Lightspeed Magazine, August 2010

by John Joseph Adams

Lightspeed Magazine features all types of sf, from near-future, sociological soft sf, to far-future, star-spanning hard sf, and anything and everything in between. In the August 2010 issue, Catherynne M. Valente teaches us “How to Become a Mars Overlord,” with her step-by-step program that enables each and every one of us to find the right Mars for us to rule over; Tananarive Due tells the tragic story of “Patient Zero” in her chilling account of a child being raised in isolation, ignorant of an apocalyptic infection raging in the outside world; in the audacious “Arvies,” author Adam-Troy Castro tells the story of a post-poverty utopia in which everybody lucky enough to be plugged into the society's opportunities gets to do whatever the heck they want to do with their lives, indulging their slightest whims—including living their lives inside a living womb; and for our final fiction selection of the month, we present “More Than the Sum of His Parts” by Joe Haldeman, an examination of one man’s transformation from human to cyborg that asks the question: As a person becomes less and less organic, might they become less and less human?

Genres: Science Fiction, Short Stories, Horror, Fiction, Anthologies, Fantasy, Ebooks

92 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2010

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

[Althea Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Post-apocalyptic/'outbreak' genre in the classic mode. Superb storytelling, but again, I have to find myself disagreeing with the author herself. In her 'notes' regarding this piece she says she finds the main character's "loneliness and innocence" heartbreaking - but I would say I found his ignorance and self-centered perspective appalling (although understandable, given the circumstances.) I felt that was where the main horror of the tale lay.

[Libby Stephenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to Become a Mars Overlord by Catherynne M. Valente - 4 stars
Patient Zero by Tananarive Due - 3 stars
Arvies by Adam-Troy Castro - 4 stars
More Than the Sum of His Parts by Joe Haldeman - dnf because I didn't need to know that much about a bionic penis

[Jaffa Kintigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

In a compelling mix of naivete and knowing, 10 y.o. Jay has both been protected from and thrust upon the harsh realities of truth in this short tale of pandemic apocalypse.

At 6, Jay saw his Dad come home sick to Georgia from Alaska's oil wells. In short order, Jay's parents and only brother died of the disease and Jay both sickened and recovered. Now incorrectly dubbed "Patient Zero," Jay has lived in a large observation, reverse-isolation room at the CDC for 4 years. Innumerable blood draws have been taken from him, but between his fun nurse, Veronica, and optimistic tutor, Ms. Manigat, he keeps his spirits up.

He is denied windows to the outside world, television and all news. Blackouts start to push into his world. Food shortages. Staffers start to disappear. Others scream terrible things at him in their frustration.

His tutor starts to secretly teach Jay survival skills and the codes to get out of the building just in case a day comes when nobody comes to give him food . . .

Appearing in the anthology, Ghost Summer, this short story first appeared in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, August 2000.

[Frank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Catherynne M. Valente's “How to Become a Mars Overlord”

I thought this was going to be a lighthearted, funny instruction on becoming a Mars Overlord and it is but it has some lovely moments which give it depth. A pleasant surprise.

https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fi...

the author talks about the story here:
https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/no...

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life begins at conception and ends at birth. Fetuses are autonomous and sentient citizens who are passengers in modified, 'dead' adults. The concept is intriguing and disturbing. The only trouble I had was that it took me awhile to figure out what was going on and in a short story, you don't want to waste too much time on obfuscation/confusion.

[Shawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Joe Haldeman tale was interesting. The only saving point on this issue was Tananarive Due's "Patient Zero".

[AsatorPrime · Rating 3 out of 5]

How to Become a Mars Overlord 1/5
Patient Zero 4/5
Arvies 3/5
More Than the Sum of His Parts 4/5

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this one

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stories are either very good or outstanding. I also enjoyed some of the background stories on authors and technology. Keeper!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing new here.

[Aryanna Tunstall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Patient Zero was an atmospheric, almost claustrophobic read that I’m thinking about even hours after finishing. I feel bad for the boy but I also have questions for everyone else around him.

[T E N Z I N · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was good until the end.
the kid, Jay, was super naïve to the point of stupidity.