Uploaded September 10, 1996 -- Updated September 10, 1996
Here is the list of stories in this issue. If you have any comments or reviews, send them to jbailey@sff.net. Please indicate which issue and/or story you're referring to in the subject line, and try to keep comments for different stories separate in you letters so I can place them properly.
"Swimmers Beneath the Skin" by Ian R.
MacLeod
"The City of God" by Gardner Dozois &
Michael Swanwick
"The Flowers of Aulit Prison" by Nancy
Kress
"Try and Kill It" by Gene Wolfe
"The Wind Over the World" by Steven Utley
"Generation Zero" by Michael Cassutt
"Bicycle Repairman" by Bruce Sterling
(Nominated for 1997 Hugo Award)
[11/9/96]
"Flying Lessons" by Kelly Link [11/9/96]
Miscellaneous Comments (on the magazine as a whole, editorials, columns, etc.)
Nothing yet. top of page
Nothing yet. top of page
Nothing yet. top of page
Nothing yet. top of page
Nothing yet. top of page
Nothing yet. top of page
(Nominated for 1997 Hugo Award, best Novelette)
Rich Horton: 11/9/96
It is often said that Bruce Sterling packs more ideas per page than any SF writer going these days (save maybe Greg Egan): I agree. His stories are without exception exhilarating reading just for the tossed-off details of future life, both technological and sociological extrapolation. Every once in a while he integrates his density of ideas with a similar density of feeling or theme, and the results are breathtaking, as in "Swarm" or "Green Days in Brunei", or "The Beautiful and the Sublime". "Bicycle Repairman" isn't up to his highest level, but it is great fun. It's linked to his earlier story "Deep Eddy", and features Eddy's friend Lyle, a bicycle repairman. Eddy sends Lyle a device which allows the user to view political appearances in a rather different way. Eddy doesn't mean for Lyle to use the device, but of course, he does, and all hell breaks loose, more or less. Fast moving, funny, and, as mentioned, just chock full of really neat throwaway ideas about technology and society.
Rich Horton: 11/9/96
At one level, a present day story of a hotel keeper's daughter in Scotland, and her romance with a local baker's son. At another level, another story of the Greek Gods meddling in modern day life. The conceit is very well worked out, and the story is interesting and moving. After this story and "Water off a Black Dog's Back" from Century #3, I'd call Kelly Link Someone to Watch.
Nothing yet. top of page
3202