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Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine
December 1997

Stories featured in this issue are:

"Jew on a Chip" by Robert Grossbach is an interesting look at an intelligent computer that makes an unusual request to a rabbi. Other than the request, the story is quite light-hearted.
"In the Bleak Mid-Solstice" by David Bischoff tells the story of a tourist in Britain who drops into a pub to hear the music of his favourite band from the 60s. He wonders why they are still performing after all these years and learns the truth in a surprising way.
"Get a Grip" by Paul Park is a 'Philip K. Dick' type examination of reality (or what we think of as reality) that has an fascinating effect and makes you wonder whether it can be true or not.
"The Quick and the Dead" by Carrie Richardson tells the story of a family with a dead brother who comes back from the grave after many years. Told from the sister's perspective, we are told (via flashbacks) the influence the brother had on her and the final disturbing reason why he had come back.
"A Dog's Night" is both a funny and horror tale about a dog who sees little creatures that the owners do not see. There are the usual 'comedy of errors' where the owners wonder what the dog is barking at and blame the dog for various 'accidents'. But the ending is exciting and nicely done.
"Tomorrow Tea" by Laurel Winter tells a quiet tale of two women in the tea business: one who makes the various types of tea, the other whose opinion on the taste of tea holds weight.
"Watch the Skies!" by Pat Murphy and Paul Doherty is a science article about watching the sky: not for UFOs but for rainbows. It is a fascinating article, telling how rainbows are formed, the various types of rainbows created by the sun and moon and how to look for them.
"Schrödinger's Catalyst" by Stephen Dedman looks at a physicist who cannot remember what he did for a whole day. The resolution of the story was too vague for my tastes, though.
"'Tis the Season" by K.D. Wentworth tells a strangely humourous story about what may happen when religious are banned and become underground activities. The actions and reactions among various religious groups attempting to get 'converts' needs to be read to be believed in this story.
"The Idiot's Dream" by Wayne Wightman and Richard Paul Russo takes a look at the old statement about who is the dreamer and who is the dream. A scientist finds an old man in deep hibernation in a newly opened cave. His attempts to examine him only lead to disasters both for him and for people in other universes. The ending is dramatic but to the point.

[Home Page][Index of Reviews][October/November 1997][January 1998]

Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine December 1997

Fantasy & Science Fiction Magazine
December 1997