F&SF has several nice stories in May 2008, especially Gilbow’s and Cowdrey’s, but Pollack’s ambitious novelet overshadows them all.
“Reunion” by Robert Reed
The graduating class of a small town is the locus of statistically impossible success. Billionaires, politicians, actors, spies, and scientists. Half the graduates have become fabulously rich and famous.
The daughter of one of the less-famous classmates shows [...]
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Compared to Maurizio Manzieri’s cover art, the April 2008 issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction is underwhelming overall. Among the highlights:
“The First Editions” by James Stoddard
The first pages of this story are deceptively predictable. The protagonist visits the home of Yon Diedo to see his library of unique books, only to be transformed into a book himself by his [...]
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A long but engrossing story from Albert E. Cowdrey and a short piece of personal interest from Alexander Jablokov highlight the March 2008 issue of F&SF.
“The Boarder” by Alexander Jablokov
I’ve enjoyed the few Jablokov stories I’ve read, but this is the first that’s really struck home. There’s actually nothing science fictional or fantastic about it, which might [...]
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The February issue falls short of spectacular, but boasts one great story and several that are more than serviceable.
“Balancing Accounts” by James L. Cambias
This is a brilliant story. Depicting the AI of a space tug falling into a moral quandary, Cambias writes with humor and insight. The first person protagonist has an excellent voice and may be [...]
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The January 2008 issue is dominated by stories revolving around simple conceits (not that there’s anything wrong with simple conceits–it’s simplicity and conceit that are dangerous). The standout is the one piece where the conceit fully receded behind the story and characters: Alex Irvine’s “Mystery Hill.”
Ken runs a roadside attraction where debunkers and crackpots make their [...]
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There’s nothing I don’t like in the December issue of F&SF, and Lucius Shepard’s Films column tops it off: “The sole value of movies like Rise of the Silver Surfer,flavorless, odorless, soulless product, is that they provide a register for the flatlining of our culture–not of its intelligence, really, but of its will to excel and [...]
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Despite two complete stinkers, the October/November double issue has some real pleasers. It’s also the first time my name has appeared in F&SF. Appropriately, it’s as a dishonorable mention. For the Adapted contest I spliced Star Wars and Of Mice and Men. What can I say? The thought of smushed Ewoks amuses me.
I suppose most people will be more interested [...]
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The September issue is fairly strong, with a good number of shorter stories and no honking big novellas monopolizing the page count.
Ted Chiang’s eagerly awaited “The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate” is the centerpiece. While it didn’t leave me mentally gobsmacked the way his stories usually do, I actually found more enjoyment in its 1,001 Arabian Nights savor than I [...]
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The August issue begins with Esther M. Friesner’s “At These Prices,” an amusing story of a hotel staffed by fantasy regulars: brownies, trolls, dwarves, and fairies. These characters and their fervent dedication to coffee and poker are quite funny, but the real laughs come from Bella Franklin, the free-booting and dotty hotel guest they match [...]
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The July issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction is a slight disappointment overall. The most enjoyable story, Lawrence C. Connolly’s “Daughters of Prime,” uses a tried and true motif. Cara has been sent to observe an alien species in its native habitat. When contact is made there’s a lot of language confusion. [...]
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