Stories
"The Fate of Mice" – by Susan Palwick (short story) 13 pages
"Invasion of the Axbeaks" – by Philip C. Jennings (novelette) 20 pages
"Rhinemaidens" – by Larry Niven (short story) 8 pages
"City of Reason" – by Matthew Jarpe (novelette) 16 pages
"Water Angel" – by Bruce McAllister (short story) 4 pages
"Inside Job" – Connie Willis (novella) 47 pages

Gardner Dozois is gone, and the era of Sheila Williams has begun. Dozois resigned as editor of the magazine to be able to devote more time to his writing. Don't worry, Williams has a great pedigree too. She's been with the magazine in some capacity since 1982. She's lined up a company of heavy-hitters for her first issue too, with both Connie Willis and Larry Niven. I wish the Niven story was stronger, but Willis provides a wonderful treat. Williams has also enlisted a wonderful cover artist, with Michael Whelan returning to provide a gorgeous cover. Williams is also going to make a couple of changes to the format, including a periodic column called "Thought Experiments," which will be a series of non-fiction articles about issues in science fiction. In this issue, she's allowed to reprint an essay by Roger Ebert about his experiences in science fiction fandom when he was growing up. The essay is full of nostalgia and illustrates beautifully the way fandom existed back in the 1950s and 60s. It almost made me want to spring the money to go the next convention I can go to. Finally, I can say that there wasn't one story in this issue that was not at least enjoyable. Some were stronger than others, but all of them were worth a shot. Great start, Sheila!

The Stories
"The Fate of Mice" – by Susan Palwick
The Sheila Williams era starts off with a great little story about an IQ and vocal-enhanced mouse, the scientist who enhanced him, and the scientist's daughter. The scientist is going through his own rough times (divorced and disapproving of his ex-wife's new boyfriend, he's worried about the effect on his daughter, Pippa). Rodney, the mouse in question, wakes from what could be a dream about being a horse. He actually *feels* like he has been a horse, knowing what it feels like to drag a carriage and everything, but Dr. Krantor insists that it's not possible. He must have heard a story somewhere about a horse. But Rodney begins dreaming about other mouse stories, and he keeps asking Pippa to explain to him. When he gets to Flowers for Algernon, however, things change. The characterization in this story is quite vivid as Palwick limits herself to three characters and gives herself an opportunity to explore them. The scientist is stubborn but not evil, paranoid but caring (he insists that his ex will spirit Pippa away from him) and Rodney is quite intelligent. The arguments between the two of them when Rodney discovers what the ending of Flowers for Algernon is are extremely well-done. I was very touched by this story.

"Invasion of the Axbeaks" – by Philip C. Jennings
This story is funny in its own way, beginning with a confession by the narrator that it's not an easy story to tell and that it's not about him. And, in a way, he's right. Petronius Mullins, potential heir to Mullins' Planet and the chairmanship of Texa-Bishi corporation, finds himself in a sticky situation. The Axbeaks are native of the planet that his father discovered and leased to the corporation. They can be quite violent, and apparently the only way to keep them at bay is to quote verse at them. But it has to be different verse every time, as they seem to incorporate it into their language, thus requiring that the corporation give each traveler to the planet his/her own verse to recite. There are more to the Axbeaks than is apparent, though, and when Petronius' ex-girlfriend gets involved in an Axbeak movement, Petronius will find himself on the wrong end of the law. But what about what's right? Petronius makes a wonderful narrator, with several raw asides (especially when he's complaining when he hasn't had sex in a while). The sections are very short and crisp, and Petronius is not above jumping to another subject very abruptly, making for an interesting read. When the secret of the Axbeaks is revealed, the story gets even better.

"Rhinemaidens" – by Larry Niven
One of the acknowledged masters of science fiction, Niven gives us a short tale about mermaids, though these aren't the mermaids of your regular fairy-tales. Veryon is a metalsmith, coming to Minterl to find a job. He happens upon two mermaids frolicking in the canal. They offer to show him to a forge where he can find work, and it turns out to be a forge that the aquatic folk had started before realizing that they could never use it for themselves (it would dry them out way too easily). While warned of the dangers of working with them, Veryon still does, but that quickly changes when he finds out what they are really like. While this story had some interest, I found I didn't really care that much about anything that happened to the characters. It was a bit too predictable as well. It's also the second story in the issue that ends in the middle of the action. While it works in "The Fate of Mice" (echoing the "we never know what happens to the mouse" theme of the story), I'm not sure it works so much here.

"City of Reason" – by Matthew Jarpe
As the introduction states, this is a tale of "multiple betrayals in the asteroid belt." A former pirate, raider of the various homesteaders scattered throughout the outer solar system, has become a Damager, or one who legally reduces derelict ships to scrap metal. He gets an alarm signal from his ship that an object is near. It turns out to be a dirty iceball of a ship, and the pilot is a young man, Jesse, who says he's on his way to the City of Reason, but not for any normal purpose. He intends to destroy it. The City of Reason supposedly sent a computer virus that almost wiped them out, and the Jesse wants to retaliate with the bomb they have on board. But what's with Jesse's co-pilot? Could she have some ulterior motive for helping Jesse? While I did enjoy reading this story, it isn't as good as Jarpe's last story ("The Bad Hamburger," a collaboration with Jonathan Andrew Sheen in December's Fantasy & Science Fiction. It has some interesting technology, twist upon twist with a final one at the end, and some good characters. The narrator has a bit of a cynical attitude, but overall he does care a little about this poor kid he's happened upon. Definitely worth a look.

"Water Angel" – by Bruce McAllister
A young boy, a loner, spends his time on a beach spearing fish tails but then letting them go. His beach is separated from another, more public beach by a fence, and he has carefully cultivated his detachment from the people over there. Instead, the fish are his companions. He never misses in his spear attempts, always hitting the tail in a non-lethal way. Until he comes upon something that isn't a fish, and tragedy strikes. This story was actually quite beautiful and well-written, but I have no idea what the point of it is, especially the ending. McAllister gives us evocative images, especially the solitude of the boy, but I didn't get it. If anybody reads (or has read it) and can explain the ending, I would appreciate it. It's short, so even if you don't understand it, it's still worth reading.

"Inside Job" – Connie Willis
The issue ends with a novella by Willis that is a skeptic's dream, with one exception. Rob is the founder of The Jaundiced Eye, dedicated to the debunking of charlatans such as faith healers, psychics, sensory therapists, and the like. His one employee and friend, Kildy, is a former actress who wants to get out of the Hollywood game and expose these frauds for what they are. They've been a very successful team for almost a year now, but Rob finds himself falling for Kildy. The story opens with Kildy calling and insisting that he come to a channeler, Ariaura, who is getting rich off of her "talents." Rob says that he doesn't do channelers, but Kildy forces him to come anyway. It seems that the last couple of Ariaura's shows have been interrupted by her seeming to channel a skeptic, calling what she does nonsense. When Rob finally figures out who she's supposedly channeling, he also has to figure out whether or not *this* is a fraud. Is this all part of a fiendish plan? Or will the attempts to expose a channeler result in proof that channeling exists? This story is wonderful, carrying much the same sense of humour (though obviously different subject matter) as Willis' To Say Nothing of the Dog. It's irreverent and the characterization is wonderful. I would love to read more adventures of Rob and Kildy, though the ending of the story doesn't really lend itself to any more. The plot has some interesting twists, but one of them is telegraphed a bit too much. A wonderful way to end the issue.

The Articles
"Reflections" – by Robert Silverberg
Saying good-bye to Gardner and tracing the history of SF magazines, from the 1920s to the Gardner's era.

"Thought Experiments"
"How Propeller-Heads, BNFS, Sercon Geeks, Newbies, Recovering Gafiators, and Kids in Basements Invented the World Wide Web, All Except for the Delivery System" – by Roger Ebert
Reviewed above, but let me reiterate that I loved this essay.

"On Books" – by Paul Di Filippo
And Now the News - collection of stories by Theodore Sturgeon
A College of Magics - by Caroline Stevermer
Flesh & Blood - by Nick Gifford
The Blue Mirror - by Kathy Koja
Mothership - by John Brosnan
Demonized - by Christopher Fowler
Adam Strange Archives - DC Comics
Also, numerous small-press books and magazines that he thinks you will enjoy

"The Index"
Indexing every story that appeared in Asimov's in 2004 (that's cover-date, not date of publication). A valuable reference to see if there are any stories by your favourite authors that you've missed.