Tuesday 25 August 2009

Jupiter XXIV: Iocaste reviewed in The Fix

Finally after several years of trying, The Fix has reviewed an issue of Jupiter.
http://thefix-online.com/reviews/jupiter-xxiv-iocaste-april-2009/
David Hebblethwaite (not a stranger to Jupiter, he reviewed issue 14 for Whispers of Wickedness) takes up the challenge of issue 24.
Of Black Water (David Conyers) Hebblethwaite writes "Conyers is pretty good at evoking his future, in particular by dropping in telling little details that hint at broader goings-on outside the frame of the narrative."
Sides of the Coin (Gustavo Bondoni) is "a kind of techno-magical warfare reminiscent of computer games"
He describes Our Man in Herrje (Andrew Knighton) "beneath the humour is an interesting examination of the difficulties of relating to cultures very different from our own; and a question for each of us – how much of what we say or think, even to ourselves"
The Ninth Circle (A.J. Kirby) "is an interesting story which I’m not sure I fully understood, but found engaging nonetheless."
If You Can't Beat Them (James McCormick) is "a story which is lightweight and fun"
And finally Dog's Best Friend (Gareth D. Jones) "ends the magazine on a poignant and thoughtful note"

I'm happy with all that, I wonder what The Fix will make of Erinome

Monday 24 August 2009

The Steel Remains

Just finished reading this from Richard Morgan. A departure from his usual SF, but very definitely a Morgan book. I've read a good bit of Fantasy in my time, in my younger days I was a bit of a Stephen Lawhead fan, so swords and mythical creatures read just fine to me. And this book was great, at times a bit disturbing, and not exactly pretty, but Richard is just so good at description and making it feel like you really know your characters, that this is a winner for me. Heard today that the sequel is on the way, which is only a good thing, Richard has created a wonderful world here, perhaps not the best story line, but with writing like this, that doesn't matter, you're there on that battlefield seeing the blood flash up across your face. This is writing that grips and pulls you along with it.
Good stuff Richard, just hope you haven't abandoned SF altogether, though the Kiriath technology helped me feel at home.

Monday 3 August 2009

SFrevu of issue 25: Erinome

SFrevu have published their review of issue 25.
You can see the full review here.
'Radio Free' by Sam Kepfield apparently "doesn't really describe the current United States of America".
But more positively...
Fet Milners 'On the Commodore' is described as "an effective, unsettling tale."
Kate Kellys 'The Oracle' is "a fine story".
Neil Clifts 'The Mariner' is "a delightful, touching tale".
'Dusting Tycho' by Vera Sepulveda is a "fun story that I enjoyed a lot".

Would be interesting to hear if you agree with Sams review?