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Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
December 1997

This month's issue of Asimov's features a Reflections column by Robert Silverberg that looks at the sometimes absurd lengths some groups will go to apparently protect themselves against man-made radioactivity; sometimes to the point of cutting off radiation-related research that may actually save lives.

Stories featured in this issue are:

"The 43 Antarean Dynasties" by Mike Resnick is the usual Resnick fare. Here, a group of (bored) Terran tourist visits a world which, as explained by their native guide, had a glorious past. Unfortunately, The writing was reasonable although the apparent similarities to the way Asian and African empires were treated by Europeans to be somewhat obvious.
"Standing in the Spirit" by Janet Kagan is a neat tale about the Christmas Spirit and the influence of Charles Dickens's Scrooge character.
"Do We Dare Disturb the Universe?" by Rob Chilson takes a strange look at a "Schrodinger's Cat" type experiment and how it must be resolved.
"Noodle You, Noodle Me" by B.J. Thrower looks at a young man who tries to get a American-Native magician to help him win a local fish catching competition so that he can use to leave his town. But his quest is complicated by a girl he loves and the relation he has with the magician.
"El Castillo de la Perseverancia" by Howard Waldrop takes a weird look at the world of professional wrestling. Things get weider when three masked wrestlers may turn out to be more than just human.
"The Wisdom of Old Earth" by Michael Swanwick shows a future where humanity has moved into space and enhanced themselves, leaving behind those humans on earth. Into this comes a safari-like expedition by a 'spacer' on earth that highlights the differences that have developed between them.
"Newsletter" by Connie Willis is Willis's usual, funny story. This time, it revolves around the writing of a newsletter for Christmas. What do you put in it that won't bore your friends? As the writer of this newsletter finds out, there is a lot to write especially when it turns out she may be in the middle of an 'insidious' alien invasion!

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Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine December 1997

Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
December 1997