Galaxy's Edge Magazine, Issue 60, January 2023

by Lezli Robyn (Editor), Eric Davin, Gardner Dozois

A Magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy


ISSUE 60, January 2023

Lezli Robyn, Editor
Lauren Rudin, Assistant Editor
Z.T. Bright, Slush Reader
Taylor Morris, Copyeditor
Shahid Mahmud, Publisher

Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, Eric Leif Davin, Gardner Dozois, Jack Dann, Michael Swanwick, Yefim Zozulya (translated by Alex Shvartsman), Marc A. Criley, Mike Resnick, Alan Smale, Alicia Cay 58
Jean Marie Ward Interviews Nisi Shawl
The Reflection of Mount Vitaki by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

Columns L. Penelope, Alan Smale

Recommended Richard Chwedyk

Galaxy’s Edge is a bi-monthly magazine published by Phoenix Pick, the science fiction and fantasy imprint of Arc Manor, an award winning independent press based in Maryland. Each issue of the magazine has a mix of new and old stories, a serialization of a novel, columns by L. Penelope, Alan Smale and Gregory Benford, and book recommendations by Richard Chwydyk.

231 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 22, 2022

About the author

I am an Aussie Lass who has recently moved to the United States, and loves writing sf, fantasy, horror, humour and even dabbles in steampunk every now and then. Since my first sale to Clarkesworld, I've made over 25 story sales to professional markets around the world, including Asimov’s and Analog. In 2009 I was a finalist for the AUREALIS AWARD (Aussie) for Best SF Story, and finalist for the 2010 IGNOTUS AWARD (Spanish) for Best Foreign Short Story, as well as a 2010 CAMPBELL AWARD NOMINEE for best new writer. In 2011 I won the Best Foreign Translation ICTINEUS AWARD (Catalan) for "Soulmates", a novelette written with Mike Resnick, and first published in Asimov's Magazine. My first short story collection will be published by TICONDEROGA PRESS in 2013, and I will also be releasing an ARC MANOR Stellar Guild Series book wih the most awarded short story writer of all time, Mike Resnick, in the same year.

http://www.writertopia.com/profiles/L...

Reviews

[Thia Reads A Lot]

Galaxy's Edge Magazine, Issue 60, January 2023 - Edited by Lezli Robyn
I don't think I'll read another issue of Galaxy's Edge unless I already know several of the contributors already. Of the 8 short stories in this issue, I only enjoyed 3 (The Last Man and The Gardener of Ceres got 3*, Old MacDonald Had a Farm? got 4*). "Cain and Abel" and "Leap of Faith" were both biblical stories without anything interesting to them. The interview with Nisi Shawl was interesting and the Longhand column included 12 tips to get over writer's block. The other column (Turning Points) was all about lasers and I skimmed it, as I did the "Recommended books" section.

THE LAMENT CONFIGURATION (Alicia Cay): 2* I had to push myself through this story, I didn't like it, I could tell how it would end and the French annoyed me (misuse of plural/singular forms, also weird choice of words (why translate the adjective and not the noun?))

Mother's Love, Father's place: 2* The only fantastic elements is a vision. A women is giving birth to twins and the father is considering killing one to avoid a curse. He has a vision and instead leaves with his wife. Somehow he also gave the King an opportunity for reform by burning his palace?

The Last Man: 3* Almost everyone is dead. Valerie is doing some shopping when she meets Andy, who decides to move in with Valerie and Lucy to be "the man". They don't agree with his plans to have children and it ends with Andy in a grave. It was not the first man, but hopefully the last.

Touring: 2* Buddy Holly, Elvis and Janis Joplen find themselves in a very small town giving a concert together. Is it time travel? Simulation? No clear answer.

Cain and Abel: 1* Again, where is the fantastical element? This is just a retelling of the Bible, and not even an interesting one at that...

The Gardener of Ceres: 3* Cute. Couple moved away from Ceres to Serafina and the stars, Mayvonne came back sick and died. "Xenia" comes back to Ceres to claim her body, reveals to their friend Nesha that she is Mayvonne in Xenia's embodiment. They did something illegal to transfer her to a non-sick body and now will do it backwards."

Old MacDonald Had a Farm? : 4* Man solves the international food crisis with the Butterballs, an engineered animal that is revolutionary. Journalists, including McNeil the narrator, are invited to tour the farm. Staying behind when the other visit the processing plant, one Butterball mentions God. Another journalist says a Butterball asked her not to eat it. It solves a problem, but... McNeil becomes vegetarian.

LEAP OF FAITH (Alan Smale): 1* Levi is God's Engineer, but he never remembers what he does when he leaves Shadom to do God's work. He comes back to his unfaithful wife and his unruly daughters Deborah and Leah. Two "angels" ask him for sanctuary. His daughters flee with the angels while he confronts the mob that wanted to [attack?] the angels. Lilith gets him away from the city, which is destroyed by golems. Levi, his daughters and the angels go to [another realm?].


Reading Journal Index: 2023-071