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Analog Science Fiction & Fact Magazine
February 2002

This month's issue of Analog starts with an editorial by Stanley Schmidt about monsters. But these are not real monsters but rather, monsters that we have manufactured out of our own imaginations or by misplaced fear. Examples he includes are a common small alligator in a New York lake that got magnified to the status of a monster alligator or fears about common snakes in forests which are automatically poisonous. He wonders how we would fare once we meet aliens which resembles our monsters.

Stories featured in this issue are:

"Hominids (Part 2 of 4)" by Robert J. Sawyer. In this part of the interesting story, it becomes apparent that the mysterious stranger who suddenly appeared in a mine is not what he seems. He is a Neanderthal but one not from the past; further investigations reveal that he is from the present but from an alternate universe where Neanderthals are the dominant species, not Man. And back in his own universe, his partner, who was conducting an experiment in quantum computing, is now accused of murder and may well lose unless he can figure out what has happened.
"Presence of Mind" by Edward M. Lerner. An interesting story about the development of a partially intelligent and learning type of artificial limbs. But the work on artificial limbs is going to reveal a sinister and unintended result in this world, where networks are ubiquitous and direct mind-machine interfaces are part of people's daily work,
"Powered by Water" by Mia Molvray. A fast paced but slightly comfusing story about going-ons in a biological lab. One of the scientists there is tasked to discover why caffein is no longer having any effect; people are not alert after drinking it (via coffee or soft drinks). The answer, and the solution, takes a bit of work to find out in this story.
"Dumptown" by Mark Rich. In this story, set on the moon where colonies have been set up, an artist is tasked to produce a statue; a statue that could lead to demolition of 'Watertown', a place where a uniquely moon culture has developed. The terms of the contract do not allow the artist to make an artistic statement protesting the demolition but there are still some tricks up this artist's sleeve.
"Dumptown" by Mark Rich. In this story, set on the moon where colonies have been set up, an artist is tasked to produce a statue; a statue that could lead to demolition of 'Watertown', a place where a uniquely moon culture has developed. The terms of the contract do not allow the artist to make an artistic statement protesting the demolition but there are still some tricks up this artist's sleeve.
"Antarctic Lakes Yield Lessons for Mars, Europa, and Beyond" by Richard A. Lovett, Ph.D.. A fascinating Science Fact article about the discovery of lakes of water beneath the ice of Antarctica. The article covers some possible ways nutrients may get into the lakes and speculates of similar kinds of mechanims existings on Europa (a satellite of Jupiter that has a large icy crust with possible liquid water underneath) and other significant bodies ice in the Solar System.
"The Next Big Accelerator" by John G. Crames. This Alternate View article looks at the current state of particle accelerators in the world, bemoans the fact that the US does not have more powerful particle accelerator. He argues that an accelerator more powerful than the ones being constructed in Europe needs to be built to test the Standard Model (current theory of fundamental physics and their interactions).

[Home Page][Index of Reviews][January 2002][March 2002]

Analog Science Fiction & Fact Magazine February 2002

Analog Science Fiction & Fact Magazine
February 2002