Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Vol. 134, No. 3, March 2014

by Trevor Quachri (Editor), Karl Schroeder (Contributor), Brad R. Torgersen (Contributor)

Analog Science Fiction and Fact, March 2014, Volume CXXXIV No. 3
Trevor Quachri, editor
Cover art by Patrick Jones

Serial
"Lockstep", part III of IV, by Karl Schroeder

Novelettes
"Life Flight" by Brad R. Torgersen

Short Stories
"Rubik's Chromosome" by Megan Chaudhuri
"Not for Sissies" by Jerry Oltion
"The Teacher's Gamble" by Stephen L. Burns
"The Avalon Missions" by David Brin
"We Who Are about to Watch You Die Salute You" by Maggie Clark

Poetry
"Discovery Mission" by Ken Poyner

Science Fact
"The Probability and Nature of an Interstellar Information-Trading Community" by Mark H. Shellans

Departments
Editorial: "I, Editor" by Trevor Quachri
The Alternate View: " Entanglement, Spooks, and Superluminal Signals" by John G. Cramer

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction

111 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 11, 2013

About the author

Trevor Quachri (b. 1976) has been the sixth editor of Analog Science Fiction & Fact magazine since September 2012.

Previously, he was “a Broadway stagehand, collected data for museums, and executive produced a science fiction pilot for a basic cable channel.”

Quachri started as an editorial assistant in 1999 at Asimov's Science Fiction and Analog. Former editor of Analog, Ben Bova, was an early influence.

Reviews

[Jeppe Larsen · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Life Flight" by Brad R. Torgersen is a bit sentimental but otherwise good life long story from an unfortunate passenger on a starship that due to a rare condition cannot endure cryosleep, so unlike the others he has to stay awake for the entire 80 year trip. He manages to live some sort of life regardless. I enjoyed reading this story even though it mostly goes as you would expect. It is about the journey not the destination. But I had a hard time believing in the premise that it should be impossible to pretest for his condition that prevents him for cryosleep. Should have been able to do a test cryosleep before takeoff at least?

"Rubik’s Chromosomes" by Megan Chaudhuri was another good story. A gene therapist is doing freelance work by reviewing other peoples designer babies. With a specific case she comes across the usual stuff of limiting diseases, making the child smart and beautiful, but in this case she finds deeply hidden that the boy will be both intelligent and beautiful but the girl will only be beautiful. This angers her but there are a few more interesting twists to this. Worth the read.

"Not for Sissies" by Jerry Oltion tells of a future where people apparently commit suicide on even the slight development of disease. They would rather die young and healthy than go through a potential painful treatment. This story follows Greg who wants do to this because of cancer, but his husband will not accept this. The moral issue explored here is pretty clear cut and while it works for what it is, there is little more to it than what one would expect from such a premise.

[Donald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of these were pretty good, but I didn't read the serial called Lockstep. I only have part 3 of 4. The novelette, Life Flight, is particularly memorable. In it, we follow the life of a boy in a space colony bound for another planet. His ten year term of duty aboard the space ship comes to an end and is due to be put to sleep for the remaining 70+ year travel time and others are awakened to take the reins. But he finds out then that he has a rare condition that keeps him from going under. So he has to stay awake the whole trip and is an old man by the time they arrive at their destination. The end is emotional... or it was for me, anyway. I can only imagine. And that imagining came with Brad R. Torgerson's help, of course. He is the author of Life Flight. Thanks, Brad.

[Mark Catalfano · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked "The Avalon Missions" by David Brin

[Daniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall an enjoyable issue, though I remain ambivalent about Lockstep, like most serials, a waste of prime space better served to shorter works. The novelette in this issue is the highlight, "Life Flight" is simply outstanding, a well-composed take on the trope of interstellar travel that covers the issues surrounding attaining maturity and spending one's life working towards a goal, with all its pleasures and pitfalls. The short stories vary from serviceable to excellent, with "Rubik's Chromosome" being a highlight for me simply due to the rarity of SF stories that focus on biology or molecular biology, particularly completely divorced from physics/astronomy. "The Avalon Mission" is a prime example of a powerful short short-story.

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good issue. My favorite of the issue is "Life Flight" by Brad R Torgersen - that guy writes very good short fiction. Secondly, “The Teacher’s Gamble” by Stephen L. Burns is also very good and tells of a benevolent alien's bid to save the inhabitants of Earth. Top stuff all round.

[John Oswalt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Below average issue.

[ThePulpReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn't like this issue... my review on: http://eerieworlds.blogspot.com/2013/...

[Alyn Lunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent issue.

[Rob Port · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed "Lifeflight" by Bradley Torgerson.

[Rafael Ontivero · Rating 2 out of 5]

Como es habitual, número entre mediocre y pésimo.