Daily Science Fiction: February Review

written by Frank Dutkiewicz

Onward! Still plugging away. It feels as if I am finally making ground reviewing this very ambitious project.

This month we have the return of Cat Rambo and the debut of the very successful Jay Lake, but it is also the month that has the most unfamiliar authors to me yet. I believe it is because this is when Daily Science Fiction had reached its stride in the industry. Because of the its pay scale, ease of its submission process, volume of material needed, and friendly availability to its readers; the amount of fresh material and authors , both pro and amateur , likely surpassed or equaled any other publication about the time Jon and Michele received the stories that ended up in this month’s email out. It is a testament of the success of this innovative project. The readers and authors have realized how good of a publication Daily Science Fiction has become. When is the rest of the industry going to acknowledge it?

I will continue to beat the drum, but I’m having trouble turning up the noise.

 

The Stories

“The Elephant Man’s Love Child” by Leslie What (debut 2/1) is the story of a girl imprisoned in a hospital. The girl is the discarded offspring of the Elephant Man, abandoned for unknown reasons by her mother. She gazes at a photo of her father every night, wishing she could be a part of his life.

I can’t really see the point of this story. The protagonist’s plight is sad but nothing much happened in it. This is a tale where the author’s comments would have been useful.

 

The protagonist is an imprisoned fairy in “E is for Excrement” by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 2/2). The fairy has been caged by the MacAllister family for generations and now is the property of a college boy. The first rule on caring for the magical being is to never let him out of the cage. The lad lives in a dorm, a place filled with mischievous young men influenced by peer pressure. A chance for freedom is available thanks to the boys’ desire to try the outrageous.

This brief lettered tale was neat. Gross when you really think about it but done cleverly from the perspective of a clever protagonist. A very nice work of flash.

 

“The Uncharted Isle” by James Hutchings (debut 2/3 and reviewed by James Hanzelka) asks if you ever sat and pondered where that old flame is today? Is she married, with kids? Does she ever sit and ponder where you are? Well here’s the answer.

Nice little thought exercise, sort of Ulysses for the modern man. This little ditty touches on the deepest desires of us all, the desire to be loved, in a short little story.

 

In “Imaginary Enemies” by Colum Paget (debut 2/4 and reviewed by James Hanzelka), Sandra Barclay is in a contest of wills, with herself. Her personality has been split by a radical medical procedure and now she is tormented by her alternate personality, Ingrid. A new procedure can restore her personality, but can she live with herself afterward?

Reminiscent of a common theme of P.K. Dick, what is reality, this story looks at it from the standpoint of the individual. The question of who we are and what we are is deftly handled and leads to an interesting conclusion.

 

“Gathering Glory” by Steve Stanton (debut 2/7 and reviewed by James Hanzelka). Nigel Harris meets his publisher for the first time at a conference. He soon discovered the meeting was more than just about his first story. He was to discover more about himself than he thought.

This story covers some familiar ground with a different perspective. It was interesting to see how the author pulled together the threads of the story. In the end, however, it still seemed a little too familiar.

 

Reliving cherished memories can have many benefits in “Memory Bugs” by Alter S. Reiss (debut 2/8). The protagonist has a memory hive in his home, bugs that record events in your life. He uses the bugs to remember fine details of his date with Susan, beneficial when you wish to impress, debilitating when memories become more important than new experiences.

The memory hive is a tool the protagonist needs for his job. The bugs in them imprint fine details and pass them along into mites (in which you ingest) so you can re-experience them later. The story focuses on the protagonists evolving relationship with his girl, covering several years in a few paragraphs, and takes the shape of an addiction tale. How they work was glossed over. The protagonist’s inability to grasp the downsides of overusing the hive made him unlikable.

Interesting concept pasted onto a plotline that has been told in variety of ways. Not a grand story but okay.

 

“F is Forever” by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 2/9) is about one hell of a resort and spa! Hell has become kinder and gentler. The damned are now treated to a heavenly vacation. Each customer has the ultimate pleasure just a fingertip away, and it won’t get any closer.

“F” is hell with a makeover. Eternal damnation has changed with the times, as has its choice of fitting torture. Entertaining work of flash. I liked it.

 

In “Swallowing Ghosts” by Cat Rambo (debut 2/10 and reviewed by Anonymous), a boy, never named, fails to cover his mouth with his hand when he yawns and his dead Grandma’s warning comes to pass; he swallows a ghost (see title). Said unnamed boy troops over to his Grandpa and, despite his ghost-acquired handicap of involuntary verbal gobbledy-gook, is able to recruit the eccentric old man to his ghost bustin’ cause.

But can Grandpa exorcise the ectoplasmic visitor?

I have read quite a few Cat Rambo stories, and although this isn’t my favourite story–it’s pretty short and fairly simplistic–I still like it. It doesn’t showcase her talents in quite the way I have seen in some of her more complex and darker stories. That said, this story is simply a bit of fun.

 

“The Birdcage Heart” by Peter M Ball (debut 2/11 and reviewed by Dustin Adams) begins with a hint of sadness and a touch of cruelty and degrades from there. It also began with such a foreign concept that it was initially hard to imagine and grasp. Yet, the human mind adapts and soon I had accepted that a man literally has a bird cage in his chest in which various species of birds are kept.

The man’s affections for a woman whose motivation reeked of fetishism was sympathetic. Most of us have been in poisonous relationships where we’ve done the bulk of the changing. The man in this story is no different, only, he’s got a bird cage in his chest cavity.

The story circles around to where it began, and the man learns to trust himself. After taking so much external emotional damage, he’s able to risk some internal for the sake of allowing himself to feel an attachment to the birds he keeps within himself.

I appreciated the metaphor at the end of the story, but found the journey to get there a bit cumbersome.

 

“Boy Seeds” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (debut 2/14 and reviewed by Dustin Adams), suffers from one major and devastating problem: it is too short. It’s a novella or novel crammed into short form, and while the story itself was interesting enough, I found I couldn’t latch on to any one aspect of it because of the speed in which it moved. One does not visit a fine art gallery then run full tilt through it.

Noma lives in a Big Brother like society in which she’s expected to conform to certain normalities. However, she’s always had her own mind and has gotten into trouble for this in the past. So, when it’s time for her to grow her own boy, she dives in and invents one who is sure to touch her heart. However, with an expiration date of six months, this is not a wise idea.

The story ends sort of abruptly and if there’s a moral, I didn’t discover it, however I do believe this is merely a fault of the story’s length. If it were say a hundred pages, or two or three, I would read every word because that is what this idea needs. It needs to grow, and live – for more than six months.

 

A sick mother, approaching army, and a ribbon-happy shaman shape “A Ribbon For A Shaman” by S. J. Hirons (debut 2/15). The protagonist is a young man. His father cares for his ill mother while the silent shaman ties a ribbon around everything of value, a sign that it should be left alone. The village worries for the sanity of their shaman and consider replacing him. The protagonist is not ready to give up on his mother, or the shaman, and learns the old man has plans for him.

“Ribbon” is a complicated tale. The author wrote the shaman as a man losing it. The rules of the ribbon seemed silly to me though. I saw no reason why the ribbon law had to be obeyed. A hint of a consequence would have made the story more convincing for me. Not a bad piece but sticking with the story took a bit effort.

 

Mal’llandri, God of a Thousand Tongues, has come to Earth in “G is for Graven” by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 2/16). The god destroys Las Vegas as demonstration of his power. He rewards worshippers with supernatural gifts. The sculpturist protagonist wishes for the power of psychometry to help her improve as an artist. She should be wary of all-powerful gifts from all-powerful beings.

“G” is the tale of misguided faith. The new god proves to be more devious than his mortal cohort’s envision. The protagonist unwittingly discovers how a gift she thought would help her create would destroy her humanity. A well-done letter.

 

In “Tonight with Words Unspoken” by Jeff Samson (debut 2/17) a couple is off to make a new home on a distant world. They have developed a habit of falling asleep and waking separately as a couple and decide they should enter their deep-sleep chambers the same way. Habits can be difficult to break, and some can break the habit makers when broken.

“Tonight” is a dark tale of grief. The ending, although sad, became an unnecessary travesty compounded. The enormous expense of traveling to another star is erased by the protagonist’s inability to adjust to loss. I’d hope any psychological examine would weed out individuals like him.

 

“Rinse or Repeat” by Sylvia Hiven (debut 2/18) is the tale of an unfaithful man hoping to fix the mistakes of his past. In a modern day Manhattan populated with immigrating mythical beings, Gabriel braves Chinatown in hopes of finding a displacer. The middle-aged husband of an understanding wife fell hard for a fairy and now wants to return to the moment when he first pumped into the Merridy Redwing to prevent the events that ruined his marriage and eventually broke his heart. It is regret that leads Gabriel to take this fateful step, but desire can prove to be an equally powerful of an emotion.

“Rinse or Repeat” is a short but full tale. The story is under 5000 words but had more detail, setting, and intrigue than most novelette size tales. Ms. Hiven wrote a very convincing love-struck Gabriel a year removed from a steaming affair. She set him in a New York with dragons lurking in the shadows and fairies intermingling as temptress vixens run amok. We view a society in which fairies take advantage of men and get a brief insight of their non-human motivations. Ms. Hiven also introduces us to a method of time travel with clear and strict rules, an important element for me (can’t make time travel too easy).

Gabriel is resolute in his decision to change his past. His earlier risk-taking confirms his commitment to the reader. But as the story evolves, and the more we learn of affair, his resolution starts to waver. The ending serves as the pinnacle of the tale, Gabriel standing at a fateful, irreversible moment between desire and healing.

I was very satisfied when I reached the end of this story, but it wasn’t until I wrote this review that I learned how much I really enjoyed it. I didn’t think I would be praising it so much but I am impressed with the impression it has left on me. This is the first work of Sylvia Hiven I have read. I will be looking forward to her next. Recommended

 

In “Vestigial Organs” by Katie H. Camp (debut 2/21 and reviewed by Anonymous), a couple is worried about their child who appears to be special. She laughs at things the parents don’t understand, steals toys from other children without them realising; the parents consult a physician who quickly diagnoses the problem–her eyes function perfectly. She lives in a society of blind people who don’t like the advantage it confers on the odd person born with eyes, but they have a solution for this problem…

I thought the story was well written, but felt the premise was weak. I am no expert, but seeing confers a major survival advantage, which was the major complaint the parents seemed to be making, they couldn’t control the young child (ergo, an advantage). What about the poor or those who can’t afford physicians? No society is without its critics andÂI wondered how this society could defend itself against a single determined sighted man.

In the Country of the Blind, the One-Eyed man is king.

A story isn’t merely its prose, characters, or dialogue, it is also the premise.ÂFor me the premise seemed flawed, which sapped the pleasure from this well-written tale.

 

A gun is the main protagonist in “Hello, said the Gun” by Jay Lake (debut 2/22). The story is of an artificially intelligent handgun who was left in an oak tree a century and a half before. He encounters a girl who happens to be walking by. Lonely and neglected, the gun seeks to be held once again.

“Hello, said the Gun” is a tale with twin perspectives. We learn of a character known as only ‘Girl’, a loner left to fend for herself in a harsh world. She is wary of Men and her solitude has left her suspicious of everything. Gun only wants to talk to someone. It’s AI programming has allowed it to learn, adapt, and improve on itself. Being left in a tree for so long runs counter to what its designers intended for it. Of the two characters, the weapon comes off as the one most human.

Jay Lake’s accomplishments speak for itself. So impressive they are that the editor’s joked that their publication “â€set a record for being the longest to publish a Jay Lake” tale. Well I think it may have been wise to wait a bit longer. As always, Mr. Lake has a way with words that makes his stories easy to follow, but switching perspectives in a tight narrative rarely works, and it certainly didn’t work in this one. I had a problem with a premise that had a character who experienced so little human interaction in her life (talking about the human one here) and yet was able to converse fluently. The ending also came off as non-eventful to me.

I have read plenty Jay Lake stories and found them fabulous. The praise for most of his work is well deserved but with this one instance, I am left disappointed.

 

An old racing mare is the subject of “H is for Horse” by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 2/23). She has lived a long life, birthing many champion horses. She longs not for her youth when she could run like the wind but of a majestic prince she knew long ago. Fine horses like herself are often treated like princesses. This princess awaits her prince.

“H” is a story with a unique twist, one you won’t suspect. The authors did well using the perspective of a horse without turning into a Disney-cartoonish narrative. The ending of this flash piece is done really well. I rather liked this letter of the quartets.

 

Paolo wants to forget in “Trick of Memory” by D. A. D’Amico (debut 2/24). He wishes to erase the memory of his time with his abusive wife, Lisa, and has purchased a pill called Vive. The drug has the capability to erase recent pain, in moderation, but Paolo just swallowed an entire dose just as Lisa walks in. The couple duel as Paolo waits for her to be a stranger to him once again. Lisa can’t just let him off that easy. Being a tormentor can require some craftiness.

“Trick of Memory” is an odd tale. Although it isn’t really one, I liken it to a couple’s final moments, as one is about to commit suicide in front of the other. Paolo has suffered some wicked abuse over the months and erasing his memory of her comes across as his way of giving her the finger rather than an escape from pain. Lisa seems to delight in giving him hell, and reacts as if letting him off the hook would be like allowing him to escape the fiery underworld while she was left to burn in its flames.

The story I found very interesting but following a dysfunctional couple, not bright enough to part ways, made it tough for me to care what happened to them.

 

An old family harpsichord returns in “The Mysterious Barricades” by Lyn C.A. Gardner (debut 2/25). The musical instrument has been in Lucy’s family for years. Believed to be lost in a fire that killed her mother years ago, it has been returned to her, partially restored. The harpsichord has a history of dividing her family, and now it has ended up with her just as the love of her life, Adrienne, is leaving for a job in Paris. Now old memories are reborn to mingle with a present that is crumbling around her.

“The Mysterious Barricades” is a weird ghost story. Lucy is a woman who is suffers from separation anxiety. She can’t handle Adrienne out of her life. The harpsichord is anchor to her past. Family ghosts haunt it. They replay old events in her life and help her reassemble the old musical machine. The flashbacks that play before her eyes remind her of the effect it had as its very presence drove a wedge between her parents and grandparents. The strange events all lead to an odd climax, and strange ending.

It was a weird trip following this story. Lucy story may be more of one person’s mental breakdown than it was about ghosts.

 

“Waiting in the Corners” by Brian Dolton (debut 2/28) is more of a confessional than a story. The mysterious narrator is elusive about who and what it is, hinting that is less a thing of substance but an instiller of fear and apprehension.

I really don’t know how to comment on this one. The narrator seems to be warning the reader without implying any kind of threat. It is ominous but harmless at the same time. In short, it becomes a journey into a haunted house that is scarier on the outside than the inside.

 

Analysis

The Alphabet Quartet still delights me, as does the growing variety of fiction and authors. On to March.

Frank Dutkiewicz, Dustin Adams, and Anonymous each contributed to this review and all had their turn in the sun. Time to shine a light on someone else.

James A. Hanzelka graduated from University of Utah with a degree in Chemistry in 1972. After graduation he became the property of the US Army for the next twenty years. He later found work as a Physical Scientist, developing test methods for evaluation chemical defense equipment for the US Forces. He has developed several unique methodologies, which resulted in both National and International awards. He was a member of the international community developing standards for protective equipment used by militaries around the world. He is the author of over 150 different technical documents and papers. Since 1998 he has been involved in private consulting on chemical defense equipment development, and is currently in pursuit of a career in writing. He holds degrees in chemistry and industrial engineering and claims to know nothing of a guardian angel that hovers over his left shoulder.

Sale! “Fruitful” to Digital Science Fiction

written by David Steffen

I don’t often post about myself but I wanted to share some good news. I’ve sold my short story “Fruitful” to Digital Science Fiction. I’m very pleased that this has happened now. I was getting rather down about the writing, more than a year having passed since the last non-reprint sale.

I’ll post more information when it’s available, but the story is an off-world future SF story on a world with robot nannies where reproduction is the primary currency. I hope folks like it.

It is slated to appear in Digital Science Fiction’s 2nd issue, in July. DSF is planning to have a monthly anthology release, each one with 10 new science fiction stories. They’ve released the table of contents for their first issue, and they’ve gathered some familiar names, such as Ian Creasey, Ken Schneyer, David Tallerman. I’m looking forward to reading it!

Daily Science Fiction: January Review

written by Frank Dutkiewicz

A correction is in order for last months review. I called the leading Sci-Fi news outlet in the industry Lotus when every other person on the planet knows it’s Locus. Big mistake, won’t make it again.

The new year marks the beginning of the Alphabet Quartet contributions. Tim Pratt, Jenn Reese, Heather Shaw, and Greg Van Eekhout have won more awards, sold more books, and have appeared in more professional paying publications than my collective friends and my own overactive imagination could hope to accomplish combined. Every Wednesday a new letter of the alphabet graces DSF, (at least until they run out of letters) making it the first weekly serial in ezine history (I think). I have been eager to read them and have avoided the temptation of giving any a look in my emails, just incase they need to be read in order. Aside from this impressive quartet, I see other previously published DSF authors in this months issue. Should be a good one.

The Stories

Roger Ebert once said, “I don’t review a movie based on what it’s about, but how it goes about it.” If I follow that same philosophy, this is the best story I’ve ever read. “Wrath of the Porcelain Gods” by Nicky Drayden (debut 1/3 and reviewed by Dustin Adams) is, word for word, perfect.

It’s written in 2nd person. The subject matter is generally considered vile. The narrator him/herself wonders why they’d taken up such a disgusting hobby. Why then such high praise?

The narrator has studied the excremental activities of all one hundred fifteen sapient species of Vero-Avalon station save one. The documentation and revelation thereof is the plot. The hilarity that ensues is the story. The answer to the question posed above can only be gleaned through understanding. To understand, one must not fight it. (you’ll see.)

Take five minutes out of your day and read this. If you don’t get it, that’s okay, it was only five minutes. However, if you do, you’ll be glad you did. Recommended

 

In the Author Comments section of “Rx” by Jacquelyn Bartel (debut 1/4 and reviewed by Dustin Adams), Ms. Bartel ponders what a society would be like if it used physical pain to treat mental illness. I can’t help but wonder how such a society would evolve considering this philosophy has been proven not to work by the mental institutions of old.

I delved into the author comments in hopes of shedding some light on the story itself, which was not sci-fi, a little confusing, and unsatisfying. I believe there should be a desire to read the author’s comment, not a need.

Unfortunately I can’t recommend this story. Which, by the way, is about one person in said society who takes a pill to induce pain (assumable) because they have a mental affliction. However, since I was given no indication of said mental state, all I got out of the story was someone ingesting a pain pill then passing out in the store.

 

At the end of his life, William Shakespeare has completed his greatest work in “A is for Arthur” by The Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/5). Will has worked over a year on “Arthur”, a tragedy of the legendary king and his mythical Camelot court. Now a mysterious man from a forgotten time has come to take it from him. Will knows to surrender his play would be to rob generations to come of his greatest of masterpieces, but the stranger aims to show him how releasing to the public it will be an even greater tragedy.

“A” is the first in a series written by four accomplished authors. The story shows how much power Shakespeare has in the imagination of mankind, a power that brings life to his characters in their own reality. The mysterious man (a person whose identity you may be able to guess) has a gift that allows him to transport through time, space, and into the new realities. He is out to stop the reality that will form with Shakespeare’s play.

I have avoided reading any of these tales when they appeared in my email box, not knowing if they should be read in order. I have no idea how the other ones will turn out but act one was fabulous. The author (or authors) captured a skittish Shakespeare, and the rest of a complete cast, rather well. I just loved where they took this tale and how it ended. Recommended

 

“Waiting for Raymond” by Eric James Stone (Published Jan 6th, 2011 and reviewed by Anonymous)

A simple tale told well. I have read a few of Mr. Stone’s stories and have been impressed with the simplicity of his stories. In”Waiting for Raymond” a young beautiful lady–Dee–is preparing for a night out and her preparations are being observed by a poltergeist that haunts her apartment. After putting the finishing touches to her appearance, she realises she is going to be let down by her boyfriend, Raymond, who is always late for everything. He won’t answer his cell phone.

The poltergeist is the kind soul and tries to help Dee any way it can…

I thought this was well written, simple and effective, but not mind-blowing. I liked it, though, but not as much as another of his more recent DSF stories, “The Girl Who Asks to Much”.

 

Diff gets reacquainted with a college colleague, he would rather avoid in “Bit Storm” by Lancer & Shelli Kind (debut 1/7). The programmer has a needy AI companion, a demanding girlfriend, and a nano-created artificial hand. Jack, his AI, wants a cat. Zoe, his girl, is pushing him to go to a Halloween party. While leaving his office, he runs into SickDevil, a college acquaintance who was kicked out of school. SickDevil is brilliant but has an anti-social attitude that many find odd. SickDevil appears to like Diff, even giving him a nano cat for Jack as a gift. Shortly after, Diff’s nano hand starts to ache, something it has never done before.

“Bit Storm” is the longest story DSF has published in months. The story line is centered on Diff. He is in the middle of a hectic couple of days, trying to upload a crucial program with a whining AI to deal with, all while trying to please a pushy girlfriend. SickDevil is a new age anarchist. He ruins an online game Diff and his friends enjoy, then gives his new friend a nano cat for an apology. It isn’t long before all the nano technology begins to react oddly (what a surprise).

I could go into more detail on this story but it would be easier for me to be blunt. I did not like it. The present tense narration gave this a feeling of a movie script, which was fitting considering the plot came off like a bad sci-fi horror flick. Why Diff would accept anything from a person he knew had a head full of loose screws I could never figure out. What was worse SickDevil never suffered any repercussions for his multiple futuristic felonies. This story just didn’t fit my tastes.

 

Joshua searches for his personal diamonds amongst the mountains of rough in “The Junk Artist” by Lavie Tidhar (debut 1/10). He is one of many pickers checking the discarded trash of the Jaffra flea market, scooping up broken toys and obsolete gadgets the street vendors toss aside. Each item he sees as its own work of art, even when their relevant usage is in question. This smelly, depressed area is but a slice of heaven for Joshua.

The story isn’t anything but a readers guide to following a hoarder around as he garbage picks. We view each item as Joshua contemplates its merits, and trust me, everything he comes across can be defined simply as junk. The story takes a turn when a strange cat appears to strike up a conversation with Joshua; so odd and baffling I suspect it was inserted to give this piece its speculative element.

Lavie Tidhar is an enigma to me. His writing is superb. The flea market is so vivid and it is so easy to fall into Joshua’s perspective, a rare gift he has. But, I never get what his stories are about. Often Lavie’s plots seem to go nowhere. Perhaps his themes are beyond the capability of my mortal mind to comprehend.

I’m sorry but I failed to grasp the point of this well written story.

 

A broken dental drill bit in Sally’s mouth gives her the ability to hear aliens in “Bit by Bit” by Karina Fabian (debut 1/11). Poor Sally isn’t sure if it’s the drugs that are making her hallucinate. Her dental insurance adjuster is sure a mental health provider is what she needs. A strange man wearing an aluminum hat gives her some relief. Finally a customer believes her and helps her find an explanation. The line between crazy and savior can be so thin.

“Bit by Bit” is a ‘bit’ fun. The story follows a staggered journey of a woman who hears voices. The events in her life and how she deals with them, gives this a tale a light but jumpy feeling to it. Ms. Fabian chooses not to explore Sally’s feelings and actions during this odd event but rather reports the odd things she does as if it’s a vague log.

I thought the story was fine but what I enjoyed more were Ms. Fabian’s comments on the inspiration for the story. Far more entertaining, in my opinion.

 

Jonas loves climbing the Banyan Tree with his friend, Tabby in “B is for Banyan Tree” by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/12). The tree is a real jungle gym, enormous and full of adventure. He follows his friend while playing ‘explorer’, until Tabby disappears. Tabby insists he should have stayed with her and tells him of the tree’s special secret.

Act two of the Alphabet Quartet was a disappointment compared to its opening one. Jonas is sensible but a coward in the eyes of this reader. I feel as if I was robbed of a greater adventure.

 

Two students won’t be turning in their homework in Miss Linderman in “Late Homework” by James Van Pelt (debut 1/13). An accident has claimed the lives of Cathy and Melinda, students in her Literature and Composition class. They are the sixth and seventh to perish in her 12 years on the job. The last row of her class is a reminder of them, and how they were unable to complete their last assignment.

This story is set during Halloween and would have been great if it was posted that week. I can understand why the editors wouldn’t want to wait 10 months to post it, which is too bad because it scored well on the creepy meter. A well-done ghost story.

 

Akorsa is an oracle who hungers for her next song and the soul of the one who sings it in “A Song Never Tasted” by Barbara A. Barnett (debut 1/14). She is one of two supernatural beings left from a long ago time when mortals would praise the oracles as conduits to the gods. Now seen as devils, Akorsa must hide in the bushes and wait to feed on songs gone stale. Then a young woman sings verses Akorsa has believed were lost to time. The beauty of the song is such that Akorsa wishes to spare this angel, but the other remaining oracle, Neashern, has no intention of going hungry when the rich flavor of an old song is there to feed upon.

“A Song Never Tasted” is a tale which gradually evolves into a ghoulish love story. Akorsa fights two battles, one with Neashern and the other with her own vampire-ish hunger. Hirneen is the 16-year old girl who sees visions of the oracles and is blessed with the songs the oracles hunger for. After saving Hirneen from Neashern, Akorsa forms a relationship with the girl and begins to fall in love with her. Akora hungers for Hirnnen’s lips and the taste of the song that comes from them, yet resisting the hunger of its melody, which will kill Hirneen if she dares to feast on it.

This tale left me disturbed. Akorsa’s internal battle gave this story a creepy pedophilic metaphorical feel. Her actions seemed a lot like how an adult would react when they have an attraction to a minor, even when they know those feelings are wrong (It didn’t help when the author spelled out Hirneen’s age). I’m sure that wasn’t Ms. Barnett’s intention and I am not in anyway implying that she was making any such statement, but nevertheless, a story where a really old person preys on a naÃ�’ �ve girl was one that was not for me.

 

The protagonist in “The Voynich Variations” by Edoardo Albert (debut 1/17) is a musical genius. His latest work is so advanced that not even the greatest musical minds of the age can comprehend it. Knowing his works can no longer be appreciated; he retires and turns to one of mankind’s greatest mysteries to test his intellect.

The premise to “The Voynich Variations” is based on the ‘Voynich Manuscript’, an incomprehensible book written in the 15th century and believed to be a work of encrypted genius. The protagonist believes he has discovered the books secret, a brilliantly disguised musical score. Eager to hear the melody for himself, the protagonist deciphers the score and reveals its secret.

Quite an inventive tale. I had to Wikipedia the legendary script to reacquaint myself with the manuscript. I found this tale compelling and the ending worthy. A nice work of flash.

 

“Family Photo” by Elena Gleason (debut 1/18) is the story of a mother and her son who has inherited an unwanted family trait. Wes is her good boy. He couldn’t help it if he was a monster. Karlen’s father had the same problem, turning into something frightening every full moon. When Karlen saw the first signs her boy shared with his grandfather, she couldn’t bring herself to do what needed to be done. Now every full moon, she kisses her husband goodbye and leaves to do battle with her son.

“Family Photo” is a tale of mother who wants to right a wrong. She puts on a brave face for a husband who was injured when their boy first became a monster. The premise of this story left me baffled. So I don’t ruin it for those who haven’t read it, I won’t go into why but I really do question Karlen’s choices. I don’t know what she really fears at this point.

The stories protagonist’s motives left me scratching my head for this piece.

 

The protagonist in “C is for Crate” by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/19) has a life filled with ambitions that she can never seem to fulfill. College dropout, behind on rent, hard to hold down a job; she is a girl holding onto the lowest rung of the ladder of life. Then she finds a sealed crate at the animal shelter labeled ‘Eats Dreams.’ Dreams is something she has plenty of , reminders of what she hasn’t become – and she is willing to part with a few to see what is making the faint mews behind the warning on the crate.

“C” is a Pandora’s Box type of theme. We know so much about the protagonist’s history but so little about her. So little she became more of a mystery to me than the odd creature in the crate. There was no hard punch to this lettered story but it still carried my interest. I liked C better than B but it couldn’t compare to the earlier vowel.

 

Clay is not doing a good job of impressing his date in “Automatic Selection” by Victoria Podmajersky (debut 1/20). He won’t ride the bus and suggests dining in a restaurant with human waitresses. His date is finding him quirky but Clay has a very good reason why he avoids the automated world whenever he can.

“Automatic Selection” has the feeling of a man hiding an obsessive disorder with the advanced technology of the future. The truth of what it is he is hiding proves to be far more of a social disability. The reveal of this twist was well placed but came off as an information dump. Not a bad idea but I preferred an ending that flowed as smoothly as the first 80% of the story.

 

Sibling rivalry is the theme in “Standing Next to Heaven” by Terra LeMay (debut 1/21). Shelia is ten. Heaven is her younger sister and has a potential psychic gift. The gift has a price however. Dangerous seizures inflict Heaven. Shelia must watch after her gifted sister and take a backseat to her parent’s attention.

“Standing Next to Heaven” is a tale millions of people could identify with. The story is told by an older sister who feels slighted and ignored and takes her ill feelings out on her poor sister (as siblings often do). Heaven has a gift that hardly sounds like a blessing. You get the idea the only thing Shelia is envious of is the attention her sister receives. Heaven is like a child with a fatal illness or disability. Shelia has become her caretaker and must follow rules concerning Heaven. Shelia comes off as cruel; not a sadistic type of cruelty, but a meanness all siblings have been guilty of, been a victim of, or both.

This story is the type of speculative tale that says more about the type of people we are today than about what we will be like in the future. I can’t fathom a person who couldn’t identify with the two little girls in this piece but can imagine a person or two that would be uncomfortable with the plot. Shelia is at a crossroads in their relationship, at the stage when she quits being the tormentor and becomes the protector.

“Standing” is not the type of tale that will leave you in awe. It’s a smooth read but not a page-turner, a Twilight Zone tale written as an after-school special. It doesn’t get my full-fledged recommendation but it is one I found great.

 

Elizabeth passes out advice on the health line in “Not with a Bang” by Michelle Ann King (debut 1/24). Epidemics have brought about anxiety across society. The Central Health Line is meant to ease the public’s concerns. Phone screeners like Elizabeth listen to caller’s symptoms and pass out diagnoses and advice. She does it with a smile as she lies. After all, life must go on even when it’s coming to an end.

“Not with a Bang” is not your typical end of the world story. The government has set up a disinformation help line in an effort to keep a public calm. Elizabeth has stock answers and a book to assign a non-fatal illness to match the symptoms a sick caller has. It’s a unique idea, not very plausible in my opinion but still entertaining.

 

The protagonists in “D is for De Gustibus” by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/26) is on the search for spices to make some curry when she comes across a little herb shop at the mall. The odd but helpful clerk has some very exotic spices, and is willing to part with them for a handful of change.

“D” was an unsatisfying letter for me. The story felt like an opening to a much larger story. Nothing much happened but you get the feeling much would if the story was allowed to evolve.

 

In “…And a Bottle of Rum” by Melissa Mead (debut 27th Jan 2011) Uncle/Captain Jim is a bed-ridden old man who makes model sky-ships, the magical, wooden-with-masts variety, and generally entertains his grandchildren with tales of derring-do from when he captained a ship and fought sky-pirates. His grandson, Matthew, is entranced by his collection of model ships, each in a bottle, a collection that mirrors ships that actually are in service in the Kingdom. Needless to say things aren’t quite as they seem and there is a twist at the end of this flash story.

I thought the story was well-written and a very smooth read. I enjoyed the glance it allowed me into to a world of sky-ships and pirates. I saw elements of the twist before it happened, but perhaps that was only my writer’s eye spotting the foreshadowing.

A nice read.

 

‘Careful what you wish for’ is the theme of “On Paper Wings” by Victoria Sonata (debut 1/28). Shiyo is turning eleven, the age of passage and the granting of the gift of wishes. The wellspring of Hope grants a wish a person desperately desires. The wish can only be used to influence your own life, and not of others. The bright and bubbly Shiyo already leads a happy life with her mother but there is always room for improvement. Wishing is something her mother has stressed to not take lightly because the wellspring only grants one at a time. To wish another erases the wish before. Shiyo endures many years of hardship to learn some wishes are not worth losing no matter how badly a new one is needed.

“On Paper Wings” follows Shiyo’s life from a young girl to an emerging adult. The village in which she lives is isolated and under constant siege from dark and deadly demons. Hunters are on constant guard from the monsters. Shiyo lives alone with her mother and wants to know what she wished for. Her mother declines to answer but promises she will know one day. Shiyo uses her wishes to fill her most important needs of the time. But such as life is, tragedy changes everything, and helps shape the woman she comes to be, and of the wishes she will make.

Ms. Sonata wrote a very engaging character. Shiyo is convincing as a girl who evolves with the events that shape her world. The rules of the wish is what makes this story so compelling. Is losing your earlier wish worth making another? Depends upon the wish. The big mystery of Shiyo’s mother’s wish ended up being no mystery at all. Much of the story was set up for a big finish of a great reveal but there was only one possibility of what the reveal could be, which made the ending almost pointless (almost). Nevertheless the writing and pacing of an unnaturally long story for DSF made this story a worthwhile read.

 

Jade Dragon by Shelly Li (debut 1/31) is a slice of life story of a Chinese peasant girl. Kai Wen lost her mother at a young age and now lives and works for a man who owns a restaurant. She has no family left, no school to attend, and not much of a future. She feels bitter toward a mother who died, leaving her in this predicament. Then a customer gives her tip, a tip worth six months of her salary.

“Jade Dragon” is based on a real life boy Ms. Li encountered in China. The lad’s hard life inspired her to write this short story. This so-so tale became special when I read Ms. Li’s comments about the encounter and could feel how moved she was when I read her comments. How sad it must have been for her. I hope the boy fortunes improved and he ended up living a prosperous life.

Analysis

Another fine month for DSF. I would like to congratulate Jon and Michele for receiving an honorable mention for best new magazine in the Million Writers Award. There were several magazines who earned the honor but I think the actual award was between the winning publication (Lightspeed) and DSF all along. Hard to beat an editor who has had a lifetime of achievement as John J Adams has, especially when your magazine debuted in the fall. I could make an argument on why DSF was more deserving but I do find Lightspeed solid and entertaining.

Congrats to the four DSF authors who received honors in the MW awards. Of the 3 I reviewed I liked “Out of the Box” the most. Well-written and compelling but I doubt it would have made my top ten for the year (a lot of good stories).

 

Frank Dutkiewicz writes most of these reviews but tires of providing the bio so is passing it off to one of his minions.

Anonymous is famous, a braggart, and too shy to show his face and share his address.

Dustin “The Wind” Adams wrote his first book at age 11 (which Anonymous took complete credit for) then took a little time off, eventually finishing the sequel at age 35. “I needed a break,” was his lame excuse but now things are rolling again. He states in this exclusive interview: “I write way more than I submit. I keep thinking that once I publish, I’ll submit more, which isn’t very Vulcan of me. My goal is to have something published professionally by age 40. I’m running out of time, but the deadline provides a nice steady rush”. Dustin is a U.S. Customs broker who owns his own brokerage firm. He lives in the hills of NY near the PA and NJ borders where he hides his lovely wife as he teaches his two adorable children (ages 13 and 1) to live off the land and distrust everyone. Currently, he is working to get his lights turned back on.

 

 

Daily Science Fiction January 2011

“Wrath of the Porcelain Gods” by Nicky Drayden

“Rx” by Jacquelyn Bartel

“A is for Arthur” by The Alphabet Quartet

“Waiting for Raymond” by Eric James Stone

“Bit Storm” by Lancer & Shelli Kind

“The Junk Artist” by Larvie Tidhar

“Bit by Bit” by Karina Fabian

“B is for Banyan Tree” by the Alphabet Quartet

“Late Homework” by James Van Pelt

“A Song Never Tasted” by Barbara A. Barnett

“The Voynich Variations” by Edoardo Albert

“Family Photo” by Elena Gleason

“C is for Crate” by the Alphabet Quartet

“Automatic Selection” by Victoria Podmajersky

“Standing Next to Heaven” by Terra LeMay

“Not with a Bang” by Michelle Ann King

“D is for De Gustibus” by the Alphabet Quartet

“…And a Bottle of Rum” by Melissa Mead

“On Paper Wings” by Victoria Sonata

“Jade Dragon” by Shelly Li

A correction is in order for last months review. I called the leading Sci-Fi news outlet in the industry Lotus when every other person on the planet knows it’s Locus. Big mistake, won’t make it again.

The new year marks the beginning of the Alphabet Quartet contributions. Tim Pratt, Jenn Reese, Heather Shaw, and Greg Van Eekhout have won more awards, sold more books, and have appeared in more professional paying publications than my collective friends and my own overactive imagination could hope to accomplish combined. Every Wednesday a new letter of the alphabet graces DSF, (at least until they run out of letters) making it the first weekly serial in ezine history (I think). I have been eager to read them and have avoided the temptation of giving any a look in my emails, just incase they need to be read in order. Aside from this impressive quartet, I see other previously published DSF authors in this months issue. Should be a good one.

Roger Ebert once said, “I don’t review a movie based on what it’s about, but how it goes about it.”
If I follow that same philosophy, this is the best story I’ve ever read. Wrath of the Porcelain Gods by Nicky Drayden (debut 1/3 and reviewed by Dustin Adams) is, word for word, perfect.

It’s written in 2nd person. The subject matter is generally considered vile. The narrator him/herself wonders why they’d taken up such a disgusting hobby. Why then such high praise?

The narrator has studied the excremental activities of all one hundred fifteen sapient species of Vero-Avalon station save one. The documentation and revelation thereof is the plot. The hilarity that ensues is the story. The answer to the question posed above can only be gleaned through understanding. To understand, one must not fight it. (you’ll see.)

Take five minutes out of your day and read this. If you don’t get it, that’s okay, it was only five minutes. However, if you do, you’ll be glad you did.

Recommended

 

 

In the Author Comments section of Rx by Jacquelyn Bartel (debut 1/4 and reviewed by Dustin Adams), Ms. Bartel ponders what a society would be like if it used physical pain to treat mental illness. I can’t help but wonder how such a society would evolve considering this philosophy has been proven not to work by the mental institutions of old.

I delved into the author comments in hopes of shedding some light on the story itself, which was not sci-fi, a little confusing, and unsatisfying. I believe there should be a desire to read the author’s comment, not a need.

Unfortunately I can’t recommend this story. Which, by the way, is about one person in said society who takes a pill to induce pain (assumable) because they have a mental affliction. However, since I was given no indication of said mental state, all I got out of the story was someone ingesting a pain pill then passing out in the store.

 

At the end of his life, William Shakespeare has completed his greatest work in A is for Arthur by The Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/5). Will has worked over a year on “Arthur”, a tragedy of the legendary king and his mythical Camelot court. Now a mysterious man from a forgotten time has come to take it from him. Will knows to surrender his play would be to rob generations to come of his greatest of masterpieces, but the stranger aims to show him how releasing to the public it will be an even greater tragedy.

“A” is the first in a series written by four accomplished authors. The story shows how much power Shakespeare has in the imagination of mankind, a power that brings life to his characters in their own reality. The mysterious man (a person whose identity you may be able to guess) has a gift that allows him to transport through time, space, and into the new realities. He is out to stop the reality that will form with Shakespeare’s play.

I have avoided reading any of these tales when they appeared in my email box, not knowing if they should be read in order. I have no idea how the other ones will turn out but act one was fabulous. The author (or authors) captured a skittish Shakespeare, and the rest of a complete cast, rather well. I just loved where they took this tale and how it ended.

Recommended

Waiting for Raymond by Eric James Stone (Published Jan 6th, 2011 and reviewed by Anonymous)

A simple tale told well. I have read a few of Mr. Stone’s stories and have been impressed with the simplicity of his stories. In ‘Waiting for Raymond’ a young beautiful lady–Dee–is preparing for a night out and her preparations are being observed by a poltergeist that haunts her apartment. After putting the finishing touches to her appearance, she realises she is going to be let down by her boyfriend, Raymond, who is always late for everything. He won’t answer his cell phone.

The poltergeist is the kind soul and tries to help Dee anyway it can…

I thought this was well written, simple and effective, but not mind-blowing. I liked it, though, but not as much as another of his more recent DSF stories, ‘The Girl Who Asks to Much’.


Diff gets reacquainted with a college colleague, he would rather avoid in Bit Storm by Lancer & Shelli Kind (debut 1/7). The programmer has a needy AI companion, a demanding girlfriend, and a nano created artificial hand. Jack, his AI, wants a cat. Zoe, his girl, is pushing him to go to a Halloween party. While leaving his office, he runs into SickDevil, a college acquaintance who was kicked out of school. SickDevil is brilliant but has an anti-social attitude that many find odd. SickDevil appears to like Diff, even giving him a nano cat for Jack as a gift. Shortly after, Diff’s nano hand starts to ache, something it has never done before.

“Bit Storm” is the longest story DSF has published in months. The story line is centered on Diff. He is in the middle of a hectic couple of days, trying to upload a crucial program with a whinning AI to deal with, all while trying to please a pushy girlfriend. SickDevil is a new age anarchist. He ruins an online game Diff and his friends enjoy, then gives his new friend a nano cat for an apology. It isn’t long before all the nano technology begins to react oddly (what a surprise).

I could go into more detail on this story but it would be easier for me to be blunt. I did not like it. The present tense narration gave this a feeling of a movie script, which was fitting considering the plot came off like a bad sci-fi horror flick. Why Diff would accept anything from a person he knew had a head full of loose screws I could never figure out. What was worse SickDevil never suffered any repercussions for his multiple futuristic felonies. This story just didn’t fit my tastes.

Joshua searches for his personal diamonds amongst the mountains of rough in The Junk Artist by Larvie Tidhar (debut 1/10). He is one of many pickers checking the discarded trash of the Jaffra flea market, scooping up broken toys and obsolete gadgets the street vendors toss aside. Each item he sees as its own work of art, even when their relevant usage is in question. This smelly, depressed area is but a slice of heaven for Joshua.

The story isn’t nothing but a readers guide to following a hoarder around as he garbage picks. We view each item as Joshua contemplates its merits, and trust me, everything he comes across can be defined simply as junk. The story takes a turn when a strange cat appears to strike up a conversation with Joshua; so odd and baffling I suspect it was inserted to give this piece its speculative element.

Larvie Tidhar is an enigma to me. His writing is superb. The flea market is so vivid and it is so easy to fall into Joshua’s perspective, a rare gift he has. But, I never get what his stories are about. Often Larvie’s plots seem to go nowhere. Perhaps his themes are beyond the capability of my mortal mind to comprehend.

I’m sorry but I failed to grasp the point of this well written story.

A broken dental drill bit in Sally’s mouth gives her the ability to hear aliens in Bit by Bit by Karina Fabian (debut 1/11). Poor Sally isn’t sure if it’s the drugs that is making her hallucinate. Her dental insurance adjuster is sure a metal health provider is what she needs. A strange man wearing an aluminum hat gives her some relief. Finally a customer believes her and helps her find an explanation. The line between crazy and savior can be so thin.

“Bit by Bit” is a ‘bit’ fun. The story follows a staggered journey of a woman who hears voices. The events in her life and how she deals with them, gives this a tale a light but jumpy feeling to it. Ms. Fabian chooses not to explore Sally’s feelings and actions during this odd event but rather reports the odd things she does as if it’s a vague log.

I thought the story was fine but what I enjoyed more was Ms. Fabian’s comments on the inspiration for the story. Far more entertaining, in my opinion.

Jonas loves climbing the Banyan Tree with his friend, Tabby in B is for Banyan Tree by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/12). The tree is a real jungle gym, enormous and full of adventure. He follows his friend while playing ‘explorer’, until Tabby disappears. Tabby insists he should have stayed with her and tells him of the trees special secret.

Act two of the Alphabet Quartet was a disappointment compared to its opening one. Jonas is sensible but a coward in the eyes of this reader. I feel as if I was robbed of a greater adventure.

 

 

Two students won’t be turning in their homework in Miss Linderman in Late Homework by James Van Pelt (debut 1/13). An accident has claimed the lives of Cathy and Melinda, students in her Literature and Composition class. They are the sixth and seventh to perish in her 12 years on the job. The last row of her class row is a reminder of them, and how they were unable to complete their last assignment.

 

This story is set during Halloween and would have been great if it was posted that week. I can understand why the editors wouldn’t want to wait 10 months to post it, which is too bad because it scored well on the creepy meter. A well-done ghost story.

 

 

Akorsa is an oracle who hungers for her next song and the soul of the one who sings it in A Song Never Tasted by Barbara A. Barnett (debut 1/14). She is one of two supernatural beings left from a long ago time when mortals would praise the oracles as conduits to the gods. Now seen as devils, Akorsa must hide in the bushes and wait to feed on songs gone stale. Then a young woman sings verses Akorsa has believed were lost to time. The beauty of the song is such that Akorsa wishes to spare this angel, but the other remaining oracle, Neashern, has no intention of going hungry when the rich flavor of an old song is there to feed upon.

“A Song Never Tasted” is a tale which gradually evolves into a ghoulish love story. Akorsa fights two battles, one with Neashern and the other with her own vampire-ish hunger. Hirneen is the 16-year old girl who sees visions of the oracles and is blessed with the songs the oracles hunger for. After saving Hirneen from Neashern, Akorsa forms a relationship with the girl and begins to fall in love with her. Akora hungers for Hirnnen’s lips and the taste of the song that comes from them, yet resisting the hunger of its melody, which will kill Hirneen if she dares to feast on it.

This tale left me disturbed. Akorsa’s internal battle gave this story a creepy pedophilic metaphorical feel. Her actions seemed a lot like how an adult would react when they have an attraction to a minor, even when they know those feelings are wrong (It didn’t help when author spelled out Hirneen’s age). I’m sure that wasn’t Ms. Barnett’s intentions and I am not in anyway implying that she was making any such statement, but nevertheless, a story where a really old person preys on a naÃ�’ �ve girl was one that was not for me.

The protagonist in The Voynich Variations by Edoardo Albert (debut 1/17) is a musical genius. His latest work is so advanced that not even the greatest musical minds of the age can comprehend it. Knowing his works can no longer be appreciated; he retires and turns to one of mankind’s greatest mysteries to test his intellect.

The premise to “The Voynich Variations” is based on the ‘Voynich Manuscript’, an incomprehensible book written in the 15th century and believed to be a work of encrypted genius. The protagonist believes he has discovered the books secret, a brilliantly disguised musical score. Eager to hear the melody for himself, the protagonist deciphers the score and reveals its secret.

Quite an inventive tale. I had to wikipedia the legendary script to reacquaint myself with the manuscript. I found this tale compelling and the ending worthy. A nice work of flash.

Family Photo by Elena Gleason (debut 1/18) is the story of a mother and her son who has inherited an unwanted family trait. Wes is her good boy. He couldn’t help it if he was a monster. Karlen’s father had the same problem, turning into something frightening every full moon. When Karlen saw the first signs her boy shared with his grandfather, she couldn’t bring herself to do what needed to be done. Now every full moon, she kisses her husband goodbye and leaves to do battle with her son.

“Family Photo” is a tale of mother who wants to right a wrong. She puts on a brave face for a husband who was injured when their boy first became a monster. The premise of this story left me baffled. So I don’t ruin it for those who haven’t read it, I won’t go into why but I really do question Karlen’s choices. I don’t know what she really fears at this point.

The stories protagonist’s motives left me scratching my head for this piece.

The protagonist in C is for Crate by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/19) has a life filled with ambitions that she can never seem to fulfill. College dropout, behind on rent, hard to hold down a job; she is a girl holding onto the lowest rung of the ladder of life. Then she finds a sealed crate at the animal shelter labeled ‘Eats Dreams.’ Dreams is something she has plenty of , reminders of what she hasn’t become – and she is willing to part with a few to see what is making the faint mews behind the warning on the crate.

 

“C” is a Pandora’s Box type of theme. We know so much about the protagonist’s history but so little about her. So little she became more of a mystery to me than the odd creature in the crate. There was no hard punch to this lettered story but it still carried my interest. I liked C better than B but it couldn’t compare to the earlier vowel.

 

 

Clay is not doing a good job of impressing his date in Automatic Selection by Victoria Podmajersky (debut 1/20). He won’t ride the bus and suggests dining in a restaurant with human waitresses. His date is finding him quirky but Clay has a very good reason why he avoids the automated world whenever he can.

“Automatic Selection” has the feeling of a man hiding an obsessive disorder with the advanced technology of the future. The truth of what it is he is hiding proves to be far more of a socially disability. The reveal of this twist was well placed but came off as an information dump. Not a bad idea but I preferred an ending that flowed as smoothly as the first 80% of the story.

Sibling rivalry is the theme in Standing Next to Heaven by Terra LeMay (debut 1/21). Shelia is ten. Heaven is her younger sister and has a potential psychic gift. The gift has a price however. Dangerous seizures inflict Heaven. Shelia must watch after her gifted sister and take a backseat to her parent’s attention.

 

“Standing Next to Heaven” is a tale millions of people could identify with. The story is told by an older sister who feels slighted and ignored and takes her ill feelings out on her poor sister (as siblings often do). Heaven has a gift that hardly sounds like a blessing. You get the idea the only thing Shelia is envious of is the attention her sister receives. Heaven is like a child with a fatal illness or disability. Shelia has become her caretaker and must follow rules concerning Heaven. Shelia comes off as cruel; not a sadistic type of cruelty, but a meanness all siblings have been guilty of, been a victim of, or both.

 

This story is the type of speculative tale that says more about the type of people we are today than about what we will be like in the future. I can’t fathom a person who couldn’t identify with the two little girls in this piece but can imagine a person or two that would be uncomfortable with the plot. Shelia is at a crossroads in their relationship, at the stage when she quits being the tormentor and becomes the protector.

 

“Standing” is not the type of tale that will leave you in awe. It’s a smooth read but not a page-turner, a Twilight Zone tale written as an after-school special. It doesn’t get my full-fledge recommendation but it is one I found great.

 

 

Elizabeth passes out advice on the health line in Not with a Bang by Michelle Ann King (debut 1/24). Epidemics have brought about anxiety across society. The Central Health Line is meant to ease the publics concerns. Phone screeners like Elizabeth listen to caller’s symptoms and pass out diagnosis’ and advice. She does it with a smile as she lies. After all, life must go on even when it’s coming to an end.

“Not with a Bang” is not your typical end of the world story. The government has set up a disinformation help line in an effort to keep a public calm. Elizabeth has stock answers and a book to assign a non-fatal illness to match the symptoms a sick caller has. It’s a unique idea, not very plausible in my opinion but still entertaining.

 

The protagonists in D is for De Gustibus by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/26) is on the search for spices to make some curry when she comes across a little herb shop at the mall. The odd but helpful clerk has some very exotic spices, and is willing to part with them for a handful of change.

 

“D” was an unsatisfying letter for me. The story felt like an opening to a much larger story. Nothing much happened but you get the feeling much would if the story was allowed to evolve.

 

 

In …And a Bottle of Rum by Melissa Mead (debut 27th Jan 2011) Uncle/Captain Jim is a bed-ridden old man who makes model sky-ships, the magical, wooden-with-masts variety, and generally entertains his grand children with tales of daring-do from when he captained a ship and fought sky-pirates. His grandson, Matthew, is entranced by his collection of model ships, each in a bottle, a collection that mirrors ships that actually are in service in the Kingdom. Needless to say things aren’t quite as they seem and there is a twist at the end of this flash story.

I thought the story was well-written and a very smooth read. I enjoyed the glance it allowed me into to a world of sky-ships and pirates. I saw elements of the twist before it happened, but perhaps that was only my writer’s eye spotting the foreshadowing.

A nice read.

 

‘Careful what you wish for’ is the theme of On Paper Wings by Victoria Sonata (debut 1/28). Shiyo is turning eleven, the age of passage and the granting of the gift of wishes. The wellspring of Hope grants a wish a person desperately desires. The wish can only be used to influence your own life, and not of others. The bright and bubbly Shiyo already leads a happy life with her mother but there is always room for improvement. Wishing is something her mother has stressed to not take lightly because the wellspring only grants one at a time. To wish another erases the wish before. Shiyo endures many years of hardship to learn some wishes are not worth losing no matter how badly a new one is needed.

“On Paper Wings” follows Shiyo’s life from a young girl to an emerging adult. The village in which she lives is isolated and under constant siege from dark and deadly demons. Hunters are on constant guard from the monsters. Shiyo lives alone with her mother and wants to know what she wished for. Her mother declines to answer but promises she will know one day. Shiyo uses her wishes to fill her most important needs of the time. But such as life is, tragedy changes everything, and helps shape the woman she comes to be, and of the wishes she will make.

Ms. Sonata wrote a very engaging character. Shiyo is convincing as a girl who evolves with the events that shape her world. The rules of the wish is what makes this story so compelling. Is losing your earlier wish worth making another? Depends upon the wish. The big mystery of Shiyo’s mothers wish ended up being no mystery at all. Much of the story was set up for a big finish of a great reveal but there was only one possibility of what the reveal could be, which made the ending almost pointless (almost). Nevertheless the writing and pacing of an unnaturally long story for DSF made this story a worthwhile read.

Jade Dragon by Shelly Li (debut 1/31) is a slice of life story of a Chinese peasant girl. Kai Wen lost her mother at a young age and now lives and works for a man who owns a restaurant. She has no family left, no school for her to attend, and not much of a future. She feels bitter toward a mother who died, leaving her in this predicament. Then a customer gives her tip, a tip worth six months of her salary.

“Jade Dragon” is based on a real life boy Ms. Li encountered in China. The lad’s hard life inspired her to write this short story. This so-so tale became special when I read Ms. Li’s comments about the encounter and could feel how moved she was when I read her comments. How sad it must have been for her. I hope the boy fortunes improved and he ended up living a prosperous life.

Analysis

Another fine month for DSF. I would like to congratulate Jon and Michele for receiving an honorable mention for best new magazine in the Million Writers Award. There were several magazines who earned the honor but I think the actual award was between the winning publication (Lightspeed) and DSF all along. Hard to beat an editor who has had a lifetime of achievement as John J Adams has, especially when your magazine debuted in the fall. I could make an argument on why DSF was more deserving but I do find Lightspeed solid and entertaining.

Congrats to the four DSF authors who received honors in the MW awards. Of the 3 I reviewed I liked Out of the Box the most. Well-written and compelling but I doubt it would have made my top ten for the year (a lot of good stories).

Frank Dutkiewicz writes most of these reviews but tires of providing the bio so is passing it off to one of his minions.

Anonymous is famous, a braggart, and too shy to show his face and share his address.

Dustin “The Wind” Adams wrote his first book at age 11 (which Anonymous took complete credit for) then took a little time off, eventually finishing the sequel at age 35. “I needed a break,” was his lame excuse but now things are rolling again. He states in this exclusive interviewâ€

Daily Science Fiction January 2011

 

“Wrath of the Porcelain Gods” by Nicky Drayden

“Rx” by Jacquelyn Bartel

“A is for Arthur” by The Alphabet Quartet

“Waiting for Raymond” by Eric James Stone

“Bit Storm” by Lancer & Shelli Kind

“The Junk Artist” by Larvie Tidhar

“Bit by Bit” by Karina Fabian

“B is for Banyan Tree” by the Alphabet Quartet

“Late Homework” by James Van Pelt

“A Song Never Tasted” by Barbara A. Barnett

“The Voynich Variations” by Edoardo Albert

“Family Photo” by Elena Gleason

“C is for Crate” by the Alphabet Quartet

“Automatic Selection” by Victoria Podmajersky

“Standing Next to Heaven” by Terra LeMay

“Not with a Bang” by Michelle Ann King

“D is for De Gustibus” by the Alphabet Quartet

“…And a Bottle of Rum” by Melissa Mead

“On Paper Wings” by Victoria Sonata

“Jade Dragon” by Shelly Li

 

A correction is in order for last months review. I called the leading Sci-Fi news outlet in the industry Lotus when every other person on the planet knows it’s Locus. Big mistake, won’t make it again.

The new year marks the beginning of the Alphabet Quartet contributions. Tim Pratt, Jenn Reese, Heather Shaw, and Greg Van Eekhout have won more awards, sold more books, and have appeared in more professional paying publications than my collective friends and my own overactive imagination could hope to accomplish combined. Every Wednesday a new letter of the alphabet graces DSF, (at least until they run out of letters) making it the first weekly serial in ezine history (I think). I have been eager to read them and have avoided the temptation of giving any a look in my emails, just incase they need to be read in order. Aside from this impressive quartet, I see other previously published DSF authors in this months issue. Should be a good one.

 

 

Roger Ebert once said, “I don’t review a movie based on what it’s about, but how it goes about it.”
If I follow that same philosophy, this is the best story I’ve ever read. Wrath of the Porcelain Gods by Nicky Drayden (debut 1/3 and reviewed by Dustin Adams) is, word for word, perfect.

It’s written in 2nd person. The subject matter is generally considered vile. The narrator him/herself wonders why they’d taken up such a disgusting hobby. Why then such high praise?

The narrator has studied the excremental activities of all one hundred fifteen sapient species of Vero-Avalon station save one. The documentation and revelation thereof is the plot. The hilarity that ensues is the story. The answer to the question posed above can only be gleaned through understanding. To understand, one must not fight it. (you’ll see.)

Take five minutes out of your day and read this. If you don’t get it, that’s okay, it was only five minutes. However, if you do, you’ll be glad you did.

Recommended

 

 

In the Author Comments section of Rx by Jacquelyn Bartel (debut 1/4 and reviewed by Dustin Adams), Ms. Bartel ponders what a society would be like if it used physical pain to treat mental illness. I can’t help but wonder how such a society would evolve considering this philosophy has been proven not to work by the mental institutions of old.

I delved into the author comments in hopes of shedding some light on the story itself, which was not sci-fi, a little confusing, and unsatisfying. I believe there should be a desire to read the author’s comment, not a need.

Unfortunately I can’t recommend this story. Which, by the way, is about one person in said society who takes a pill to induce pain (assumable) because they have a mental affliction. However, since I was given no indication of said mental state, all I got out of the story was someone ingesting a pain pill then passing out in the store.

 

At the end of his life, William Shakespeare has completed his greatest work in A is for Arthur by The Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/5). Will has worked over a year on “Arthur”, a tragedy of the legendary king and his mythical Camelot court. Now a mysterious man from a forgotten time has come to take it from him. Will knows to surrender his play would be to rob generations to come of his greatest of masterpieces, but the stranger aims to show him how releasing to the public it will be an even greater tragedy.

 

“A” is the first in a series written by four accomplished authors. The story shows how much power Shakespeare has in the imagination of mankind, a power that brings life to his characters in their own reality. The mysterious man (a person whose identity you may be able to guess) has a gift that allows him to transport through time, space, and into the new realities. He is out to stop the reality that will form with Shakespeare’s play.

 

I have avoided reading any of these tales when they appeared in my email box, not knowing if they should be read in order. I have no idea how the other ones will turn out but act one was fabulous. The author (or authors) captured a skittish Shakespeare, and the rest of a complete cast, rather well. I just loved where they took this tale and how it ended.

Recommended

 

 

Waiting for Raymond by Eric James Stone (Published Jan 6th, 2011 and reviewed by Anonymous)

 

A simple tale told well. I have read a few of Mr. Stone’s stories and have been impressed with the simplicity of his stories. In ‘Waiting for Raymond’ a young beautiful lady–Dee–is preparing for a night out and her preparations are being observed by a poltergeist that haunts her apartment. After putting the finishing touches to her appearance, she realises she is going to be let down by her boyfriend, Raymond, who is always late for everything. He won’t answer his cell phone.

 

The poltergeist is the kind soul and tries to help Dee anyway it can…

 

I thought this was well written, simple and effective, but not mind-blowing. I liked it, though, but not as much as another of his more recent DSF stories, ‘The Girl Who Asks to Much’.
Diff gets reacquainted with a college colleague, he would rather avoid in Bit Storm by Lancer & Shelli Kind (debut 1/7). The programmer has a needy AI companion, a demanding girlfriend, and a nano created artificial hand. Jack, his AI, wants a cat. Zoe, his girl, is pushing him to go to a Halloween party. While leaving his office, he runs into SickDevil, a college acquaintance who was kicked out of school. SickDevil is brilliant but has an anti-social attitude that many find odd. SickDevil appears to like Diff, even giving him a nano cat for Jack as a gift. Shortly after, Diff’s nano hand starts to ache, something it has never done before.

 

“Bit Storm” is the longest story DSF has published in months. The story line is centered on Diff. He is in the middle of a hectic couple of days, trying to upload a crucial program with a whinning AI to deal with, all while trying to please a pushy girlfriend. SickDevil is a new age anarchist. He ruins an online game Diff and his friends enjoy, then gives his new friend a nano cat for an apology. It isn’t long before all the nano technology begins to react oddly (what a surprise).

 

I could go into more detail on this story but it would be easier for me to be blunt. I did not like it. The present tense narration gave this a feeling of a movie script, which was fitting considering the plot came off like a bad sci-fi horror flick. Why Diff would accept anything from a person he knew had a head full of loose screws I could never figure out. What was worse SickDevil never suffered any repercussions for his multiple futuristic felonies. This story just didn’t fit my tastes.

 

 

Joshua searches for his personal diamonds amongst the mountains of rough in The Junk Artist by Larvie Tidhar (debut 1/10). He is one of many pickers checking the discarded trash of the Jaffra flea market, scooping up broken toys and obsolete gadgets the street vendors toss aside. Each item he sees as its own work of art, even when their relevant usage is in question. This smelly, depressed area is but a slice of heaven for Joshua.

 

The story isn’t nothing but a readers guide to following a hoarder around as he garbage picks. We view each item as Joshua contemplates its merits, and trust me, everything he comes across can be defined simply as junk. The story takes a turn when a strange cat appears to strike up a conversation with Joshua; so odd and baffling I suspect it was inserted to give this piece its speculative element.

 

Larvie Tidhar is an enigma to me. His writing is superb. The flea market is so vivid and it is so easy to fall into Joshua’s perspective, a rare gift he has. But, I never get what his stories are about. Often Larvie’s plots seem to go nowhere. Perhaps his themes are beyond the capability of my mortal mind to comprehend.

 

I’m sorry but I failed to grasp the point of this well written story.

 

 

A broken dental drill bit in Sally’s mouth gives her the ability to hear aliens in Bit by Bit by Karina Fabian (debut 1/11). Poor Sally isn’t sure if it’s the drugs that is making her hallucinate. Her dental insurance adjuster is sure a metal health provider is what she needs. A strange man wearing an aluminum hat gives her some relief. Finally a customer believes her and helps her find an explanation. The line between crazy and savior can be so thin.

 

“Bit by Bit” is a ‘bit’ fun. The story follows a staggered journey of a woman who hears voices. The events in her life and how she deals with them, gives this a tale a light but jumpy feeling to it. Ms. Fabian chooses not to explore Sally’s feelings and actions during this odd event but rather reports the odd things she does as if it’s a vague log.

 

I thought the story was fine but what I enjoyed more was Ms. Fabian’s comments on the inspiration for the story. Far more entertaining, in my opinion.

 

 

Jonas loves climbing the Banyan Tree with his friend, Tabby in B is for Banyan Tree by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/12). The tree is a real jungle gym, enormous and full of adventure. He follows his friend while playing ‘explorer’, until Tabby disappears. Tabby insists he should have stayed with her and tells him of the trees special secret.

 

Act two of the Alphabet Quartet was a disappointment compared to its opening one. Jonas is sensible but a coward in the eyes of this reader. I feel as if I was robbed of a greater adventure.

 

 

Two students won’t be turning in their homework in Miss Linderman in Late Homework by James Van Pelt (debut 1/13). An accident has claimed the lives of Cathy and Melinda, students in her Literature and Composition class. They are the sixth and seventh to perish in her 12 years on the job. The last row of her class row is a reminder of them, and how they were unable to complete their last assignment.

 

This story is set during Halloween and would have been great if it was posted that week. I can understand why the editors wouldn’t want to wait 10 months to post it, which is too bad because it scored well on the creepy meter. A well-done ghost story.

 

 

Akorsa is an oracle who hungers for her next song and the soul of the one who sings it in A Song Never Tasted by Barbara A. Barnett (debut 1/14). She is one of two supernatural beings left from a long ago time when mortals would praise the oracles as conduits to the gods. Now seen as devils, Akorsa must hide in the bushes and wait to feed on songs gone stale. Then a young woman sings verses Akorsa has believed were lost to time. The beauty of the song is such that Akorsa wishes to spare this angel, but the other remaining oracle, Neashern, has no intention of going hungry when the rich flavor of an old song is there to feed upon.

 

“A Song Never Tasted” is a tale which gradually evolves into a ghoulish love story. Akorsa fights two battles, one with Neashern and the other with her own vampire-ish hunger. Hirneen is the 16-year old girl who sees visions of the oracles and is blessed with the songs the oracles hunger for. After saving Hirneen from Neashern, Akorsa forms a relationship with the girl and begins to fall in love with her. Akora hungers for Hirnnen’s lips and the taste of the song that comes from them, yet resisting the hunger of its melody, which will kill Hirneen if she dares to feast on it.

 

This tale left me disturbed. Akorsa’s internal battle gave this story a creepy pedophilic metaphorical feel. Her actions seemed a lot like how an adult would react when they have an attraction to a minor, even when they know those feelings are wrong (It didn’t help when author spelled out Hirneen’s age). I’m sure that wasn’t Ms. Barnett’s intentions and I am not in anyway implying that she was making any such statement, but nevertheless, a story where a really old person preys on a naÃ�’ �ve girl was one that was not for me.

 

 

The protagonist in The Voynich Variations by Edoardo Albert (debut 1/17) is a musical genius. His latest work is so advanced that not even the greatest musical minds of the age can comprehend it. Knowing his works can no longer be appreciated; he retires and turns to one of mankind’s greatest mysteries to test his intellect.

 

The premise to “The Voynich Variations” is based on the ‘Voynich Manuscript’, an incomprehensible book written in the 15th century and believed to be a work of encrypted genius. The protagonist believes he has discovered the books secret, a brilliantly disguised musical score. Eager to hear the melody for himself, the protagonist deciphers the score and reveals its secret.

 

Quite an inventive tale. I had to wikipedia the legendary script to reacquaint myself with the manuscript. I found this tale compelling and the ending worthy. A nice work of flash.

 

 

Family Photo by Elena Gleason (debut 1/18) is the story of a mother and her son who has inherited an unwanted family trait. Wes is her good boy. He couldn’t help it if he was a monster. Karlen’s father had the same problem, turning into something frightening every full moon. When Karlen saw the first signs her boy shared with his grandfather, she couldn’t bring herself to do what needed to be done. Now every full moon, she kisses her husband goodbye and leaves to do battle with her son.

 

“Family Photo” is a tale of mother who wants to right a wrong. She puts on a brave face for a husband who was injured when their boy first became a monster. The premise of this story left me baffled. So I don’t ruin it for those who haven’t read it, I won’t go into why but I really do question Karlen’s choices. I don’t know what she really fears at this point.

 

The stories protagonist’s motives left me scratching my head for this piece.

 

 

The protagonist in C is for Crate by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/19) has a life filled with ambitions that she can never seem to fulfill. College dropout, behind on rent, hard to hold down a job; she is a girl holding onto the lowest rung of the ladder of life. Then she finds a sealed crate at the animal shelter labeled ‘Eats Dreams.’ Dreams is something she has plenty of , reminders of what she hasn’t become – and she is willing to part with a few to see what is making the faint mews behind the warning on the crate.

 

“C” is a Pandora’s Box type of theme. We know so much about the protagonist’s history but so little about her. So little she became more of a mystery to me than the odd creature in the crate. There was no hard punch to this lettered story but it still carried my interest. I liked C better than B but it couldn’t compare to the earlier vowel.

 

 

Clay is not doing a good job of impressing his date in Automatic Selection by Victoria Podmajersky (debut 1/20). He won’t ride the bus and suggests dining in a restaurant with human waitresses. His date is finding him quirky but Clay has a very good reason why he avoids the automated world whenever he can.

 

“Automatic Selection” has the feeling of a man hiding an obsessive disorder with the advanced technology of the future. The truth of what it is he is hiding proves to be far more of a socially disability. The reveal of this twist was well placed but came off as an information dump. Not a bad idea but I preferred an ending that flowed as smoothly as the first 80% of the story.

 

 

Sibling rivalry is the theme in Standing Next to Heaven by Terra LeMay (debut 1/21). Shelia is ten. Heaven is her younger sister and has a potential psychic gift. The gift has a price however. Dangerous seizures inflict Heaven. Shelia must watch after her gifted sister and take a backseat to her parent’s attention.

 

“Standing Next to Heaven” is a tale millions of people could identify with. The story is told by an older sister who feels slighted and ignored and takes her ill feelings out on her poor sister (as siblings often do). Heaven has a gift that hardly sounds like a blessing. You get the idea the only thing Shelia is envious of is the attention her sister receives. Heaven is like a child with a fatal illness or disability. Shelia has become her caretaker and must follow rules concerning Heaven. Shelia comes off as cruel; not a sadistic type of cruelty, but a meanness all siblings have been guilty of, been a victim of, or both.

 

This story is the type of speculative tale that says more about the type of people we are today than about what we will be like in the future. I can’t fathom a person who couldn’t identify with the two little girls in this piece but can imagine a person or two that would be uncomfortable with the plot. Shelia is at a crossroads in their relationship, at the stage when she quits being the tormentor and becomes the protector.

 

“Standing” is not the type of tale that will leave you in awe. It’s a smooth read but not a page-turner, a Twilight Zone tale written as an after-school special. It doesn’t get my full-fledge recommendation but it is one I found great.

 

 

Elizabeth passes out advice on the health line in Not with a Bang by Michelle Ann King (debut 1/24). Epidemics have brought about anxiety across society. The Central Health Line is meant to ease the publics concerns. Phone screeners like Elizabeth listen to caller’s symptoms and pass out diagnosis’ and advice. She does it with a smile as she lies. After all, life must go on even when it’s coming to an end.

 

“Not with a Bang” is not your typical end of the world story. The government has set up a disinformation help line in an effort to keep a public calm. Elizabeth has stock answers and a book to assign a non-fatal illness to match the symptoms a sick caller has. It’s a unique idea, not very plausible in my opinion but still entertaining.

 

 

The protagonists in D is for De Gustibus by the Alphabet Quartet (debut 1/26) is on the search for spices to make some curry when she comes across a little herb shop at the mall. The odd but helpful clerk has some very exotic spices, and is willing to part with them for a handful of change.

 

“D” was an unsatisfying letter for me. The story felt like an opening to a much larger story. Nothing much happened but you get the feeling much would if the story was allowed to evolve.

 

 

In …And a Bottle of Rum by Melissa Mead (debut 27th Jan 2011) Uncle/Captain Jim is a bed-ridden old man who makes model sky-ships, the magical, wooden-with-masts variety, and generally entertains his grand children with tales of daring-do from when he captained a ship and fought sky-pirates. His grandson, Matthew, is entranced by his collection of model ships, each in a bottle, a collection that mirrors ships that actually are in service in the Kingdom. Needless to say things aren’t quite as they seem and there is a twist at the end of this flash story.

 

I thought the story was well-written and a very smooth read. I enjoyed the glance it allowed me into to a world of sky-ships and pirates. I saw elements of the twist before it happened, but perhaps that was only my writer’s eye spotting the foreshadowing.

 

A nice read.

 

 

‘Careful what you wish for’ is the theme of On Paper Wings by Victoria Sonata (debut 1/28). Shiyo is turning eleven, the age of passage and the granting of the gift of wishes. The wellspring of Hope grants a wish a person desperately desires. The wish can only be used to influence your own life, and not of others. The bright and bubbly Shiyo already leads a happy life with her mother but there is always room for improvement. Wishing is something her mother has stressed to not take lightly because the wellspring only grants one at a time. To wish another erases the wish before. Shiyo endures many years of hardship to learn some wishes are not worth losing no matter how badly a new one is needed.

 

“On Paper Wings” follows Shiyo’s life from a young girl to an emerging adult. The village in which she lives is isolated and under constant siege from dark and deadly demons. Hunters are on constant guard from the monsters. Shiyo lives alone with her mother and wants to know what she wished for. Her mother declines to answer but promises she will know one day. Shiyo uses her wishes to fill her most important needs of the time. But such as life is, tragedy changes everything, and helps shape the woman she comes to be, and of the wishes she will make.

 

Ms. Sonata wrote a very engaging character. Shiyo is convincing as a girl who evolves with the events that shape her world. The rules of the wish is what makes this story so compelling. Is losing your earlier wish worth making another? Depends upon the wish. The big mystery of Shiyo’s mothers wish ended up being no mystery at all. Much of the story was set up for a big finish of a great reveal but there was only one possibility of what the reveal could be, which made the ending almost pointless (almost). Nevertheless the writing and pacing of an unnaturally long story for DSF made this story a worthwhile read.

 

 

Jade Dragon by Shelly Li (debut 1/31) is a slice of life story of a Chinese peasant girl. Kai Wen lost her mother at a young age and now lives and works for a man who owns a restaurant. She has no family left, no school for her to attend, and not much of a future. She feels bitter toward a mother who died, leaving her in this predicament. Then a customer gives her tip, a tip worth six months of her salary.

 

“Jade Dragon” is based on a real life boy Ms. Li encountered in China. The lad’s hard life inspired her to write this short story. This so-so tale became special when I read Ms. Li’s comments about the encounter and could feel how moved she was when I read her comments. How sad it must have been for her. I hope the boy fortunes improved and he ended up living a prosperous life.

 

 

Analysis

Another fine month for DSF. I would like to congratulate Jon and Michele for receiving an honorable mention for best new magazine in the Million Writers Award. There were several magazines who earned the honor but I think the actual award was between the winning publication (Lightspeed) and DSF all along. Hard to beat an editor who has had a lifetime of achievement as John J Adams has, especially when your magazine debuted in the fall. I could make an argument on why DSF was more deserving but I do find Lightspeed solid and entertaining.

Congrats to the four DSF authors who received honors in the MW awards. Of the 3 I reviewed I liked Out of the Box the most. Well-written and compelling but I doubt it would have made my top ten for the year (a lot of good stories).

 

 

 

Frank Dutkiewicz writes most of these reviews but tires of providing the bio so is passing it off to one of his minions.

 

Anonymous is famous, a braggart, and too shy to show his face and share his address.

 

Dustin “The Wind” Adams wrote his first book at age 11 (which Anonymous took complete credit for) then took a little time off, eventually finishing the sequel at age 35. “I needed a break,” was his lame excuse but now things are rolling again. He states in this exclusive interviewâ€

“I write way more than I submit. I keep thinking that once I publish, I’ll submit more, which isn’t very Vulcan of me. My goal is to have something published professionally by age 40. I’m running out of time, but the deadline provides a nice steady rush”.

Dustin is a U.S. Customs broker who owns his own brokerage firm. He lives in the hills of NY near the PA and NJ borders where he hides his lovely wife as he teaches his two adorable children (ages 13 and 1) to live off the land and distrust everyone. Currently, he is working to get his lights turned back on.

 

“I write way more than I submit. I keep thinking that once I publish, I’ll submit more, which isn’t very Vulcan of me. My goal is to have something published professionally by age 40. I’m running out of time, but the deadline provides a nice steady rush”.

Dustin is a U.S. Customs broker who owns his own brokerage firm. He lives in the hills of NY near the PA and NJ borders where he hides his lovely wife as he teaches his two adorable children (ages 13 and 1) to live off the land and distrust everyone. Currently, he is working to get his lights turned back on.

 

 

The Best of Clarkesworld Podcast

written by David Steffen

And I listen on, expanding to more and more podcasts. Now I’m caught up on the stories that have been podcast by Clarkesworld Magazine. They haven’t had a podcast for their entire history, and when it started they only published half their stories in audio form. More recently, every story is posted in audio, on the 1st and 15th of every month. If you don’t know Clarkesworld you should definitely check them out. They won the Hugo last year for the Best Semiprozine, and they’ve been nominated for that category once again this year. One of their stories was also nominated for best short story, but I’ll get to that later. Go vote for them, and for their nominated story. Both are well deserving of the honor, and I’ll be rooting for them.

Clarkesworld has published some amazing stories. Like all markets, I don’t like every one of their stories, but when they do publish a story that I like, the story’s not just good, it’s great. It was not hard to fill this list. It was so hard that the entire top 5 are equally worthy of 1st place in my opinion. But ranking them a 5-way tie for first place would be rather wishy-washy and would sort of undermine the point of having a list. So I thought about it long and hard to decide on particular aspects of each story that I liked more than the others to come up with this final ranking.

I’ve got to give kudos to the editorial staff for picking these stories, and Kate Baker for her work with Clarkesworld. She is the podcast producer, the host, and the narrator. I enjoy her intros and outros for their conversational and unscripted form, and because they also don’t go on too long (as some other unscripted podcast intros often do). It seems like she’s really a fan of what she’s reading and that makes the whole podcast seem more connected. Don’t get me wrong, I like scripted intros of other casts too, but it’s nice to have some variety of styles suited to each host at each particular cast. My only complaint, and it’s a very small complaint, is that when Clarkesworld runs a first-person story (which seems to happen pretty often), it’s often unclear for a long time whether the character is male or female. Because I’m hearing Kate’s clearly female voice, my mind tends to assume the character is female as well, and it can be a bit jarring if sex suddenly becomes important halfway through the story and I realize, oh this character is a man. Again, it’s but a small quibble, and could be helped by an author giving more clues to the sex in text (which is a good idea anyway if one is writing a first person narrated story). On to the list:

 

The List

1. Messenger by Julia M Sidorova
Wow, this one’s so good. For me religion and the afterlife have always been great topics of contemplation, so I love a story that can take them and go in some interesting direction I haven’t seen before. This is one of those, and from a superbly well written nonhuman POV to boot. I won’t say anything more about it, because half the fun was watching everything reveal itself.Â

2. A Sweet Calling by Tony Pi
A candy vendor with the ability to use his candies as avatars and who can use his ability to create elementals faces off against a dangerous foe. A very well developed and compelling magic system based around the Chinese Zodiac.

3. The Association of the Dead by Rahul Kanakia
Just like my first on the list, I loved this one for the religious contemplation aspect of it. This one is messed up in oh so good a way. It takes place in a future where everyone has reincarnation contracts that allow you to automatically grow a new body whenever you die which will have a full mind transfer, with the details of the reincarnation all dependent on your worldwide karma rating based on social networking. Be sure you listen to Kate’s intro for this one, because she explains important details of the nomenclature that you might have trouble following otherwise–you’ll get the hang of it before too long, but you do have to pay attention to this one to follow it properly.

4. The Book of Phoenix Excerpted From the Great Book by Nnedi Okorafor
The basic setting of this reminds me of the movie Push, which in turn had reminded me of other settings like that used in Marvel’s X-Men affiliated stories, but this story made the idea its own. Individuals are being experimented on to awaken what are basically superpowers. This is from the point of view of one of these test subjects as her powers develop.

5. The Things by Peter Watts
Remember I mentioned that other Hugo nomination? This is that one. It’s a twisted around take on the 1982 John Carpenter movie The Thing (which was in turn based on a 1951 novella “Who Goes There?” by John W. Campbell, Jr) about a shapeshifting monster that attacks an Antarctic research team, killing and mimicking the crew members so that paranoia runs rampant. I haven’t actually seen the movie, though I was vaguely aware enough of it to recognize the events as being related to the movie. Instead of following the humans’ POV, as the movie does, this one follows the POV of the monster. As with all the best monster POV stories, it doesn’t consider itself the monster. It considers the humans the aliens, the monsters. As told from its POV the monster’s actions are quite reasonable. You don’t need to have seen the film to get the story (like I said, I hadn’t), but I’m sure you’d probably only fully appreciate all the details if you’ve seen the other side of them in film already.


Honorable Mentions:

Futures in the Memories Market by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

Perfect Lies by Gwendolyn Clare

Laying the Ghost by Eric Brown