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Asimov's Science Fiction, November/December 2024
NOVELLAS
Death Benefits by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Wildest Skies by Sean Monaghan
NOVELETTES
Dreamliker by Dominica Phetteplace
Murder on the Orion Express by Peter Wood
SHORT STORIES
Wápato by Molly Gloss
So Long in Miami by Garrett Ashley
Mere Flesh by James Maxey
The Start of Something Beautiful by Zack Be
The Ledgers by Jack Skillingstead
Deep Space Has the Beat by Mary Robinette Kowal
POETRY
Logomancy by Craig Finlay
The Quantum Waves by Kendall Evans
Ghazal by Joshua Gage
DEPARTMENTS
Editorial: Thirty-Eighth Annual Readers’ Awards Results by Sheila Williams
Reflections: With Folded Hands. . . ? by Robert Silverberg
On the Net: The Great Filter by James Patrick Kelly
On Books by Kelly Jennings
Death Benefits by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Wildest Skies by Sean Monaghan
NOVELETTES
Dreamliker by Dominica Phetteplace
Murder on the Orion Express by Peter Wood
SHORT STORIES
Wápato by Molly Gloss
So Long in Miami by Garrett Ashley
Mere Flesh by James Maxey
The Start of Something Beautiful by Zack Be
The Ledgers by Jack Skillingstead
Deep Space Has the Beat by Mary Robinette Kowal
POETRY
Logomancy by Craig Finlay
The Quantum Waves by Kendall Evans
Ghazal by Joshua Gage
DEPARTMENTS
Editorial: Thirty-Eighth Annual Readers’ Awards Results by Sheila Williams
Reflections: With Folded Hands. . . ? by Robert Silverberg
On the Net: The Great Filter by James Patrick Kelly
On Books by Kelly Jennings
211 pages, Paperback
Published October 13, 2024
5 people are currently reading
6 people want to read
About the author
Sheila Williams
278 books66 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Sheila Williams is the editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine. She is also the recipient of the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Editor, Short Form.
Sheila grew up in a family of five in western Massachusetts. Her mother had a master's degree in microbiology. Ms. Williams’ interest in science fiction came from her father who read Edgar Rice Burroughs books to her as a child. Later Ms. Williams received a bachelor's degree from Elmira College in Elmira, New York, although she studied at the London School of Economics during her junior year. She received her Master's from Washington University in St. Louis. She is married to David Bruce and has two daughters.
She became interested in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine (as it was then titled) while studying philosophy at Washington University. In 1982 she was hired at the magazine, and worked with Isaac Asimov for ten years. While working there, she co-founded the Dell Magazines Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing (at one time called the Isaac Asimov Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy writing). In 2004, with the retirement of Gardner Dozois, she became the editor of the magazine.
Along with Gardner Dozois she also edited the "Isaac Asimov's" anthology series. She also co-edited A Woman's Liberation: A Choice of Futures by and About Women (2001) with Connie Willis. Most recently she has edited a retrospective anthology of fiction published by Asimov's: Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine: 30th Anniversary Anthology. Booklist called the book "A gem, and a credit to editor Williams."
She has been nominated for 4 Hugo Awards as editor of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.
See also Sheila Williams's entry in the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
Sheila Williams is the editor of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine. She is also the recipient of the 2012 Hugo Award for Best Editor, Short Form.
Sheila grew up in a family of five in western Massachusetts. Her mother had a master's degree in microbiology. Ms. Williams’ interest in science fiction came from her father who read Edgar Rice Burroughs books to her as a child. Later Ms. Williams received a bachelor's degree from Elmira College in Elmira, New York, although she studied at the London School of Economics during her junior year. She received her Master's from Washington University in St. Louis. She is married to David Bruce and has two daughters.
She became interested in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine (as it was then titled) while studying philosophy at Washington University. In 1982 she was hired at the magazine, and worked with Isaac Asimov for ten years. While working there, she co-founded the Dell Magazines Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing (at one time called the Isaac Asimov Award for Undergraduate Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy writing). In 2004, with the retirement of Gardner Dozois, she became the editor of the magazine.
Along with Gardner Dozois she also edited the "Isaac Asimov's" anthology series. She also co-edited A Woman's Liberation: A Choice of Futures by and About Women (2001) with Connie Willis. Most recently she has edited a retrospective anthology of fiction published by Asimov's: Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine: 30th Anniversary Anthology. Booklist called the book "A gem, and a credit to editor Williams."
She has been nominated for 4 Hugo Awards as editor of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.
See also Sheila Williams's entry in the Internet Speculative Fiction Database.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
January 2, 2025
This is the November/December 2024 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction. I think this is the strongest issue in 2024, with several pieces worthy of a nomination for Hugo.
Contents:
Thirty-Eighth Annual Readers' Awards Results [Asimov's Editorials] essay by Sheila Williams I’m glad that a few of my nominees were supported by other readers.
Readers' Award Winners (Asimov's, November-December 2024) [Annual Readers' Award (Asimov's)] essay by uncredited
With Folded Hands...? [Reflections] essay by Robert Silverberg if AI works instead of us, won’t we end up in Jack Williamson’s classic story, “With Folded Hands” (1947)? I doubt that outcome is likely… 3*
The Great Filter [On the Net] essay by James Patrick Kelly the first paragraph: “I sometimes get asked questions about being a writer by people who have just a passing knowledge of science fiction. […] This has happened more than once in response to the question: “Do you believe in UFOs?” Answer: Arrgh!” 😊 I understand his angst! He follows with Fermi’s paradox… 3*
Logomancy poem by Craig Finlay
Death Benefits novella by Kristine Kathryn Rusch the protagonist is “the one, who shatters dreams” as he describes it himself; formally, he attempts to find soldiers, who are officially KIA during the ongoing war. In most cases, clients assume they saw their loved ones, but that’s mistaken identity and wishful thinking. A prospective client comes and the face of the person of interest seems familiar. He doesn’t take her case but unofficially investigates and finds she was correct. 3.5*
Wápato short story by Molly Gloss an 80-years-old woman lives alone at her deceased husband’s farm. There are a lot of ghosts around; she doesn’t worry them, and they do the same. Once, while outside, she fell and was helped back to her house by Asian-looking younger woman. A nice yarn about an old person. 3.25*
So Long in Miami short story by Garrett Ashley a story of dating during almost an apocalypse. The man drives to meet a woman, he saw only on photos, while giant waves hit Miami. She appears not as flashy as her photos suggested, a person from lower gravity, which affected her body. However, she is smart and kind, will it outweigh the initial cheat? 2.5*
The Quantum Waves poem by Kendall Evans
Dreamliker novelette by Dominica Phetteplace Zora is a minor celebrity for writing (with AI’s help) fanfic about Swamp Girl. She is hired by a startup that “allows people to talk to their deceased” – actually they collect all info on a deceased, train their AI on the data and with human guidance write ‘letters from the dead’. To avoid responsibility they have in small print ‘it isn’t actually from a deceased person’. Moreover, they add hidden ads to the text like Texts from Heaven. Merchandise suggestions from Heaven, in your cookies. If Olivia wants Everett’s opinion on the color of her next Tesla, she can get it. Or maybe he’ll nix the idea of a Tesla because at that point we’ll have a partnership with BMW. He’ll say, Darling, I’d love to see you in Heaven, but not before your time. Don’t go for a self-immolating car like a Tesla, pick one less likely to spontaneously catch on fire, like a Beemer. Quite soon Zora fails. I guess the story is one of the early birds to ways of adopting LLMs and it is great as such. My Hugo nominee. 5*
Mere Flesh short story by James Maxey the narrator’s 103-year-old dad has implants and AI that help him with age-related issues, like scanning all faces he sees and reminding him who is who. The dad turns erratic, like jumping into a river to test “that you can paralyze an alligator by rubbing its abdomen.” (it seems yes). Later he finds out that his dad is gone and possibly the AI took full control over his body. Another solid story. 4.5*
The Start of Something Beautiful short story by Zack Be an artist celebrity who is sent to orbit to boost interest in space. When a meteor hits the station, the astronaut goes to repair but is stranded so she has to go and save him. 3*
Murder on the Orion Express novelette by Peter Wood a generation ship where most crewmembers are mostly in cold sleep, revived for short duty periods. There is a disagreement and it seems that a captain is killed. A ‘revived’ cop investigates… the solution is fine but the overall story in meh. 2.5*
The Ledgers short story by Jack Skillingstead a clerk in a city at war. Every day he adds KIA soldiers to the ledger. Meanwhile, the city around slowly maddens… 3*
Deep Space Has the Beat short story by Mary Robinette Kowal a night club startup, its idea it to collect kinetic energy from the dance floor. A perspective investor comes, while someone hacked club’s giant screens and shows porn here (I wanted to joke that the writer was caught watching it and tried, ‘it isn’t me, I’m hacked’) and the owners frantically try to stop this disaster. 2.75*
Wildest Skies novella by Sean Monaghan Ed Linklater is a sole survivor of an exploration ship lands on a planet. He is initially placed in a giant smooth stone bowl, then meets local sentients, gets a trauma, travels till meeting other people… a lot of adventures in old SF style… 3*
On Books (Asimov's, November-December 2024) essay by Kelly Jennings I plan to read Liberty's Daughter and A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?
Ghazal poem by Joshua Gage
Next Issue (Asimov's, November-December 2024) essay by uncredited
Contents:
Thirty-Eighth Annual Readers' Awards Results [Asimov's Editorials] essay by Sheila Williams I’m glad that a few of my nominees were supported by other readers.
Readers' Award Winners (Asimov's, November-December 2024) [Annual Readers' Award (Asimov's)] essay by uncredited
With Folded Hands...? [Reflections] essay by Robert Silverberg if AI works instead of us, won’t we end up in Jack Williamson’s classic story, “With Folded Hands” (1947)? I doubt that outcome is likely… 3*
The Great Filter [On the Net] essay by James Patrick Kelly the first paragraph: “I sometimes get asked questions about being a writer by people who have just a passing knowledge of science fiction. […] This has happened more than once in response to the question: “Do you believe in UFOs?” Answer: Arrgh!” 😊 I understand his angst! He follows with Fermi’s paradox… 3*
Logomancy poem by Craig Finlay
Death Benefits novella by Kristine Kathryn Rusch the protagonist is “the one, who shatters dreams” as he describes it himself; formally, he attempts to find soldiers, who are officially KIA during the ongoing war. In most cases, clients assume they saw their loved ones, but that’s mistaken identity and wishful thinking. A prospective client comes and the face of the person of interest seems familiar. He doesn’t take her case but unofficially investigates and finds she was correct. 3.5*
Wápato short story by Molly Gloss an 80-years-old woman lives alone at her deceased husband’s farm. There are a lot of ghosts around; she doesn’t worry them, and they do the same. Once, while outside, she fell and was helped back to her house by Asian-looking younger woman. A nice yarn about an old person. 3.25*
So Long in Miami short story by Garrett Ashley a story of dating during almost an apocalypse. The man drives to meet a woman, he saw only on photos, while giant waves hit Miami. She appears not as flashy as her photos suggested, a person from lower gravity, which affected her body. However, she is smart and kind, will it outweigh the initial cheat? 2.5*
The Quantum Waves poem by Kendall Evans
Dreamliker novelette by Dominica Phetteplace Zora is a minor celebrity for writing (with AI’s help) fanfic about Swamp Girl. She is hired by a startup that “allows people to talk to their deceased” – actually they collect all info on a deceased, train their AI on the data and with human guidance write ‘letters from the dead’. To avoid responsibility they have in small print ‘it isn’t actually from a deceased person’. Moreover, they add hidden ads to the text like Texts from Heaven. Merchandise suggestions from Heaven, in your cookies. If Olivia wants Everett’s opinion on the color of her next Tesla, she can get it. Or maybe he’ll nix the idea of a Tesla because at that point we’ll have a partnership with BMW. He’ll say, Darling, I’d love to see you in Heaven, but not before your time. Don’t go for a self-immolating car like a Tesla, pick one less likely to spontaneously catch on fire, like a Beemer. Quite soon Zora fails. I guess the story is one of the early birds to ways of adopting LLMs and it is great as such. My Hugo nominee. 5*
Mere Flesh short story by James Maxey the narrator’s 103-year-old dad has implants and AI that help him with age-related issues, like scanning all faces he sees and reminding him who is who. The dad turns erratic, like jumping into a river to test “that you can paralyze an alligator by rubbing its abdomen.” (it seems yes). Later he finds out that his dad is gone and possibly the AI took full control over his body. Another solid story. 4.5*
The Start of Something Beautiful short story by Zack Be an artist celebrity who is sent to orbit to boost interest in space. When a meteor hits the station, the astronaut goes to repair but is stranded so she has to go and save him. 3*
Murder on the Orion Express novelette by Peter Wood a generation ship where most crewmembers are mostly in cold sleep, revived for short duty periods. There is a disagreement and it seems that a captain is killed. A ‘revived’ cop investigates… the solution is fine but the overall story in meh. 2.5*
The Ledgers short story by Jack Skillingstead a clerk in a city at war. Every day he adds KIA soldiers to the ledger. Meanwhile, the city around slowly maddens… 3*
Deep Space Has the Beat short story by Mary Robinette Kowal a night club startup, its idea it to collect kinetic energy from the dance floor. A perspective investor comes, while someone hacked club’s giant screens and shows porn here (I wanted to joke that the writer was caught watching it and tried, ‘it isn’t me, I’m hacked’) and the owners frantically try to stop this disaster. 2.75*
Wildest Skies novella by Sean Monaghan Ed Linklater is a sole survivor of an exploration ship lands on a planet. He is initially placed in a giant smooth stone bowl, then meets local sentients, gets a trauma, travels till meeting other people… a lot of adventures in old SF style… 3*
On Books (Asimov's, November-December 2024) essay by Kelly Jennings I plan to read Liberty's Daughter and A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?
Ghazal poem by Joshua Gage
Next Issue (Asimov's, November-December 2024) essay by uncredited
November 9, 2024
After a couple of average issues, this final one from 2024 comes out blazing. I would put this single issue up against almost any original anthology or best-of-the-year collection. Several of these stories could be award contenders next year. As usual, I skip over most of the poems, but do read the articles and reviews which are interesting.
Death Benefits • novella by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
This is an excellent SF mystery set in a galactic war that seems to me to possibly be a metaphor for the war in Ukraine. The war part is only background, though. The main story is about a woman who hires the equivalent of a detective to find out what happened to her boyfriend; the military says he died in combat, but she is convinced he is still alive and that she has seen him. The organization of the novella is quite interesting, jumping from point of view to point of view, some of the characters not a part of the main story at all, but providing essential information about this universe. This could easily become a very interesting series.
Wápato • short story by Molly Gloss
This is a somewhat melancholy character study of an elderly widow who sees the ghosts of humans and animals that have lived on her property in previous lives. She ultimately learns some valuable lessons from them and from the old Japanese lady who befriends her.
So Long in Miami • short story by Garrett Ashley
A future Miami buried under water is the setting for this character study of two scientists brought together to study the old city and surrounding ocean. He is an Earth native, but she was born on a space colony, so her physiology is not quite to Earth norms. Can they learn to work and live together?
Dreamliker • novelette by Dominica Phetteplace
This is a very fun extrapolation of where AI is headed. The story might have a short shelf life as real world technology evolves ever faster, but for now it is a stark, yet humorous, look at what we might expect soon. A fanfic writer who extensively uses AI gets an office job to pay her bills, but finds that the corporate world is full of spyware and other impediments to satisfactory working conditions.
Mere Flesh • short story by James Maxey
An AI implant gives an elderly dementia patient a new lease on an active life, but at what cost?
The Start of Something Beautiful • short story by Zack Be
In a story that seems more suited to Analog, two social media influencers are on a private space station when a malfunction requires them to jump into action to try to save the life of their astronaut commander with a dangerous space walk.
Murder on the Orion Express • novelette by Peter Wood
A murder on a deep-space spaceship poses a mystery for the police detective who happens to be on the unhibernating skeleton crew when it happens. Or was there a murder? And do the anomalous reading from the engines mean anything? There's some very good character development as well as mystery plotting that could only happen in a SF story.
The Ledgers • short story by Jack Skillingstead
This is a powerful story that skillfully uses metaphor to convey the pure horror of war and the collateral damage it inflicts on the population that engages in it. It's a dystopia of death and even cannibalism that demonstrates the power of literature to illustrate dangerous topics.
Deep Space has the Beat • short story by Mary Robinette Kowal
In the near future, an engineer invents a dance floor that converts the dancers' kinetic energy to power. While trying to convince an investor to put money into her company, a hacker interrupts the backdrop screens with porn images. It's a fun, but somewhat trivial story.
Wildest Skies • novella by Sean Monaghan
This story harkens back to the problem stories that were popular in the Golden Age of SF. A human astronaut on a distant planet is stranded and makes first contact with some strange low tech sentient aliens who take him in and help him survive. But there is a lot more going on on this world, and the astronaut eventually finds another group. Will their high tech help or hurt him and his new friends?
Death Benefits • novella by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
This is an excellent SF mystery set in a galactic war that seems to me to possibly be a metaphor for the war in Ukraine. The war part is only background, though. The main story is about a woman who hires the equivalent of a detective to find out what happened to her boyfriend; the military says he died in combat, but she is convinced he is still alive and that she has seen him. The organization of the novella is quite interesting, jumping from point of view to point of view, some of the characters not a part of the main story at all, but providing essential information about this universe. This could easily become a very interesting series.
Wápato • short story by Molly Gloss
This is a somewhat melancholy character study of an elderly widow who sees the ghosts of humans and animals that have lived on her property in previous lives. She ultimately learns some valuable lessons from them and from the old Japanese lady who befriends her.
So Long in Miami • short story by Garrett Ashley
A future Miami buried under water is the setting for this character study of two scientists brought together to study the old city and surrounding ocean. He is an Earth native, but she was born on a space colony, so her physiology is not quite to Earth norms. Can they learn to work and live together?
Dreamliker • novelette by Dominica Phetteplace
This is a very fun extrapolation of where AI is headed. The story might have a short shelf life as real world technology evolves ever faster, but for now it is a stark, yet humorous, look at what we might expect soon. A fanfic writer who extensively uses AI gets an office job to pay her bills, but finds that the corporate world is full of spyware and other impediments to satisfactory working conditions.
Mere Flesh • short story by James Maxey
An AI implant gives an elderly dementia patient a new lease on an active life, but at what cost?
The Start of Something Beautiful • short story by Zack Be
In a story that seems more suited to Analog, two social media influencers are on a private space station when a malfunction requires them to jump into action to try to save the life of their astronaut commander with a dangerous space walk.
Murder on the Orion Express • novelette by Peter Wood
A murder on a deep-space spaceship poses a mystery for the police detective who happens to be on the unhibernating skeleton crew when it happens. Or was there a murder? And do the anomalous reading from the engines mean anything? There's some very good character development as well as mystery plotting that could only happen in a SF story.
The Ledgers • short story by Jack Skillingstead
This is a powerful story that skillfully uses metaphor to convey the pure horror of war and the collateral damage it inflicts on the population that engages in it. It's a dystopia of death and even cannibalism that demonstrates the power of literature to illustrate dangerous topics.
Deep Space has the Beat • short story by Mary Robinette Kowal
In the near future, an engineer invents a dance floor that converts the dancers' kinetic energy to power. While trying to convince an investor to put money into her company, a hacker interrupts the backdrop screens with porn images. It's a fun, but somewhat trivial story.
Wildest Skies • novella by Sean Monaghan
This story harkens back to the problem stories that were popular in the Golden Age of SF. A human astronaut on a distant planet is stranded and makes first contact with some strange low tech sentient aliens who take him in and help him survive. But there is a lot more going on on this world, and the astronaut eventually finds another group. Will their high tech help or hurt him and his new friends?
November 8, 2024
Despite the bad pun in the title, the cover story was pretty interesting, showing two different forms of policing. It didn't end where I thought it would, but continued to a more satisfying conclusion.
December 11, 2024
Favorite stories:
Dreamliker- Dominica Phetteplace
Mere Flesh- James Maxey
The Start of Something Beautiful-Zack Be
Murder on the Orion Express-Peter Wood
Wildest Skies-Sean Monaghan
Dreamliker- Dominica Phetteplace
Mere Flesh- James Maxey
The Start of Something Beautiful-Zack Be
Murder on the Orion Express-Peter Wood
Wildest Skies-Sean Monaghan
December 15, 2024
4.5 stars for the cover story. 4 stars for death benefits. 3 stars for Dreamliker and Wapato.
December 6, 2024
An excellent anthology. I read these at night a few pages at a time. Normally some stories drag or are not to my taste. This one hit with each story. A wide-ranging survey of sci-fi, from flights of fantasy to the nuts and bolts of hard science, it is all here, some in the same stories. It does not disappoint.
November 19, 2024
It’s been years since I read an issue of Asimov’s. I was pleasantly surprised by how good this one was.
Ratings and brief comments on each of the stories, in descending order of how much I liked them:
Wapato, short story by Mary Gloss, 4 stars. One of several stories in the magazine concerned with issues of death and bereavement. An elderly widow, in the rural western US, missing her husband but determinedly self-reliant, makes connections with elements of the supernatural, including “ancestors” in her barn. Well written and a pleasure to read.
Death Benefits, novella by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, 4 stars. Focuses on the feelings of the bereaved in a society involved in an interplanetary war, coming to terms with the loss of their loved ones. The plot concerns an investigator checking out a case of a soldier whose partner thinks he isn’t really dead.
Dreamliker, novelette by Dominica Phetteplace, 4 stars. A satirical piece about AI. A sympathetic young woman character makes her way in a near future world by writing fanfic, assisted by AI tools. She also lands a job with a predatory corpoate employer that uses AI for simulated contact with the dead.
The Start of Something Beautiful, short story by Zack Be, 3 stars. A blocked “content creator” passenger on a spacecraft has to take action when a problem arises.
The Ledgers, short story by Jack Skillingstead, 3 stars. Dark story set in a wartime city from which women and children have apparently been evacuated. The central character is a dedicated civil servant tasked with recording the names of the dead. He has a series of horrific experiences. Hallucinatory, intense.
Murder on the Orion Express, novelette by Peter Wood, 3 stars. Set on a colonizing starship where most of the crew and passengers are in suspended animation at any given time. The story seems to be a murder mystery but it’s unclear whether a murder has been committed, though the “victim” seems to have disappeared and there is video showing his death. The tone of the story is light, the characters are amusing, and there is some ingenious nonsense to the plot. This is the cover story and the illustration gives an accurate impression. A fun story.
Deep Space Has the Beat, short story by Mary Robinette Kowal, 3 stars. Well executed but slight story about a dance club where the energy generated on the dance floor is technologically captured and utilized. But someone is sabotaging the place.
So Long in Miami, short story by Garrett Ashley, 3 stars. Relationship story, set against a dense action-filled science fiction background which however takes a back seat to the relationship. I found the relationship mildly interesting and well enough written.
Mere Flesh, short story by James Maxey, 2.5 stars. Light humorous AI story.
Wildest Skies, novella by Sean Monaghan, 2.5 stars. The sole survivor of a ship shot from the sky over a mysterious planet has adventures. I wasn’t very interested, after the initial sequence of the end of the starship and the character’s fall to the planet surface. The author has a distinctive prose style, using short sentences and simple words, and the 45-page story (longest in the magazine) is organized in short chapters.
Ratings and brief comments on each of the stories, in descending order of how much I liked them:
Wapato, short story by Mary Gloss, 4 stars. One of several stories in the magazine concerned with issues of death and bereavement. An elderly widow, in the rural western US, missing her husband but determinedly self-reliant, makes connections with elements of the supernatural, including “ancestors” in her barn. Well written and a pleasure to read.
Death Benefits, novella by Kristine Kathryn Rusch, 4 stars. Focuses on the feelings of the bereaved in a society involved in an interplanetary war, coming to terms with the loss of their loved ones. The plot concerns an investigator checking out a case of a soldier whose partner thinks he isn’t really dead.
Dreamliker, novelette by Dominica Phetteplace, 4 stars. A satirical piece about AI. A sympathetic young woman character makes her way in a near future world by writing fanfic, assisted by AI tools. She also lands a job with a predatory corpoate employer that uses AI for simulated contact with the dead.
The Start of Something Beautiful, short story by Zack Be, 3 stars. A blocked “content creator” passenger on a spacecraft has to take action when a problem arises.
The Ledgers, short story by Jack Skillingstead, 3 stars. Dark story set in a wartime city from which women and children have apparently been evacuated. The central character is a dedicated civil servant tasked with recording the names of the dead. He has a series of horrific experiences. Hallucinatory, intense.
Murder on the Orion Express, novelette by Peter Wood, 3 stars. Set on a colonizing starship where most of the crew and passengers are in suspended animation at any given time. The story seems to be a murder mystery but it’s unclear whether a murder has been committed, though the “victim” seems to have disappeared and there is video showing his death. The tone of the story is light, the characters are amusing, and there is some ingenious nonsense to the plot. This is the cover story and the illustration gives an accurate impression. A fun story.
Deep Space Has the Beat, short story by Mary Robinette Kowal, 3 stars. Well executed but slight story about a dance club where the energy generated on the dance floor is technologically captured and utilized. But someone is sabotaging the place.
So Long in Miami, short story by Garrett Ashley, 3 stars. Relationship story, set against a dense action-filled science fiction background which however takes a back seat to the relationship. I found the relationship mildly interesting and well enough written.
Mere Flesh, short story by James Maxey, 2.5 stars. Light humorous AI story.
Wildest Skies, novella by Sean Monaghan, 2.5 stars. The sole survivor of a ship shot from the sky over a mysterious planet has adventures. I wasn’t very interested, after the initial sequence of the end of the starship and the character’s fall to the planet surface. The author has a distinctive prose style, using short sentences and simple words, and the 45-page story (longest in the magazine) is organized in short chapters.
November 27, 2024
Kristine Kathryn Rusch kicks off the issue with the tale of “Death Benefits”, where private investigator Davidson Turo makes a scant living by verifying identities, usually from loved ones unwilling to believe their partner/lover/kin was really dead. When Jessica O’Shea approaches him to find her partner, a military casualty in an ongoing incursive war, Davidson’s usual pragmatism gets replaced by puzzlement after a curious anomaly. A great detective tale. An elderly woman living on an island, isolated and insular, sees the ghosts of residents, older and future, in the time-slipping fantasy “Wapato” by Molly Gloss, while Dominica Phetteplace shows us “Dreamlike”, a company devoted to rather cynical communication with the deceased, via AI. But ace recruit Zora, of Swampgirl fanfic fame, is not really a good fit with them. • Florihealth are about to invest heavily in Isaac, an artificial intelligence plug-in when the designer, Robert finds that his test subject, his own father, is behaving slightly oddly. “Mere Flesh” by James Maxey asks us to consider just what being human is and whether it can even be defined. Zack Be takes us into orbit with some self-absorbed internet content creators who find themselves in a life-and-death situation that doesn’t involve multiple takes and does involve high risk. Artist Seven Cartagena discovers something about herself in “The Start Of Something Beautiful”. Fifty years into a 200 year-long journey detective Ava Martin is resuscitated to investigate an apparent murder by the captain. Despite the patronizing attitude of her ex-lover, promoted over her while Ava slept, she discovers the problems with the transdimensional drive may be the culprit. “Murder On The Orion Express” by Peter Wood is a nice puzzle piece. Ed has survived a missile attack from the surface of Dashell IV on his ship and is marooned on the planet. The problem is that no technological civilization had been detected from orbit and the indigenes he meets are bipedal but far from human and seem to be hunter-gatherers. Finally getting some communication going with them, Ed wants to get back to his crashed nacelle but instead finds statues and machinery of high technology. And the statues are of humans. “Wildest. Skies” is exciting space opera from Sean Monaghan. A pretty good issue once again.
February 4, 2025
This was one of my favorite editions. I found the stories, poems, and even the articles interesting and intriguing.
"Wildest Skies" by Sean Monaghan was probably the strangest of them all. A novella, the story focuses on Ed Linklater who improbably survives a crash on Dashell IV. He is found by the native bipeds on the planet and is saved by them, only to suffer a serious injury during one of their rituals. Hoping to find the remnants of his ship and the med kit inside it, he makes an astonishing discovery. I hope Mr. Monahan writes more about Ed Linklater and his adventures on Dashell IV.
Peter Wood's novelette, "Murder on the Orion Express," is the ultimate "locked room" murder mystery. Two political parties have formed on the starship, Marie Curie, over whether it was better to go through the "rift" (the Explorer Party) or go around it, which would add years to getting to their destination (the Frontier Party). The leader of the Frontier Party has disappeared, leaving only traces of his DNA. The last person to see him was the leader of the Explorer Party, now the Prime Suspect. Additionally, the drive powering the space ship has some strange readings. The only one who understands the drive is is the Chief Engineer, who is in stasis and has left strict orders not to be awoken until the ship reaches their destination. The lead investigator is the former fiancée of the cop who discovered the murder and there is a cranky Chief who wants the murder solved NOW. The set up and resolution are cleverly done and the POV character is sympathetic. The "handwaving" to explain FTL travel is believable in the context of the story; hard science fans should just ignore it and go along for the ride.
In "Mere Flesh," James Maxey explores what might happen when a prosthetic for Alzheimer's is inserted into a patient with a strong personality. Dominica Phetteplace makes the case for human creativity vs. AI in "Dreamlike."
Those are just a few of the stories in this issue. Not all involve AI; most are about relationships--human, spirits, non-human. The editor, Sheila Williams, did a great job in the selection.
"Wildest Skies" by Sean Monaghan was probably the strangest of them all. A novella, the story focuses on Ed Linklater who improbably survives a crash on Dashell IV. He is found by the native bipeds on the planet and is saved by them, only to suffer a serious injury during one of their rituals. Hoping to find the remnants of his ship and the med kit inside it, he makes an astonishing discovery. I hope Mr. Monahan writes more about Ed Linklater and his adventures on Dashell IV.
Peter Wood's novelette, "Murder on the Orion Express," is the ultimate "locked room" murder mystery. Two political parties have formed on the starship, Marie Curie, over whether it was better to go through the "rift" (the Explorer Party) or go around it, which would add years to getting to their destination (the Frontier Party). The leader of the Frontier Party has disappeared, leaving only traces of his DNA. The last person to see him was the leader of the Explorer Party, now the Prime Suspect. Additionally, the drive powering the space ship has some strange readings. The only one who understands the drive is is the Chief Engineer, who is in stasis and has left strict orders not to be awoken until the ship reaches their destination. The lead investigator is the former fiancée of the cop who discovered the murder and there is a cranky Chief who wants the murder solved NOW. The set up and resolution are cleverly done and the POV character is sympathetic. The "handwaving" to explain FTL travel is believable in the context of the story; hard science fans should just ignore it and go along for the ride.
In "Mere Flesh," James Maxey explores what might happen when a prosthetic for Alzheimer's is inserted into a patient with a strong personality. Dominica Phetteplace makes the case for human creativity vs. AI in "Dreamlike."
Those are just a few of the stories in this issue. Not all involve AI; most are about relationships--human, spirits, non-human. The editor, Sheila Williams, did a great job in the selection.
October 29, 2024
A solid issue.
Death Benefits by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Grieving people catch fleeting glimpses of their loved ones who died in battle. A PI helps them accept their loss by verifying their death. But this case isn't quite right...
Wildest Skies by Sean Monaghan
A interstellar Robinson Crusoe sort of mystery.
Which way to go, hunter-gatherer or high tech?
Dreamliker by Dominica Phetteplace
A talented young woman, good writing, and bad AI in a high tech start-up. I laughed. I cried. I plotzed.
Pairs well with the comic strip Agnes.
Murder on the Orion Express by Peter Wood
A 125 year long, interstellar cozy. With beer and pizza.
Wápato by Molly Gloss
Down to the stones where old ghosts play.
—I.S. Anderson
Growing old, community, and ghosts swimming in the circular River of Time.
A touching and re-assuring story for us old folk.
Mere Flesh by James Maxey
Sandwich parenting, A.I, and venture capitalism…what could go wrong? An cautionary tale that is both amusing and horrifying.
The Start of Something Beautiful by Zack Be
Whoever said that folks have to suffer for their art never tried to create on small station orbiting the moon. Featuring a creepy HAL-esque AI that hovers over the plot.
The Ledgers by Jack Skillingstead
We have met the enemy and she is us.
—Pogo (paraphrased)
A deeply dark and depressing story about a war against…?
It raised my election anxiety up a few notches.
Deep Space Has the Beat by Mary Robinette Kowal
Green high tech clubbing! Now, she just has to convince the VC Angel to invest while keeping things running smoothly.
Brought back fond memories of the bouncy floors at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
Death Benefits by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
Grieving people catch fleeting glimpses of their loved ones who died in battle. A PI helps them accept their loss by verifying their death. But this case isn't quite right...
Wildest Skies by Sean Monaghan
A interstellar Robinson Crusoe sort of mystery.
Which way to go, hunter-gatherer or high tech?
Dreamliker by Dominica Phetteplace
A talented young woman, good writing, and bad AI in a high tech start-up. I laughed. I cried. I plotzed.
Pairs well with the comic strip Agnes.
Murder on the Orion Express by Peter Wood
A 125 year long, interstellar cozy. With beer and pizza.
Wápato by Molly Gloss
Down to the stones where old ghosts play.
—I.S. Anderson
Growing old, community, and ghosts swimming in the circular River of Time.
A touching and re-assuring story for us old folk.
Mere Flesh by James Maxey
Sandwich parenting, A.I, and venture capitalism…what could go wrong? An cautionary tale that is both amusing and horrifying.
The Start of Something Beautiful by Zack Be
Whoever said that folks have to suffer for their art never tried to create on small station orbiting the moon. Featuring a creepy HAL-esque AI that hovers over the plot.
The Ledgers by Jack Skillingstead
We have met the enemy and she is us.
—Pogo (paraphrased)
A deeply dark and depressing story about a war against…?
It raised my election anxiety up a few notches.
Deep Space Has the Beat by Mary Robinette Kowal
Green high tech clubbing! Now, she just has to convince the VC Angel to invest while keeping things running smoothly.
Brought back fond memories of the bouncy floors at the Aragon Ballroom in Chicago.
November 2, 2024
Some decent scientifiction stories, some dealing with ghosts. A couple of good post apocalyptic tales as well. Overall a decent collection.
March 13, 2025
Read "Death Benefits" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
November 21, 2025
Way above average issue. BTW all the stories were total downers.
April 1, 2025
“Death Benefits” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch (novella)
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