This latest, winter issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction has a total of 16 short stories, a novelette, and 4 poems. They, combined with an awesome cover from Mondolithic Sudios, will ensure everything kicks off the year to a good start.
So, let’s do that now by beginning, as always, with our poetry submissions.
Have you ever wondered why it is that whale song is so plaintive and haunting? What are the wonders they must have witnessed that would cause them to express such immeasurable sorrow and wisdom in so profound a way?
Well, Sea and Sky, our opening poem by Meagan Branning, holds the answer. Read it, and weep . . . and be very grateful for the uneasy truce that exists between Sea and Sky.
(And a great item to start the review with).
Archivists will swoon over, A Selection of Book Curses, also by Megan Branning, as this poem contains ‘examples of old’ that bibliophiles the world over employed to ensure their manuscripts were never stolen or mishandled. And those curses must have worked, too, judging from all ancient tomes we still have available for us to study today.
(Perhaps modern-day libraries could learn a thing or two)?
Cities Through Telescopes, by Richard Leis, is a clever juxtaposition of time and circumstance, as witnessed through the eyes of a son – a stargazer and scientist, who has seen long-abandoned cities through a telescope, on dead world, far, far away – and who is then forced to witness his father’s slow decline into a similar condition: the grave.
This poem reaches deep, and really brings home a stark reality. . .
That no matter how long we live or how much we think we know, we never seem to find the answers to some of life’s most profound questions.
Avara Margariti, delivers an alchemical extravaganza by way of Vanishing Act, a spectacle of astrophysics and folklore combined. Better still, it’s all delivered in the style of the European fairytale, Rapunzel. Which is a particularly novel way of telling the story.
Do you want to see things transform from one thing into another on a cosmic scale? Then look no further.
And now for the stories:
And what a story to begin 2024 with: what kills the stars, by Alex Bisker.
The best way to highlight the heart of this story is by considering the question: What would YOU do if you knew the world – if the universe itself – was ending?
Well, we examine that dilemma from Jess’ perspective. A woman who is caught in something of an emotional black hole following a breakup. Nothing she does seems to help her in leaving the past behind and moving forward. . .
Until she meets Mabry, that is and the hope of a fresh start blooms anew.
Told by way of nostalgic reminiscence and bittersweet new beginnings, what kills the stars contains a weighty message for all. DON’T put off the things in life that have true meaning and value, because you never know when it’s all gonna end.
A great start. And one that will keep you thinking long after you’ve read the final words.
The Ndayaan Sea, by Moustapha Mbacké Diop, is an epic saga, skillfully delivered by way of a short story, detailing the odyssey undertaken by our protagonist, Coumba Siré, to reclaim a birthright, stolen from her, long ago. Think Senegalese folklore, (especially in relation to those spirits and deities that exercise dominion over the oceans, seas and land), add a delicious speculative twist, and you’ll be on the right track.
I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of vengeance. . .
And the price that must be paid to attain it. (And I’m sure you will too).
The Icy Wasteland at Her Feet, by Deborah L. Davitt, reminded me, in some respects, of Mark Watney – played by Matt Damon – in The Martian. A marathon story of survival in a hostile environment against seemingly insurmountable odds. Only, in this case, we look in on the daily routine of Tora, the only surviving astronaut of an ill-fated mission to Enceladus.
Routine is everything to Tora, for her only company is Solace, an AI program she patched together to prevent her from going insane – and the repetitive, everyday schedule she strictly adheres to – in order to keep focused. But her focus is slipping. . .
And the nearest help is a 10-year journey away.
You’ll really connect with this story, as the mundanity that is Tora’s whole life is masterfully driven home, helping you connect to her plight, and bringing home how awful it would be to find yourself in a similar predicament. (I shiver just thinking about it)!
Ready for another tingle down the spine? Then Guilt Can Wilt the Sweetest Flower, by Veronica G. Henry will be right up your street . . . especially if you’re a veteran, like me.
Joseph Corey Flint came home from war to find the world a desolate and lonely place. His mother died while he was away. His father fell ill. The rest of his family was so distant, that they scarcely recognized that he still existed. And as for society in general? Ah, most of them view him with suspicion, or as an inconvenience they can do without.
Fortunately, he gets a job tending to the ancient furnace of an old library. A job that offers a custodian’s apartment, giving him a semblance of normal – if somewhat lonely – life. Until an old bag lady starts turning up at midnight, every night, trying to get in out of the cold. Something he can’t allow. After all, he’s an ex soldier, and rules are rules . . .
Until he decides to break them, that is.
And then?
Let’s just say, events unfold in an entirely different direction. One that will leave you feeling profoundly satisfied, as well as being reminded how valuable kindness and compassion can be.
I have to say, I rather enjoyed David DeGraff’s take on Mardi Gras celebrations. Something he embellishes with a near-future twist in . . . Mackson’s Mardi Gras Moon Race.
Imagine the setting. In the near future, corporations are mining the Moon. And every year, they hold a race in celebration of the daring trip made by João Silva Henrique back in 2043, who – desperate to celebrate the carnival while away from home – borrowed a small, short-haul tractor-tuck from his place of work at the lunar South Pole, and took a trip, all the way up to the North Pole.
Somehow, the derring-do of his exploits struck a chord, and since then, people have followed the tradition by attempting a similar journey.
The trouble is, those same corporations are heavily invested in the race itself. Meaning, normal folk like Mackson Coelho don’t get a look-in, unless . . . ?
Ah, that would be telling. But suffice to say, you’ll be with Mackson every inch of the way as he risks life and limb to complete the race and change his life for the better. (Great fun).
The Wizzzer, by Scott Nicolay, is a juicy little adventure of what might happen if there was more substance to those childhood nightmares we’ve all endured as youngsters than mere imagination.
Think about it. You know the way it is when you’re growing up. The little gang of kids we all belonged to. The adventures we’d play out without our parents knowing. Those few places we daren’t step foot, for fear of disturbing something truly hideous.
Well, what do you think might happen if that something truly hideous was to worm its way into among your gang? Find out, in this superbly chilling tale – delivered with a Stranger Things vibe – that’s bound to chill you to the bone. (And have you grinning at the delicious twist).
If you enjoy a little murder/mystery/whodunit sprinkled into your sci-fi, then The Diamond Factory, by Phoebe Barton, is the one for you. Not only is it adroitly served up on a gilt-encrusted platter, but that platter is accompanied by a side dish of ‘crab finger to the world’ and a refreshing anti-establishment aperitif that shouts, up yours! Even better, the prose grabs you from the very first sentence, and holds on until the very last full stop.
I absolutely loved it, and was put in mind of the subtle tension running through MGM’s recent sci-fi hit, Beacon 23. (You’ll see why when you delve into the many facets that this particular gem is blessed with).
More please. . .
The Body-Part Woman, by Bonnie Elizabeth, was a most pleasant surprise in oh so many ways.
But tell me. Do you need to replace an eye? Then the Body-Part woman is just the person to see. New fingers? Don’t worry, she’ll be able to lay her hands on exactly what you need.
You name it, she’s got it.
However, when a bully visits her shop making demands; a bully who not only grievously assaults her, but who then actually steals from among her most prized possessions, you can only imagine how she might react.
Or then again, you might not . . . for the Body-Part woman knows her stuff. She’s got guts, and this tale contains something of a parable.
Bear that in mind as you pass through the doors to her shop . . . and be amazed by the way she deals with that bully.
We all carry our own ghosts, don’t we, in one way or another. You know, those memories, triumphs, regrets and simple, yet moving snippets in time that remind us of places, people and events that we’ve known throughout our lives. It’s almost as if we’ve absorbed the energy of those fleeting moments and now carry them with us forever more. Be it as a simple memory, a trinket, a photo, or something else that helps to take you back to that singular instant, so that you can relive it all over again.
But have you ever wondered . . . Is it only people who are haunted in such a way? Or, perhaps, do the places we’ve been, or even the homes we’ve lived in also absorb that same energy?
Such a question is considered in How to Care for Your Domestic God, a novella by Clara Madrigano, who so deftly reminds us of how powerful our past can be, and how, really, we ought to make more effort to carry those little keepsakes from our past around. After all, you never know when you might need them?
(A thoroughly satisfying story to ponder on).
Big Trouble in Sector C, by Robert Friedman and Barry N. Malzberg, is a roister-doister, gumshoe style, hunt ‘em down and shoot ‘em up when you catch ‘em adventure, detailing the exploits of a special VR operator sent into the network to track down and destroy a situationally aware – and extremely evasive and aggressive – AI program that is gradually eating its way through all manner of operating systems throughout the world.
Think The Matrix meets the 2018 cyberpunk film, Upgrade, with a liberal splash of Skynet thrown in, and you’ll be on the right track.
Tremendous pace. Wholly immersive. And most enjoyable. Plug in and enjoy yourselves.
In All Our Better Angels, by Jack Neel Waddell, we delve into the quandary of time travel, and the implications of trying to fix things in our past. And I must say, it’s very well done. Waddell makes his story as moving as it is intense. So much so, that it draws you in and encourages you to contemplate the events in your own life that you’d want to see changed.
Think The Butterfly Effect combined with 12 Monkeys and the 2007 sci-fi series, Journeyman, and you’ll be on the right track.
You’ll definitely remember this one. (I know I will).
Have you ever felt like there’s always someone, somewhere, who wants a piece of you?
If so, then, Puzzle Pieces, by Jennifer R. Povey, will certainly appeal. Because, that’s the thing about society nowadays isn’t it? It expects you to wear a mask and present an acceptable face, no matter how outlandish the issue at hand. To conform. To fit in. And once we develop the technology that could actually implement or enforce those changes against our will?
Ah, what a nightmare that would be.
It actually reminded me of a superb line by Pink, in her song: Don’t Let Me Get Me – Where, in order to make her hugely successful, it says; “All you have to change is everything you are.”
Yes, that’s the dilemma our protagonist fights so hard against in this tale. And believe me, when you see what it is she has to endure and what, exactly, they expect her to give up, you’ll be right by her side throughout, fighting for what’s right!
A powerfully evocative story that reminds us how much we all need to stay true to ourselves.
Zariel: Parable of a Gifted Black Child, by Denzel Xavier Scott, delivers a potent message by way of allegory. A contrast, if you will, regarding the way that those with power often act to the disadvantage of everyone subjected to their decisions. It’s interesting, too, how frequently such ones insist on applying the letter of their mandate, while totally disregarding the needs or feelings of those they exercise control over. And as the story so succinctly highlights, it’s not just humans we’re talking about, here. Oh no! As you’ll find out, this kind of discriminatory privilege might well extend far beyond our tiny little world . . . as Zariel and his mother discover to their cost.
I really enjoy stories that manage to capture the timeless quality of the Arthurian legend, and The Wounded King, by J. A. Prentice, certainly does that. It’s an ethereal tale of duty, need, capitulation and desire. One that involves you from the outset, for you witness early on, the protagonist’s impasse: The loneliness of his situation. The enforced isolation. His feelings of impotence. And the burning need to prevent calamity while enduring a ‘necessary evil’ in order to achieve his aims if an opportunity to escape ever presents itself.
I can’t say more, because to do so would not only spoil the weave of the story, but sour the impact it will make upon reading it for the first time. But rest assured, it’s a truly magical tale that will definitely get you thinking . . . what would I do in that situation?
Speaking of which. . .
Burned Like Coal, by T. R. Napper, is an excellent example of how to say a lot in a short amount of time. As one of the briefest stories in this edition, it nevertheless packs a great deal of clout. I absolutely loved it, and I’m sure you will too, especially as it considers a question we’ve already dipped into in this edition: How far would YOU go to save the world and those you love?
Follow along as Millie and Emiko are forced to answer that very question in a profoundly personal way . . .and then ask yourself: Would I do that? Or would I react differently?
Speaking personally, I know I’m enjoying a story when I catch myself grinning, or actually laughing out loud. And The Interspatial Accessibility Compact’s Guidelines for Cross-Cultural Engagement, by Dane Kuttler, had me doing both from the outset.
And why?
Ah, because our story puts one of the most evocative of all human conditions, love, in the spotlight. And in doing so, considers how alien species might interpret our quaint, quirky, and no doubt baffling penchant for making what is – on the face of it – a completely natural condition, far more complex and painful than it needs to be.
And it’s done is a way that will make you chuckle. Kudos to Dane Kuttler for an outright winner!
And what better way to round off this issue, than by pulling on the heartstrings one final time? Do Not Hasten to Bid Me Adieu, by Will McMahon, is a poignantly moving tale about courage in the face of inevitable loss, and of hope restored. And all because of a series of letters from a member of the family living far, far away.
Just how far?
You’ll find out when you delve into it. But if you think of certain aspects from, Letters from Iwo Jima, mixed with the sci-fi thriller, Frequency, you’ll be on the right track. I really, really enjoyed the impact this story made on me, and I’m sure you will too.
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In looking back over this edition, I have to confess how much I enjoyed the variety of stories on offer. Yet that’s the thing about speculative fiction. You can take just about any subject, and, by adding a touch of the abstract here, and a dash of the hypothetical there, you can spice up everyday topics into something far more flavorsome. And as you’ll see, there’s a smorgasbord of tasty dishes on offer in this edition.
So, until the next time . . . sit back, relax, and tuck-in. You certainly won’t regret it.
