2.0
Short horse racing themed collection of average stories. Bluelight Special : True Story – J. Carson Black Bluelight Special : The Bluelight Special – J. Carson Black American Futurity missing. 3 out of 5 Avatar stud. 3 out of 5 2 out of 5
Continue reading about The Bluelight Special – J. Carson Black
A four story collection, all average – which also explains the Fully Loaded title of another. Four Live Rounds : Remaking – Blake Crouch Four Live Rounds : On The Good Red Road – Blake Crouch Four Live Rounds : Shining Rock – Blake Crouch Four Live Rounds : Four Live Rounds – Blake Crouch [...]
A short collection. Where You Lived : Where You Lived – Todd Goldberg Where You Lived : Welcome To Thousand Palms – Todd Goldberg Where You Lived : Last Night At The Dairy Bar – Todd Goldberg Trying not to eat self. 3 out of 5 A golfer. 3 out of 5 Pelican Bob is [...]
A very bad anthology that manages a woeful 2.87 full. Full of dull mediocre adn poor stories, Sherman, Butcher and Shepard aside. And a little imagination from Kressel, at least. Speaking of imagination, lot of writers can’t imagine outside the USA when all of fantasy is there to play with. Avoid. Naked City : Curses [...]
No point industry. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about Daddy Long Legs of the Evening – Jeffrey Ford
Bad meal. 2 out of 5
I’d shrug, too. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about Using It and Losing It – Jonatham Lethem
Bad apple. 2 out of 5 http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/valente_12_11/
Continue reading about Silently And Very Fast 3 – Catherynne M. Valente
A very mediocre collection of stories, made worse by the sameness. Apparently there are no strange streets in Europe, Asia, Africa or Oceania going by this selection. The fantasy writers write about the USA, the historical writers, Rome. So bonus points to Gabaldon and Denton at least for being a bit more interesting. Mediawise, of [...]
Continue reading about Down These Strange Streets – Gardner Dozois and George R. R. Martin
Too many bad stories and nothing of any note in this 2.79 original anthology. Eclipse 4 : Slow as a Bullet – Andy Duncan Eclipse 4 : Tidal Forces – Caitlin R. Kiernan Eclipse 4 : The Beancounter’s Cat – Damien Broderick Eclipse 4 : Story Kit – Kij Johnson Eclipse 4 : The Man [...]
Yankee all. 2 out of 5
Dead stop. 2 out of 5
No good. 2.75 average. A couple of stories of no particular innovation – guess where they feature? Yeah, New York and London. Excited? No, didn’t think you would be. Cluley’s story has the right stuff though of the new and is pretty good. You can skip the rest. Interzone 233 : THE SILVER WIND – [...]
Maxim bad. 2 out of 5
House fuck eat. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about The Art of Falling Down – Jonathan Carroll
Oriental-Orpheum boy. 2 out of 5
Delete. Undo. 2 out of 5
Not so flocked. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about The Chaplain’s Assistant – Brad R. Torgesen
A very poor issue at 2.94. Melton’s Shadow Angel is decent and inventive, however. Asimov’s 428 : THE OBSERVATION POST – Allen M. Steele Asimov’s 428 : D.O.C.S. – Neal Barrett Asimov’s 428 : DANILO – Carol Emshwiller Asimov’s 428 : SHADOW ANGEL – Erick Melton Asimov’s 428 : THE ODOR OF SANCTITY – Ian [...]
Reptiled symphony. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about Concerto Accademico – Barry N. Malzberg
At a 2.88 average this is the worst Year’s Best volume I have ever seen of the long way over 100 I have said. Exceptions are the excellent Watts standout and the very good Anders tale, along with decent stories by Hand and Gaiman. A nice price and DRM free, however, which is very cool [...]
Continue reading about The Year’s Best Science Fiction and Fantasy 2011 – Rich Horton
Boring MMO. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about What I Did On My Summer Vacation – Jerry Oltion
Lunatic art babble. 2 out of 5 http://www.flurb.net/10/sterling10.htm
Continue reading about The Paranoid Critical Method – Bruce Sterling
Experimental economist cyborg pie. 2 out of 5 http://www.flurb.net/10/hendrix10.htm
Space Caterpillar smoke rings. 2 out of 5
Berry discard, Schmendrick. 2 out of 5 http://www.fantasy-magazine.com/new/new-fiction/the-woman-who-married-the-man-in-the-moon/
Continue reading about The Woman Who Married the Man In the Moon – Peter S. Beagle
Three stories in this first issue, one good, one average, one poor. And a poem. Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 1 : Black Flowers Of Sevan – James Lecky Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 1 : Man Of Moldania – Richard Marsden Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 1 : Beyond The Lizard Gate – Alex Marshall A bet leads Tulun to [...]
Continue reading about Heroic Fantasy Quarterly 1 – David Farney and Adrian Simmons
Not too Luminous, this staff. 2 out of 5 http://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?p=219
Continue reading about Beyond The Lizard Gate – Alex Marshall
Not yet. 2 out of 5 http://dailysciencefiction.com/story/leslie-what/the-elephant-mans-love-child
Continue reading about The Elephant Man’s Love Child – Leslie What
No, it isn’t. 2 out of 5 http://www.rofmag.com/nebula-awards/2010-nebula-award-nominee-best-short-story/
Continue reading about How Interesting: A Tiny Man – Harlan Ellison
An average under 3 is not good. Even Reed’s novella sags in the middle. FSF 692 : FSF 692 – Gordon Van Gelder FSF 692 : DEAD MAN’S RUN – Robert Reed FSF 692 : PLINTH WITHOUT FIGURE – Alexander Jablokov FSF 692 : SWAMP CITY LAMENT – Alexandra Duncan FSF 692 : DEATH MUST [...]
Continue reading about Fantasy and Science Fiction 692 – Gordon Van Gelder
Christ shit. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about On The Road To New Egypt – Jeffrey Ford
Axis is a textbook example of how and why not to do a sequel to a really good novel. Or, to put it another way, probably a decent cure for insomnia for some people. After the scenario in the first book it is actually marginally more interesting standing in line waiting to buy milk and [...]
Chop on ship. 2 out of 5 https://comics.comixology.com/#/view/122/1001-Arabian-Nights-The-Adventures-of-Sinbad-0
Continue reading about 1001 Nights: The Adventures of Sinbad 0
Don’t know Margaret. 2 out of 5 http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/barnhill_12_10/
Continue reading about The Taxidermist’s Other Wife – Kelly Barnhill
I’m a monster? 2 out of 5 http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1831&page=25
Sleepy worm. 2 out of 5 http://www.fantasy-magazine.com/2010/10/the-interior-of-mister-bumblethorn’s-coat/
Continue reading about The Interior of Mister Bumblethorn’s Coat – Willow Fagan
Checkout world change, small. 2 out of 5 http://strangehorizons.com/2010/20100913/iteration-f.shtml
Giant hobbit perv. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about A Sparkle For Homer – R. A. Salvatore
No editor. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about Spell Czech – William Michael McCarthy
Death, Sleep. All Starbucks-level boring. 2 out of 5 http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/jemisin_11_10/
Continue reading about On The Banks Of The River Lex – N. K. Jemisin
Nothing like puckering up and playing with a gleeman’s flute, is there? “Thom raised his hand back up and continued playing, a smile showing on his puckered lips. Mat grumbled and yanked his cuff free, waiting as Thom finished this tune, which was not as doleful as the other. When the lanky gleeman lowered the [...]
Continue reading about Towers of Midnight 8 – Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson
There’s a cloner. 2 out of 5 http://josephrobertlewis.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/to-reign-in-heaven-by-joseph-robert-lewis.pdf
Continue reading about To Reign In Heaven – Joseph Robert Lewis
Grownup flashing. 2 out of 5 http://manybooks.net/titles/macleanka3384333843.html
A 2.86 average. Yuck. An ok black comedy by Swanwick and Gerrold was funny. The usual reviews etc. FSF691 : ORFY – Richard Chwedyk FSF691 : EATING AT THE END-OF-THE-WORLD CAFé – Dale Bailey FSF691 : THE DOOR IN THE EARTH – Alexandra Duncan FSF691 : THE LITEROMANCER – Ken Liu FSF691 : UNCLE MOON [...]
Continue reading about Fantasy and Science Fiction 691 – Gordon Van Gelder
Mercy, Grammer. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about Uncle Moon In Raintree Hills – Fred Chappell
Blocked. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about The Window of Time – Richard Matheson
Unsuited Tank name. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about Eating At The End-of-the-world Café – Dale Bailey
A Doc Savage homage. This particular superman is from the future with a mission to stop a rather nasty dystopian future happening. He recruits and reforms a bunch of reprobates to be his ‘Omega Crew’, but prefers to live a bit lower to the ground than Doc. In fact, he even says at the start [...]
One morning you will wake up and ask Y. 2 out of 5 http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/how-to-become-a-mars-overlord/
Continue reading about How To Become A Mars Overlord – Catherynne M. Valente
Governments too dumb for us. Beer ok though. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about The Alien At The Alamo – Arlan Andrews
Dodgy fridgy. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about Aunt Parnetta’s Electric Blisters – Diane Glancy
Alien bad tv. 2 out of 5
The Other Side. 2 out of 5 http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/sidorova_08_10/
State of ruin. 2 out of 5 http://apexbookcompany.com/apex-online/2010/08/short-story-four-is-me-with-squeeeeee-and-loler-by-nick-mamatas/
Continue reading about Four Is Me! With Squeeeeee! And LOLer! – Nick Mamatas
Nothing of interest here except the Sanford – apart from the fact that the last is styled as a puzzle, so may be a bit of fun. Apex Magazine 14 : Apex Magazine 14 – Jason Sizemore Apex Magazine 14 : Artifact – Peter Atwood Apex Magazine 14 : Shrödinger’s Pussy – Terra LeMay Apex [...]
Love problem. 2 out of 5 http://apexbookcompany.com/apex-online/2010/07/short-story-shrodingers-pussy-by-terra-lemay/
A very mixed bag with one very good story by Jeff Carlson. Apex Magazine 13 : Laika’s Dream – Holly Hight Apex Magazine 13 : Sol Asleep – Naomi Libicki Apex Magazine 13 : Long Eyes – Jeff Carlson Apex Magazine 13 : The Thing in the Refrigerator That Could Stop Time – Matthew Kressel [...]
Lightbulb off. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about The Glare and the Glow – Steve Rasnic Tem
Robot replacement. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/8/3/32837/32837-h/32837-h.htm
Continue reading about Check and Checkmate – Walter M. Miller
Rykes plan. 2 out of 5 http://freesf.blogspot.com/2010/06/manners-of-age-h-b-fyfe.html
Off Earth or on. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/3/1/22319/22319-h/22319-h.htm
Continue reading about Mezzerow Loves Company – Floyd L. Wallace
Back Ogrum time, dinosaurs, etc. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/5/6/32563/32563-h/32563-h.htm
Continue reading about The Lost Warship – Robert Moore Williams
Cluster Queen fix, Brad. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/6/5/32657/32657-h/32657-h.htm
Martian Raster fightback. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/6/1/32618/32618-h/32618-h.htm
Roboroping. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/5/9/32592/32592-h/32592-h.htm
And their terrible science. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/5/9/32590/32590-h/32590-h.htm
No superior trip. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/32551/32551-h/32551-h.htm
Mirror problem. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about The Keeper of the Rothenstein Tomb – Iain Sinclair
Destruction war. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/4/1/32416/32416-h/32416-h.htm
Project Superman problems. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/4/0/32403/32403-h/32403-h.htm
Ugg! After the women! 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/3/9/32396/32396-h/32396-h.htm
Continue reading about Oogie Finds Love – Berkeley Livingston
Rash and Reject, lunger. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/2/3/32230/32230-h/32230-h.htm
Not too bad a planetary neighbourhood. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/2/6/32266/32266-h/32266-h.htm
Complete superego. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/2/4/32243/32243-h/32243-h.htm
Dodgy posting clothing. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/32181
Martian Freedom drunken rant. 2 out of 5 http://brainplucker.com/fff/corkscrew.html
Continue reading about The Corkscrew of Space – Poul Anderson
Dworn vs red spider. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/2/0/6/32068/32068-h/32068-h.htm
Continue reading about World of the Drone – Robert Abernathy
Crinked. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about Again And Again And Again – Rachel Swirsky
Viper Murderworld. 2 out of 5 http://www.milehighcomics.com/firstlook/marvel/unxmen448/18.jpg http://www.milehighcomics.com/firstlook/marvel/unxmen448/page18.html
Faeries and dragons and kids. 2 out of 5 http://i.newsarama.com/images/18_SFV2-01_CMYKcrop2.jpg http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album_view.php?gid=1755&page=17
I’m a radio-tonguing imaginary companion. 2 out of 5 http://www.archive.org/stream/Worlds_Of_Tomorrow_Volume_1_Number_3_/Worlds_Of_Tomorrow_Volume_1_Number_3__djvu.txt
With sketchy evidence and sound effects. 2 out of 5 http://www.archive.org/details/Amazing_Science_Fiction_Stories_Volume_32_Number_8_
Continue reading about I Did Too See A Flying Saucer – Frank Bryning
Over acting. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/1/6/4/31648/31648-h/31648-h.htm
Low rent hitmen for Lucifer. 2 out of 5
” “Well, now, that’s interesting,” Orphan said. “Even the Shadeweavers, it would appear, are entirely in the dark. And you, First Guide? You have no insight into this mystery?”” 2 out of 5 http://seawasp.livejournal.com/169564.html#cutid1
Capitalised advice. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/1/5/4/31547/31547-h/31547-h.htm
Need some bi-sexual peace. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/1/5/2/31523/31523-h/31523-h.htm
Continue reading about The Woman-stealers Of Thrayx – Fox B. Holden
Bryce check. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/1/3/5/31356/31356-h/31356-h.htm
Continue reading about The Man Who Staked the Stars – Katherine MacLean
Five of them, unfortunately. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about The Secret Lives of Fairy Tales – Steven Popkes
Grow some legs. I’m off to Aphrodite with the loot. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/31326/31326-h/31326-h.htm
Seedy ship atmosphere is poison. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/files/31286/31286-h/31286-h.htm
Continue reading about Let ‘em Breathe Space – Lester Del Rey
Just buy the Josmian already. 2 out of 5 http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/1/3/0/31307/31307-h/31307-h.htm
Substitution of. 2 out of 5
Continue reading about Simple Gifts – Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff
Dreadful boy. 2 out of 5
Spy medal. 2 out of 5 http://www.archive.org/details/Super_Science_Volume_1_Number_2_
Telepathic Booger, Doc. 2 out of 5 http://www.archive.org/details/Planet_St…
Continue reading about The Madcap Metalloids – W. V. Athanas
Patrol? Plank in space? 2 out of 5 http://www.archive.org/details/Planet_Stories_Volume_6_Number_10_
Continue reading about The Space Between – Robert Ernest Gilbert
Robot want. 2 out of 5 http://www.archive.org/details/Planet_Stories_Volume_6_Number_10_
Mercury mold. 2 out of 5 http://www.archive.org/details/Planet_St…
