Best SF | 2010 March

Peter S. Beagle. Uncle Chaim and Aunt Rifke and the Angel. (Best Science Fiction and Fantasy of the Year Volume 3).

By Mark Watson ⋅ March 20, 2010 ⋅ One comment

A beautifully written story – an angel is sent to take on the role of the artist’s muse.

T.F. Davenport. Nature’s Children. (GUD Issue 5, Winter 2009)

By Mark Watson ⋅ March 20, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

After a fantasy story and some verse, Gud #5 provides some solid SF, in the shape of a story that looks from the perspectives of the indigenous race and the visting humans who are intent on terraforming their world for human settlers already en route.

Neal Asher. Shell Game. (The New Space Opera 2).

By Mark Watson ⋅ March 19, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

Tale of interspecies conflict – the tone of the story doesn’t work for me, and the story as a whole doesn’t convince and doesn’t engage.

Jay Lake. To Raise a Mutiny Betwixt Yourselves. (The New Space Opera 2).

By Mark Watson ⋅ March 18, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

Set in the same ‘post-Mistake’ setting of Lake’s ‘Torquing Vacuum’, which appeared in Clarkesworld Magazine a few weeks back, and which impressed me.

infinivox

By Mark Watson ⋅ March 17, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

[March 17th 2010] Impressed with the robot-themed stories selected by Infinivox for their latest audio collection. Less impressed with the cover, which does the stories (and the genre) a dis-service! Listen to Swanwick’s ‘The Scarecrow’s Boy’ here (it’s a cracking little story) here.

Jason Sanford. Here We Are, Falling Through Shadows. (Interzone #225 Nov/Dec 2009).

By Mark Watson ⋅ March 16, 2010 ⋅ One comment

Another good story from Sandford, to add to his growing IZ ouvre.

gud

By Mark Watson ⋅ March 16, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

[March 16th 2010] Gud issue #5 had just plonked onto my doormat – more info over at GUD Magazine website : offers their most eclectic issue to date wrapped around a scientific core..

Kristine Kathryn Rusch. Defect. (The New Space Opera 2).

By Mark Watson ⋅ March 14, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

Rus(c)hed through at breakneck speed, with little mystery, as things happen very quickly and progress the story with almost indecent haste.

The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, January/February 2010.

By Mark Watson ⋅ March 14, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

Excellent issue, with Paul Park the standout, and others from Robert Reed, Charles Oberndorf, Dean Whitlock, John Langan, Robin Aurelian, Marc Laidlaw, Steven Popkes, Kate Wilhelm.