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Forever Magazine, Issue 1, February 2015
Issue 1 - February 2015
"Editorial" by Neil Clarke
"The Regular" by Ken Liu (Novella)
"A Few Words with Ken Liu" by Neil Clarke (Interview)
"The Fate of Mice" by Susan Palwick (Short Story)
"Firebrand" by Peter Watts (Short Story)
"Editorial" by Neil Clarke
"The Regular" by Ken Liu (Novella)
"A Few Words with Ken Liu" by Neil Clarke (Interview)
"The Fate of Mice" by Susan Palwick (Short Story)
"Firebrand" by Peter Watts (Short Story)
81 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 28, 2015
5 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
About the author
Neil Clarke
403 books403 followersNeil Clarke is best known as the editor and publisher of the Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning
Clarkesworld Magazine.
Launched in October 2006, the online magazine has been a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Semiprozine four times (winning three times), the World Fantasy Award four times (winning once), and the British Fantasy Award once (winning once). Neil is also a ten-time finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Editor Short Form (winning once in 2022), three-time winner of the Chesley Award for Best Art Director, and a recipient of the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award. In the fifteen years since Clarkesworld Magazine launched, numerous stories that he has published have been nominated for or won the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Sturgeon, Locus, BSFA, Shirley Jackson, WSFA Small Press, and Stoker Awards.
Additionally, Neil edits Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.
He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.
Additionally, Neil edits Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.
He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
February 23, 2015
4.5/5.0
March 27, 2015
4.5 estrellas
May 12, 2020
Contains 3 stories. I had read this before, but when I unexpectedly finished my book, I resumed this. I didn’t recall the magazine, the title, or the author, but soon the half Chinese private detective woman was coming back to me. I know I liked it.
The first is by Ken Liu, "The Regular"
It’s short, maybe a short story, maybe a novella.
The writing is very good, sharp, concise, vivid.
I also liked the idea of using wifi to get a rough location of moving objects in a space. Maybe echolocation, maybe interference. Apparently, that’s based on an actual scientific paper he saw presented.
The confrontation was very exciting where her cyborg enhancements turn the table on the killer, but then the killer turns the table on that, bringing home the very theme of the story, the tension between how tools empower us and weaken us.
For its length, you couldn’t get much better.
Next is "The Fate of Mice" by Susan Palwick
“An intelligent mouse dreams of being a horse.”
It’s quite fun, a smartened mouse like in Flowers for Algernon, with very human, frustrated, understandable reactions to his scientist, the scientist’s daughter.
The author lazily uses a magical device to advance the theme. Somehow the mouse absorbs concepts from literature, at least those about mice.
The theme is good though, when he learns the fate of mice, he has a big choice.
Next is "Firebrand" by Peter Watts. Now Peter wrote a brilliantly creative novel called Blindsight. Now maybe he's trying too hard. This seemed 'over clever'. I didn't even really understand it. Hopefully this isn't a spoiler. I can't tell because I don't know what his point was. Anyway, some sort of bacteria or yeast is great for making bio-fuel but can get into humans and get them to spontaneously combust. The heroine is suppressing public knowledge of it? But the public doesn't seem to care anyway.
The first is by Ken Liu, "The Regular"
It’s short, maybe a short story, maybe a novella.
The writing is very good, sharp, concise, vivid.
I also liked the idea of using wifi to get a rough location of moving objects in a space. Maybe echolocation, maybe interference. Apparently, that’s based on an actual scientific paper he saw presented.
The confrontation was very exciting where her cyborg enhancements turn the table on the killer, but then the killer turns the table on that, bringing home the very theme of the story, the tension between how tools empower us and weaken us.
For its length, you couldn’t get much better.
Next is "The Fate of Mice" by Susan Palwick
“An intelligent mouse dreams of being a horse.”
It’s quite fun, a smartened mouse like in Flowers for Algernon, with very human, frustrated, understandable reactions to his scientist, the scientist’s daughter.
The author lazily uses a magical device to advance the theme. Somehow the mouse absorbs concepts from literature, at least those about mice.
The theme is good though, when he learns the fate of mice, he has a big choice.
Next is "Firebrand" by Peter Watts. Now Peter wrote a brilliantly creative novel called Blindsight. Now maybe he's trying too hard. This seemed 'over clever'. I didn't even really understand it. Hopefully this isn't a spoiler. I can't tell because I don't know what his point was. Anyway, some sort of bacteria or yeast is great for making bio-fuel but can get into humans and get them to spontaneously combust. The heroine is suppressing public knowledge of it? But the public doesn't seem to care anyway.
May 18, 2025
“The Regular,” Ken Liu — A nearish future SF mystery/thriller story that is excellently done. The characters are sharp and clearly drawn as much as in a Thomas Harris story, but the twist is the SF additions of both the reasons for the crimes and the resolution of the story. Really, you can’t do much better than this for a logically thought out but still emotionally connecting story.
“The Fate of Mice,” Susan Palwick — A lovely story that plays off of “Flowers for Algernon” in a very unexpected way. I love the writing style and the voice of the mouse as well as the dynamics created with the other characters but…I’m not convinced by the story because there’s no scientific reason for the mouse to have such a meta knowledge of other stories about mice. Of course, you could say that just makes the story fantasy, but I don’t want it to be fantasy: I want it to be as realistic as can be given the basic concept. Don’t get me wrong: I like fantasy fine, but this story has all the trappings of SF and I feel it should stay honest with that. Oh well.
“Firebrand,” Peter Watts — The story here is in the background behind these two characters who are masters of marketing, and it’s not really a story so much as a commentary on what humans will put up with as far as safety hazards in order to have conveniences. That subject has long been a pet peeve of my own, that is, the inability of people (myself included) to logically and rationally view risks based on statistics rather than instincts. We are animals, after all, not machines. As of yet.
“The Fate of Mice,” Susan Palwick — A lovely story that plays off of “Flowers for Algernon” in a very unexpected way. I love the writing style and the voice of the mouse as well as the dynamics created with the other characters but…I’m not convinced by the story because there’s no scientific reason for the mouse to have such a meta knowledge of other stories about mice. Of course, you could say that just makes the story fantasy, but I don’t want it to be fantasy: I want it to be as realistic as can be given the basic concept. Don’t get me wrong: I like fantasy fine, but this story has all the trappings of SF and I feel it should stay honest with that. Oh well.
“Firebrand,” Peter Watts — The story here is in the background behind these two characters who are masters of marketing, and it’s not really a story so much as a commentary on what humans will put up with as far as safety hazards in order to have conveniences. That subject has long been a pet peeve of my own, that is, the inability of people (myself included) to logically and rationally view risks based on statistics rather than instincts. We are animals, after all, not machines. As of yet.
July 22, 2021
Very neat
July 25, 2015
The first issue in this reprint magazine of longer science fiction stories.
Novella: "The Regular" by Ken Liu {Enjoyable}
A science fiction detective story about a man killing a certain group of prostitutes. Really excellent world-building and immersive characters. I stayed intrigued in solving the mystery.
Short story: "The Fate of Mice" by Susan Palwick {Perfect}
An intelligent mouse dreams of being a horse. Absolutely loved this story - both for itself and how it invoked "Flower for Algernon".
Short story: "Firebrand" by Peter Watts {Fine}
Bureaucrats invent ways to hide the pattern behind a series of spontaneous combustions. Quite fun, but didn't talk to me deeply.
Novella: "The Regular" by Ken Liu {Enjoyable}
A science fiction detective story about a man killing a certain group of prostitutes. Really excellent world-building and immersive characters. I stayed intrigued in solving the mystery.
Short story: "The Fate of Mice" by Susan Palwick {Perfect}
An intelligent mouse dreams of being a horse. Absolutely loved this story - both for itself and how it invoked "Flower for Algernon".
Short story: "Firebrand" by Peter Watts {Fine}
Bureaucrats invent ways to hide the pattern behind a series of spontaneous combustions. Quite fun, but didn't talk to me deeply.
May 6, 2016
Ken Liu's novella was an engrossing read. The world he created was made believable through the voice and numerous details. I also really liked the blending of science fiction and detective story, with the added element of cybernetics. This works really well.
I enjoyed Susan Palwick's story a lot more than I expected. Might have something to do with loving 'Flowers for Algernon'.
Peter Watts's story was my least favourite but by no means a bad read.
In all, a good selection.
I enjoyed Susan Palwick's story a lot more than I expected. Might have something to do with loving 'Flowers for Algernon'.
Peter Watts's story was my least favourite but by no means a bad read.
In all, a good selection.
March 24, 2016
Just having Ken Liu's The Regular made this an outstanding issue. I really enjoyed Susan Palwick's story as well. Looking forward to some more excellent stories I might have missed thanks to Neil Clarke.
January 14, 2016
The Regular - Ken Liu -- 4/5
Fate of Mice - Susan Palwick -- 5/5
Firebrand - Peter Watts -- N/A
Fate of Mice - Susan Palwick -- 5/5
Firebrand - Peter Watts -- N/A
April 9, 2015
Ken Liu's novella and the short stories by Susan Palwick and Peter Watts - all excellent!
April 18, 2015
Some really imaginative, memorable, and fun stories.
January 13, 2016
Great story by Ken Lui
March 28, 2017
Ken Liu (“The Regular”) --- 2 stars
Susan Palwick (“The Fate of Mice”) --- 3 stars
Peter Watts (“Firebrand”) --- 1 star
Average of 2 stars. I liked The Fate of Mice the most. Interesting perspective from an intelligent talking mouse.
The Regular was basically a near-future catch-the-bad-guy who is identified from the beginning. The manner in which he is caught was unbelievable ridiculous.
Firebrand was just boring.
Susan Palwick (“The Fate of Mice”) --- 3 stars
Peter Watts (“Firebrand”) --- 1 star
Average of 2 stars. I liked The Fate of Mice the most. Interesting perspective from an intelligent talking mouse.
The Regular was basically a near-future catch-the-bad-guy who is identified from the beginning. The manner in which he is caught was unbelievable ridiculous.
Firebrand was just boring.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews