\centerline{\bf Editor's Prerogative}
\medskip\noindent
This edition of \TeXline\ should arrive together
with a complimentary copy of {\it Electronic Publishing,
Origination --- Dissemination --- Design}, or, more
manageably, {\sc ep-odd}. And not only do Wiley's
send this out to you, they also cover the postage
involved. Bear in mind that
\TeXline\ is (as yet) free. Most of the costs, like
my time, laser printing and reproduction can remain
hidden, but postage is a rather obvious and expensive
item. A large number of copies go
to the US and Europe to the extent that 
non-UK postage exceeds that for the UK. 

This isn't a plea for money (in any case it would
confuse the bureaucrats). It is a plea for a few more
people to contribute articles. I don't think I have ever
turned anything down, and the amount of editing that
I do is  limited to grammar, style-consistency, and
length. I always have the ultimate
sanction of not bothering to do the newsletter at all.
But as all editors know, it's too much of an ego trip
to let go. Many of the articles in \TeXline\ are the
direct result of me suggesting to people that they may
have something to say, and phoning/emailing them
at irregular intervals.
We're all busy, but one of the major attractions
of \TeX\ for many people is its `public domain' image.
There's no point wingeing about the cost of a \TeX\
implementation and then not being prepared to do anything
yourself, is there? Ask not what \TeX\ can do for you
etc.

What would I like to see? More reports on meetings
for one. I'm always conscious that my reports reflect
my own views: in itself no bad thing, but I would like
to hear other interpretations. I don't report all the
`relevant' meetings I go to, for a variety of reasons,
but mainly unsatisfactory ones. In particular, I missed out
the recent {\sc sgml} meeting at the Publisher's
Association --- an excellent meeting; and I have omitted a
 useful
if exhausting meeting  organised through Alvey (remember them?)
at which Yvonne Perry of Adobe did her
`firehouse into the brain' rendition of \PS.
And of course I don't go to every relevant meeting there is.

What else? We really do need some information on the
various public domain laser printer drivers. Andy
Trevorrow's drivers look good to me, but what's this
Modula-2 stuff? Who are Nelson Beebe's family? 
Is Flavio Rose? Deep and meaningful questions like these
need some sort of answer. If you are using one of
these drivers could you share your experiences 
(!) with the rest of us?

There are a number of ways of getting pictures into
\TeX\ --- one of them is described in this issue
by David Brightly ---  details of the others might help
in deciding which one(s) to pursue.

Book reviews would be nice too. I'm surely not the
only one who can read. A volunteer is needed who would 
dare review {\it The Joy
of \TeX}. There are more macros appearing, and associated
\TeX ware. How about some evaluation? It doesn't have to
be exhaustive, but it could alert others to the existence
of the software, and give some idea of its value, or
even just where to get hold of it.

But more pressing is \TeX88. As you will see from the
accompanying announcement, plans are well advanced. There are about 30
offered papers at this time (five of them share the same
title {\it `To be Announced'}).  
Ellis Horwood of Chichester are to publish the
proceedings (did you know that neither Addison-Wesley nor
John Wiley do conference proceedings?). I've done books
with Ellis Horwood before and I'm confident that the
proceedings will be well produced, and quickly produced.
One of the most encouraging aspects of the conference has
been the response from Europe. There is a real chance
that the conference language will be German, not
English. Book now to avoid disappointment.

What else is in the pipeline? The next issue
of \TeXline\ (perhaps to coincide with \TeX88)
{\it should} contain a comparison of three table-creation
macro packages which sit on top of plain \TeX\ ---
Ray Cowan's, Michael Ferguson's, and Michael Spivak's.
There will also be \DW's comprehensive report
on the availablility of other \MF-designed
fonts. This is really directed towards other alphabets,
but is a good summary of what is available, or being
worked on. It arrived just too late to be included
in this edition. 
 
Lastly, an oddness, or perhaps a reflection of the
times: I receive a few email requests for \TeXline.
Fine, but more often than not, they do not include
`snail-mail' addresses. And I have had a few requests to
send \TeXline\ to electronic bulletin boards. The future
is clearly with electronic communication. Perhaps we
shall yet see a |dvi2email| driver. We won't
see an electronic \TeXline, not while I do it.

\rightline{\sl Malcolm W. Clark}
