Lightspeed Magazine, February 2014

The Aetherian Revolution #(Intrigues at the Exhib'n)

by John Joseph Adams (Editor), Jessica Barber (Contributor), Ramez Naam (Contributor)

Lightspeed Magazine, February 2014 #45

Novella (eBook exclusive)
"Hellhound" by Robin McKinley (reprint)

Short Stories - Science Fiction
"Coma Kings" by Jessica Barber
"Water" by Ramez Naam
"Harry and Marlowe and the Intrigues at the Aetherian Exhibition" by Carrie Vaughn
"Fireborn" by Robert Charles Wilson

Short Stories - Fantasy
"Detours on the Way to Nothing" by Rachel Swirsky
"So Sharp That Blood Must Flow" by Sunny Moraine
"Love in Another Language" by Eugene Mirabelli
"None Owns the Air" by Ken Liu

Novel Excerpts (eBook exclusives)
Excerpt from "Annihilation" by Jeff VanderMeer
Excerpt from "Dreamwalker" by C.S. Friedman
Excerpt from "The Trillionist" by Sagan Jeffries

Extra
"Swordfighting in Fiction & Film", Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast transcription

Edited by John Joseph Adams
Cover Art (& Artist Spotlight) - Scott Grimando

Genres: Fantasy, Science Fiction, Anthologies, Short Stories

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2014

About the author

John Joseph Adams is the series editor of BEST AMERICAN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY. He is also the bestselling editor of many other anthologies, such as ROBOT UPRISINGS, DEAD MAN'S HAND, BRAVE NEW WORLDS,WASTELANDS, and THE LIVING DEAD. Recent and forthcoming books include WHAT THE #@&% IS THAT?, OPERATION ARCANA, PRESS START TO PLAY, LOOSED UPON THE WORLD, and THE APOCALYPSE TRIPTYCH (consisting of THE END IS NIGH, THE END IS NOW, and THE END HAS COME). Called “the reigning king of the anthology world” by Barnes & Noble, John is a two-time winner of the Hugo Award (for which he has been nominated nine times), is a seven-time World Fantasy Award finalist, and served as a judge for the 2015 National Book Award. John is also the editor and publisher of the digital magazines LIGHTSPEED and NIGHTMARE, and is a producer for Wired's THE GEEK'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY podcast. You can find him online at www.johnjosephadams.com and on Twitter @JohnJosephAdams.

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This time, we get a look at Harry when she has to be Princess Maud, among her family and in the public eye. It's a good story, considering the implications of aetheric advancements and their weaponization during the conflict with Germany, as well as Harry's decisions about her own personal future. There's also an appearance by a certain novelist of "alternative futures", concerned with aliens coming to earth H.G. Wells. I don't tend to give short works over 3 stars, but I'll call this 3.25.

Oh, BTW, the order they're listed on Carrie Vaughn's page at Liughtspeed Magazine is not plot-chronological! This tale takes place after H&M's adventure in Iceland, Harry and Marlowe and the Talisman of the Cult of Egil (from Feb. 2012), and I've got to find out about Harry and Marlowe Escape the Mechanical Siege of Paris (from Feb. 2013).
UPDATE: H&MEtMSoP is the story of their meeting! And I was actually trying to go in order this time!).
Okay, scroll down to the short stories section in the author's own bibliography page, and it seems to be reverse-sequential.

[Andie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Picked this up for the Robin McKinley reprint story "Hellhound," a really endearing story about a red-eyed beast from a demonic realm who is nevertheless a Very Good Boy. I liked the excerpt from the C.S. Friedman novel, but aside from that none of the other stories held my attention. This issue is worth picking up for the interview with McKinley -- I know it's been a decade but I'm still hoping she gives us the sequel she teases here...

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best of the month's short story readings, this issue of Lightspeed featured some fabulous and memorable stories, and nothing that I strongly disliked.

"Coma Kings", "Love in Another Language", and "So Sharp the Blood Must Flow" were my favorites among the shorter pieces, each seeming so simple, but with something very profound at their hearts. The latter is a cutting feminist take on a classic fairy tale. "Fireborn" is a fine story of class, identity, revolution and expression. "Water" takes a more overt cultural stance with issues of class, against advertising practices and the inhumanity of large corporations, yet still manages to keep the message within the confines of a good story.

Ken Liu's "None Owns the Air" was a bit of a disappointment merely because of high expectations. The universe of this story (setting of his upcoming novel) was hard for me to get into. By the end I recognized it's power and the skill of his writing, but it was not the pleasurable and awesome experience I've come to expect from Liu. The weakest story was the steampunk by Carrie Vaughn, but most probably because the genre is not something I like in itself. I'm unfamiliar with the characters, and this particular tale lacked any depth or significant action to allow me to enjoy anything of it.

The reprinted novella of this issue, "Hellhound", is superb, a powerful blend between supernatural horror and a delicate love that perfectly embodies the story's theme of life and death.

[Nancy O'Toole · Rating 4 out of 5]

As part of supporting Lightspeed Magazine's Women Destroy Science Fiction special issue, I was given three free issues of the magazine. This was the first issue I decided to read.

As someone pretty new to the magazine, the Feb 2014 issue of Lightspeed Magazine pleasantly surprised me. I enjoyed all of the stories on one level or another, and really appreciated the author spotlights included with each story. Our of the stories (which includes eight shorts, and one novella) I ended up with a few favorites. The first would be Come Kings by Jessica Barber, which takes a disturbing look at the future of gaming. The technology presented here was really interesting, but what really sold me was the central story of two sisters. I also really enjoyed Fireborn by Robert Charles Wilson, which is a reprint. I found the story to be beautifully written and hope to check out more of the authors work. On the fantasy section, I really enjoyed "None Owns the Air" by Ken Liu, which had a really interesting setting. The novella "Hellhound" by Robin McKinley had a great heroine and should appeal to animal lovers.

This may be my first issue of Lightspeed but it's certainly not my last. I look forward to checking out future issues.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Original SF:
"Coma Kings" by Jessica Barber - sad story about gaming addiction and loss.
"Harry and Marlowe and the Intrigues at the Aetherian Exhibition" by Carrie Vaughn - First time I've read any of this series of stories. Not hard to get into for a newcomer at all, though I did look up the characters on Wikipedia to see what they did in real life. Good fun!
Original fantasy:
"So Sharp That Blood Must Flow" by Sunny Moraine - a dark retelling of the Little Mermaid (which I have actually never read/seen). Love it.
"None Owns the Air" by Ken Liu - This takes place in the world of his upcoming novel series. Can't wait. Don't know where this falls on the flintlock/steampunk spectrum, but there is definitely some kind of tech in this world (specifically airships here). I love Ken's work.
Interviews with Doug Dorst, who has collaborated with J.J. Abrams on the novel S. (which sounds intriguing) and astronaut Chris Hadfield (one of the most awesome humans around). Usual great author spotlights.

[Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of good stuff in this issue. Carrie Vaughn's "Harry and Marlowe and the Intrigues at the Aetherian Exhibition" brings several threads of her fun steampunk short story series to a head as Harry, otherwise known as Princess Maud, must navigate family drama and international espionage; Ken Liu's "None Owns the Air" also mixes political intrigue, back-stabbing, and family devotion but in a fantasy setting that makes me very interested in the novel Liu is writing set in this milieu. Also really loved Sunny Moraine's "So Sharp That Blood Must Flow" (a dark Little Mermaid retelling) and Robin McKinley's novella "Hellhound." On the non-fiction side, the "Sword-Fighting in Film and Fiction" panel discussion was fun to read.

My individual short story reviews can be found at http://365shortstories.livejournal.co...

[Richard Guion · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed these stories, all new to me though some were reprinted:

Jessica Barber (“Coma Kings”) - touching story

Carrie Vaughn (“Harry and Marlowe and the Intrigues at the Aetherian Exhibition”) - part of a steampunk series, would like to read the other stories

Ramez Naam (“Water”) - what happens if nanotech takes over advertising? cool nightmare

Robert Charles Wilson (“Fireborn”) - loved this story & would be curious to read a novel with that setting

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry (Princess Maud to us known as Maud of Wales and Marlowe find a spy among her would be fiancee's companions as her two lives intersect briefly and disturbingly, yet George and her grandmother know she must carry on her Aetherian exploration of technology.

[Shawn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid reading throughout. Ken Liu gives us a glimpse of the world he's building for his new novel, a new Harry and Marlowe tale, a great reprint in Hellhound, and Ramez Naam provides a great tale of corporate advertising in the future.

[Shane · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 3 sci-fi stories I read were worth reading. I skipped the steampunk one. Something about that genre just bothers me. The only fantasy story I read was Ken Liu's. It's set in the world of his upcoming novel. Intriguing enough that I'm still looking forward to the novel in 2015.

[pml]

Hellhound, Robin McKinley; Harry&Marlowe & the intrigues at the Aetherian Exhibition, Carrie Vaughn.

[Dymphna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A darn good issue. Being me, Hellhound was my fave but lots of great sci fi too.

[Geisa Silva · Rating 4 out of 5]

one of my favourites magazines about literature and science fiction.