"Finisterra", David Moles

NT 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.

"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.

"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.

"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.

"Osama Phone Home", David Marusek

SS F&SF (Fantasy & Science Fiction) December 2007 - science fiction
Angry that the U.S. Government did not capture Osama bin Laden at Tora Bora, a group of friends form a secret organization to help bring bin Laden to justice. They are deadly serious in their mission. Their Project Phone Home involves a truth serum drug dubbed True Confessions, genetically modified ragweed, voiceprint recognition traps, and cheap prepaid cell phones.

This is a suspenseful present-day story involving spooky but not impossible sounding technologies. It was originally published earlier in 2007 in MIT's Technology Review magazine.

"Don't Ask", M. Rickert

SS F&SF (Fantasy & Science Fiction) December 2007 – fantasy
The lost boys were stolen from their everyday modern lives. After they are found, they are not only older but different. Don't ask, but they've been running with the wolves.

A poignant short story about mothers trying to undue what happened to their boys, hoping to find the boys they lost.