And we’re back with more stories! I know you’re all so excited. Check yesterday’s post if you don’t know what I’m talking about. Otherwise, I’m plunging straight into the reviews. Today I am going over the fantasy stories within the issue.
Let’s begin.
Protection Money, by Wen Spencer:
Synopsis: An urban mix of mythology and fantasy set in Pittsburgh, where the world of elves and Oni (humans bred with animal spirits) clash over civil rights and territory. Tommy, a half-Oni, is trying to create a life for himself and his family, but there are plenty who hate his kind and will do all they can to take him down.
My take: One of my favorites in the issue. Some crude language, but don’t let that slip you up. The writing is smooth, and I love the mythology worked throughout the story. Tommy’s hunger for freedom and independence is keenly felt, and the energy never stops once it gets going.
Baby Girl, by Jon Skovron:
Synopsis: Hey, two favorites right in a row. What’re the odds? Cobalt Jackson, a voodoo doctor, is hired to rescue a woman from Hell…but the person who hired him (aside from being dead) isn’t telling Cobalt everything he needs to know. And he’s going to have to face down the Devil by the end.
My take: Fun Cajun-style voodoo going on in here, and the illustrations add great splashes of color to the tale. Great humor mixed in with the macabre visions of Hell, and the ending is hilarious.
Femme Fatale, by Jason D. Wittman:
Synopsis: The story’s focus (though not the protagonist) is Molly Flammare, a mysterious vigilante women with strange powers at her call. When a young boy and a homeless veteran come under her wing and start to work at her dinner club, they begin to learn who this powerful woman really is, and the price she pays for keeping people safe. And then trouble comes…
My take: Three? Three that I have enjoyed immensely, without fail? Awesome. However, this one isn’t to enjoy for the humor or laughs, but for the strong noire feel it evokes, a bittersweet ending and the knowledge that even those who give their lives to protect us need to be looked after and loved as well. It hits hard.
Gnome Improvement, by Rebecca Lickiss:
Synopsis: A married couple start to learn what really goes on in their front lawn when they start paying attention to their garden gnomes.
My take: A witty little piece, where the humor isn’t in any kind of surprise or plot twist, but in the quaint style and a feel-good ending.
A Hire Power, by J. Simon:
Synopsis: A morning at an office that deals with supernatural events and creatures. The manager is trying to sort through applicant resumes. You’d think it would be an easy job. Wham-blam crazy and another really short piece that you can breeze through in a few minutes.
My take: Funny. Clever. Nothing hugely original, but still amusing. Does a good job of parodying an office job by taking everything to a magical extreme.
There were two serials included in this issue, Travails with Momma, Episode 3, by John Ringo, and Fish Story, Episode 3, by Dave Freer, Eric Flint, and Andrew Dennis. Serials are a little harder to review, since I’ve no idea what came before this issue.
For Travails with Momma, I found myself drawn into the story and its coming-of-age romance, along with the strange creatures that made themselves at home in a young boy’s home. Of course, this also meant that the ending didn’t have much closure for me, but I think it might be worth tracking down the other episodes.
I found Fish Story absolutely hysterical. It was another favorite, and while it links up to other episodes, I didn’t feel like I was missing too much by coming in on it late. You’ve got some late-night drinkers at a bar who begin to debate over the existence of the Loch Ness monster, and their following escapade to discover if the beast exists after all. The characters are all unique, hilarious, and even somewhat endearing. The dialogue and witty comebacks made me chuckle the whole way through.
Tomorrow is the last portion of this review, where I’ll go over the stories by new authors, as well as the nonfiction articles and columns. Join me then to wrap this all up.
I see that smile.
I find it mildly humorous that you “posted” this on June 12 at 7:50am, and yet I am posting a reply to it on June 11 at 11:49pm.
Did any of your funky scientist-dudes figure out how time travel works?
Seriously, though, the reviews are cool. I like seeing your take on things. Maybe eventually I’ll check out the link in the first post . . . when I’m not sleepy or packing. :o)
How did you know that I had funky scientist dudes?
Most time travel machines work on the principle of clicking your sparkly heels together three times and saying, “There’s no place like the space-time continuum. There’s no place like the space-time continuum.”
Really. Show it to your friends.
you have no idea how happy I am to see this! was beginning to wonder if I was the only idiot who decided to take up the JBU on their offer to do a review.
Very neatly done. Kinda cool for me to compare different opinions on stories, especially short fiction where there’s not a whole lot of dialogue about.
Fun to see that someone else did this as well. I expected a lot of people to jump at this chance. It was some great reading. If people still want to, you’ve got more than two weeks to read and post reviews on the issue.
Looks like we agreed on some of the stronger ones, David. I like some of your insights, especially on things like the Molly/Rebecca comparison.