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Cirsova Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense Issue #12 / Fall 2022
The Impossible Footprint
By DAVID SKINNER
Daredevil Dylal O’Lal desires the to put his footprint on the surface of the sun! Though most insist it cannot be done, the existence of a young woman who proves to be wholly impervious to flames suggests his ultimate feat is achievable!
Orphan of the Shadowy Moons (Part 3)
By MICHAEL TIERNEY
Having escaped enslavement at Arendahj and returned to the Teluchi Islands, Strazis has before him the momentous task of leading a war of liberation! Many rally to Strazis’ cause but his old foe Eirlik has other plans—as does Eirlik’s father!
Vran, the Chaos-Warped
(Book 2)
By DAVE RITZLIN
Ripped by magic from the frozen world of the primitive cavemen, Vran finds himself in even stranger environs! Can he track down the foul wizard Foad Misjak within the halls of a giant castle that is teeming with cannibals and magically animated statues!?
Fight of the Sandfishers
By JIM BREYFOGLE
Celzez plans to denounce Teriz, a royal guard of Alness, as a traitor who shirked his duty as the city fell! Jalani hopes Mangos can stop him before it gets him killed!
The Wisdom of Man
By ADAM S. FURMAN
John Knox finds a victim of the experiments of a billionaire working to distill tachyons that can freeze time itself! Can he stop the mad project before it’s too late!?
A Long Way to Fall
By DAVID EYK
A murder has occurred on a colony cylinder under hostile a young officer has been found mangled, every bone broken—how did he fall from the axis?!
Fall of a Storm King
By MISHA BURNETT
The dangerous job of piloting in Saturn’s rings requires altering one’s perception of time! Luther is one of the best until a minor injury costs him his certification!
Tripping to Aldous
By J. MANFRED WEICHSEL
An interstellar police investigator is in pursuit of murderer Richard Morales! But the trail leads to Aldous, an illicit party planet with a hallucinogenic atmosphere!
Cerulean
By J. THOMAS HOWARD
On the run and dying of thirst on a desert world, Roger Campbell-Thorn finds salvation in a flask of nourishing intoxicant that sends him to the world’s distant past!
The Strickland Line
By ALEC CIZAK
The Strickland Line has a bug problem! Journalist Harv Wallender is accosted by a nasty critter… Quite the inconvenience! But then the critter starts to grow…!
New Troops for Jerry Pournelle’s Janissaries
By J. COMER
My Name is John Carter (Part 13)
By JAMES HUTCHINGS
By DAVID SKINNER
Daredevil Dylal O’Lal desires the to put his footprint on the surface of the sun! Though most insist it cannot be done, the existence of a young woman who proves to be wholly impervious to flames suggests his ultimate feat is achievable!
Orphan of the Shadowy Moons (Part 3)
By MICHAEL TIERNEY
Having escaped enslavement at Arendahj and returned to the Teluchi Islands, Strazis has before him the momentous task of leading a war of liberation! Many rally to Strazis’ cause but his old foe Eirlik has other plans—as does Eirlik’s father!
Vran, the Chaos-Warped
(Book 2)
By DAVE RITZLIN
Ripped by magic from the frozen world of the primitive cavemen, Vran finds himself in even stranger environs! Can he track down the foul wizard Foad Misjak within the halls of a giant castle that is teeming with cannibals and magically animated statues!?
Fight of the Sandfishers
By JIM BREYFOGLE
Celzez plans to denounce Teriz, a royal guard of Alness, as a traitor who shirked his duty as the city fell! Jalani hopes Mangos can stop him before it gets him killed!
The Wisdom of Man
By ADAM S. FURMAN
John Knox finds a victim of the experiments of a billionaire working to distill tachyons that can freeze time itself! Can he stop the mad project before it’s too late!?
A Long Way to Fall
By DAVID EYK
A murder has occurred on a colony cylinder under hostile a young officer has been found mangled, every bone broken—how did he fall from the axis?!
Fall of a Storm King
By MISHA BURNETT
The dangerous job of piloting in Saturn’s rings requires altering one’s perception of time! Luther is one of the best until a minor injury costs him his certification!
Tripping to Aldous
By J. MANFRED WEICHSEL
An interstellar police investigator is in pursuit of murderer Richard Morales! But the trail leads to Aldous, an illicit party planet with a hallucinogenic atmosphere!
Cerulean
By J. THOMAS HOWARD
On the run and dying of thirst on a desert world, Roger Campbell-Thorn finds salvation in a flask of nourishing intoxicant that sends him to the world’s distant past!
The Strickland Line
By ALEC CIZAK
The Strickland Line has a bug problem! Journalist Harv Wallender is accosted by a nasty critter… Quite the inconvenience! But then the critter starts to grow…!
New Troops for Jerry Pournelle’s Janissaries
By J. COMER
My Name is John Carter (Part 13)
By JAMES HUTCHINGS
- GenresFantasy
362 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2022
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
David Skinner
59 books6 followersUnlike the characters in his stories, David Skinner is strikingly human and, according to some people, quite likable. He currently lives in the badlands of suburban Colorado Springs with his wife, Jenn, and his pug, award-winning snuggler and chewer-of-things-that-are-not-his, Howie. “The Antichrist of Kokomo County” is Skinner’s debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 14, 2022
Alexander gathers tales that, while they are set in very different worlds and might not always agree on all the nuances of morality, are united by their focus on people of strong character taking action rather than succumbing to circumstance.
This magazine contains six short stories, two novelettes, and three extracts from longer works, each evoking the feel of classic pulp, along with a sizeable review of Jerry Pournelle’s Janissaries series.
The Impossible Footprint by David Skinner: When Dylal O’Lal, renowed across all planets as a daredevil, hears of a girl who is impervious to flame, the concieves his greatest endeavour ever: to leave his footprint on the sun itself. While Skinner’s story is filled with spaceships and other advanced technologies, his science is based in a more mystical conception that raises challenges not merely of the Sun’s heat, gravity, and radiation but also whether it is alchemically the same principle of Fire as a flame. The prose is effulgent and byzantine, filled with baroque names for people and things; depending on reader preference, this might support both the conceit that it is a chronicle of events written by a poet and the feel of the universe, or be another annoyance to add to the conflation of science with spirituality.
Orphan of the Shadowy Moons (Part 3) by Michael Tierney: No sooner has Strazis returned home than he leads an army to conquer the island that imprisoned him; even his childhood rival Eirlik seems convinced the threat must be ended, but can the two put their rivalry aside for long enough to secure victory? Starting with Strazis’ setting forth to battle and ending with the short-term consequences of that battle resolved, this extract does contain a complete arc; however, it is an extract from a novel rather than a sequel to another story so features little to no reprise of broader context and contains a significant minority of ongoing plot; thus, while not ending on a dire cliffhanger, it has the feel of an episode in a serial. Tierney’s style intersperses descriptions of fast-paced action and dialogue with nuggets of exposition; combined with the exceptional prowess of his protagonist, this makes it very much more a tale of physical and verbal combat than an exploration of emotional nuance.
Vran, the Chaos-Warped (Book 2) by D.M. Ritzlin: Cast once more into another world moments before slaying the foul wizard Foad Misjak, Vran finds himself fleeing cannibals through the corridors of an immense castle into the arms of yet more threats. Ritzlin’s protagonist is firmly in the mould of Conan,:strong, decisive, moral, but not stupid. The plot is similarly a clear but not simplistic struggle between classic masculine virtue and devious sorceries that evokes without merely copying classic swords-and-sorcery.
‘Fight of the Sandfishers’ by Jim Breyfogle: When a caravan guard commits to avenge a crime that wasn’t committed against him, Mangos struggles to find an explanation but keeps butting upgainst the claim that he wouldn’t understand; and, while his travelling companion Kat seems to know, she won’t share either. Breyfogle’s story is narrated by Mangos, a skilled warrior of unexceptional intellect, in the simplistic prose one might expect of an uneducated person; however, Breyfogle skillfully uses subtle rhythm and word choice to make this an engaging display of character rather than a source of distance or tedium. Beneath the directness of Mangos’ perspective is a complex and nuanced exploration of the nature of honour that is also likely to provide fans of the ongoing adventures of Mongoose and Meerkat with more hints of Kat’s origins.
‘The Wisdom of Man’ by Adam S. Furman: When John Knox finds a woman cruelly left to die in slow motion, he vows vengeance; but how can he defeat an enemy who can freeze time itself? Furman blends quantum physics with Christian mythology, presenting a classic tale of fighting devilish forces wrapped in a modern skin. While every bit the person of action driven by worthy goals, Knox is more than prepared to deviate from the highest of Christian virtues to achieve his goals, making this story in pulp noir rather than a a pure tale of good vs. evil.
A Long Way to Fall, by David Eyk: When a member of the occupying forces is found dead on a colony cylinder and the local authorities close the investigation without result, his commander asks Ransley Banden to investigate; as half the locals hate him anyway, Banden decides he might as well take the money. Eyk transports the classic trope of cynical private eye into space, adding just enough effects of low gravity and other features of artificial environments to spice the mean streets with new dangers without losing the focus on the murkiness of the human soul that defines crime noir.
‘Fall of a Storm King’ by Misha Burnett: Luther’s accelarated nervous system makes him one of the few who could pilot the rings of Saturn; until a minor injury takes away his career leaving him living faster than those around him in a body that isn’t quite fast enough. Burnett blends space craft and biological enhancement with workplace injury, creating a tale that shows loss of function can be just as impactful when denies one the exceptional as when it puts one below the norm. However, while the plot is strongly centred in authentic human experience rather than dramatic effects, both Luther and the plot sit firmly in the category of action rather than angst.
‘Tripping to Aldous’ by J. Manfred Weichsel: Chasing a murderer, the trail leads Officer Donovan to the planet Aldous; but when his helmet cracks, exposing him to the psychodelic gases in the atmosphere, how can he know which is the right direction? Weichsel skillfully balances accessibility with weirdness, sending Donovan deeper into hallucination without losing any sense of an underlying story. While the story ends with confirmation of what is real, it is left to the reader to decide whether or not Donovan’s hallucinations include metaphors about his personality or are just a strange trip.
‘Cerulean’ by J. Thomas Howard: Fleeing across the sands of a desert world, Roger Campbell-Thorn tumbles into the world’s distant past and into the clutches of the pirates who navigate its then-existing waters. While the story opens with Campbell-Thorn cast into the past and his name has the ring of a modern—or even future—British explorer, he possesses no modern technology and displays no particular mechanical or scientific knowledge, making this a tale of overcoming dire circumstance by strength of character and body rather than cunning or advanced civilisation. Indeed, while there are aspects that could actually be high technology, the world appears more classic fantasy than science-fiction.
‘The Strickland Line’ by Alec Cizak: When journalist Harv Wallender is bitten by an insect, he takes it as just one more sign the Strickland Line has no care for reputation or passengers; but when it happens again, he starts to realise the problem is bigger than a lack of proper cleaning. Blending a characterful portrayal of the mundane irritations of public transport with threat straight out of a B-Movie, Cizak creates a short but engaging creature feature that does not veer into the absurd. Wallender, while not a paragon, is sketched as a decent enough fellow, and so readers are likely to quickly empathise with his situation.
‘My Name is John Carter (Part 13)’ by James Hutchings: Having collapsed in the sands of Mars, John Carter awakens to find someone has both seen to his injuries and imprisoned him. Apart from a couple of passing names, this thirteenth extract from Hutching’s poem provides no indication that it is a part of a retelling of Burrough’s Barsoom Chronicles, let alone what has led here; thus, readers who have neither read the previous parts nor have in interest in epic verse for itself might find it of little interest. Ironically, readers who are unfamiliar with previous events will find this severance from context echoes Carter’s own lack of knowledge about his current situation, creating a sense of empathy that adds power to his turmoil.
Alexander features a range of different styles and genres from within the broad church of speculative pulp fiction, meaning that readers who incline toward science fiction or toward fantasy, prefer their heroes morally pure or with feet of clay, or have other preferences are likely to find things to their taste.
This diversity equally means that readers looking to devour in one or two sittings rather than take in smaller bites are unlikely to suffer the heavy fog that can come from too much of the same thing.
Taking a piece from a longer work always risks dangling threads or missing pieces, and so readers who expect a story to be utterly complete in itself might not be satisfied with all the contents; however, Alexander’s choice of extracts each display a complete arc and tidy enough ending that they feel like a justifiable serialisation rather than a blatant scheme to sell the next edition.
Overall, I enjoyed this magazine. I recommend it to readers seeking speculative fiction that captures classic pulp without feeling like a pastiche.
This magazine contains six short stories, two novelettes, and three extracts from longer works, each evoking the feel of classic pulp, along with a sizeable review of Jerry Pournelle’s Janissaries series.
The Impossible Footprint by David Skinner: When Dylal O’Lal, renowed across all planets as a daredevil, hears of a girl who is impervious to flame, the concieves his greatest endeavour ever: to leave his footprint on the sun itself. While Skinner’s story is filled with spaceships and other advanced technologies, his science is based in a more mystical conception that raises challenges not merely of the Sun’s heat, gravity, and radiation but also whether it is alchemically the same principle of Fire as a flame. The prose is effulgent and byzantine, filled with baroque names for people and things; depending on reader preference, this might support both the conceit that it is a chronicle of events written by a poet and the feel of the universe, or be another annoyance to add to the conflation of science with spirituality.
Orphan of the Shadowy Moons (Part 3) by Michael Tierney: No sooner has Strazis returned home than he leads an army to conquer the island that imprisoned him; even his childhood rival Eirlik seems convinced the threat must be ended, but can the two put their rivalry aside for long enough to secure victory? Starting with Strazis’ setting forth to battle and ending with the short-term consequences of that battle resolved, this extract does contain a complete arc; however, it is an extract from a novel rather than a sequel to another story so features little to no reprise of broader context and contains a significant minority of ongoing plot; thus, while not ending on a dire cliffhanger, it has the feel of an episode in a serial. Tierney’s style intersperses descriptions of fast-paced action and dialogue with nuggets of exposition; combined with the exceptional prowess of his protagonist, this makes it very much more a tale of physical and verbal combat than an exploration of emotional nuance.
Vran, the Chaos-Warped (Book 2) by D.M. Ritzlin: Cast once more into another world moments before slaying the foul wizard Foad Misjak, Vran finds himself fleeing cannibals through the corridors of an immense castle into the arms of yet more threats. Ritzlin’s protagonist is firmly in the mould of Conan,:strong, decisive, moral, but not stupid. The plot is similarly a clear but not simplistic struggle between classic masculine virtue and devious sorceries that evokes without merely copying classic swords-and-sorcery.
‘Fight of the Sandfishers’ by Jim Breyfogle: When a caravan guard commits to avenge a crime that wasn’t committed against him, Mangos struggles to find an explanation but keeps butting upgainst the claim that he wouldn’t understand; and, while his travelling companion Kat seems to know, she won’t share either. Breyfogle’s story is narrated by Mangos, a skilled warrior of unexceptional intellect, in the simplistic prose one might expect of an uneducated person; however, Breyfogle skillfully uses subtle rhythm and word choice to make this an engaging display of character rather than a source of distance or tedium. Beneath the directness of Mangos’ perspective is a complex and nuanced exploration of the nature of honour that is also likely to provide fans of the ongoing adventures of Mongoose and Meerkat with more hints of Kat’s origins.
‘The Wisdom of Man’ by Adam S. Furman: When John Knox finds a woman cruelly left to die in slow motion, he vows vengeance; but how can he defeat an enemy who can freeze time itself? Furman blends quantum physics with Christian mythology, presenting a classic tale of fighting devilish forces wrapped in a modern skin. While every bit the person of action driven by worthy goals, Knox is more than prepared to deviate from the highest of Christian virtues to achieve his goals, making this story in pulp noir rather than a a pure tale of good vs. evil.
A Long Way to Fall, by David Eyk: When a member of the occupying forces is found dead on a colony cylinder and the local authorities close the investigation without result, his commander asks Ransley Banden to investigate; as half the locals hate him anyway, Banden decides he might as well take the money. Eyk transports the classic trope of cynical private eye into space, adding just enough effects of low gravity and other features of artificial environments to spice the mean streets with new dangers without losing the focus on the murkiness of the human soul that defines crime noir.
‘Fall of a Storm King’ by Misha Burnett: Luther’s accelarated nervous system makes him one of the few who could pilot the rings of Saturn; until a minor injury takes away his career leaving him living faster than those around him in a body that isn’t quite fast enough. Burnett blends space craft and biological enhancement with workplace injury, creating a tale that shows loss of function can be just as impactful when denies one the exceptional as when it puts one below the norm. However, while the plot is strongly centred in authentic human experience rather than dramatic effects, both Luther and the plot sit firmly in the category of action rather than angst.
‘Tripping to Aldous’ by J. Manfred Weichsel: Chasing a murderer, the trail leads Officer Donovan to the planet Aldous; but when his helmet cracks, exposing him to the psychodelic gases in the atmosphere, how can he know which is the right direction? Weichsel skillfully balances accessibility with weirdness, sending Donovan deeper into hallucination without losing any sense of an underlying story. While the story ends with confirmation of what is real, it is left to the reader to decide whether or not Donovan’s hallucinations include metaphors about his personality or are just a strange trip.
‘Cerulean’ by J. Thomas Howard: Fleeing across the sands of a desert world, Roger Campbell-Thorn tumbles into the world’s distant past and into the clutches of the pirates who navigate its then-existing waters. While the story opens with Campbell-Thorn cast into the past and his name has the ring of a modern—or even future—British explorer, he possesses no modern technology and displays no particular mechanical or scientific knowledge, making this a tale of overcoming dire circumstance by strength of character and body rather than cunning or advanced civilisation. Indeed, while there are aspects that could actually be high technology, the world appears more classic fantasy than science-fiction.
‘The Strickland Line’ by Alec Cizak: When journalist Harv Wallender is bitten by an insect, he takes it as just one more sign the Strickland Line has no care for reputation or passengers; but when it happens again, he starts to realise the problem is bigger than a lack of proper cleaning. Blending a characterful portrayal of the mundane irritations of public transport with threat straight out of a B-Movie, Cizak creates a short but engaging creature feature that does not veer into the absurd. Wallender, while not a paragon, is sketched as a decent enough fellow, and so readers are likely to quickly empathise with his situation.
‘My Name is John Carter (Part 13)’ by James Hutchings: Having collapsed in the sands of Mars, John Carter awakens to find someone has both seen to his injuries and imprisoned him. Apart from a couple of passing names, this thirteenth extract from Hutching’s poem provides no indication that it is a part of a retelling of Burrough’s Barsoom Chronicles, let alone what has led here; thus, readers who have neither read the previous parts nor have in interest in epic verse for itself might find it of little interest. Ironically, readers who are unfamiliar with previous events will find this severance from context echoes Carter’s own lack of knowledge about his current situation, creating a sense of empathy that adds power to his turmoil.
Alexander features a range of different styles and genres from within the broad church of speculative pulp fiction, meaning that readers who incline toward science fiction or toward fantasy, prefer their heroes morally pure or with feet of clay, or have other preferences are likely to find things to their taste.
This diversity equally means that readers looking to devour in one or two sittings rather than take in smaller bites are unlikely to suffer the heavy fog that can come from too much of the same thing.
Taking a piece from a longer work always risks dangling threads or missing pieces, and so readers who expect a story to be utterly complete in itself might not be satisfied with all the contents; however, Alexander’s choice of extracts each display a complete arc and tidy enough ending that they feel like a justifiable serialisation rather than a blatant scheme to sell the next edition.
Overall, I enjoyed this magazine. I recommend it to readers seeking speculative fiction that captures classic pulp without feeling like a pastiche.
October 24, 2022
Cirsova returns with another solid volume of their magazine. They are really carrying the torch for feel of the classic pulps like Weird Tales and Planet Stories and each issue does not disappoint.
I thought each story was solid and for the most part they were good, some even very good. I'll highlight a couple below.
First of all, I loved the cover story "The Impossible Foot Print." It's a pastiche for Nictzin Dyahlis proto-sci-fi works. ND is a massively under appreciated Weird Tales author, IMHO opinion on par with many of the greats of the era. This story really got the vibe and humor of the originals, and even went in some unexpected places. I don't think its as good as When the Green Star Wanes but its honestly better than the Oath of Hul Jak. I really hope Skinner does more.
There are two continuations of novels split across this year's four issues. There's Dave Ritzlin's Vran the Chaos Warped. The story here is self contained and a really good time. Dave's gallows humor doesn't always agree with me but the Vran stuff has been really enjoyable. I hope all three parts are eventually reissued in their own book.
Michael Tierney returns with part 3 of Orphan of the Shadowy Moons. I really enjoy this as well. It has all the virtues(and flaws) of classic 70s paperbacks. Though I find the writing overall a bit uneven (and occasional moments I could do without) it still creates a thrilling adventure that's greater than the sum of its parts. Can't wait for the conclusion in the winter 2022 issue of Cirsova. Also hope this is re-released someday in one volume.
The rest of the magazine is a collection of short stories, which I mentioned ran the gambit from decent to great. I'll highlight the two I enjoyed the most.
Misha Burnett's "Fall of a Storm King" really struck me. Misha's anthologies have been on my radar for awhile but this my first time reading him. Its a very classic sci-fi yarn but also just feels so deeply human. It's very well done and reminds me a bit of the better Alan Nourse stories from the 60s.
Jim Breyfogyle is no stranger to Cirsova. His roguish Mongoose and Meerkat tales have been serialized for some time now. The Fight of the Sandfishers marks a turning point for the series. The deeper elements of this 18 part serial are coming into play. I don't want to spoil too much, but I think this is one of the finest contemporary sword and sorcery tales I've ever read. Mangos has always been amoral and a rogue(in a fun way not a grimdark or edgy way.) Now we witness him writing a story in first person, as he has learned to read in write as the story progresses. At firs I was taken aback by why Jim decided to change from 3rd to 1st person, but as the story progress it makes sense and is brilliant. Mangos comes to understand the concept of honor. It's a tremendous experience to witness this self-centered character(especially if you've been reading the prior stories) grow in this way. Its just deeply spiritual and touching. There's also hints to the greater story these serials are building up to, and instead of feeling like clunky world-building this depth feels like genuine pay off. It's a masterpiece and I'm tempted to give the issue a 5 for this alone.
Overall, the fall issue is a really solid entry, and worth picking up for any fans of pulp, and especially people who miss the kind of sf/f that was in the pages of the greats of yesteryear like Weird Tales and Planet Stories. Looking forward to the winter issue.
I thought each story was solid and for the most part they were good, some even very good. I'll highlight a couple below.
First of all, I loved the cover story "The Impossible Foot Print." It's a pastiche for Nictzin Dyahlis proto-sci-fi works. ND is a massively under appreciated Weird Tales author, IMHO opinion on par with many of the greats of the era. This story really got the vibe and humor of the originals, and even went in some unexpected places. I don't think its as good as When the Green Star Wanes but its honestly better than the Oath of Hul Jak. I really hope Skinner does more.
There are two continuations of novels split across this year's four issues. There's Dave Ritzlin's Vran the Chaos Warped. The story here is self contained and a really good time. Dave's gallows humor doesn't always agree with me but the Vran stuff has been really enjoyable. I hope all three parts are eventually reissued in their own book.
Michael Tierney returns with part 3 of Orphan of the Shadowy Moons. I really enjoy this as well. It has all the virtues(and flaws) of classic 70s paperbacks. Though I find the writing overall a bit uneven (and occasional moments I could do without) it still creates a thrilling adventure that's greater than the sum of its parts. Can't wait for the conclusion in the winter 2022 issue of Cirsova. Also hope this is re-released someday in one volume.
The rest of the magazine is a collection of short stories, which I mentioned ran the gambit from decent to great. I'll highlight the two I enjoyed the most.
Misha Burnett's "Fall of a Storm King" really struck me. Misha's anthologies have been on my radar for awhile but this my first time reading him. Its a very classic sci-fi yarn but also just feels so deeply human. It's very well done and reminds me a bit of the better Alan Nourse stories from the 60s.
Jim Breyfogyle is no stranger to Cirsova. His roguish Mongoose and Meerkat tales have been serialized for some time now. The Fight of the Sandfishers marks a turning point for the series. The deeper elements of this 18 part serial are coming into play. I don't want to spoil too much, but I think this is one of the finest contemporary sword and sorcery tales I've ever read. Mangos has always been amoral and a rogue(in a fun way not a grimdark or edgy way.) Now we witness him writing a story in first person, as he has learned to read in write as the story progresses. At firs I was taken aback by why Jim decided to change from 3rd to 1st person, but as the story progress it makes sense and is brilliant. Mangos comes to understand the concept of honor. It's a tremendous experience to witness this self-centered character(especially if you've been reading the prior stories) grow in this way. Its just deeply spiritual and touching. There's also hints to the greater story these serials are building up to, and instead of feeling like clunky world-building this depth feels like genuine pay off. It's a masterpiece and I'm tempted to give the issue a 5 for this alone.
Overall, the fall issue is a really solid entry, and worth picking up for any fans of pulp, and especially people who miss the kind of sf/f that was in the pages of the greats of yesteryear like Weird Tales and Planet Stories. Looking forward to the winter issue.
June 25, 2024
I'm a fan of short story collections. Cirsova's magazine attempts to bring back some of that pulp, adventure feel. Many of the stories there are of the Sword & Planet variety, but there's straight science fiction and fantasy as well.
This collection continues the serials of "Orphan of a Shadowy Moon" and "Vran the Chaos-Warped." Both remain solid stories. This portion of Orphan has our hero questioning his place in life despite his successes -- he doesn't just want what his adoptive father wanted for him or what's obviously in front of him, but rather he is seeking something even more than that. Leadership of the Isles is almost as binding as slavery was. It's clear that the true villain that we saw in the first story will soon be meeting our hero, or at least that's what I expect next installment.
Vran is still being tossed world to world as he hunts his nemesis who seeks to thwart him at every turn. This one was strange and drew me in. I enjoyed this installment more than the previous and I even wanted to know about this strange world where a wizard's stronghold is populated only by cannibals and living statue guardians. Sadly, Vran, his quarry, and one other are already thrust from this world to another for the final installment.
Plenty of other stories as well. "The Impossible Footprint" was a fun story of a far future in our solar system and a quest to place a footprint on the sun -- just what the title promises of course! I also enjoyed Misha Burnett's "Fall of a Storm King" quite a bit, as well as the latest installment of Mongoose and Meerkat.
If you haven't picked up any of these, I highly recommend it.
This collection continues the serials of "Orphan of a Shadowy Moon" and "Vran the Chaos-Warped." Both remain solid stories. This portion of Orphan has our hero questioning his place in life despite his successes -- he doesn't just want what his adoptive father wanted for him or what's obviously in front of him, but rather he is seeking something even more than that. Leadership of the Isles is almost as binding as slavery was. It's clear that the true villain that we saw in the first story will soon be meeting our hero, or at least that's what I expect next installment.
Vran is still being tossed world to world as he hunts his nemesis who seeks to thwart him at every turn. This one was strange and drew me in. I enjoyed this installment more than the previous and I even wanted to know about this strange world where a wizard's stronghold is populated only by cannibals and living statue guardians. Sadly, Vran, his quarry, and one other are already thrust from this world to another for the final installment.
Plenty of other stories as well. "The Impossible Footprint" was a fun story of a far future in our solar system and a quest to place a footprint on the sun -- just what the title promises of course! I also enjoyed Misha Burnett's "Fall of a Storm King" quite a bit, as well as the latest installment of Mongoose and Meerkat.
If you haven't picked up any of these, I highly recommend it.
April 20, 2023
This is a 2-star review.
I haven't checked in with Cirsova for some time. The last time I read it, the stories were all self-contained. This issue had more stories that were part of a series. So I was jumping into the middle of a tale in some cases.
I read a couple of other stories and they simply didn't hold my interest.
I've been rooting for this periodical as I appreciate the pulp style that it embraces. The stories in this issue just didn't measure up.
I haven't checked in with Cirsova for some time. The last time I read it, the stories were all self-contained. This issue had more stories that were part of a series. So I was jumping into the middle of a tale in some cases.
I read a couple of other stories and they simply didn't hold my interest.
I've been rooting for this periodical as I appreciate the pulp style that it embraces. The stories in this issue just didn't measure up.
November 3, 2022
Great short stories
A very enjoyable collection of genre-spanning science fiction short stories. Definitely worth following Cirsova to keep up with returning authors.
A very enjoyable collection of genre-spanning science fiction short stories. Definitely worth following Cirsova to keep up with returning authors.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews