooden dried Roubles. It seems no way out. But maybe we
and you can exchange. You can send us your taken-off books. And we can
send you new SF&F books published here in russian and ukrainian, both
by local authors and translated from English. Please, let us know what you
think of it.
	Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
	On behalf of the club,
						Yours faithfully,
						Boris Sidyuk, chairman