Nancy Thuleen wrote: > I do recall this being discussed on rec.arts.sf.written quite a while > ago when I was still a regular lurker there. And Google Groups does > have three threads on the topic (at least when I search using Brust > Aisse), but all three also falter at determining Phent and > Greenbough. The only real answer there is: > > >From: goldf... at OCF.Berkeley.EDU (David Goldfarb) > >Subject: Re: [BRUST] _Phoenix_ publisher in-joke? (No spoilers) > >Date: 1999/09/09 > >Newsgroups: rec.arts.sf.written > > > >In article <keshlema-0909990152120... at pm466-18.dialip.mich.net>, > >jere7my tho?rpe <keshl... at umich.edu> wrote: > >) ...is Brust poking fun at the SF publishing industry? > And, if so, > >)who are Phent and Greenbough? > > > >When Brust signed at The Other Change of Hobbit in early '92 I > >asked him about this. He said they were Minneapolis-area music > >promoters that he didn't like. It strikes me as somewhat cheating > >to mix media like that, but I don't get a vote. > > > >-- > > David Goldfarb <*>| "Questions are a burden to others. > >goldf... at ocf.berkeley.edu | Answers are a prison for oneself." > >goldf... at csua.berkeley.edu | > >aster... at slip.net | -- _The Prisoner_, "Dance > of the Dead" > > > So I don't know if there really is a direct correlation to a > publisher there, or not. I've liked the joke and remembered it each > time I've reread Phoenix, though, so even if it only halfway works, > it's still appreciated! Thanks for the information. While I agree with David that mixing media is not what I had hoped for, at least I won't spend anymore time trying to bend Phent into Ballantine. :) Bryan