Sunday, December 30, 2007

"Finisterra", David Moles

F&SF December 2007NT F&SF (Fantasy & Science Fiction) December 2007 – science fantasy
<<- F&SF Dec 2007 cover by Cory and Catska Ench for "Finisterra"


Bianca Nazario y Arenas, daughter in a family of aeronautical engineers, takes a job on Sky, a gas-giant world featuring an archipelago of island-sized floating creatures called zaratán. Thousands of people live and farm on top of the humongous zaratán named Finisterra. Bianca's employer Valadez, and his spidery, alien, firija associates, are butchering zaratanes for their skin and bones, despite the fact that the Concilium considers zaratanes a protected species.

This is a story has a memorable setting. The characters speak Spanish and Arabic, which is nicely different. Yet it's a bit hard to believe that someone like Bianca would take this job, even to escape her surprisingly patriarchal society on Earth. I would have liked to read more about the wondrous aspects of Sky.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

"The Bone Man", Frederic S. Durbin

NT F&SF (Fantasy & Science Fiction) December 2007 – dark fantasy
A creepy man called Conlin is sidetracked to a small American town with a strangely unmemorable name. It happens to be the day of the Hallowe’en Parade which features the Bone Man, a dancing skeleton. Apparently not everyone can see the Bone Man.

This story depicts its setting well. The protagonist's unsettling past is revealed. The ending takes a decidedly dark turn.

Thursday, December 20, 2007

"Cold Comfort", Ray Vukcevich

SS F&SF (Fantasy & Science Fiction) July 2007 - science fiction
A freezer which is an artificial intelligence calls security / maintenance on a Holiday. They have a nice chat.

A cute, quirky story. It's only about three pages long.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

"Stray", Benjamin Rosenbaum and David Ackert

SS F&SF (Fantasy & Science Fiction) December 2007 - fantasy
In the era of FDR, Ivan, a down and out immortal, is found by a Muriel, a colored doctor's daughter. For her, Ivan becomes a light-skinned black man. They marry and Ivan works to fit into Muriel's world. Then, in a cemetery, Ivan meets crying white girl.

This story seems profound, but I'm a bit fuzzy about the point it's trying to make. Sure, there's the race issue. My guess is that this story is about making people like you.

Friday, December 14, 2007

"Transformations", David Barr Kirtley

illustration by Rob JohnsonSS RoF (Realms of Fantasy) December 2007 – science fantasy
<<- Realms of Fantasy December 2007 interior illustration by Rob Johnson for "Transformations"

Carrus, disguised as a red sports car, meets a boy named Alex. Carrus is a robotic soldier assigned to Earth on a covert mission during a space war. Alex likes Carrus because he is an awesome talking car that can transform himself into a huge robotic infantryman. Lonely Carrus makes a friend whom he visits over a period of years.

Alex as a young boy, teenager, and middle-aged man gets to play with a really cool car that only he knows about. This isn't a first contact or robot war story, it's more or less a guy's automotive fantasy dream. Sort of fun.

Sunday, December 02, 2007

"Who Brought Tulips to the Moon?", S.L. Gilbow

SS F&SF (Fantasy & Science Fiction) December 2007 - science fiction
Healthy ninety-four year old Mr. Hudson is taken to the moon by his always in a rush daughter Laura Severs and her husband Danny. On the way to Smooth Passing, a company that helps you pass away, Mr. Hudson accidentally knocks over an old woman. Later, he goes out of his way to apologize to the woman and they chat over drinks. The tulips mentioned in the title are displayed with the funeral urns.

Sort of a sad story. The author evokes resignation to fate well. There's a nice twist ending.