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Asimov's Science Fiction, July/August 2024
July/August 2024 Vol. 48 Nos. 7 & 8
NOVELLA
The Sixteenth Circumstance by John Richard Trtek
NOVELETTES
Sisters of the Flare by Stephen Case
A Family Matter by Robert Morrell Jr.
This Good Lesson Keep by James Van Pelt
Yarns by Susan Palwick
Untouchable by R. Garcia y Robertson
You Know Me Al by Alex Irvine
SHORT STORIES
Flipped by Leah Cypess
Tamaza’s Future and Mine by Kenneth Schneyer
Future Perfect by Genevieve Valentine
The Weight of Oceans by Mark D. Jacobsen
POETRY
What They Didn’t Do by Mary Soon Lee
DEPARTMENTS
Editorial: The 2024 Dell Magazines Awards by Sheila Williams
Reflections: The Vampires of Poland by Robert Silverberg
On the Net: Dancing About Architecture by James Patrick Kelly
NOVELLA
The Sixteenth Circumstance by John Richard Trtek
NOVELETTES
Sisters of the Flare by Stephen Case
A Family Matter by Robert Morrell Jr.
This Good Lesson Keep by James Van Pelt
Yarns by Susan Palwick
Untouchable by R. Garcia y Robertson
You Know Me Al by Alex Irvine
SHORT STORIES
Flipped by Leah Cypess
Tamaza’s Future and Mine by Kenneth Schneyer
Future Perfect by Genevieve Valentine
The Weight of Oceans by Mark D. Jacobsen
POETRY
What They Didn’t Do by Mary Soon Lee
DEPARTMENTS
Editorial: The 2024 Dell Magazines Awards by Sheila Williams
Reflections: The Vampires of Poland by Robert Silverberg
On the Net: Dancing About Architecture by James Patrick Kelly
326 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2024
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Williams
277 books66 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Sheila Williams is the editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine. She is also the recipient of the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Editor, Short Form.
Sheila grew up in a family of five in western Massachusetts. Her mother had a master's degree in microbiology. Ms. Williams’ interest in science fiction came from her father who read Edgar Rice Burroughs books to her as a child. Later Ms. Williams received a bachelor's degree from Elmira College in Elmira, New York, although she studied at the London School of Economics during her junior year. She received her Master's from Washington University in St. Louis. She is married to David Bruce and has two daughters.
She became interested in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine (as it was then titled) while studying philosophy at Washington University. In 1982 she was hired at the magazine, and worked with Isaac Asimov for ten years. While working there, she co-founded the Dell Magazines Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing (at one time called the Isaac Asimov Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy writing). In 2004, with the retirement of Gardner Dozois, she became the editor of the magazine.
Along with Gardner Dozois she also edited the "Isaac Asimov's" anthology series. She also co-edited A Woman's Liberation: A Choice of Futures by and About Women (2001) with Connie Willis. Most recently she has edited a retrospective anthology of fiction published by Asimov's: Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine: 30th Anniversary Anthology. Booklist called the book "A gem, and a credit to editor Williams."
She has been nominated for 4 Hugo Awards as editor of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.
See also Sheila Williams's entry in the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
Sheila Williams is the editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine. She is also the recipient of the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Editor, Short Form.
Sheila grew up in a family of five in western Massachusetts. Her mother had a master's degree in microbiology. Ms. Williams’ interest in science fiction came from her father who read Edgar Rice Burroughs books to her as a child. Later Ms. Williams received a bachelor's degree from Elmira College in Elmira, New York, although she studied at the London School of Economics during her junior year. She received her Master's from Washington University in St. Louis. She is married to David Bruce and has two daughters.
She became interested in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine (as it was then titled) while studying philosophy at Washington University. In 1982 she was hired at the magazine, and worked with Isaac Asimov for ten years. While working there, she co-founded the Dell Magazines Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing (at one time called the Isaac Asimov Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy writing). In 2004, with the retirement of Gardner Dozois, she became the editor of the magazine.
Along with Gardner Dozois she also edited the "Isaac Asimov's" anthology series. She also co-edited A Woman's Liberation: A Choice of Futures by and About Women (2001) with Connie Willis. Most recently she has edited a retrospective anthology of fiction published by Asimov's: Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine: 30th Anniversary Anthology. Booklist called the book "A gem, and a credit to editor Williams."
She has been nominated for 4 Hugo Awards as editor of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.
See also Sheila Williams's entry in the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
December 22, 2024
This is the July/August 2024 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction. For the second time in a row, Asimov’s is weaker for me than Analog of the same bi-month period. Not a story, which I can really recommend – there are several ok reads but no ‘wow’ factor. The issue also has an unusually high number of obituaries and it is definitely sad that the old guard leaves us.
Contents:
The 2024 Dell Magazine Awards [Asimov's Editorials] essay by Sheila Williams the usual award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing. Alas, I haven’t read any of the participants to judge.
The Vampires of Poland [Reflections] essay by Robert Silverberg the recent archeological dig in Poland finds ‘the body of a child of about six who had been buried face downward, with a triangular iron padlock attached to its left foot, as though to keep the corpse from rising from the grave and wandering out to bring trouble to the people of the village.’ A possible link to locked Ashkenazy tombs in the same country. 3*
Dancing About Architecture [On the Net] essay by James Patrick Kelly discussing a maxim ‘Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.’ With examples of old and new SFF as well as clips from authors like Sara Pinkster, who is both a writer and a musician. 3*
Sisters of the Flare novelette by Stephen Case a giant ship in space, which also works as a women's monastery of a cult that follows a divine Empress of the galaxy. Earlier the ship was able to use a kind of warp-gate system, which is absent now, so it is adrift, even unsure where the nearest habitable world is. The story starts with finding a woman without protection in one of the upper regions, where radiation is serious. She turns out to be a monk that broke her vows… there follows a long story of women trying to save their society, even breaking rules such as using AIs. I wasn’t able to connect. 2*
Flipped short story by Leah Cypess a YA story narrated by Becky, who is secretly in love with a boy, who doesn’t even look at her. Once he suddenly comes and kisses her… for he is from another universe. She is happy, but he tries to change her in line with the other world’s she… 3*
A Family Matter novelette by Robert Morrell, Jr. a man makes a DNA test to find out that 30% of his DNA is of unknown origin. He dismisses it as and error, but bones of his granddad are returned from North Korea, and he also has the same unknown origin. The man comes to the granddad’s funeral and is kidnapped by a local sect that wants to marry him to procreate, possibly with an underage girl. He runs away from them and finally discusses the abnormality with geneticists 3.5*
In Memoriam-John Alfred Taylor [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
Tamaza's Future and Mine short story by Kenneth Schneyer the narrator is a deep undercover agent, who whole her life prepared to help to overthrow the current government. A girl next door often sees her as a substitute mother to read her stories. The MC is morally divided whether to finish her life mission, which will include a bloody invasion and a likely death of the girl or not. 3.25*
In Memoriam-Terry Bisson [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
This Good Lesson Keep novelette by James Van Pelt a teacher with her last class before retirement sets Hamlet. There is a boy, who has expensive oculars, which turn all his experience in line with orthodox Christianity, who may debate like ‘Ghosts don’t exist, you know. What the guards see has to be a fallen angel, a demon, shaped like Hamlet’s father to tempt him. Those guys on the rampart are in danger. I’m not sure I should study this if it’s about ghosts.’ Overall, a usual trope that we all need great teachers. 3*
Yarns novelette by Susan Palwick another teacher, is the future USA, where an organized crime group Combine calls all the shots, tried to help a son of one of gangs members, who liked to study, and now she is a target. She tried to use witness protection, but as she is informed: ‘Longest I’ve seen anybody evade a focused search is three months. This one guy blew it the first day, went to Metanews and read the articles in the same order he always did: his horoscope, and then his wife’s horoscope, and then the world soccer feed, and then the local political news. The searchbots must have snagged him in fifteen seconds. He was dead by dinnertime.’ A teenage assassin finds her but she drops a cashmere yarn and he is fascinated enough to start taking knitting lessons from her instead. Is he in danger now? 3*
In Memoriam-Howard Waldrop [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
Future Perfect short story by Genevieve Valentine a flow of conscious writing, a future museum that shows an idealized 1950s kitchen with women cooks who feed guests… the story is hard to follow and understand except for general ‘patriarchy is bad’. 2*
What They Didn't Do poem by Mary Soon Lee
Untouchable novelette by R. Garcia y Robertson a protagonist is a space pirate/MI6 agent Missy, who has an invisibility hi-tech cloak. She comes to Asgard colony which orbits Europa, from where three Dane girls are missing. She seeks for them in the real world and VR game that emulates 1920s and 30s USA with flappers, speakeasies and mobs. A funny thing is that author sees the kidnaped as children while Missy of roughly the same age is a super-agent able to best anyone. 2.5*
You Know Me Al novelette by Alex Irvine the very title hints at You Know Me Al by journalist / sport commenter from the early 20th century Ring Lardner. The story is a series of letters of a baseballer to his friend on Earth, describing his attempts to play baseball across the Solar system. I don’t even know game’s rules, so jokes passed me by. 2*
Next Issue (Asimov's, July-August 2024) essay by uncredited
The Weight of Oceans short story by Mark D. Jacobsen a protagonist and his bad mad girlfriend are at a peninsula that will drown in a few hours because power walls that keep the ocean out will be shut down. The girlfriend goes on crazy escapades (fights, public sex, breaking and entering) then attempts suicide… 2.5*
In Memoriam-Tom Purdom [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
The Sixteenth Circumstance [Monsieur Picot] novella by John Richard Trtek the story about a Frenchman working for aliens, so strange that I DNFed it at 1/3rd. 1*
In Memoriam-Christopher Priest [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
On Books (Asimov's, July-August 2024) [On Books] essay by Peter Heck quite a few fantasy novels, which surprised me.
In Memoriam-Brian Stableford [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
Contents:
The 2024 Dell Magazine Awards [Asimov's Editorials] essay by Sheila Williams the usual award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing. Alas, I haven’t read any of the participants to judge.
The Vampires of Poland [Reflections] essay by Robert Silverberg the recent archeological dig in Poland finds ‘the body of a child of about six who had been buried face downward, with a triangular iron padlock attached to its left foot, as though to keep the corpse from rising from the grave and wandering out to bring trouble to the people of the village.’ A possible link to locked Ashkenazy tombs in the same country. 3*
Dancing About Architecture [On the Net] essay by James Patrick Kelly discussing a maxim ‘Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.’ With examples of old and new SFF as well as clips from authors like Sara Pinkster, who is both a writer and a musician. 3*
Sisters of the Flare novelette by Stephen Case a giant ship in space, which also works as a women's monastery of a cult that follows a divine Empress of the galaxy. Earlier the ship was able to use a kind of warp-gate system, which is absent now, so it is adrift, even unsure where the nearest habitable world is. The story starts with finding a woman without protection in one of the upper regions, where radiation is serious. She turns out to be a monk that broke her vows… there follows a long story of women trying to save their society, even breaking rules such as using AIs. I wasn’t able to connect. 2*
Flipped short story by Leah Cypess a YA story narrated by Becky, who is secretly in love with a boy, who doesn’t even look at her. Once he suddenly comes and kisses her… for he is from another universe. She is happy, but he tries to change her in line with the other world’s she… 3*
A Family Matter novelette by Robert Morrell, Jr. a man makes a DNA test to find out that 30% of his DNA is of unknown origin. He dismisses it as and error, but bones of his granddad are returned from North Korea, and he also has the same unknown origin. The man comes to the granddad’s funeral and is kidnapped by a local sect that wants to marry him to procreate, possibly with an underage girl. He runs away from them and finally discusses the abnormality with geneticists 3.5*
In Memoriam-John Alfred Taylor [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
Tamaza's Future and Mine short story by Kenneth Schneyer the narrator is a deep undercover agent, who whole her life prepared to help to overthrow the current government. A girl next door often sees her as a substitute mother to read her stories. The MC is morally divided whether to finish her life mission, which will include a bloody invasion and a likely death of the girl or not. 3.25*
In Memoriam-Terry Bisson [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
This Good Lesson Keep novelette by James Van Pelt a teacher with her last class before retirement sets Hamlet. There is a boy, who has expensive oculars, which turn all his experience in line with orthodox Christianity, who may debate like ‘Ghosts don’t exist, you know. What the guards see has to be a fallen angel, a demon, shaped like Hamlet’s father to tempt him. Those guys on the rampart are in danger. I’m not sure I should study this if it’s about ghosts.’ Overall, a usual trope that we all need great teachers. 3*
Yarns novelette by Susan Palwick another teacher, is the future USA, where an organized crime group Combine calls all the shots, tried to help a son of one of gangs members, who liked to study, and now she is a target. She tried to use witness protection, but as she is informed: ‘Longest I’ve seen anybody evade a focused search is three months. This one guy blew it the first day, went to Metanews and read the articles in the same order he always did: his horoscope, and then his wife’s horoscope, and then the world soccer feed, and then the local political news. The searchbots must have snagged him in fifteen seconds. He was dead by dinnertime.’ A teenage assassin finds her but she drops a cashmere yarn and he is fascinated enough to start taking knitting lessons from her instead. Is he in danger now? 3*
In Memoriam-Howard Waldrop [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
Future Perfect short story by Genevieve Valentine a flow of conscious writing, a future museum that shows an idealized 1950s kitchen with women cooks who feed guests… the story is hard to follow and understand except for general ‘patriarchy is bad’. 2*
What They Didn't Do poem by Mary Soon Lee
Untouchable novelette by R. Garcia y Robertson a protagonist is a space pirate/MI6 agent Missy, who has an invisibility hi-tech cloak. She comes to Asgard colony which orbits Europa, from where three Dane girls are missing. She seeks for them in the real world and VR game that emulates 1920s and 30s USA with flappers, speakeasies and mobs. A funny thing is that author sees the kidnaped as children while Missy of roughly the same age is a super-agent able to best anyone. 2.5*
You Know Me Al novelette by Alex Irvine the very title hints at You Know Me Al by journalist / sport commenter from the early 20th century Ring Lardner. The story is a series of letters of a baseballer to his friend on Earth, describing his attempts to play baseball across the Solar system. I don’t even know game’s rules, so jokes passed me by. 2*
Next Issue (Asimov's, July-August 2024) essay by uncredited
The Weight of Oceans short story by Mark D. Jacobsen a protagonist and his bad mad girlfriend are at a peninsula that will drown in a few hours because power walls that keep the ocean out will be shut down. The girlfriend goes on crazy escapades (fights, public sex, breaking and entering) then attempts suicide… 2.5*
In Memoriam-Tom Purdom [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
The Sixteenth Circumstance [Monsieur Picot] novella by John Richard Trtek the story about a Frenchman working for aliens, so strange that I DNFed it at 1/3rd. 1*
In Memoriam-Christopher Priest [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
On Books (Asimov's, July-August 2024) [On Books] essay by Peter Heck quite a few fantasy novels, which surprised me.
In Memoriam-Brian Stableford [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams
August 24, 2024
You Know Me Al by Alex Irvine. Baseball, a monotone voice, tiring.
Untouchable, by Garcia Y Robertson. I am also tired of the stories about "the family" and how the girls are oh so clever, and spend time on 3v(where it makes no sense they would spend hours driving a car) what happened to Rylla? By now, who cares?
The weight of oceans, by Mark D. Jacobsen. The water is 8 feet high. Whi would you drag the kayak to the fifth floor then? I liked the characters, though.
Untouchable, by Garcia Y Robertson. I am also tired of the stories about "the family" and how the girls are oh so clever, and spend time on 3v(where it makes no sense they would spend hours driving a car) what happened to Rylla? By now, who cares?
The weight of oceans, by Mark D. Jacobsen. The water is 8 feet high. Whi would you drag the kayak to the fifth floor then? I liked the characters, though.
July 2, 2024
Here are my favorite stories:
Sisters of the Flare by Stephen Case
Nuns on an interstellar Flying Dutchman: it’s a long, lonely road if you can never go home again. Even worse if you can’t go anywhere.
A Family Matter by Robert Morrell Jr.
A backwoods cult, a shotgun wedding, and weird genetics led to a wild romp in the swamps of South Carolina.
Pairs well with the film Murder, He Says (Directed by G. Marshall 1945).
This Good Lesson Keep by James Van Pelt
Hamlet, young ill-fated love and a dedicated teacher’s looming retirement. A story within a story within a story that is sure to make you verklempt.
Yarns by Susan Palwick
Organized crime is the economy and their electronic surveillance makes witness protection ineffectual.
A retired teacher has to use all her professional skills and teaching mojo to survive.
And knitting of course.
You Know Me Al by Alex Irvine
The trials and tribulations of a Rube Waddell-esque baseball player on a barnstorming Grand Tour of the planets.
Can't anybody here play this game?
Flipped by Leah Cypess
In addition to all the trials and tribulations of adolescence, today’s teens also have to deal with slipping between the slightly different alternate realities of the multiverse. Did you have pierced ears or clip-ons? Were we dating?
Tamaza’s Future and Mine by Kenneth Schneyer
A deep, deep undercover agent confronts moral quandaries and questions about her very being—a more thoughtful and contemplative riff on “The Americans” narrative.
Future Perfect by Genevieve Valentine
The poor are poorer, everything is commodified, and the well-to-do long for the good old days. Installation artists make a statement. There’s no elderberry wine, but be sure to try the tuna-in-a-ring.
The Weight of Oceans by Mark D. Jacobsen
The watery shadows, levees and cost/benefit analyses of 1927 and 2005 haunt this story about a young woman and her boyfriend playing chicken with the apocalypse.
Sisters of the Flare by Stephen Case
Nuns on an interstellar Flying Dutchman: it’s a long, lonely road if you can never go home again. Even worse if you can’t go anywhere.
A Family Matter by Robert Morrell Jr.
A backwoods cult, a shotgun wedding, and weird genetics led to a wild romp in the swamps of South Carolina.
Pairs well with the film Murder, He Says (Directed by G. Marshall 1945).
This Good Lesson Keep by James Van Pelt
Hamlet, young ill-fated love and a dedicated teacher’s looming retirement. A story within a story within a story that is sure to make you verklempt.
Yarns by Susan Palwick
Organized crime is the economy and their electronic surveillance makes witness protection ineffectual.
A retired teacher has to use all her professional skills and teaching mojo to survive.
And knitting of course.
You Know Me Al by Alex Irvine
The trials and tribulations of a Rube Waddell-esque baseball player on a barnstorming Grand Tour of the planets.
Can't anybody here play this game?
Flipped by Leah Cypess
In addition to all the trials and tribulations of adolescence, today’s teens also have to deal with slipping between the slightly different alternate realities of the multiverse. Did you have pierced ears or clip-ons? Were we dating?
Tamaza’s Future and Mine by Kenneth Schneyer
A deep, deep undercover agent confronts moral quandaries and questions about her very being—a more thoughtful and contemplative riff on “The Americans” narrative.
Future Perfect by Genevieve Valentine
The poor are poorer, everything is commodified, and the well-to-do long for the good old days. Installation artists make a statement. There’s no elderberry wine, but be sure to try the tuna-in-a-ring.
The Weight of Oceans by Mark D. Jacobsen
The watery shadows, levees and cost/benefit analyses of 1927 and 2005 haunt this story about a young woman and her boyfriend playing chicken with the apocalypse.
July 5, 2024
A really good issue.
# short stories
Flipped, by Leah Cypess
A high school love story where the characters randomly shift places with their alternate universe selves. Pretty enjoyable. There's a good amount of centrifuge and manipulation that was fun. A lot of "but what if he's thinking that im thinking about double crossing him? I should double cross him first". Was confusing at some points. I think some formatting or a bit extra description would have gone a long way. Having space where the character reacts to something that's happened (e.g. The first dimension swap) would have helped communicate that what happened was a big deal, and why it was a big deal. Instead that stuff is kind of glossed over without giving any context, like the intention was to encourage retreads. Still good tho.
Tamaza's future and mine, by Kenneth Schneyer
The story of a sleeper agent in a silent rebellion, who gets a bit too close to the enemy civilians she's living amongst. Pretty enjoyable. I really liked the setting. It was realised really well through the characters, their habits and world building details. It was really well done. The actual story is only fine, but that was kind of the point. Highlighted the small people and why they mattered, to make the character and readers wonder if the MC should go through with their mission.
Future perfect, by Genevieve Valentine
Workers at a futuristic museum replicate the horrible recipes and living conditions of 1950's housewives for the benefit of the rich 1%. Meanwhile a war rages. I wanted to like this one more than I did. The premise/setting is cool (albeit somewhat similar to the last story), but it was very disjointed. This was clearly intentional but it was still hard to follow. I think more could have been done with a really cool setting.
The weight of oceans, by Mark D. Jacobsen
A city is due to be destroyed in the morning, as dam defences protecting it from sea level rise are removed. In the meantime, two young people go on a romp through the doomed city. Fantastic. Loved it. The descriptions were vivid, the setting was lush and realised, and the story was engrossing. No complaints at all. Go read it.
# novelettes
Sisters of the Flare, by Stephen Case
A prequel to another story. Skipped it.
A family matter, by Robert Morrell Jr.
Really good. A fast paced thriller with tons of action. A guy in the South Carolina marsh county gets persued after doing a family genetics test and strange results come up. Really good, but fumbled the ending. It just stops, and then gives a sort of half-explanation that wasn't very well explained. Like they sit the character down to explain things and didn't really explain very well. Otherwise really good
This good lesson keep, by James Van Pelt.
Cringe. I'm happy the author got to work through his feelings, but yeah, not for me. An old teacher goes through hamlet with her class. Also there's some tech embedded in their desks. And the kids learn that actually, hamlet really is great, and they don't need their technology as much as they thought, that love conquers all and they have have really good discussions where they're quoting lines from the play that they memorised. Then they get swords out for a duelling scene and actually whack each other with them? The author bio said he was a teacher. OK. What the fuck kind of school did you teach at, that this would be OK? The main characters are all unlikeable, the students are all unrealistic, and the way technology is delt with in the classroom is super unrealistic. As a high school teacher myself, I grade this novelette a 👎
Yarns, by Susan Palwick
Really good. A sad look at a future where the hate groups that are springing up around us, continue to grow more dominant. The fictional fascists are not reminiscent of any particular real group as far as I know, but they seem very realistic. Just the sort of dumb weapon-obsessed macho dorks that you could see becoming prominent. The story is really well told and easy to follow. The descriptions are vivid and its paced really well. All the characters seem really well written, and their dialogue seems really natural. Super great job by the author, especially as most of the characters are EAL/D. just a really well written story.
Untouchable, by Garcia Y Robertson
The author bio at the start of the story tells a really boring story about their kid, and how they were really sneaky. And then it explains some historical context about blimps. Then the story starts, and all the characters are named after Norse mythology and are aboard a Norse mythology-inspired space station and I just had no idea what was happening. Tapped out. Completely uninviting read.
You know me Al, by Alex Irvine.
Well, Al, I wasn't too fussed about this one. A baseball player goes on a tour to a bunch of different moons and planets. Like when the AFL teams play in random other countries to spread the sport. The whole thing is narrated in first person past tesnse, Al, like a diary entry, to the baseball player's bestie back on earth. I thought for a while, Al, that the bestie Al had died before the story, but nah. I mean, I ended up skipping big chunks, Al, so I might have missed it. It's very focused on the baseball, you see Al, which just wasn't my thing at all. It's 90% describing baseball and 10% guff like "I went to Europa today it was nice. End of message." there's some enjoyment from the POV character being a thick wanker, Al, but he's not very engaging. And the way the text was continually interrupted, Al, by the narration saying 'Al' throughout, made it annoying to read. Yeah, not for me. My eyes just kept glazing over.
# short stories
Flipped, by Leah Cypess
A high school love story where the characters randomly shift places with their alternate universe selves. Pretty enjoyable. There's a good amount of centrifuge and manipulation that was fun. A lot of "but what if he's thinking that im thinking about double crossing him? I should double cross him first". Was confusing at some points. I think some formatting or a bit extra description would have gone a long way. Having space where the character reacts to something that's happened (e.g. The first dimension swap) would have helped communicate that what happened was a big deal, and why it was a big deal. Instead that stuff is kind of glossed over without giving any context, like the intention was to encourage retreads. Still good tho.
Tamaza's future and mine, by Kenneth Schneyer
The story of a sleeper agent in a silent rebellion, who gets a bit too close to the enemy civilians she's living amongst. Pretty enjoyable. I really liked the setting. It was realised really well through the characters, their habits and world building details. It was really well done. The actual story is only fine, but that was kind of the point. Highlighted the small people and why they mattered, to make the character and readers wonder if the MC should go through with their mission.
Future perfect, by Genevieve Valentine
Workers at a futuristic museum replicate the horrible recipes and living conditions of 1950's housewives for the benefit of the rich 1%. Meanwhile a war rages. I wanted to like this one more than I did. The premise/setting is cool (albeit somewhat similar to the last story), but it was very disjointed. This was clearly intentional but it was still hard to follow. I think more could have been done with a really cool setting.
The weight of oceans, by Mark D. Jacobsen
A city is due to be destroyed in the morning, as dam defences protecting it from sea level rise are removed. In the meantime, two young people go on a romp through the doomed city. Fantastic. Loved it. The descriptions were vivid, the setting was lush and realised, and the story was engrossing. No complaints at all. Go read it.
# novelettes
Sisters of the Flare, by Stephen Case
A prequel to another story. Skipped it.
A family matter, by Robert Morrell Jr.
Really good. A fast paced thriller with tons of action. A guy in the South Carolina marsh county gets persued after doing a family genetics test and strange results come up. Really good, but fumbled the ending. It just stops, and then gives a sort of half-explanation that wasn't very well explained. Like they sit the character down to explain things and didn't really explain very well. Otherwise really good
This good lesson keep, by James Van Pelt.
Cringe. I'm happy the author got to work through his feelings, but yeah, not for me. An old teacher goes through hamlet with her class. Also there's some tech embedded in their desks. And the kids learn that actually, hamlet really is great, and they don't need their technology as much as they thought, that love conquers all and they have have really good discussions where they're quoting lines from the play that they memorised. Then they get swords out for a duelling scene and actually whack each other with them? The author bio said he was a teacher. OK. What the fuck kind of school did you teach at, that this would be OK? The main characters are all unlikeable, the students are all unrealistic, and the way technology is delt with in the classroom is super unrealistic. As a high school teacher myself, I grade this novelette a 👎
Yarns, by Susan Palwick
Really good. A sad look at a future where the hate groups that are springing up around us, continue to grow more dominant. The fictional fascists are not reminiscent of any particular real group as far as I know, but they seem very realistic. Just the sort of dumb weapon-obsessed macho dorks that you could see becoming prominent. The story is really well told and easy to follow. The descriptions are vivid and its paced really well. All the characters seem really well written, and their dialogue seems really natural. Super great job by the author, especially as most of the characters are EAL/D. just a really well written story.
Untouchable, by Garcia Y Robertson
The author bio at the start of the story tells a really boring story about their kid, and how they were really sneaky. And then it explains some historical context about blimps. Then the story starts, and all the characters are named after Norse mythology and are aboard a Norse mythology-inspired space station and I just had no idea what was happening. Tapped out. Completely uninviting read.
You know me Al, by Alex Irvine.
Well, Al, I wasn't too fussed about this one. A baseball player goes on a tour to a bunch of different moons and planets. Like when the AFL teams play in random other countries to spread the sport. The whole thing is narrated in first person past tesnse, Al, like a diary entry, to the baseball player's bestie back on earth. I thought for a while, Al, that the bestie Al had died before the story, but nah. I mean, I ended up skipping big chunks, Al, so I might have missed it. It's very focused on the baseball, you see Al, which just wasn't my thing at all. It's 90% describing baseball and 10% guff like "I went to Europa today it was nice. End of message." there's some enjoyment from the POV character being a thick wanker, Al, but he's not very engaging. And the way the text was continually interrupted, Al, by the narration saying 'Al' throughout, made it annoying to read. Yeah, not for me. My eyes just kept glazing over.
September 27, 2024
This is a so-so issue, without any real standouts, but no real clunkers, either. As usual, I skip over the poems, but do read most of the articles and reviews.
Sisters of the Flare • novelette by Stephen Case
A couple of women try to figure out how to reroute a generation spaceship (a hollowed out asteroid) that has gone off course. I had a hard time keeping interest in this story.
Flipped • short story by Leah Cypess
This is a parallel universe story where two high school kids mysteriously change places with their alternate selves at seemingly random intervals. In one reality, they are dating, but in the other they're not. What happens when you are your own romantic rival?
A Family Matter • novelette by Robert Morrell Jr.
A man discovers from a DNA ancestry test that almost a third of his genes are from an unknown source. Soon after, a backwoods cult kidnaps him with the intention of breeding him with an underage girl. The story then turns to his attempt to escape, while he puts the clues together and eventually realizes his fate is something out of the X-Files.
Tamaza's Future and Mine • short story by Kenneth Schneyer
An embedded spy must make a heartbreaking choice: save a neighbor's young daughter by warning her family about an impending attack or do nothing that would tip off the enemy about her side's plans. It's a dilemma that seems easy to solve in fiction, but not so much in real life.
This Good Lesson Keep • novelette by James Van Pelt
A high school English teacher in her last year before retirement has to cope with a naive student teacher and a class full of students who would rather use their electronic devices than listen to her teach. But when they begin to study Hamlet, things start to get interesting for everybody. This is a nice character study with speculation on the near future of teaching.
Yarns • novelette by Susan Palwick
In a near future where gangs of criminals control almost everything in society, a school teacher's pupil is the son of a gang member. Later, another youthful gang member arrives in her apartment, apparently to kill her, but becomes enraptured by her knitting prowess. This is a cautionary tale about what might happen with unchecked gun proliferation, but also a poignant tale about the power of education and being empathetic towards those in different social classes.
Future Perfect • short story by Genevieve Valentine
This is a nonlinear story about a future museum's art exhibition that recreates a stereotypical 1950's kitchen. People are willing to pay big bucks to taste homemade pie and jello salad in a world where things are apparently very bleak. Because of the stream-of-consciousness structure, this story was somewhat hard to follow.
Untouchable • novelette by R. Garcia y Robertson
On a space station orbiting Jupiter, the residents live as if they were part of Norse mythology. When some girls are kidnapped, a female agent is tasked with recovering them, using VR technology that simulates 1930's gangster motifs. There's also some WWII symbology included. Somehow, this mostly all works, in an action-packed thriller, although the ending seems rushed with the agent using a bunch of tech to move the story quickly to resolution.
You Know Me Al • novelette by Alex Irvine
In the year 2166, a baseball player from the Moon goes with his team on a barnstorming tour of the solar system, playing the teams from Mars to Saturn. The thing is, though, these teams have strange rules, such as real people officiating the games instead of the proper way with virtual umpires. And, the games are played with real bats and balls, too! This story is a humorous look at the vagaries of baseball rules.
The Weight of Oceans • short story by Mark D. Jacobsen
A man and a woman enjoy the last night before a dam is intentionally broken and their city is flooded. The woman's manic energy propels the man's more introverted nature to commit acts neither would probably do otherwise. But in the end, the instinct for survival kicks in, but will it be too late to get out of the way of the rising ocean? What would you do if your world suddenly disappeared?
The Sixteenth Circumstance • novella by John Richard Trtek
This is a mystery with a space-hopping diplomat as its protagonist. While the world building and alien designs are interesting, the actual plot is somewhat tedious.
Sisters of the Flare • novelette by Stephen Case
A couple of women try to figure out how to reroute a generation spaceship (a hollowed out asteroid) that has gone off course. I had a hard time keeping interest in this story.
Flipped • short story by Leah Cypess
This is a parallel universe story where two high school kids mysteriously change places with their alternate selves at seemingly random intervals. In one reality, they are dating, but in the other they're not. What happens when you are your own romantic rival?
A Family Matter • novelette by Robert Morrell Jr.
A man discovers from a DNA ancestry test that almost a third of his genes are from an unknown source. Soon after, a backwoods cult kidnaps him with the intention of breeding him with an underage girl. The story then turns to his attempt to escape, while he puts the clues together and eventually realizes his fate is something out of the X-Files.
Tamaza's Future and Mine • short story by Kenneth Schneyer
An embedded spy must make a heartbreaking choice: save a neighbor's young daughter by warning her family about an impending attack or do nothing that would tip off the enemy about her side's plans. It's a dilemma that seems easy to solve in fiction, but not so much in real life.
This Good Lesson Keep • novelette by James Van Pelt
A high school English teacher in her last year before retirement has to cope with a naive student teacher and a class full of students who would rather use their electronic devices than listen to her teach. But when they begin to study Hamlet, things start to get interesting for everybody. This is a nice character study with speculation on the near future of teaching.
Yarns • novelette by Susan Palwick
In a near future where gangs of criminals control almost everything in society, a school teacher's pupil is the son of a gang member. Later, another youthful gang member arrives in her apartment, apparently to kill her, but becomes enraptured by her knitting prowess. This is a cautionary tale about what might happen with unchecked gun proliferation, but also a poignant tale about the power of education and being empathetic towards those in different social classes.
Future Perfect • short story by Genevieve Valentine
This is a nonlinear story about a future museum's art exhibition that recreates a stereotypical 1950's kitchen. People are willing to pay big bucks to taste homemade pie and jello salad in a world where things are apparently very bleak. Because of the stream-of-consciousness structure, this story was somewhat hard to follow.
Untouchable • novelette by R. Garcia y Robertson
On a space station orbiting Jupiter, the residents live as if they were part of Norse mythology. When some girls are kidnapped, a female agent is tasked with recovering them, using VR technology that simulates 1930's gangster motifs. There's also some WWII symbology included. Somehow, this mostly all works, in an action-packed thriller, although the ending seems rushed with the agent using a bunch of tech to move the story quickly to resolution.
You Know Me Al • novelette by Alex Irvine
In the year 2166, a baseball player from the Moon goes with his team on a barnstorming tour of the solar system, playing the teams from Mars to Saturn. The thing is, though, these teams have strange rules, such as real people officiating the games instead of the proper way with virtual umpires. And, the games are played with real bats and balls, too! This story is a humorous look at the vagaries of baseball rules.
The Weight of Oceans • short story by Mark D. Jacobsen
A man and a woman enjoy the last night before a dam is intentionally broken and their city is flooded. The woman's manic energy propels the man's more introverted nature to commit acts neither would probably do otherwise. But in the end, the instinct for survival kicks in, but will it be too late to get out of the way of the rising ocean? What would you do if your world suddenly disappeared?
The Sixteenth Circumstance • novella by John Richard Trtek
This is a mystery with a space-hopping diplomat as its protagonist. While the world building and alien designs are interesting, the actual plot is somewhat tedious.
July 17, 2024
Petrachordia has grown disenchanted with her role as a novice in the sisterhood on the asteroid-ship Decalogue. No longer on the longevity drug Calm, she stumbles across Tars, a keeper of the contained fusion devices deep in the ship. There she decides to find some forbidden tech which may help them find their position after the Lattice failed. “Sisters Of The Flare” by Stephen Case is a good addition to this series of tales. Becka has carried a torch for Jake since elementary school, unsuccessfully, when suddenly a version that adores her from an alternate worldline replaces the current one. Why this isn’t all good news is revealed in “Flipped” by Leah Cypess. Robert Morrell Jr. returns to SF with the vastly entertaining tale of “A Family Matter”, involving a genealogy DNA test that reveals strange sections, a mad Southern church, a close-mouthed great-grandmother and a strange vehicle found in the swamps of South Carolina. • English teacher Ms. Milspaugh is verging on retirement as she takes on a student teacher in a future of immersive AV and haptic tech. Can Shakespeare still be relevant in “This Good Lesson Keep” by James van Pelt? and Susan Palwick continues the educational theme with “Yarns”, where a teacher who befriended a bright young student, child of a criminal higher-up of the murderous Combine Clans, finds herself on the run for her life. • Missy, as security Valkyrie on board Asgard colony orbiting Europa, must find and rescue three girls presumably abducted by Slavers. To do this she will penetrate virtual Chicago in the Roaring 20s and enlist aid from Bugsy Siegel and Meyer Lansky in “Untouchable” by R. Garcia y Robertson. In “The Weight Of Oceans” by Mark D. Jacobsen, Antonne and his wild girlfriend Keiko wait out the last hours before the force shields holding back the risen oceans are decommissioned. But Keiko has an agenda that may doom them both. John Richard Trtek closes the issue with “The Sixteenth Circumstance”, where M. Picot, on an inspection of Aphalaon for his Krinn lords, finds discrepancies that bring suspicion on the warden there. But a strange sort of loyalty test appears to be underway, with the object of that loyalty ultimately in question. Good issue.
August 1, 2024
I'm always happy to see a story by a familiar and favorite author. In this issue it's R. Garcia y Robertson with the novelette, "Untouchable." This story features Missy, who has appeared in his other stories about Calisto, Amanda, The Family, and the Space Vikings. Much as I enjoy Amanda's adventures, I hope to read more of Missy's.
"Sisters of the Flare," by Stephen Case, is set in the same universe as "Daughters of the Lattice." The Sisters, in this case, are an order, responsible for maintaining "the flare," as the fusion cores powering the ship are called. A woman is found wandering the core and the sister in charge of the flares takes her in. Their backstories, and the teaching legends of the order, are slowly revealed.
Leah Cypress sets "Flipped" in high school where alternate universes play havoc with one teen's love life. Mark D. Jacobsen's "The Weight of Oceans" uses the immanent flooding of a city as a backdrop for a young man's self-discovery.
Finally, the novella, "The Sixteenth Circumstance" by John Richard Trtek continues the adventures of M. Picot of Terra, an Aquisitor for those who rule the Panharmony. He discovers that all is not as it seems in his current job--someone is meddling with the machine intelligences.
This issue also has a lot of "In Memoriam" notices, especially for authors I recognize from the 1990s.
An enjoyable selection of slightly longer stories than usual.
"Sisters of the Flare," by Stephen Case, is set in the same universe as "Daughters of the Lattice." The Sisters, in this case, are an order, responsible for maintaining "the flare," as the fusion cores powering the ship are called. A woman is found wandering the core and the sister in charge of the flares takes her in. Their backstories, and the teaching legends of the order, are slowly revealed.
Leah Cypress sets "Flipped" in high school where alternate universes play havoc with one teen's love life. Mark D. Jacobsen's "The Weight of Oceans" uses the immanent flooding of a city as a backdrop for a young man's self-discovery.
Finally, the novella, "The Sixteenth Circumstance" by John Richard Trtek continues the adventures of M. Picot of Terra, an Aquisitor for those who rule the Panharmony. He discovers that all is not as it seems in his current job--someone is meddling with the machine intelligences.
This issue also has a lot of "In Memoriam" notices, especially for authors I recognize from the 1990s.
An enjoyable selection of slightly longer stories than usual.
August 18, 2024
“The Weight of Oceans,” by Mark D. Jacobsen, review.
When Keiko and Antonne discover their world’s ending, by a giant flood, she talks him into getting into mischief. Dating her was all he cared to do. He soon finds out more about how the Politicians caused this to happen. The one thing that concerns him now, is what could he do now.
I liked this story do to the pull of Keiko’s sass, the descriptions in the story and detailed world and the viewpoint of Antonne.
What I loved is the intenseness of the plot and the approaching doom.
As to the story’s downside, there are a few profanities in it, and contains drinking.
Also, not sure what age the characters are, around 18 to 21 is my guess.
The story itself, I give 4 stars out of 5. Great story out of this magazine, and I’m sure many more in it are just as compelling!
When Keiko and Antonne discover their world’s ending, by a giant flood, she talks him into getting into mischief. Dating her was all he cared to do. He soon finds out more about how the Politicians caused this to happen. The one thing that concerns him now, is what could he do now.
I liked this story do to the pull of Keiko’s sass, the descriptions in the story and detailed world and the viewpoint of Antonne.
What I loved is the intenseness of the plot and the approaching doom.
As to the story’s downside, there are a few profanities in it, and contains drinking.
Also, not sure what age the characters are, around 18 to 21 is my guess.
The story itself, I give 4 stars out of 5. Great story out of this magazine, and I’m sure many more in it are just as compelling!
July 8, 2024
Stories I enjoyed most:
“The Good Lesson Keep” by James Van Pelt (reaching teenagers through Shakespeare)
“Yarns” by Susan Palwick (a dystopian gang-infested society has a surprisingly hopeful twist)
“You Know Me Al” (epistolary story in homage to Ring Lardner, about future baseball which gets more ancient (i.e., like ours) the further out in the Solar System you go)
“The Sixteenth Circumstance” by John Richard Trtek (the sole novella, with tricksy political scheming in an autocratic galaxy)
“The Good Lesson Keep” by James Van Pelt (reaching teenagers through Shakespeare)
“Yarns” by Susan Palwick (a dystopian gang-infested society has a surprisingly hopeful twist)
“You Know Me Al” (epistolary story in homage to Ring Lardner, about future baseball which gets more ancient (i.e., like ours) the further out in the Solar System you go)
“The Sixteenth Circumstance” by John Richard Trtek (the sole novella, with tricksy political scheming in an autocratic galaxy)
July 1, 2024
Excellent stories, though I particularly enjoy “A Family Matter”, but then I would as I wrote it :)
“The Weight of Oceans” is also good, if not somewhat gritty.
Several other works will appeal to educators.
“The Weight of Oceans” is also good, if not somewhat gritty.
Several other works will appeal to educators.
June 26, 2024
Really enjoyed “A Family Matter” novelette!
August 2, 2024
Favorite stories:
“Sisters of the Flare” by Stephen Case
“You Know Me Al” by Alex Irvine
“The Weight of Oceans” by Mark D. Jacobsen
“Sisters of the Flare” by Stephen Case
“You Know Me Al” by Alex Irvine
“The Weight of Oceans” by Mark D. Jacobsen
October 31, 2024
I liked This Good Lesson Keep by James Van Pelt, Yarns by Susan Palwick, Flipped by Leah Cypess and The Weight of Oceans by Mark D. Jacobsen
March 4, 2025
This one hits on all cylinders. Sisters of the Flare is top-notch. Only one story failed to connect, and the last in the issue was a bit slow to reveal but unspooled well. A good diverting read.
October 5, 2024
"Sisters of the Flare" by Stephen Case (8/28-8/30/2024) 4/5 if this is a book, I want to read it.
"Flipped" by Leah Cypress (8/30-8/31/24) 2/5 Stupid YA crap
"A Family Matter" by Robert Morrell Jr (8/31-9/5/24) 4/5 it was okay
"Tamaza's Future and Mine" by Kenneth Schneyer (9/5-9/6/24) 4.5 really good but ends very abruptly
"The Good Lesson Keep" by James Van Pelt (9/6-9/11/24) 5/5 real good
"Yarn" by Susan Palwick (9/11-9/12/24) 5/5 also real good
"Untouchable" by R. Garcia y Robertson (9/12/24-10/3/24) 1/5 Stunk. Too much shit going on. The main character is a pacifist space pirate who gambles with mobsters in a virtual 1920s NYC on a space station run by vikings. Whatever. Shit was stupid.
"Future Perfect" by Genevieve Valentine (10/3/24-10/5/24) What is it with Asimov's and baseball stories? Blech 1/5
"Flipped" by Leah Cypress (8/30-8/31/24) 2/5 Stupid YA crap
"A Family Matter" by Robert Morrell Jr (8/31-9/5/24) 4/5 it was okay
"Tamaza's Future and Mine" by Kenneth Schneyer (9/5-9/6/24) 4.5 really good but ends very abruptly
"The Good Lesson Keep" by James Van Pelt (9/6-9/11/24) 5/5 real good
"Yarn" by Susan Palwick (9/11-9/12/24) 5/5 also real good
"Untouchable" by R. Garcia y Robertson (9/12/24-10/3/24) 1/5 Stunk. Too much shit going on. The main character is a pacifist space pirate who gambles with mobsters in a virtual 1920s NYC on a space station run by vikings. Whatever. Shit was stupid.
"Future Perfect" by Genevieve Valentine (10/3/24-10/5/24) What is it with Asimov's and baseball stories? Blech 1/5
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews