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Sybil's Garage No. 7
Where can you find a television that sees five minutes into the future? Where can you find dragons trapped in a jar and an illness which turns people into glass? Where might you find families who sell their brainpower to corporations for penny wages, or dead relatives that sit down for family meals? Why, in the pages of Sybil's Garage No. 7, of course. In this seventh issue of the highly acclaimed series, you will find twenty-seven original works of fiction and poetry from today's top talent, with suggested musical accompaniment, our trademark design aesthetic, and much more. But be sure to leave a trail of breadcrumbs on your way into Sybil's Garage, or you may not find your way out. Published by Senses Five Press, the World Fantasy Award-winning publisher of Paper Cities, An Anthology of Urban Fantasy. Contributors include Kathryn E. Baker, Cheryl Barkauskas, Kelly Barnhill, Tom Crosshill, Hal Duncan, Lindsey Duncan, Amal El-Mohtar, Lyn C. A. Gardner, Juliet Gillies, M.K. Hobson, Swapna Kishore, Avi Kotzer, Terence Kuch, Megan Kurashige, Sam Ferree, Richard Larson, Alex Dally MacFarlane, Anil Menon, E.C. Myers, AJ Odasso, Eric Schaller, Alexandra Seidel, Amelia Shackelford, Amy Sisson, Sonya Taaffe, Marcie Lynn Tentchoff, Jacqueline West, & A.C. Wise
- GenresScience Fiction
206 pages, Paperback
First published July 7, 2010
About the author
Hal Duncan
77 books136 followersHal Duncan is the author of Vellum, which was a finalist for both the William H. Crawford Award and the Locus Award for Best First Novel. He is a member of the Glasgow SF Writers’ Circle. He lives in the West End of Glasgow.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 4, 2012
Even in the best anthologies and magazines there are inevitably clunkers, stories that just don't work (for me), or that don't feel up to par with the others. I can't possibly imagine ever giving an anthology an unmitigated 5 star review.
And yet, here I am, doing just that. Sybil's Garage No. 7 is an exception. The worst stories were exceptional, and it just got better from there. I got this for the work of one of the authors, but the overall package was so good, and the stories worked in together, framed in the flow of a meta-narrative that weaves through the stories and poetry like a love-lost ghost, that it is impossible to choose favorites to call out by name. All I can say is: if your tastes run similar to mine, buy this; read this, from front to back. You won't be disappointed.
(date I read this book is actually "some time over the summer during the time I didn't get around to logging into Goodreads," but that doesn't seem to be an option.)
And yet, here I am, doing just that. Sybil's Garage No. 7 is an exception. The worst stories were exceptional, and it just got better from there. I got this for the work of one of the authors, but the overall package was so good, and the stories worked in together, framed in the flow of a meta-narrative that weaves through the stories and poetry like a love-lost ghost, that it is impossible to choose favorites to call out by name. All I can say is: if your tastes run similar to mine, buy this; read this, from front to back. You won't be disappointed.
(date I read this book is actually "some time over the summer during the time I didn't get around to logging into Goodreads," but that doesn't seem to be an option.)
November 17, 2015
I read How the Future Got Better by Eric Schaller as part of The Time Traveller's Almanac.
This story is about a family who settles down in front of their TV to see what the FoTax does: it's set five minutes fast.
A TV set that can see five minutes into the future is a recipe for self-fulfilling prophecies, if you ask me. Quite frankly, I just don't see the point of sitting around watching what you're going to be doing in five mins time.
** I initially gave this story 1 star, but I've upgraded it to a three for this reason:
Well. I’ve been thinking about this one some – upon reading your comment. Yes, it is a story about nothing, but there are some questions I can come up with.
Probably most importantly, exactly what is the role of the FoTax? It allows people to see themselves in five minutes time, but there are some…missing elements? Firstly, when the mother refuses to sit down, her image on the FoTax channel fades… so would she REALLY cease to exist if she didn’t sit down? And how would that happen – would she fade away to nothing, or crash down dead on the floor. Secondly, I don’t recall seeing any movement on the FoTax channel. People would just be doing something ‘new’, like sitting down, holding a beer can… so the FoTax is not showing an actual sequence of events, but perhaps just planting ideas? And yet there appears to be retribution if the idea is not followed… so idea, or coercion to a certain behaviour? Finally, what would happen if the FoTax could be turned off? Can it, in fact, be turned off?
Heh. Maybe this one’s going to climb the ratings at this rate, with all the questions it’s making me ask – which may be the point of the story, really…
This story is about a family who settles down in front of their TV to see what the FoTax does: it's set five minutes fast.
A TV set that can see five minutes into the future is a recipe for self-fulfilling prophecies, if you ask me. Quite frankly, I just don't see the point of sitting around watching what you're going to be doing in five mins time.
** I initially gave this story 1 star, but I've upgraded it to a three for this reason:
Well. I’ve been thinking about this one some – upon reading your comment. Yes, it is a story about nothing, but there are some questions I can come up with.
Probably most importantly, exactly what is the role of the FoTax? It allows people to see themselves in five minutes time, but there are some…missing elements? Firstly, when the mother refuses to sit down, her image on the FoTax channel fades… so would she REALLY cease to exist if she didn’t sit down? And how would that happen – would she fade away to nothing, or crash down dead on the floor. Secondly, I don’t recall seeing any movement on the FoTax channel. People would just be doing something ‘new’, like sitting down, holding a beer can… so the FoTax is not showing an actual sequence of events, but perhaps just planting ideas? And yet there appears to be retribution if the idea is not followed… so idea, or coercion to a certain behaviour? Finally, what would happen if the FoTax could be turned off? Can it, in fact, be turned off?
Heh. Maybe this one’s going to climb the ratings at this rate, with all the questions it’s making me ask – which may be the point of the story, really…
August 6, 2010
Bought it on the strength of Readercon readings by E.C. Myers (whose well-crafted "My Father's Eyes" is thematically very similar to a short WIP of my own, damn him!) and Amal El-Mohtar, who is now officially my favorite living poet.
Other high points are stories by Amy Sisson, Sam Ferree (got to be a pseudonym -- it's a story about The Ferryman), Hal Duncan, Anil Menon and Terence Kuch. Editor Matthew Kressel has eclectic tastes and a keen eye for new talent. Definitely plan to buy #8 when it comes out -- if I don't rate a contributor's copy, which I'm going to shoot for.
Other high points are stories by Amy Sisson, Sam Ferree (got to be a pseudonym -- it's a story about The Ferryman), Hal Duncan, Anil Menon and Terence Kuch. Editor Matthew Kressel has eclectic tastes and a keen eye for new talent. Definitely plan to buy #8 when it comes out -- if I don't rate a contributor's copy, which I'm going to shoot for.
September 18, 2011
I really enjoyed the unusual stories found within the covers of Sybil's Garage No. 7. This book, in fact, contains a number of intriguing tales that I've read over several times.
What truly sets this gem apart from the reams of other short story compilations, is a clever addition at the start of each short story: they all specify a particular piece of music which is meant to accompany the author's work. It's a spectacular enhancement, and adds a whole new element and feel to the reading experience. Simply brilliant.
December 27, 2010
So many fantastic pieces, so inspiring.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews