The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction - August, 2004

Stories:
"The Condor's Green-Eyed Child" – by Robert Reed (Novelete) 24 pages
"The Tribes of Bela" – by Albert E. Cowdrey (Novella) 65 pages
"Start the Clock" - by Benjamin Rosenbaum (Short Story) 16 pages
"The Library" – by Carol Emshwiller (Short Story) 17 pages
"Relics of the Thim" – by Matthew Hughes (Short Story) 13 pages

The August issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction is the first one that I decided to review, and now I'm doing reviews of every issue.

The August issue contains fewer stories than most issues (usually there are 7-10, but this time there are only 5). However, that's because there's a 65 page novella in it from Albert Cowdrey, which really makes the magazine. It's not as good as the July issue, but it's damned close. The columns are also interesting, with Elizabeth Hand convincing me that I'm going to have to go out and find Leslie What's Olympic Games. Her write-up of it is brilliant. This is definitely an issue to check out. Here's my take on the stories, followed by a rundown of what's in the articles.

"The Condor's Green-Eyed Child" – by Robert Reed
A young Native-American child named Raven is out trying to make a name for himself when he stumbles upon what turns out to be a plane crash, and two young "demons" are trying to survive. Raven's people have been hidden for centuries and he has to decide whether or not to help the young girl save her brother. This story takes place in some sort of near-future Earth where genetic engineering is used to repopulate species, making the western part of North America covered with new buffalo and other animals. But that's not the most important part of the story. The story is about young courage and a boy who must face some hard decisions as part of his coming of age. It's an interesting blend of primitive and modern day, with Raven's descriptions of things that we take for granted (such as airplanes) as some sort of demon magic. Raven is an intriguing protagonist but I found the villain of the piece, One-Less-Than-One, to be not as interesting, robbing the final confrontation of a little tension. Otherwise, the story is a great start to the issue.

"The Tribes of Bela" – by Albert E. Cowdry
A mining colony of the planet of Bela has been the scene of some grisly murders. Nineteen of the just over 1000 colonists and miners have been killed, all by blows to the back of the head. Colonel Robert Kohn has been sent to investigate, but he finds a planet that's trying to reclaim itself. The native population does not like its ancient buildings paved over by these new aliens, and the story becomes a fight for survival. I thought this was a really effective story, moving from a science fiction mystery to a story of people struggling to survive against the elements with effortless ease. The mystery is a bit predictable, but Kohn's character shines throughout, making even the first part of the story interesting. If the entire story had been this mystery, this would have been a major problem. It's 65 pages long, but it moves quickly and you'll be done with it before you know it. That's not because it's light, but because it's good. This is my favourite story in the magazine.

"Start the Clock" – by Benjamin Rosenbaum
In a future Earth where genetic augmentation can stop the hands of time, a group of "Nines" (kids who were augmented so they are eternally 9 years old) are trying to buy a new place to live, one with lots of fun stuff to do. But one of their number goes missing, and Susan has to go find her. What she finds may shatter the peace that she's lived with, or it may make her adapt to unwanted change. Rosenbaum has created an interesting world, where kids can be locked into a certain age, live their lives, and can then decide to "start the clock" and begin aging normally. Susan's reaction to being exposed to people having sex just emphasizes the differences, as she still has the "that stuff is grody" feeling that a lot of kids that age have. But while she doesn't want to start the clock, she does like to dabble in some adult, responsible things, like cooking. I did have a little trouble coordinating the "fun" attitudes that these Nines had with the idea that their natural problem-solving ability and competitiveness enables them to earn their money and their reputation. I didn't find the world quite believable. It does, however, make some interesting commentary on society and the sexual relations between gays and straights. This doesn't happen directly, but mainly through allegory via Susan's attitude toward the unaugmented.

"The Library" – by Carol Emshwiller
Gabb is a soldier in a war that we're not told the origins of. He and his men are on a mission behind enemy lines to destroy the giant library that is apparently the center of the enemy's culture. It's full of lewdness and corruption, vivid evidence of why they must be wiped out. Yet it's also quite beautiful, as are the librarians. When he's captured by them, his values are tested as he must decide whether to continue his mission or fall prey to the library's allure. "The Library" is an interesting examination of the nature of truth. Gabb and Yawn, the librarian who becomes attached to him, showcase the differences between those who feel images are lies and those who feel that images are the truth, or at least a reflection of the truth. Gabb's fight to resist what he sees as the corruption that's tempting him is well done, though I felt Yawn's attitudes were slightly off. She seemed a little too compliant, willing to forgive Gabb almost anything. Still, it's an interesting little tale with nice cultural contrasts.

"The Relics of Thim" – by Matthew Hughes
Henghis Hapthorn is back (last seen in the March issue, which I haven't read). The freelance discriminator, known for unraveling complex mysteries, is giving a lecture on asymmetric logic on the planet Pierce. Afterward, at a gathering of the scientists, he is approached by an archeologist's assistant asking his opinion of time travel. When Henghis says it's impossible, the man offers to demonstrate it at the archeological dig, bringing back artifacts from the planet's past. Henghis has to not only prove or disprove the time travel, but he gets caught up in more then he bargained for. This story is simply hilarious with a twist ending that I loved. It's almost better then "The Tribes of Bela," but it doesn't miss it by much. The social gathering after the lecture is classic, with a wonderful play on the old "when all impossible answers to a question have been eliminated, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the true answer." The story is short, so it doesn't waste any time getting to the crux of the problem, which is also a good thing. Henghis is a bit aloof but he's never too haughty, and I really want to read his first story (I discovered that I missed the March issue somehow). There's nothing compelling or deep in the story, but there's a lot to like.