F&SF January 2009 Reviewed
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, # 678 from Spirogale Inc
Dec 13, 2008
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction starts 2009 with an issue that's almost entirely fantasy, with stories from returnees Jim Aiken, Jerry Oltion, Michael Meddor and Dean Whitlock, regulars Carol Emshwiller, Albert E. Cowdrey and Charles Coleman Finlay, and a debut from Hugo and Nebula award winner Barry B. Longyear.
Charles Coleman Finlay
Charles Coleman Finlay's "The Minutemen's Witch" is set in the War of Independence and leads into a forthcoming trilogy. It's historical fiction with a hint of fantasy (Proctor Brown has the gift of second sight, or scrying as it's called) so sparse that it's hardly genre at all.
Better is Carol Emshwiller's "The Perfect Infestation" which takes the reader on a most unusual alien invasion. As is often the case with Emshwiller's work, it takes off in an entirely unexpected direction. Recommended.
Albert E. Cowdrey
"Seafarer's Blood" is another historical fantasy, this time from regular contributor Albert E. Cowdrey. Eric Mumford sees through the eyes of a Viking, but when he awakes has bruises all over his body. Its problem is that the changes of direction are inadequately buttressed so don't ring completely true.
Jerry Oltion
"All in Fun" is a short but splendid Christmas story, with a couple of little gifts to the SF fan (the previously unpublished Heinlein, for example) from Jerry Oltion, Toby gets one wish a year, which only seems to work at Vhristmas. The fun comes in the unexpected way that Toby's wishes come true.
The 'classic' re-print this issue is Patricia Ferreira's "Rising Waters" from 1987. It's not quite a classic, but nor is it forgotten, so this story of a young man and the ruined house that he sees drowned in the river falls somewhere between the two.
Barry B. Longyear
"The Monopoly Man" marks a long overdue F&SF debut for Hugo and Nebula Award winning Barry B. Longyear. A drug addicted woman on his her last legs is rescued by a mystery benefactor. Inspired by him, she seeks to repay the favour by taking his daughter into the rehabilitation programme. Highly recommended.
Michael Meddor returns after a ten-year absence with "The Boy Who Sang for Others," in which an injured boy gives voice for the dead in backwoods America. It's gritty and grim and will probably Meddor another award nomiantion or two.
Jim Aiken
Also back after a long absence is Jim Aiken, whose "An Elvish Sword of Great Antiquity" posits an unorthodox view of Elves as the victims of repression and oppression -- for once a short-short whose message isn't as slight as it's length would suggest.
The issue ends with Dean Whitlock's wonderful "Changeling" about a student house-sitting for the summer, the unusual waitress he meets, and the islets off-shore. An early candidate for any Year's Best list.
A limited issue, but excellent in places.
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