Interzone 223 Dominic Green Special Reviewed
The July Issue of Britain's Leading SF Magazine From TTA Press
Jul 22, 2009
Following the success of the Chris Beckett Special Issue last year, Interzone runs a similar tribute to another of its most frequent contributors, the Hugo-nominated Dominic Green. All three of his stories are illustrated by Daniel Bristow-Bailey, and author and artist introduce each story.
Dominic Green
In 'Butterfly Bomb' an old man living alone on an alien world full of ruins is picked up by a spaceship and volunteers to navigate the ship, which is becalmed while the navigation and propulsion systems argue themselves to a standstill. The old man is in pursuit of something that looks like his granddaughter but is capable of rendering a world lifeless. Green writes complex, information-laden stories - in this case the author reconciles Galactic Civilizations with Fermi's Paradox. Wonderful.
By contrast, 'Coat of Many Colours' is set in a near(ish)-future Brazil desperate to find new food sources through genetic engineering. But the Ugly Farm, as one institute is known has been visited by The Recrimination Commission and Doctor Mullen is tasked with finding out whether Experiment 2308 is intelligent. But Mullen becomes less than completely disinterested in the outcome. Outstanding.
'Glister' is another story in the Proprietor Universe of 'Butterfly Bomb.' This time the owner of a spaceship sets out to trade with an alien species, who use his greed to strand him on a world full of gold -- if he is prepared to commit genocide against an alien species to get rich. Many are, for Green has a cynical view of human nature. There is no happy ending for this fine, bleak story.
"The Transmigration of Aishwarya Desai" by Eric Gregory suffers by comparison to the Green on first reading, but improves with each re-visit. Humanity is able to cross both space and alternate reality, and an anthropologist studying the only non-human race -the Maya- yet contacted is summoned to a debate.
That the debate is for reward makes it more of a confrontation than would be otherwise be the case, and proof eventually arrives.
Suzanne Palmer
"Silence and Roses" by the ever-reliable Suzanne Palmer is almost as good as the two best Green stories. Robots staffing an old people's home are incapable of understanding the finite nature of biological life, and revelation is quickly followed by recrimination, until a young woman offers one robot at least fresh purpose. Highly Recommended.
Features
Features include Demonic Groin: Dominic Green's history with Interzone, an editorial by Roy Gray, Magpies and Ravens: Dominic Green interviewed by Andy Hedgecock, and a Dominic Green Bibliography.
Bookzone
There are also the regular columns: Ansible Link, the news-feed by David Langford, BookZone by Jim Steel and Others,Book reviews including Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie (a review and interview by Maureen Kincaid-Speller), and many other tomes. Meanwhile, Tony Lee reviews the latest DVD and Blu-Ray releases.
Mutant Popcorn
Finally, the Mutant Popcorn by Nick Lowe includes Film reviews on Star Trek, Terminator: Salvation, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Dragonball Evolution, Race to Witch Mountain, Night at the Museum 2, 17 Again, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, Synecdoche New York, Monsters vs Aliens, Coraline, Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel, and Outlander.
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