Author:Merl Baldwin

Even though there was never any publications under this name, the June 1985 issue of Locus reviews The Helmsman and credits "Merl Baldwin" throughout. Ordinarily the review record would have been changed, but the review prints the cover of the book and "Merl Baldwin" is clearly shown as the author. Because the book was published in June, the reviewer probably read an advance copy in which "Merl" was credited. The decision to change authorship must have been made between review copies and trade copies were printed.

The review in Fantasy Review, July 1985 misprints the author's name as "Merle Baldwin" but confirms the fact that review copies were not credited to Bill Baldwin. (The record has been changed to "Merl" so that an inappropriate variant would not have to be created.)

There is also a full-page ad on page 14 of Locus, June 1985 for the novel's publication printing the cover crediting "Merl Baldwin".