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Asimov's Science Fiction May/June 2021
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2021
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About the author
Sheila Williams
277 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 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 27, 2021
This is the May-June 2021 issue of Asimov’s Science Fiction, one of the two long established and still on the market SF professional magazines. In the past, works from it were regularly listed for all major SF awards, but recently it stepped down (or was crowded out) by modern internet publications. Both old and new have quite solid works and I really enjoyed the current issue.
The contents:
Transitions [Asimov's Editorials] essay by Sheila Williams presentation of new members of the team, including a new reviewer.
The First Encyclopedia [Reflections] essay by Robert Silverberg about the work of Pliny the Elder – Naturalis Historia, Vol. Iv Cb, which is the earliest (western) attempt of an encyclopedia. This is also a great insight in what Romans saw as science. 3*
Digital Heroes [On the Net] essay by James Patrick Kelly three internet services for SFF fandom with checked info, namely SFF Awards, The Internet Speculative Fiction Database and SF Encyclopedia , which I also recommend. 3*
Religion and Science Fiction [Thought Experiments] essay by James E. Gunn an overview of links between SFF and religion, from stuff like Narnia, to retellings like Lord of Light, to a lot of shorter works. 4*
Jim Gunn and I Corresponded ... [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams the sad news that the author of the previous piece has died.
The Metric novelette by David Moles far future Earth, with universe spread so far that there is no starlight in the sky. A ship with AI comes with info that some change of cosmic law contained by Earth disallows universe to reborn. Should the last people (together with AIs and other sentients) allow possible renewal by own certain demise? 3*
Among the Marithei short story by Mary Anne Mohanraj a man, with a severe war trauma as a child, now lives among peaceful aliens, who adopted him and tried to cure him. He is with his infant daughter in alien temple and sees a possible human suicide bomber. 3*
Reclaiming the Stars [The Stars] novelette by James E. Gunn a part of a series, this time two uploaded humans in robot bodies terraform Mars to make it habitable (Earth is one giant ocean). They have strange nightmares of failure, possibly imposed from outside, but by whom? 3*
Ready Gas and Pills short story by Dominica Phetteplace after epidemies there is I network of drugs producing machines on each gas station (and other public places). The protagonist is an inspector/investigator that checks that machines got high quality inputs and supply only written out drugs and disconnects them otherwise. She has to disconnect one at the start of the story and there are angry people left w/o drugs, including a girl working on that gas station who self-proscribed birth control pills because she is gay and should hide it in a small town and hoped that hormonals which ‘sedate’ her. The problem of possible harm vs immediate benefit. 3*
Año Nuevo novelette by Ray Nayler 30 years ago on beaches in California aliens appeared – giant semi-transparent globes. They don’t react to attempt of contact, just sit there, processing minerals. And then one day they disappear. Or do they? 4*
Super Sprouts novelette by Ian Creasey a part of a series about a genius geneticist and her market-oriented husband (who narrates). They are asked to make kids love greens. They also plan a kid for themselves and she tries to select ‘best genes’, while conservatives in power try to ban gene modifications. 5*
A Million Years poem by Tom Jolly what will remain from us as time passes. 3*
The Chartreuse Sky short story by Александр Бачило and К. А. Терина a translated work about future Moscow, where all are under control of beneficent but strict ‘iron nanny’ AI and most live in own generated realities, which are overimposed on the real city. A few deny such access and a schoolboy, whose parents deny it to themselves and him, has vanished. 3*
My Heart is At Capacity short story by T. J. Berry another of a now popular trope of androids/AIs created for emotional support of people – but if AI has feelings – are we allowed to hurt them? 3*
Inside Voice poem by Jackie Sherbow a narrator with a nephew in a planetarium, awed and diminished by our universe. 2*
Tin Man novelette by Brad Aiken and Rick Wilber a guy plays baseball in local club and flashback into his past – he was a promising thrower, but after getting a million dollar first contract he is in accident that severely damages his hand. A replacement with AI is inserted and he is back, better than ever, but banned as a modified player… 2.5*
Phosphor's Circle short story by Annika Barranti Klein a narrator works as a guide in a zoo, specialized in arctic animals. One of kids on her excursion notes that a white bear swims in circles, supposing it is a fake bear. Soon she notes that it is not the only glitch. 3*
Flattering the Flame [The Great Ship Universe] novelette by Robert Reed a great ship leaves the plane of our galaxy to visit a off-galaxy star cluster. There an extremely combative race is living and it plans to get the ship to themselves. But soft power is better than hard one. 3*
On Books (Asimov's, May-June 2021) [On Books] essay by Sheree Renée Thomas the new reviewer, presented at the start. The list is partially made of nominees for major SFF awards, which for me lessens its value, for I’d checked them anyway. 2.5*
The contents:
Transitions [Asimov's Editorials] essay by Sheila Williams presentation of new members of the team, including a new reviewer.
The First Encyclopedia [Reflections] essay by Robert Silverberg about the work of Pliny the Elder – Naturalis Historia, Vol. Iv Cb, which is the earliest (western) attempt of an encyclopedia. This is also a great insight in what Romans saw as science. 3*
Digital Heroes [On the Net] essay by James Patrick Kelly three internet services for SFF fandom with checked info, namely SFF Awards, The Internet Speculative Fiction Database and SF Encyclopedia , which I also recommend. 3*
Religion and Science Fiction [Thought Experiments] essay by James E. Gunn an overview of links between SFF and religion, from stuff like Narnia, to retellings like Lord of Light, to a lot of shorter works. 4*
Jim Gunn and I Corresponded ... [Obituaries (Sheila Williams)] essay by Sheila Williams the sad news that the author of the previous piece has died.
The Metric novelette by David Moles far future Earth, with universe spread so far that there is no starlight in the sky. A ship with AI comes with info that some change of cosmic law contained by Earth disallows universe to reborn. Should the last people (together with AIs and other sentients) allow possible renewal by own certain demise? 3*
Among the Marithei short story by Mary Anne Mohanraj a man, with a severe war trauma as a child, now lives among peaceful aliens, who adopted him and tried to cure him. He is with his infant daughter in alien temple and sees a possible human suicide bomber. 3*
Reclaiming the Stars [The Stars] novelette by James E. Gunn a part of a series, this time two uploaded humans in robot bodies terraform Mars to make it habitable (Earth is one giant ocean). They have strange nightmares of failure, possibly imposed from outside, but by whom? 3*
Ready Gas and Pills short story by Dominica Phetteplace after epidemies there is I network of drugs producing machines on each gas station (and other public places). The protagonist is an inspector/investigator that checks that machines got high quality inputs and supply only written out drugs and disconnects them otherwise. She has to disconnect one at the start of the story and there are angry people left w/o drugs, including a girl working on that gas station who self-proscribed birth control pills because she is gay and should hide it in a small town and hoped that hormonals which ‘sedate’ her. The problem of possible harm vs immediate benefit. 3*
Año Nuevo novelette by Ray Nayler 30 years ago on beaches in California aliens appeared – giant semi-transparent globes. They don’t react to attempt of contact, just sit there, processing minerals. And then one day they disappear. Or do they? 4*
Super Sprouts novelette by Ian Creasey a part of a series about a genius geneticist and her market-oriented husband (who narrates). They are asked to make kids love greens. They also plan a kid for themselves and she tries to select ‘best genes’, while conservatives in power try to ban gene modifications. 5*
A Million Years poem by Tom Jolly what will remain from us as time passes. 3*
The Chartreuse Sky short story by Александр Бачило and К. А. Терина a translated work about future Moscow, where all are under control of beneficent but strict ‘iron nanny’ AI and most live in own generated realities, which are overimposed on the real city. A few deny such access and a schoolboy, whose parents deny it to themselves and him, has vanished. 3*
My Heart is At Capacity short story by T. J. Berry another of a now popular trope of androids/AIs created for emotional support of people – but if AI has feelings – are we allowed to hurt them? 3*
Inside Voice poem by Jackie Sherbow a narrator with a nephew in a planetarium, awed and diminished by our universe. 2*
Tin Man novelette by Brad Aiken and Rick Wilber a guy plays baseball in local club and flashback into his past – he was a promising thrower, but after getting a million dollar first contract he is in accident that severely damages his hand. A replacement with AI is inserted and he is back, better than ever, but banned as a modified player… 2.5*
Phosphor's Circle short story by Annika Barranti Klein a narrator works as a guide in a zoo, specialized in arctic animals. One of kids on her excursion notes that a white bear swims in circles, supposing it is a fake bear. Soon she notes that it is not the only glitch. 3*
Flattering the Flame [The Great Ship Universe] novelette by Robert Reed a great ship leaves the plane of our galaxy to visit a off-galaxy star cluster. There an extremely combative race is living and it plans to get the ship to themselves. But soft power is better than hard one. 3*
On Books (Asimov's, May-June 2021) [On Books] essay by Sheree Renée Thomas the new reviewer, presented at the start. The list is partially made of nominees for major SFF awards, which for me lessens its value, for I’d checked them anyway. 2.5*
April 17, 2022
'Flattering the Flame' by Robert Reed ****
'Phosphor's Circle' by Annika Barranti Klein ***
'Tin Man' by Rick Wilber and Brad Aiken *****
'Phosphor's Circle' by Annika Barranti Klein ***
'Tin Man' by Rick Wilber and Brad Aiken *****
May 6, 2021
Back in 1977, Isaac Asimov was one of the top three or so science fiction writers in the world, and had a very strong personal brand. So when Davis Publications wanted to create a “name brand magazine” for science fiction like Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine was for crime-related fiction, they approached Dr. Asimov. He agreed, but became “editorial director” rather than editor for Isaac Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine. He contributed editorials, articles and stories, and in the earliest years, his picture was on the front cover. The title was shortened in 1992, shortly before Isaac Asimov’s death, and it is now a bimonthly publication.
Asimov's Science Fiction May/June 2021
I picked up the most recent issue as of this writing. “Transitions” by Sheila Williams is the editorial, welcoming new employees Carly Iwanicki (art director) and Sheree Renee Thomas (book reviewer) and bidding farewell to longtime author James Gunn (1923-2020.)
“The First Encyclopedia” by Robert Silverberg talks about Pliny the Elder’s Natural History, which is a compendium of everything known in the Roman world in the first century of the Common Era. There’s a lot in there that’s considered wild and wacky, but also plenty of solid facts.
“Digital Heroes” by James Patrick Kelly talks about three science fiction database websites that take accuracy seriously. Important, in these times of not being able to trust what you see on the internet.
“Religion and Science Fiction” by James Gunn is an essay on how science fiction writers use and are influenced by religion in their stories. This leads into how he came up with the idea for his “Against the Stars” series of stories, the last of which appears further on in the issue.
“The Metric” by David Moles takes place in the far, far future. The oldest city on Earth, unthinkably ancient Septentrion, was founded after starlight no longer reached the planet. So it’s a bit of a surprise when a starship crashes nearby. It turns out that the Metric, a sort of artificial hyperspace structure that allowed interstellar travel despite the slow heat death of the universe, still exists, just barely.
The messenger from the ship, Tirah, brings dire news. While the Metric used to be a good thing, it’s long since outlived its purpose. It’s keeping the universe from naturally ending and becoming the next universe, and can only be destroyed from Earth. The catch is that if the Metric is destroyed, the end of the universe will happen right then, killing all remaining life as they know it.
Twins Petal and Piper (the story carefully avoids gendered pronouns) must weigh in on what the remaining peoples of Earth should do, and they have differing opinions.
This novella feels even lengthier than it is, and is heavy on the sense of wonder.
“Among the Marithei” by Mary Anne Mohanraj is about a former child soldier that was taken in by plant-like alien missionaries. He’s largely healed from his traumas, but still doesn’t fit in well with his fellow humans. Change happens, and it is time for Sergey’s mentor to move to another mission field. Content note: terrorism, suicide.
“Reclaiming the Stars” by James Gunn is the conclusion of his “Against the Stars” story series (look for the collected version coming out soon.) It’s been discovered that an ancient alien artificial intelligence has been controlling life on Earth for eons. Now, many years later, two robots who have the memories and personalities of characters from the earlier stories are attempting to terraform Mars to relaunch the human race there. But they might not be done with the ancient A.I. after all….
I felt like this story could have used another editorial pass for redundancies; we’re reminded over and over that our protagonists are robots with human memories rather than humans themselves. While the conclusion of this series, this is Mr. Gunn’s penultimate story; his last one will be appearing in Asimov’s in the near future.
“Ready Gas and Pills” by Dominica Phetteplace is in a much nearer future. It’s now possible to “print” drugs from convenient vending machines. But those machines still need inspection, so an inspector has come to a small convenience store in one of the less hospitable areas of California to check for tampering. This one’s pretty grim. Content note: homophobia.
“Año Nuevo” by Ray Nayler involves aliens on a Pacific Coast beach. They just showed up one day as though they’d been washed up like seashells. And then they did… absolutely nothing. They’ve just been lying there for decades, long enough to become a tourist attraction. Until one night they disappear. The mystery of what happened and how it affects those who were near the aliens drives the story.
This is, as the title suggests, a more hopeful story.
“Super Sprouts” by Ian Creasey is a relatively light-hearted tale about a British plant geneticist and her entrepreneur husband who are facing a couple of crises. The first is that Parliament is considering a bill to make genetic engineering of plants illegal. This would put them out of business, but their local MP (member of Parliament) wants them to do something to prove the worth of their work, like, say, getting kids to eat their vegetables?
Second, the couple is finally ready to have a child, but the prospective mother has become entranced with the idea of a designer baby, and since she’s a geneticist herself insists on doing all the planning, which leads to decision paralysis. Exactly what is the perfect genetic combination?
The geneticist’s approach to motherhood may be grating to some readers, especially conservative ones. Still, a fun story.
“The Chartreuse Sky” by K.A. Teryna and Alexander Bachilo takes place in a Moscow where augmented reality is the norm. An inspector is assigned to find a missing child; this is made more difficult as his Luddite mother has chosen not to have him implanted with the technology that makes AR possible and also allows tracking. He’s joined by an agent from the Architectural Bureau, which is more relevant than he first thinks.
“My Heart Is at Capacity” by T.J. Berry is told from the perspective of a “model”. Models appear to be some sort of human-looking robots designed to be servants/companions to humans. To do his (he’s male-presenting) job well, the model is constantly learning, both about his current employer and humanity in general. He’s currently getting an upgrade that will allow him to love his employer even more. A bittersweet tale. Content note: discussion of abuse and sexual assault.
“Tin Man” by Rick Wilber and Brad Aiken is a story about baseball. Specifically, about a pitcher who gets a prosthetic hand and wrist that allows him to throw especially effective screwballs. He’s about to be banned from professional baseball when other bad things happen that are even more important than sports. But these many years later, he still loves baseball. Content note: terrorism.
“Phosphor’s Circle” by Annika Barranti Klein is a short about a zoo tour guide discovering the zoo’s dark secret. Even that may be too much information.
“Flattering the Flame” by Robert Reed fills out the issue with another far future novella. A world-sized starship is about to pass through the general vicinity of an isolationist “proud warrior race” and both sides scheme to come out on top. One side wins, but at what cost to both?
“On Books” by Sheree Renee Thomas is the book review column. This month, it’s all books she liked.
Oh, and some modern poetry. Jane Yolen did one.
I liked “Tin Man” and “Super Sprouts” the best, but the quality is generally good. It’s important to read new stuff in the field every so often, no matter how fond I am of the old.
Asimov's Science Fiction May/June 2021
I picked up the most recent issue as of this writing. “Transitions” by Sheila Williams is the editorial, welcoming new employees Carly Iwanicki (art director) and Sheree Renee Thomas (book reviewer) and bidding farewell to longtime author James Gunn (1923-2020.)
“The First Encyclopedia” by Robert Silverberg talks about Pliny the Elder’s Natural History, which is a compendium of everything known in the Roman world in the first century of the Common Era. There’s a lot in there that’s considered wild and wacky, but also plenty of solid facts.
“Digital Heroes” by James Patrick Kelly talks about three science fiction database websites that take accuracy seriously. Important, in these times of not being able to trust what you see on the internet.
“Religion and Science Fiction” by James Gunn is an essay on how science fiction writers use and are influenced by religion in their stories. This leads into how he came up with the idea for his “Against the Stars” series of stories, the last of which appears further on in the issue.
“The Metric” by David Moles takes place in the far, far future. The oldest city on Earth, unthinkably ancient Septentrion, was founded after starlight no longer reached the planet. So it’s a bit of a surprise when a starship crashes nearby. It turns out that the Metric, a sort of artificial hyperspace structure that allowed interstellar travel despite the slow heat death of the universe, still exists, just barely.
The messenger from the ship, Tirah, brings dire news. While the Metric used to be a good thing, it’s long since outlived its purpose. It’s keeping the universe from naturally ending and becoming the next universe, and can only be destroyed from Earth. The catch is that if the Metric is destroyed, the end of the universe will happen right then, killing all remaining life as they know it.
Twins Petal and Piper (the story carefully avoids gendered pronouns) must weigh in on what the remaining peoples of Earth should do, and they have differing opinions.
This novella feels even lengthier than it is, and is heavy on the sense of wonder.
“Among the Marithei” by Mary Anne Mohanraj is about a former child soldier that was taken in by plant-like alien missionaries. He’s largely healed from his traumas, but still doesn’t fit in well with his fellow humans. Change happens, and it is time for Sergey’s mentor to move to another mission field. Content note: terrorism, suicide.
“Reclaiming the Stars” by James Gunn is the conclusion of his “Against the Stars” story series (look for the collected version coming out soon.) It’s been discovered that an ancient alien artificial intelligence has been controlling life on Earth for eons. Now, many years later, two robots who have the memories and personalities of characters from the earlier stories are attempting to terraform Mars to relaunch the human race there. But they might not be done with the ancient A.I. after all….
I felt like this story could have used another editorial pass for redundancies; we’re reminded over and over that our protagonists are robots with human memories rather than humans themselves. While the conclusion of this series, this is Mr. Gunn’s penultimate story; his last one will be appearing in Asimov’s in the near future.
“Ready Gas and Pills” by Dominica Phetteplace is in a much nearer future. It’s now possible to “print” drugs from convenient vending machines. But those machines still need inspection, so an inspector has come to a small convenience store in one of the less hospitable areas of California to check for tampering. This one’s pretty grim. Content note: homophobia.
“Año Nuevo” by Ray Nayler involves aliens on a Pacific Coast beach. They just showed up one day as though they’d been washed up like seashells. And then they did… absolutely nothing. They’ve just been lying there for decades, long enough to become a tourist attraction. Until one night they disappear. The mystery of what happened and how it affects those who were near the aliens drives the story.
This is, as the title suggests, a more hopeful story.
“Super Sprouts” by Ian Creasey is a relatively light-hearted tale about a British plant geneticist and her entrepreneur husband who are facing a couple of crises. The first is that Parliament is considering a bill to make genetic engineering of plants illegal. This would put them out of business, but their local MP (member of Parliament) wants them to do something to prove the worth of their work, like, say, getting kids to eat their vegetables?
Second, the couple is finally ready to have a child, but the prospective mother has become entranced with the idea of a designer baby, and since she’s a geneticist herself insists on doing all the planning, which leads to decision paralysis. Exactly what is the perfect genetic combination?
The geneticist’s approach to motherhood may be grating to some readers, especially conservative ones. Still, a fun story.
“The Chartreuse Sky” by K.A. Teryna and Alexander Bachilo takes place in a Moscow where augmented reality is the norm. An inspector is assigned to find a missing child; this is made more difficult as his Luddite mother has chosen not to have him implanted with the technology that makes AR possible and also allows tracking. He’s joined by an agent from the Architectural Bureau, which is more relevant than he first thinks.
“My Heart Is at Capacity” by T.J. Berry is told from the perspective of a “model”. Models appear to be some sort of human-looking robots designed to be servants/companions to humans. To do his (he’s male-presenting) job well, the model is constantly learning, both about his current employer and humanity in general. He’s currently getting an upgrade that will allow him to love his employer even more. A bittersweet tale. Content note: discussion of abuse and sexual assault.
“Tin Man” by Rick Wilber and Brad Aiken is a story about baseball. Specifically, about a pitcher who gets a prosthetic hand and wrist that allows him to throw especially effective screwballs. He’s about to be banned from professional baseball when other bad things happen that are even more important than sports. But these many years later, he still loves baseball. Content note: terrorism.
“Phosphor’s Circle” by Annika Barranti Klein is a short about a zoo tour guide discovering the zoo’s dark secret. Even that may be too much information.
“Flattering the Flame” by Robert Reed fills out the issue with another far future novella. A world-sized starship is about to pass through the general vicinity of an isolationist “proud warrior race” and both sides scheme to come out on top. One side wins, but at what cost to both?
“On Books” by Sheree Renee Thomas is the book review column. This month, it’s all books she liked.
Oh, and some modern poetry. Jane Yolen did one.
I liked “Tin Man” and “Super Sprouts” the best, but the quality is generally good. It’s important to read new stuff in the field every so often, no matter how fond I am of the old.
June 18, 2021
Overall, an average issue. These were my favorite stories:
- The Metric by David Moles.
The universe is ending. Would you help end it sooner to ensure a new universe afterwards? Be sure to read about the cosmological constant (aka dark energy, vacuum energy, or quintessence) and then ponder the implications of an accelerating expansion of the universe.
- Año Nuevo by Ray Nayler.
An alien and ancient life form that had quietly settled onto a California beachfront suddenly disappears. Or did they? It is indeed a mitochondrial New Year.
- Tin Man by Rick Wilber & Brad Aiken.
Pre and Post-collapse road-trips, robo-wrists…and baseball. With a tip o’ the Detroit Tiger cap to Mark Fidrych.
- Flattering the Flame by Robert Reed.
After reading this unsettling Great Ship story, I have been pondering at length such things as the white man’s burden, assimilation of First Nation peoples, and bloodless cultural genocide. If billions of lives are saved, is it moral?
- Among the Marithei by Mary Anne Mohanraj
A ministry of the non-human Marithei helps a former child soldier deal with his traumas and re-integrate with other humans. Then comes a moment of truth. A heart-wrenching story by a fellow faculty member of the University of Illinois at Chicago.
- Ready Gas and Pills by Dominica Phetteplace.
On demand pharmaceutical printing lowers costs, but is a regulatory nightmare for the FDA and their inspectors on the ground. The tale of one such beleaguered agent in a small community.
- My Heart Is at Capacity by TJ Berry.
Many themes and motifs to consider in this tragic, sad romance story, such as the importance of a supportive life partner for both men and women, honesty vs. game playing in a relationship, and growing as a person/entity. Still thinking about this days after reading it.
- Phosphor’s Circle by Annika Barranti Klein
If an animal disappears from the wild, but nobody is allowed to notice, is it truly extinct? What if nobody cares to notice? A very sad and sobering zoo story.
- The Metric by David Moles.
The universe is ending. Would you help end it sooner to ensure a new universe afterwards? Be sure to read about the cosmological constant (aka dark energy, vacuum energy, or quintessence) and then ponder the implications of an accelerating expansion of the universe.
- Año Nuevo by Ray Nayler.
An alien and ancient life form that had quietly settled onto a California beachfront suddenly disappears. Or did they? It is indeed a mitochondrial New Year.
- Tin Man by Rick Wilber & Brad Aiken.
Pre and Post-collapse road-trips, robo-wrists…and baseball. With a tip o’ the Detroit Tiger cap to Mark Fidrych.
- Flattering the Flame by Robert Reed.
After reading this unsettling Great Ship story, I have been pondering at length such things as the white man’s burden, assimilation of First Nation peoples, and bloodless cultural genocide. If billions of lives are saved, is it moral?
- Among the Marithei by Mary Anne Mohanraj
A ministry of the non-human Marithei helps a former child soldier deal with his traumas and re-integrate with other humans. Then comes a moment of truth. A heart-wrenching story by a fellow faculty member of the University of Illinois at Chicago.
- Ready Gas and Pills by Dominica Phetteplace.
On demand pharmaceutical printing lowers costs, but is a regulatory nightmare for the FDA and their inspectors on the ground. The tale of one such beleaguered agent in a small community.
- My Heart Is at Capacity by TJ Berry.
Many themes and motifs to consider in this tragic, sad romance story, such as the importance of a supportive life partner for both men and women, honesty vs. game playing in a relationship, and growing as a person/entity. Still thinking about this days after reading it.
- Phosphor’s Circle by Annika Barranti Klein
If an animal disappears from the wild, but nobody is allowed to notice, is it truly extinct? What if nobody cares to notice? A very sad and sobering zoo story.
June 11, 2021
I've generally tried to leave out spoilers, but if you do not want any hint of what is in this issue, please don't read my reviews below.
Overall issue rating (as an average of rated stories): 3.25
Favorite story in this issue: My Heart is at Capacity
NOVELETTES
==========
THE METRIC - David Moles: 4.5/5
It is right that this story is first in the issue. The Metric takes place on an earth in such a far future that space itself is on the brink of tearing itself apart. The planet is an old thing covered in ghosts and skeletons and the universe itself is ready to be reborn except that something people have done is threatening to prevent that from happening. Thus, someone arrives on earth from a far-off place in a desperate bid to save the universe by ending it.
RECLAIMING THE STARS - James Gunn:
I have found I don't enjoy Gunn's writing and will pass on reading/reviewing this story.
AÑO NUEVO - Ray Nayler: 4/5
Are they aliens? Or have they always been here somehow and we are only now noticing them? And when the strange beings on a California beach force characters to look inside themselves. Literally.
The author packs multiple, complex plot lines within an extremely tight space but doesn't short-change any of them.
This story is also remarkable for the amount of really beautiful language throughout. Every single page has a sentence that makes you sit back and admire it.
SUPER SPROUTS - Ian Creasey: 2.5/5
In a not-so-distant future, a couple who run a bio-engineered plant company find themselves under threat of legislation that might make their business (modifying plants) illegal. At the same time, they want to have a child and the mother-to-be wants to select the very best for the future child. The father wants surprise and randomness. They must navigate both their own emotions and the law to get what they want for their business and for their family.
The premise is strong but something about the execution made me feel that the plants portion of the story became something of an after-thought. The end of the story was all about designer-babies and the threat of regulation of the business seemed to drop out almost completely.
TIN MAN - Rick Wilber & Brad Aiken: 2/5
In the not-so-distant future, a guy aiming to have a career in baseball has his plans derailed first by an accident, then by the collapse of the US. Still, due to an experimental surgery, he is able to keep playing the game he loves.
To me, this story had moments of real beauty mingled with moments of technical detail about baseball that made my eyes glaze over. The story really did feel two-speed, reflecting the fact that it has two authors. In the end, I'm still not sure what exactly happened to "Toto," who came and went at other times, too. It just felt like loops weren't closed to my satisfaction.
FLATTERING THE FLAME - Robert Reed: 4/5
In the very distant future, a planet-sized ship is moving through the milky way. In its travels, it passes through a warrior culture's star system. Except since the ship is so incredibly advanced, the warriors taking the ship "hostage" are the hostages themselves. The two main characters stand on opposite sides of this divide and contemplate what has to 'give' in order for things to end peaceably.
Overall, I enjoyed this story to a surprising degree. I think this is due to its interest in the culture and technology while not ignoring the characters themselves. The story made me feel the long arcs of their histories without being dull about it.
Nonetheless, not a perfect rating on this one from me as the climax was a little less than I might have enjoyed - both in terms of action and in terms of emotion.
SHORT STORIES
=============
AMONG THE MARITHEI - Mary Anne Mohanraj: 1/5
A former child soldier has grown up and his alien saviors/protectors must now leave him.
The author puts an impressive amount of world-building into a very compact story but this results in a lot of exposition. The story also does not go beyond the "wise foreigner" stereotype - humans are bad the main character hates and fears them. Aliens are wonderful, perfect, elf-like beings that have largely transcended imperfections in their nature.
The ending especially shocked and disappointed me and left me with a sour taste.
READY GAS AND PILLS - Dominica Phetteplace: 3.5/5
In a world where medicines are "printed" by proprietary machines, the main character is an inspector who has to ensure everything is working according to law and policy. When she discovers a case of a vendor who is cheating the system, she has to decide whether to back what is legally right and defend the interests of a mega-corp, or do what is morally right and give the people what they need.
The concepts in this story were interesting and compelling. The main character and her relationship were integral to the development of the piece. I did wish the main character had done a little more within the narrative. While the point of the story has more to do with the main character's realization of internal indecision, I would have enjoyed a little more conflict in the external plot.
THE CHARTREUSE SKY - KA Teryna: 4.5/5
This story, translated from its original Russian, takes place in a future Moscow in which reality and projection are so mixed and tangled that younger generations hardly believe there is a real difference.
The story does an admirable job bringing Russian flavor into the English translation and ends the story in a heart-warming and deeply fulfilling sort of way.
MY HEART IS AT CAPACITY - TJ Berry: 5/5
This story was beautiful and heart-breaking.
Told from the perspective of an emotional robot, we see the care and investment that our "possessions" in the future might have in us and how they might suffer when we dispose of them.
Possibly my single most favorite read in the issue.
PHOSPHOR'S CIRCLE - Annika Barranti Klein: 1.5/5
A worker at a zoo discovers the animals are fake after first not believing the children that make the declaration.
While interesting in premise, the story ended up kind of flat for me. Even taking into account how short it is, the story did not altogether leave me feeling satisfied.
Overall issue rating (as an average of rated stories): 3.25
Favorite story in this issue: My Heart is at Capacity
NOVELETTES
==========
THE METRIC - David Moles: 4.5/5
It is right that this story is first in the issue. The Metric takes place on an earth in such a far future that space itself is on the brink of tearing itself apart. The planet is an old thing covered in ghosts and skeletons and the universe itself is ready to be reborn except that something people have done is threatening to prevent that from happening. Thus, someone arrives on earth from a far-off place in a desperate bid to save the universe by ending it.
RECLAIMING THE STARS - James Gunn:
I have found I don't enjoy Gunn's writing and will pass on reading/reviewing this story.
AÑO NUEVO - Ray Nayler: 4/5
Are they aliens? Or have they always been here somehow and we are only now noticing them? And when the strange beings on a California beach force characters to look inside themselves. Literally.
The author packs multiple, complex plot lines within an extremely tight space but doesn't short-change any of them.
This story is also remarkable for the amount of really beautiful language throughout. Every single page has a sentence that makes you sit back and admire it.
SUPER SPROUTS - Ian Creasey: 2.5/5
In a not-so-distant future, a couple who run a bio-engineered plant company find themselves under threat of legislation that might make their business (modifying plants) illegal. At the same time, they want to have a child and the mother-to-be wants to select the very best for the future child. The father wants surprise and randomness. They must navigate both their own emotions and the law to get what they want for their business and for their family.
The premise is strong but something about the execution made me feel that the plants portion of the story became something of an after-thought. The end of the story was all about designer-babies and the threat of regulation of the business seemed to drop out almost completely.
TIN MAN - Rick Wilber & Brad Aiken: 2/5
In the not-so-distant future, a guy aiming to have a career in baseball has his plans derailed first by an accident, then by the collapse of the US. Still, due to an experimental surgery, he is able to keep playing the game he loves.
To me, this story had moments of real beauty mingled with moments of technical detail about baseball that made my eyes glaze over. The story really did feel two-speed, reflecting the fact that it has two authors. In the end, I'm still not sure what exactly happened to "Toto," who came and went at other times, too. It just felt like loops weren't closed to my satisfaction.
FLATTERING THE FLAME - Robert Reed: 4/5
In the very distant future, a planet-sized ship is moving through the milky way. In its travels, it passes through a warrior culture's star system. Except since the ship is so incredibly advanced, the warriors taking the ship "hostage" are the hostages themselves. The two main characters stand on opposite sides of this divide and contemplate what has to 'give' in order for things to end peaceably.
Overall, I enjoyed this story to a surprising degree. I think this is due to its interest in the culture and technology while not ignoring the characters themselves. The story made me feel the long arcs of their histories without being dull about it.
Nonetheless, not a perfect rating on this one from me as the climax was a little less than I might have enjoyed - both in terms of action and in terms of emotion.
SHORT STORIES
=============
AMONG THE MARITHEI - Mary Anne Mohanraj: 1/5
A former child soldier has grown up and his alien saviors/protectors must now leave him.
The author puts an impressive amount of world-building into a very compact story but this results in a lot of exposition. The story also does not go beyond the "wise foreigner" stereotype - humans are bad the main character hates and fears them. Aliens are wonderful, perfect, elf-like beings that have largely transcended imperfections in their nature.
The ending especially shocked and disappointed me and left me with a sour taste.
READY GAS AND PILLS - Dominica Phetteplace: 3.5/5
In a world where medicines are "printed" by proprietary machines, the main character is an inspector who has to ensure everything is working according to law and policy. When she discovers a case of a vendor who is cheating the system, she has to decide whether to back what is legally right and defend the interests of a mega-corp, or do what is morally right and give the people what they need.
The concepts in this story were interesting and compelling. The main character and her relationship were integral to the development of the piece. I did wish the main character had done a little more within the narrative. While the point of the story has more to do with the main character's realization of internal indecision, I would have enjoyed a little more conflict in the external plot.
THE CHARTREUSE SKY - KA Teryna: 4.5/5
This story, translated from its original Russian, takes place in a future Moscow in which reality and projection are so mixed and tangled that younger generations hardly believe there is a real difference.
The story does an admirable job bringing Russian flavor into the English translation and ends the story in a heart-warming and deeply fulfilling sort of way.
MY HEART IS AT CAPACITY - TJ Berry: 5/5
This story was beautiful and heart-breaking.
Told from the perspective of an emotional robot, we see the care and investment that our "possessions" in the future might have in us and how they might suffer when we dispose of them.
Possibly my single most favorite read in the issue.
PHOSPHOR'S CIRCLE - Annika Barranti Klein: 1.5/5
A worker at a zoo discovers the animals are fake after first not believing the children that make the declaration.
While interesting in premise, the story ended up kind of flat for me. Even taking into account how short it is, the story did not altogether leave me feeling satisfied.
May 9, 2021
L’editrice Sheila Williams, unica candidata [come curatrice] all’attuale Hugo tra i nomi che compaiono sulla rivista, saluta la nuova direttrice artistica [bella la coprtina e i nuovi caratteri], e ricorda il decano Gunn, di cui compare ancora un racconto; l'ultimo comparirà in autunno.
Silverberg disquisisce sulle fonti di documentazione prima di Internet: e rivela che tra quelle da lui utilizzate e materialmente presenti nel suo studio, a fianco di due versioni dell’Enciclopedia Britannica [la più vecchia, di fine Ottocento era la più ampia: doveva essere un monumento di carta, e contenere tutto il sapere del tempo!], la terza fonte di meraviglie da lui spesso consultata era niente meno che la ‘Naturalis Historia’ di Plinio il vecchio!
Oltre al suo penultimo racconto, il decano Gunn pubblica un interessante excursus su ‘Fantascienza e religione’: molto dettagliato e ben analizzato, anche se mi stupisce che, fra i molti autori trattati, non siano stati citati Farmer e Walter M. Miller jr.
Anche se la curatrice mi ha smentito che i diversi numeri della rivista abbiano un tema unificante, è un fatto che in questo compaiono pochi alieni, a parte quelli dei due racconti di copertina; molti racconti tracciano invece i prossimi sviluppi della nostra società.
‘The Metric’, Paul Moles. Pesantuccio, un science fantasy nel lontanissimo futuro, in una Terra irriconoscibile, in un Universo dove l’Algoritmo detto la Metrica ha lottato contro la Quintessenza, sorta di materia oscura che divora il continuum spaziotemporale. Una coppia di ragazzini e il loro trio di genitori, Esponenti delle due ultime città, Settentrione e Meridione, seguono le indicazioni di un emissario da una colonia transgalattica per una missione che permetta niente meno che all’Universo di rinascere.
‘Reclaiming the Stars’, di James Gunn. Quarto e ultimo atto dell’appassionante space-opera/hard sci-fi ambientata nel lontano futuro, contenente disquisizioni sull’anima, l’intelligenza, e una IA ancestrale che avrebbe influenzato l’umanità fin dagli inizi, nonché una doppia rinascita della medesima umanità su un Marte terraformato e su una stella lontana.. Scritto con efficacia e un filo di ironia, molto godibile.
“Among the Marithei” di Mary Anne Mohanraj. Il superstite di una Terra evastata da conflitti intestini riesce a rifarsi una famiglia, ma il debito di riconoscenza che sente per gli alieni che l’hanno salvato, insieme al resto dell’umanità, è tale, che è pronto a sacrificarsi per loro.
“Ready Gas and Pills” di Dominica Phetteplace. Pungente satira del sistema sanitario: in una California del prossimo futuro Kar, ispettrice delle stampanti 3D che ormai procurano i farmaci a tutti [ma le grandi catene la fanno da padrone..] è stata separata dalla sua compagna proprio perché erano troppo brave a scoprire corruzione. Ispezionando farmacie nella superconservatrice Valle Centrale californiana, riuscirà ad aiutare una ragazzina nel suo coming out senza convolgerla nella sua inchiesta.
“Año Nuevo” di Ray Nayler: Invasione dei blob e loro sparizione. Madre e figlio visitano una spiaggia, cercando di ritrovarsi e superare i sensi di colpa: lei ha appena lasciato il marito e padre di lui per una donna, finalmente si sente realizzata. La spiaggia è nota perché da qualche decennio misteriose ceature gelatinose, simili a giganteschi agglomerati di mucillagine, vi vegetano; si sospetta che siano alieni. Qual è la loro vera intenzione? Tra ‘Dalle fogne di Chicago’ e ‘Strisciava sulla sabbia’, Nayler si conferma una volta di più uno dei migliori autori della scuderia di Asimov’s: non sbaglia un racconto, con la capacità di alternare situazioni leggere e pesanti e creare personaggi interessanti.
“Super Sprouts”: Non so se Ian Creasey sia figlio del Creasey autore catastrofico cui fu dedicato un Millemondi nei 70, ma di sicuro è intriso di britannicità fino al midollo: piacevolissimo cambio in questo numero un po’ serioso, riprende Osmond e Chase, la coppia di protagonisti di due suoi racconti precedenti: lei genio della bioingegneria, lui brillante imprenditore. Questa volta la coppia è davanti a una doppia sfida: convincere il Governo, e soprattutto i vescovi molto influenti nella Camera dei Lords, a non bloccare l’ingegneria genetica; e avere un figlio, che sarebbe una faccenda normale se non fosse per il perfezionismo e la mania tecnologica di lei. Creasey scrive una storia umoristica, ironica, scoppiettante, sopra le righe per prendere amabilmente in giro scienziati politici, imprenditori, sostenitori della Brexit.. davvero un piacere da leggere! Paradossalmente il personaggio più simpatico è Polly, la deputata con il collegio nel loro Devon; e un piacere collaterale del racconto è vedere la politica britannica in funzione, un rapporto con l’elettorato apparentemente sano [nonostante ‘reliquie costituzionali’ come i suddetti vescovi, e la necessità che una legge arrivi al Regio Assenso..]: una lezione che purtroppo non abbiamo saputo apprendere.
“The Chartreuse Sky” di K.A. Teryna e Alexander Bachilo. Asimov’s è aperta a racconti tradotti da altre lingue, in questo caso russo: ambientata in una Mosca vista più attraverso la realtà virtuale che con i propri occhi, descrive molto bene una realtà futura percepita soprattutto attraverso VR e AR offerte tramite cetinaia di canali: ma questo non basta a eliminare il disagio giovanile.. riuscirà una giovane agente di polizia a rintracciare un ragazzino in fuga,prima che faccia o si faccia danni seri?
“My Heart Is at Capacity” di T.J. Berry. Divertente e acuta satira delle relazioni umane: un baldo androide da compagnia di aspetto maschile passa da una relazione con una padrona insoddisfatta a quella con un barista più facile da contentare, con infiniti calcoli che svelano e quantificano i nostri retroscena psicologici e sentimentali..
Tin Man di Wilber & Aiken è un altro di quei racconti che può davvero apprezzare solo chi conosce bene il baseball.. e conoscerne il gergo in americano è davvero un’impresa. Fortunatamente ne capisco abbastanza da poter dire che questa è una bella storia di baseball e di vita; c’è un aspetto fantascientifico [la ricostruzione del polso bionico del protagonista, un lanciatore, e soprattutto la guerra civile esplosa negli USA, che lo porta a rifugiarsi in Canada], ma soprattutto è una distesa rievocazione delle glorie giovanili, del venire a patti con la realtà e imparare a godersi le partite in un campionato di cinquantenni, e rendersi conto che il miglior compagno di vita può essere un catcher conosciuto tanti anni prima, nel frattempo divenuto donna. Non mancano affettuosi riferimenti al Mago di Oz, anche questo un superclassico USA: il titolo, riferito a uno dei protagonisti del romanzo, è qui il soprannome del protagonista, che battezza ‘Toto’ il suo polso artificiale; più i richiami a film sul baseball, dal Migliore / The Natural con Redford, a Bull Durham, a A league of their own..
“Phosphor’s Circle” di Annika Barranti Klein: breve malinconica storia di una accompagnatrice turistica in un acquario. Ogni giorno più inquieta per strane osservazioni che riceve sugli animali in mostra; nemmeno la passione per una collega, ricambiata, la distrae: finchè non scopre la disturbante verità sugli animali.
“Flattering the Flame” di Robert Reed è il racconto conclusivo, ma ammetto di non averlo letto. Reed è un ottimo artigiano della scrittura fantascientifica, ma dopo qualche pagina mi sono reso conto che avrei scritto per l’ennesima volta ‘ben costruito, ingegnoso, ma lungo e pesante’, e ho preferito non forzarmi.
Rimane comunque un numero molto buono, a mio parere decisamente più piacevole del precedente.
Silverberg disquisisce sulle fonti di documentazione prima di Internet: e rivela che tra quelle da lui utilizzate e materialmente presenti nel suo studio, a fianco di due versioni dell’Enciclopedia Britannica [la più vecchia, di fine Ottocento era la più ampia: doveva essere un monumento di carta, e contenere tutto il sapere del tempo!], la terza fonte di meraviglie da lui spesso consultata era niente meno che la ‘Naturalis Historia’ di Plinio il vecchio!
Oltre al suo penultimo racconto, il decano Gunn pubblica un interessante excursus su ‘Fantascienza e religione’: molto dettagliato e ben analizzato, anche se mi stupisce che, fra i molti autori trattati, non siano stati citati Farmer e Walter M. Miller jr.
Anche se la curatrice mi ha smentito che i diversi numeri della rivista abbiano un tema unificante, è un fatto che in questo compaiono pochi alieni, a parte quelli dei due racconti di copertina; molti racconti tracciano invece i prossimi sviluppi della nostra società.
‘The Metric’, Paul Moles. Pesantuccio, un science fantasy nel lontanissimo futuro, in una Terra irriconoscibile, in un Universo dove l’Algoritmo detto la Metrica ha lottato contro la Quintessenza, sorta di materia oscura che divora il continuum spaziotemporale. Una coppia di ragazzini e il loro trio di genitori, Esponenti delle due ultime città, Settentrione e Meridione, seguono le indicazioni di un emissario da una colonia transgalattica per una missione che permetta niente meno che all’Universo di rinascere.
‘Reclaiming the Stars’, di James Gunn. Quarto e ultimo atto dell’appassionante space-opera/hard sci-fi ambientata nel lontano futuro, contenente disquisizioni sull’anima, l’intelligenza, e una IA ancestrale che avrebbe influenzato l’umanità fin dagli inizi, nonché una doppia rinascita della medesima umanità su un Marte terraformato e su una stella lontana.. Scritto con efficacia e un filo di ironia, molto godibile.
“Among the Marithei” di Mary Anne Mohanraj. Il superstite di una Terra evastata da conflitti intestini riesce a rifarsi una famiglia, ma il debito di riconoscenza che sente per gli alieni che l’hanno salvato, insieme al resto dell’umanità, è tale, che è pronto a sacrificarsi per loro.
“Ready Gas and Pills” di Dominica Phetteplace. Pungente satira del sistema sanitario: in una California del prossimo futuro Kar, ispettrice delle stampanti 3D che ormai procurano i farmaci a tutti [ma le grandi catene la fanno da padrone..] è stata separata dalla sua compagna proprio perché erano troppo brave a scoprire corruzione. Ispezionando farmacie nella superconservatrice Valle Centrale californiana, riuscirà ad aiutare una ragazzina nel suo coming out senza convolgerla nella sua inchiesta.
“Año Nuevo” di Ray Nayler: Invasione dei blob e loro sparizione. Madre e figlio visitano una spiaggia, cercando di ritrovarsi e superare i sensi di colpa: lei ha appena lasciato il marito e padre di lui per una donna, finalmente si sente realizzata. La spiaggia è nota perché da qualche decennio misteriose ceature gelatinose, simili a giganteschi agglomerati di mucillagine, vi vegetano; si sospetta che siano alieni. Qual è la loro vera intenzione? Tra ‘Dalle fogne di Chicago’ e ‘Strisciava sulla sabbia’, Nayler si conferma una volta di più uno dei migliori autori della scuderia di Asimov’s: non sbaglia un racconto, con la capacità di alternare situazioni leggere e pesanti e creare personaggi interessanti.
“Super Sprouts”: Non so se Ian Creasey sia figlio del Creasey autore catastrofico cui fu dedicato un Millemondi nei 70, ma di sicuro è intriso di britannicità fino al midollo: piacevolissimo cambio in questo numero un po’ serioso, riprende Osmond e Chase, la coppia di protagonisti di due suoi racconti precedenti: lei genio della bioingegneria, lui brillante imprenditore. Questa volta la coppia è davanti a una doppia sfida: convincere il Governo, e soprattutto i vescovi molto influenti nella Camera dei Lords, a non bloccare l’ingegneria genetica; e avere un figlio, che sarebbe una faccenda normale se non fosse per il perfezionismo e la mania tecnologica di lei. Creasey scrive una storia umoristica, ironica, scoppiettante, sopra le righe per prendere amabilmente in giro scienziati politici, imprenditori, sostenitori della Brexit.. davvero un piacere da leggere! Paradossalmente il personaggio più simpatico è Polly, la deputata con il collegio nel loro Devon; e un piacere collaterale del racconto è vedere la politica britannica in funzione, un rapporto con l’elettorato apparentemente sano [nonostante ‘reliquie costituzionali’ come i suddetti vescovi, e la necessità che una legge arrivi al Regio Assenso..]: una lezione che purtroppo non abbiamo saputo apprendere.
“The Chartreuse Sky” di K.A. Teryna e Alexander Bachilo. Asimov’s è aperta a racconti tradotti da altre lingue, in questo caso russo: ambientata in una Mosca vista più attraverso la realtà virtuale che con i propri occhi, descrive molto bene una realtà futura percepita soprattutto attraverso VR e AR offerte tramite cetinaia di canali: ma questo non basta a eliminare il disagio giovanile.. riuscirà una giovane agente di polizia a rintracciare un ragazzino in fuga,prima che faccia o si faccia danni seri?
“My Heart Is at Capacity” di T.J. Berry. Divertente e acuta satira delle relazioni umane: un baldo androide da compagnia di aspetto maschile passa da una relazione con una padrona insoddisfatta a quella con un barista più facile da contentare, con infiniti calcoli che svelano e quantificano i nostri retroscena psicologici e sentimentali..
Tin Man di Wilber & Aiken è un altro di quei racconti che può davvero apprezzare solo chi conosce bene il baseball.. e conoscerne il gergo in americano è davvero un’impresa. Fortunatamente ne capisco abbastanza da poter dire che questa è una bella storia di baseball e di vita; c’è un aspetto fantascientifico [la ricostruzione del polso bionico del protagonista, un lanciatore, e soprattutto la guerra civile esplosa negli USA, che lo porta a rifugiarsi in Canada], ma soprattutto è una distesa rievocazione delle glorie giovanili, del venire a patti con la realtà e imparare a godersi le partite in un campionato di cinquantenni, e rendersi conto che il miglior compagno di vita può essere un catcher conosciuto tanti anni prima, nel frattempo divenuto donna. Non mancano affettuosi riferimenti al Mago di Oz, anche questo un superclassico USA: il titolo, riferito a uno dei protagonisti del romanzo, è qui il soprannome del protagonista, che battezza ‘Toto’ il suo polso artificiale; più i richiami a film sul baseball, dal Migliore / The Natural con Redford, a Bull Durham, a A league of their own..
“Phosphor’s Circle” di Annika Barranti Klein: breve malinconica storia di una accompagnatrice turistica in un acquario. Ogni giorno più inquieta per strane osservazioni che riceve sugli animali in mostra; nemmeno la passione per una collega, ricambiata, la distrae: finchè non scopre la disturbante verità sugli animali.
“Flattering the Flame” di Robert Reed è il racconto conclusivo, ma ammetto di non averlo letto. Reed è un ottimo artigiano della scrittura fantascientifica, ma dopo qualche pagina mi sono reso conto che avrei scritto per l’ennesima volta ‘ben costruito, ingegnoso, ma lungo e pesante’, e ho preferito non forzarmi.
Rimane comunque un numero molto buono, a mio parere decisamente più piacevole del precedente.
May 28, 2021
A decent issue. Some good stories, some mediocre, but no really outstanding stories for me. Will just review a few select stories.
"Super Sprouts" by Ian Creasey is a long story about a couple in the future trying to create the perfect genetic designerbaby while also developing a business based on engineered vegetables. The story covers many very relevant ethical issues with regards to both GMO and designer babies. However, it also came forward as very didactic. The couple has lots of discussions about the criteria for their coming baby, with pros and cons of selecting specific traits, but it reads like a transcript from a debate with two opposing side in a panel and not as an actual couple. I was never convinced these two were a couple. Was really hard to see why they were together in the first place.
"Tin Man" by Rick Wilber & Brad Aiken is a longer story about a baseball pitcher getting wrist surgery after a motorcycle accident. It is barely science fiction, but was a decent enjoyable read about a mans personal history. We get a few mentions about other things happening in the background with something resembling a new minor civil war in the US, but it is barely used for anything or explained in detail, so it felt rather unnecessary.
"The Chartreuse Sky" by K.A. Teryna & Alexander Bachilo is a grim cyberpunk-ish story about a future were everyone is basically wearing VR goggles with augmented reality every waking moment. The plot is about a missing child and the narrator needs to step into the real world to find it, but this story is really all about atmosphere and a grim look on a future were nothing is real anymore.
My favorite story in the issue is TJ Berry's "My Heart is at Capacity" about a robot named Paul that has been contracted to be a partner a human. In this setting, intelligent humanlike robots are sort of free but have to make a living on their own by being hired by humans. Paul is looking forward to an upgrade so he can be a partner, but maybe his partner wants a human instead. What works really well in this story is how the robot is portrayed with emotions and free will, but still very much not a human mind. Recommended!
"Super Sprouts" by Ian Creasey is a long story about a couple in the future trying to create the perfect genetic designerbaby while also developing a business based on engineered vegetables. The story covers many very relevant ethical issues with regards to both GMO and designer babies. However, it also came forward as very didactic. The couple has lots of discussions about the criteria for their coming baby, with pros and cons of selecting specific traits, but it reads like a transcript from a debate with two opposing side in a panel and not as an actual couple. I was never convinced these two were a couple. Was really hard to see why they were together in the first place.
"Tin Man" by Rick Wilber & Brad Aiken is a longer story about a baseball pitcher getting wrist surgery after a motorcycle accident. It is barely science fiction, but was a decent enjoyable read about a mans personal history. We get a few mentions about other things happening in the background with something resembling a new minor civil war in the US, but it is barely used for anything or explained in detail, so it felt rather unnecessary.
"The Chartreuse Sky" by K.A. Teryna & Alexander Bachilo is a grim cyberpunk-ish story about a future were everyone is basically wearing VR goggles with augmented reality every waking moment. The plot is about a missing child and the narrator needs to step into the real world to find it, but this story is really all about atmosphere and a grim look on a future were nothing is real anymore.
My favorite story in the issue is TJ Berry's "My Heart is at Capacity" about a robot named Paul that has been contracted to be a partner a human. In this setting, intelligent humanlike robots are sort of free but have to make a living on their own by being hired by humans. Paul is looking forward to an upgrade so he can be a partner, but maybe his partner wants a human instead. What works really well in this story is how the robot is portrayed with emotions and free will, but still very much not a human mind. Recommended!
July 2, 2021
In a future so far ahead that space has stretched beyond the visible horizon, humans have constructed “The Metric” as a bulwark against the destruction of the Universe by the quintessence. In this tale from David Moles two teenage twins must come to terms with the voluntary sacrifice of their planet. Ray Nayler gives us the tale of strange jelly-like beach ball aliens that have littered the beaches of Northern California for 30 years before suddenly vanishing. “Ana Nuevo” attempts to explain their odd metamorphosis. When a pair of molecular botanists are hired to make better green vegetables they must also confront the downsides of designer babies in Ian Creasey’s “Super Sprouts”, while K. A. Teryna & Alexander Bachilo take us to a future Moscow where seven year-old boys can still get into more trouble than they can handle in “The Chartreuse Sky”. T. J. Berry examines artificial partners and their quest to become more human in the thought-provoking “My Heart Is At Capacity”. There are enough observations in this story that even meat bodies should take note. Tighe McCann is an up-and-coming young pitcher when a motorcycle accident results in him getting a prosthetic wrist and brain chip. This augments his pitching considerably before he is ultimately banned. In “Tin Man” Rick Wilber & Brad Aiken show that change is inevitable and comes in many forms.
May 15, 2021
A (excellent):
Reclaiming the Stars by James Gunn
Super Sprouts by Ian Creasey
B (very good):
The Metric by David Moles
Ano Nuevo by Ray Nayler
Flattering the Flame by Robert Reed
C (average):
Tin Man by Rick Wilber & Brad Aiken
Among the Marithei by Mary Anne Mohanraj
The Chartreuse Sky by K A Teryna
Phosphor's Circle by Annika Barranti Klein
D (poor):
My Heart is at Capacity by T J Berry
F (awful):
Ready Gas & Pills by Dominica Phetteplace
Reclaiming the Stars by James Gunn
Super Sprouts by Ian Creasey
B (very good):
The Metric by David Moles
Ano Nuevo by Ray Nayler
Flattering the Flame by Robert Reed
C (average):
Tin Man by Rick Wilber & Brad Aiken
Among the Marithei by Mary Anne Mohanraj
The Chartreuse Sky by K A Teryna
Phosphor's Circle by Annika Barranti Klein
D (poor):
My Heart is at Capacity by T J Berry
F (awful):
Ready Gas & Pills by Dominica Phetteplace
May 29, 2021
Lots of great stories in this issue--a very nice read!
June 5, 2021
The Metric • novelette by David Moles
A story set in a distant future, when most of humanity lives in the last remaining city, which has apparently existed for eons. The last spaceship, which was designed with extremely high technology and built from practically indestructible materials, arrives when it is breaking down from wear and age. It brings news of a universe that is dying from old age. Could something be done, and should something be done? The beginning and end were fairly good, but the middle part was overlong, and hard to get into. ***½
Among the Marithei • short story by Mary Anne Mohanraj
A young man has lived most of his life among aliens. He was born in a war-torn world, was drafted as a child soldier and almost became a suicide bomber. After being rescued by 'spiritual' aliens, he can’t stand the sight of other humans. Slowly he adjusts, gets married, and has a child. He takes part in an alien spiritual event (as usual) and sees something… an excellent and moving story. I was left wondering about the impact of humanity, though. In the first part of the story humans felt like a minor race, at the end of the story it seemed they occupied the larger part of the galaxy. ****-
Reclaiming the Stars • [The Stars] • novelette by James E. Gunn [as by James Gunn]
The fourth and final part of a series. Didn’t read it, as I haven’t read the previous parts.
Ready Gas and Pills • short story by Dominica Phetteplace
An inspector is visiting a small town. The local pharmacy has a machine that "prints" medications, and the inspector suspects that it has been illegally tampered with. Nothing is only black and white, though. A pretty good story. But it is funny that not even in science fiction the USA has sensible and functioning health care. ***½
Año Nuevo • novelette by Ray Nayler
Apparently, alien "plants" have appeared on a certain shore. They seem to be based on some kind of colonies which are based on sugar, with different handedness and RNA-like molecules. And then the plants disappear without leaving any trace. A nice story that seems like a prelude for the real story. ***+
The Chartreuse Sky • short story by Alexander Bachilo and and K. A. Teryno
The future Moscow is practically all virtual - everyone sees it differently through personalized virtual reality. A young boy is missing, and his mother is a Luddite who doesn’t use implanted devices so he can’t be instantly tracked. The background and the worldbuilding were very interesting and fascinating, but the overall plot felt almost tucked in. A pretty good story in spite of that. ***½
Super Sprouts • novelette by Ian Creasey
Belongs to a series featuring a couple where the wife is a very skilled DNA engineer and the husband is very good at marketing her inventions. This time they try to develop greens children would eat. That is more difficult than it seems, and they are thinking about a more personal project: a child. Not everything can be left to chance for someone who is a very skilled genetic manipulator. Nice and easy-to-read story, but it was slightly overlong. Not much seems to happen after all. ***½
My Heart is At Capacity • short story by T. J. Berry
An android deeply loves his master and uses all his time to find things that would make her happier. He learns from experience and trains his behavior to seem more natural and appealing for humans and with other androids, too. But whatever he does, his mistress seems unhappy. It is a pretty good story about a very human-like android who still worked within his parameters. ****-
Tin Man • novelette by Brad Aiken and Rick Wilber
A baseball pitcher is in an accident where his throwing hand is practically destroyed. He gets an experimental bionic hand, which is better than the old one. He is soon banned from playing, but that doesn’t matter much: everything collapses and there is fighting, militias, and violence. He spends some time in Canada and returns to the US when things slightly calm down, and plays small-scale baseball. A simple “calm” story about the life of a man. The bionic arm is almost incidental. It is pretty good for a sports story. ****-
Phosphor’s Circle Short story by Annika Barranti Klein
A guide at a zoo becomes convinced that all animals are simulated holograms. A short and fairly amusing story which leaves thing slightly open. ***
Flattering the Flame • novelette by Robert Reed
Humans are approaching an area of space where a very old race is very militaristic and fights ritualistic battles so often and with such ferocity that they rarely need to fight actual battles. Humans are traveling in a gas giant-sized spaceship which they just found from somewhere with some sort of immortal crew (?) (The story apparently belongs to a series I am not familiar with at all, and the lack of back story and general pulpiness of it all made it hard to get into at first). Even a militaristic race isn’t able to resist temptations offered by superior technology. OK story, but the lack of background possibly spoiled it partly for me. ***
A story set in a distant future, when most of humanity lives in the last remaining city, which has apparently existed for eons. The last spaceship, which was designed with extremely high technology and built from practically indestructible materials, arrives when it is breaking down from wear and age. It brings news of a universe that is dying from old age. Could something be done, and should something be done? The beginning and end were fairly good, but the middle part was overlong, and hard to get into. ***½
Among the Marithei • short story by Mary Anne Mohanraj
A young man has lived most of his life among aliens. He was born in a war-torn world, was drafted as a child soldier and almost became a suicide bomber. After being rescued by 'spiritual' aliens, he can’t stand the sight of other humans. Slowly he adjusts, gets married, and has a child. He takes part in an alien spiritual event (as usual) and sees something… an excellent and moving story. I was left wondering about the impact of humanity, though. In the first part of the story humans felt like a minor race, at the end of the story it seemed they occupied the larger part of the galaxy. ****-
Reclaiming the Stars • [The Stars] • novelette by James E. Gunn [as by James Gunn]
The fourth and final part of a series. Didn’t read it, as I haven’t read the previous parts.
Ready Gas and Pills • short story by Dominica Phetteplace
An inspector is visiting a small town. The local pharmacy has a machine that "prints" medications, and the inspector suspects that it has been illegally tampered with. Nothing is only black and white, though. A pretty good story. But it is funny that not even in science fiction the USA has sensible and functioning health care. ***½
Año Nuevo • novelette by Ray Nayler
Apparently, alien "plants" have appeared on a certain shore. They seem to be based on some kind of colonies which are based on sugar, with different handedness and RNA-like molecules. And then the plants disappear without leaving any trace. A nice story that seems like a prelude for the real story. ***+
The Chartreuse Sky • short story by Alexander Bachilo and and K. A. Teryno
The future Moscow is practically all virtual - everyone sees it differently through personalized virtual reality. A young boy is missing, and his mother is a Luddite who doesn’t use implanted devices so he can’t be instantly tracked. The background and the worldbuilding were very interesting and fascinating, but the overall plot felt almost tucked in. A pretty good story in spite of that. ***½
Super Sprouts • novelette by Ian Creasey
Belongs to a series featuring a couple where the wife is a very skilled DNA engineer and the husband is very good at marketing her inventions. This time they try to develop greens children would eat. That is more difficult than it seems, and they are thinking about a more personal project: a child. Not everything can be left to chance for someone who is a very skilled genetic manipulator. Nice and easy-to-read story, but it was slightly overlong. Not much seems to happen after all. ***½
My Heart is At Capacity • short story by T. J. Berry
An android deeply loves his master and uses all his time to find things that would make her happier. He learns from experience and trains his behavior to seem more natural and appealing for humans and with other androids, too. But whatever he does, his mistress seems unhappy. It is a pretty good story about a very human-like android who still worked within his parameters. ****-
Tin Man • novelette by Brad Aiken and Rick Wilber
A baseball pitcher is in an accident where his throwing hand is practically destroyed. He gets an experimental bionic hand, which is better than the old one. He is soon banned from playing, but that doesn’t matter much: everything collapses and there is fighting, militias, and violence. He spends some time in Canada and returns to the US when things slightly calm down, and plays small-scale baseball. A simple “calm” story about the life of a man. The bionic arm is almost incidental. It is pretty good for a sports story. ****-
Phosphor’s Circle Short story by Annika Barranti Klein
A guide at a zoo becomes convinced that all animals are simulated holograms. A short and fairly amusing story which leaves thing slightly open. ***
Flattering the Flame • novelette by Robert Reed
Humans are approaching an area of space where a very old race is very militaristic and fights ritualistic battles so often and with such ferocity that they rarely need to fight actual battles. Humans are traveling in a gas giant-sized spaceship which they just found from somewhere with some sort of immortal crew (?) (The story apparently belongs to a series I am not familiar with at all, and the lack of back story and general pulpiness of it all made it hard to get into at first). Even a militaristic race isn’t able to resist temptations offered by superior technology. OK story, but the lack of background possibly spoiled it partly for me. ***
June 30, 2021
Rankings of stories from worst to best
Flattering the Flame- 2: I mostly read it out of duty. It felt like Sherlock Holmes if Sherlock intentionally obfuscated and all the joy was taken out of it. The world just was hard to visualize and not entirely fun for me.
Reclaiming the Stars- 2-Love Guardians of the Galaxy, but Gunn should stick to directing. The dialouge is wooden and just feels totally artificial.
Among the Marithei- 2.5- Good premise and themes, but the shock tactics are overplayed and not done well.
The Metric-2.75- Similar complaints- I'm not generally a fan of "far future" sci-fi, but this probably felt the most legitimately interesting of all of those pickings. Unlike in "Reclaiming the Stars" the journey here has a pathos that makes it feel like it means something.
Año Nuevo- 3-Okay, lots of neat ideas here, but really wore out my suspension of disbelief in the end. Too hippy-dippy for my tastes.
Phosphor's Circle- 3 Similar complaints to Among the Marithei, but this just executes its plot just a little better somehow.
The Chartreuse Sky-3.5 Now I feel like we're getting into really innovative territory. This was my first foray into Russian sci-fi, and I quite enjoyed it and the concepts it looked at. In terms of quality, it's not that much different from the lower-ranked ones, but to paraphrase Marge Simpson in regards to worldbuilding, I just think it's neat.
Super Sprouts-3.5- Genuinely enjoyed this. Chuckled a little, and I even liked the idea of what post-Brexit Britain might look like. The relationship between husband and life was lovingly construed.
Ready Gas and Pills-4- There was just this grunge (cyberpunk-lite?) mirroring of America's messed-up healthcare and legal system that I really liked. No solutions, just an honest look.
My Heart is at Capacity-4.5- So darn bittersweet. If you have a soft spot for Lt. Commander Data, this will probably make you cry.
Tin Man-5- Far and away the best story. I don't even consider myself that much of a baseball fan, but this got me invested in the thrill of the game. It's got it all- slight political commentary, loving family, pretty decent trans rep, and a bit of zaniness (the guy's wrist talks). Definitely want to read Wilber's long fiction.
Flattering the Flame- 2: I mostly read it out of duty. It felt like Sherlock Holmes if Sherlock intentionally obfuscated and all the joy was taken out of it. The world just was hard to visualize and not entirely fun for me.
Reclaiming the Stars- 2-Love Guardians of the Galaxy, but Gunn should stick to directing. The dialouge is wooden and just feels totally artificial.
Among the Marithei- 2.5- Good premise and themes, but the shock tactics are overplayed and not done well.
The Metric-2.75- Similar complaints- I'm not generally a fan of "far future" sci-fi, but this probably felt the most legitimately interesting of all of those pickings. Unlike in "Reclaiming the Stars" the journey here has a pathos that makes it feel like it means something.
Año Nuevo- 3-Okay, lots of neat ideas here, but really wore out my suspension of disbelief in the end. Too hippy-dippy for my tastes.
Phosphor's Circle- 3 Similar complaints to Among the Marithei, but this just executes its plot just a little better somehow.
The Chartreuse Sky-3.5 Now I feel like we're getting into really innovative territory. This was my first foray into Russian sci-fi, and I quite enjoyed it and the concepts it looked at. In terms of quality, it's not that much different from the lower-ranked ones, but to paraphrase Marge Simpson in regards to worldbuilding, I just think it's neat.
Super Sprouts-3.5- Genuinely enjoyed this. Chuckled a little, and I even liked the idea of what post-Brexit Britain might look like. The relationship between husband and life was lovingly construed.
Ready Gas and Pills-4- There was just this grunge (cyberpunk-lite?) mirroring of America's messed-up healthcare and legal system that I really liked. No solutions, just an honest look.
My Heart is at Capacity-4.5- So darn bittersweet. If you have a soft spot for Lt. Commander Data, this will probably make you cry.
Tin Man-5- Far and away the best story. I don't even consider myself that much of a baseball fan, but this got me invested in the thrill of the game. It's got it all- slight political commentary, loving family, pretty decent trans rep, and a bit of zaniness (the guy's wrist talks). Definitely want to read Wilber's long fiction.
July 23, 2021
This issue had several novelettes, including "The Metric," featured on the cover. The story involves "deep time," a ship, and trying to save the universe that is coming apart. James Gunn (July 12, 1923-December 23, 2020) has an essay, "Religion and Science Fiction," as well as a novelette, "Reclaiming the Stars" in this issue. The novelette is fourth (and, sadly, concluding) saga of Harry and Lisa that began with "In Our Stars." This novelette takes place on a terraformed Mars and the continuation of the human species outside of Earth. Mr. Gunn's essay titled "Thought Experiment" and he discusses how science fiction incorporates religion.
The short stories include "My Heart is at Capacity," by T.J. Berry, who wonders if there is such a thing as being too perfect a lover. "Phosphor's Circle," by Annika Barranti Klein, posits a different type of zoo.
And there is poetry, including one by Jane Yolen (one of my personal favorite writers), "Speaking to Mom."
All-in-all, there is something for every sf reader.
The short stories include "My Heart is at Capacity," by T.J. Berry, who wonders if there is such a thing as being too perfect a lover. "Phosphor's Circle," by Annika Barranti Klein, posits a different type of zoo.
And there is poetry, including one by Jane Yolen (one of my personal favorite writers), "Speaking to Mom."
All-in-all, there is something for every sf reader.
June 2, 2021
• The Metric by David Moles (3½ stars)
• Among the Marithei by Mary Anne Mohanraj (3 stars)
• Reclaiming the Stars by James E. Gunn (4½ stars)
• Ready Gas and Pills by Dominica Phetteplace (2½ stars)
• Año Nuevo by Ray Nayler (3 stars)
• Super Sprouts by Ian Creasey (2½ / 3 stars)
• The Chartreuse Sky by Alexander Bachilo and K. A. Teryno (4 stars)
• My Heart is At Capacity by T. J. Berry (5 stars)
• Tin Man by Brad Aiken and Rick Wilber (4 stars)
• Phosphor’s Stone by Annika Barranti Klein (3 stars)
• Flattering the Flame by Robert Reed (2½ stars)
• Among the Marithei by Mary Anne Mohanraj (3 stars)
• Reclaiming the Stars by James E. Gunn (4½ stars)
• Ready Gas and Pills by Dominica Phetteplace (2½ stars)
• Año Nuevo by Ray Nayler (3 stars)
• Super Sprouts by Ian Creasey (2½ / 3 stars)
• The Chartreuse Sky by Alexander Bachilo and K. A. Teryno (4 stars)
• My Heart is At Capacity by T. J. Berry (5 stars)
• Tin Man by Brad Aiken and Rick Wilber (4 stars)
• Phosphor’s Stone by Annika Barranti Klein (3 stars)
• Flattering the Flame by Robert Reed (2½ stars)
May 4, 2021
Not for me. Maybe for you?
February 8, 2024
Only fair. A few I didn’t like at all, mostly unobjectionable but unremarkable. Two I liked: “The Metric” by David Moles, a story with a very “Dyng Earth” flavor to it; and “Ready Gas and Pills”, by Dominica Phetteplace,about where copyrights and pharmaceuticals might be headed.
November 20, 2025
Overall: 2.40 Stars
1 Star:
- The Metric
2 Stars:
- Año Nuevo
- Flattering the Flame
- Ready Gas and Pills
- Phosphor’s Circle
3 Stars:
- Super Sprouts
- Tin Man
- Among the Marithei
- The Chartreuse Sky
- My Heart is at Capacity
1 Star:
- The Metric
2 Stars:
- Año Nuevo
- Flattering the Flame
- Ready Gas and Pills
- Phosphor’s Circle
3 Stars:
- Super Sprouts
- Tin Man
- Among the Marithei
- The Chartreuse Sky
- My Heart is at Capacity
July 21, 2024
This was really hard to get through. I’m not sure if this was an off issue or if all Sci fi magazines are like this. Most of the stories were really mundane. The exceptions being Tin Man and My Heart is at Capacity. But I feel My Heart could have had a more satisfying ending (and less sexual stuff…). My impression of Sci fi magazines are mundane stories full of sexual immorality (does almost every story have to mention sex?). I’m going to try a few more issues of Asimovs and Analog to see if they can’t change my mind. Also, maybe they were just pushing sexuality more adamantly with this issue…?
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