This is #44, Vol 13 No. 1, of this Canadian Speculative Fiction magazine, but more importantly, the first one I have seen, and an interesting contrast to the UK Speculative Fiction magazine The Third Alternative, whose issue 26 I reviewed a little while back. [click here]

Physically similar to Asimovs/Analog, in terms of size and presentation the bulk of the content is turned over to fiction, some ten short stories in all, viz:

One of the bigger name authors in this issue (note the lack of capitalization: we are not talking, with all due respect, Big Name here) brings us a short story with cyber-kinesthetic gymnasts, and the mysterious Charley and Cylvira.

One of my concerns with 'speculative fiction' is the total freedom it gives authors. I got a feeling reading this that there was a germ or two of an idea, which could have benefitted from being worked on further. It came across almost as being a first draft Robert Reed.

A throwaway final line casting doubt on the veracity of the events and characters rather gives a feeling of the whole story being slightly pointless.

Another moderately big-ish name.

The rings of Saturn provide a challenging space racetrack. One racer is a genuwine down on his luck (as in lucky in love) blues harmonica player. But fate, and pool-table skills combine...

And a pretty good illustration for the story as well. Certainly better than the pretty dire illustrations in the more illustrious monthly mags.

A special shopping day for people with learning disabilities proves a source of discomfort, humour and regret for two pet shop owners.

I wasn't sure how to engage with this story. We all now about discrimination against people with learning difficulties, and discomfort most people feel when they come into contact with them, but the story doesn't really get beyond these broad issues.

A burger pod (UK: burger van) proves to offer transcendental opportunities for the unfortunate souls working therein.

Unchaining one van, a couple head (slowly) for Nirvana/Cibola/Virtual Land of Milk and Honey.

Very enjoyable whilst it lasted, although not substantial enough to fill you up. (Not dissimilar to a Big Mac?)

Said storm being the result, perhaps, of Bagdhad's contribution to an apocalyptic conflict. Two guys are hiding out in the woods, shackling themselves to prevent themselves doing damage to each other when the Storm inflicts the eldritch horrors upon them.

Fairly obvious denouement.

There are two certainties in life: death and taxes.

One quibble: in a fantasy/horror story set in Ancient China (or analogue thereof), surely the adjective hornery has no place?

An 11-yr old boy moves in with his father, in an apartment with a garden filled with rubbish and rats, unpleasant neighbours, nasty landlord, and imminent unpleasantness.

A well-written almost mainstream story, realistically portraying the less than fulfilling life of the young boy.

The second meat-byproduct-pattie related story, which is a shame as the duplication rather takes away from two stories which deserve solo attention : you don't really get twice the pleasure out of a double burger, do you?

This story gives an unpleasant (even more so for its potential for happening) projection on the poor souls behind the counter of your local burger franchise (Hallelujah and let me hear you say Filet o Fish!)

A lonely car-driving drifter picks up a fellow traveller who appears to have a clear, if far distant, destination in mind. But when the waystation house proves to be a (dessicated) letdown, the hitchhiker appears to be equally lonely.

Gets across the dislocation of both souls particularly well.

An unsolicited parcel contains a joke BEM foetus, but the contents appear to be kosher..

Comes across as almost two stories - the parcel delivery not sitting well with the rest of the story. (And the main character planning, at the end of the story, to ask how the mail delivery was done, is a cop out!)

A pretty good selection of stories. Ten short stories of similar length and largely similar setting and tone are in danger of imparting a samey feel, and I would prefer to lose a couple of short stories in favour of one much longer story. But no cartoons and no poetry (oh frabulous joy)

My heart did sink with the advert for the fiction competition for next year's Theme issue. The theme is to be ….. (dramatic drum-roll) ….. William Shakespeare 2002. Oh dear, as if Shakespeare hasn't already been done to death by SF already. Hardly an inspired choice!

The threat of the theme issue notwithstanding, I'm looking forward to the next issue.