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n e IN THIS ISSUE Mark Rich,Mark &Sonya Taaffe by Francis Stevens of Cerberus Heads The by Rippon Gina Male Female and Minds Neuroscience Explodes Myths of the the Gender Brains: Our and How New by Kate Heartfield Alice Payne Rides Alice Payne Arrives and by Alexis Hall by Moore NancyJane reviewed by Debbie Notkin by Vonda McIntyre N. by Karen Burnham by Timmel L. Duchamp Lukin B. Joshua by Amy Wolf Like aFish aBicycle Needs My Friend Vonda The AffairThe of Mysterious the Letter FictionShort Reviews Exile WaitingThe by Sofia Gwynne Garfinkle, Rhei, by Christina M.Rau World MArchive:On After of End the the by Steven Barnes the Dream of Those Stay Who and Fight The Nightmare of Those Walk Who Away, G by Alexis Pauline Gumbs rand F B eatured F I D ook n lash Jean LeBlanc Jean m M ust E P other

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Managing Editor Arrate Hidalgo Vol. 9 No. 3 — 2019 Reviews Editor In Memoriam Nisi Shawl My Friend Vonda by Amy Wolf h 1 Features Editor Joshua B. Lukin L. Timmel Duchamp by L. Timmel Duchamp h 3 Arts Editor Kath Wilham Flash Fiction Like a Fish Needs a Bicycle by Nancy Jane Moore h 2 $5.00 Essays The Nightmare of Those Who Walk Away, the Dream of Those Who Stay and Fight by Steven Barnes h 4 On M Archive: After The End Of The World by Alexis Pauline Gumbs by Christina M. Rau h 7

Poems by Sofia Rhei, translated from Spanish by Lawrence Schimel h 9 by Gwynne Garfinkle & Mark Rich h 22 by Sonya Taaffe h 23

Grandmother Magma The Exile Waiting by Vonda N. McIntyre H reviewed by Debbie Notkin h 10 2 Dust Lanes Short Fiction Reviews by Karen Burnham h 12

Book Reviews The Affair of the Mysterious Letter by Alexis Hall reviewed by Cynthia Ward h 14 Alice Payne Arrives and Alice Payne Rides by Kate Heartfield reviewed by Arley Sorg h 16 Gender and Our Brains: How New Neuroscience Explodes the Myths of the Male and Female Minds by Gina Rippon reviewed by Nancy Jane Moore h 18 The Heads of Cerberus by Francis Stevens reviewed by Kathleen Alcalá h 20 Featured Artist Jean LeBlanc h 24

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Electronic single issue: $3 add 9.5% sales tax.]

Cover banner collagraph of the Cascadia subduction zone by Marilyn Liden Bode n

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resources, even her choice of restaurants. restaurants. of choice her even resources, a bill that banned the teaching of yoga yoga of teaching the banned that bill a

Cont. on p. 2 p. on Cont.

person I have ever known: with her time, time, her with known: ever have I person State honchos were thinking of passing passing of thinking were honchos State

In fact, she was the most generous generous most the was she fact, In Memorial) that when some Washington Washington some when that Memorial)

money!” money!” you owe “I said, I “Vonda,” ed by Amy Thomson at Vonda’s recent recent Vonda’s at Thomson Amy by ed

you any money?” any you - (repeat story a me told once She funny.

she awoke and said intently, “Do I owe owe I “Do intently, said and awoke she might not know that she was wickedly wickedly was she that know not might

over her as a member of “Vonda’s Posse,” Posse,” “Vonda’s of member a as her over Since Vonda wrote serious SF, you you SF, serious wrote Vonda Since

failingly polite. While I was watching watching was I While polite. failingly of the movie. the of

- un was Vonda deathbed, her on Even the cell next to Fan Bing Bing, the star star the Bing, Bing Fan to next cell the

the offender. the for — thing like sorrow like thing liberty to say, lest I be locked up by Xi in in Xi by up locked be I lest say, to liberty

- some with gaffe the relate calmly would out why. I think I got it, but am not at at not am but it, got I think I why. out

da would not curse and rail. Instead, she she Instead, rail. and curse not would da I used all my film smarts to try to find find to try to smarts film my all used I

- Von dinner), to her invite to forgot and was produced but not distributed, distributed, not but produced was Sun,

came over to hers, used all of her food, food, her of all used hers, to over came The Moon and the the and Moon The novel, Hugo-winning

editor of a huge publishing house who who house publishing huge a of editor that is Publishing. When the film of her her of film the When Publishing. is that

someone pulled a boner (like that then- that (like boner a pulled someone the favor by filling me in on the “fun” “fun” the on in me filling by favor the

was so infrequently negative that when when that negative infrequently so was about the Business, and she returned returned she and Business, the about

heard her raise her voice in anger. She She anger. in voice her raise her heard earn us more Industry cred. I told her her told I cred. Industry more us earn

In the thirty years I knew her, I never never I her, knew I years thirty the In would would plumes de nom male that hope the

between an em and en dash. en and em an between me “Arnie” and I called her “Vinnie” in in “Vinnie” her called I and “Arnie” me

plained, in her quiet way, the difference difference the way, quiet her in plained, a studio drone, so Vonda nicknamed nicknamed Vonda so drone, studio a

- ex and work, my all read books, Kindle Now, I had worked in Hollywood as as Hollywood in worked had I Now,

she liked. For me, she formatted my my formatted she me, For liked. she ment on, Vonda and I were besties. were I and Vonda on, ment

Vonda would do anything for those those for anything do would Vonda - mo that from caffeine, of spurt a along

ond mother. ond fee grinder. Since the way to my heart lies lies heart my to way the Since grinder. fee

- sec true a me, for and, aunt, thoughtful - cof a me bought she strong, mine liked

me. Vonda positioned herself as a peer, a a peer, a as herself positioned Vonda me.

newspaper through it!”), and, knowing I I knowing and, it!”), through newspaper 1

has always astounded astounded always has — pecially writers pecially

south (“They make it so you can read your your read can you so it make (“They south

i

- es — lack of ego, so rare in most people most in rare so ego, of lack voiced her opinion about the coffee down down coffee the about opinion her voiced

would never hear it from her. Her utter utter Her her. from it hear never would After she she After . sloppy look Manners Miss

that unless you knew this going in, you you in, going this knew you unless that she made made she — ever guest house best the was

movie deals, she was so down-to-earth down-to-earth so was she deals, movie know her. First, let me state that Vonda Vonda that state me let First, her. know

Vonda: for all her fame, awards, and and awards, fame, her all for Vonda: versal script workshop that I truly got to to got truly I that workshop script versal

The one thing I loved the most about about most the loved I thing one The - Uni a attend to L.A. then-home my in

too can fly to the stars!” the to fly can too at parties. It wasn’t until Vonda landed landed Vonda until wasn’t It parties. at

and telling the rest of us: “See? Women Women “See? us: of rest the telling and her then as a nice lady who showed up up showed who lady nice a as then her

always challenging gender boundaries boundaries gender challenging always dent at Clarion West ’92. I only knew knew only I ’92. West Clarion at dent

to combine empathy with real science, science, real with empathy combine to - stu a was I when Vonda met first I

her male peers. In her work, she manages manages she work, her In peers. male her fabric of the universe. universe. the of fabric

hard science under her belt than many of of many than belt her under science hard well, the loss had the force of a rip in the the in rip a of force the had loss the well,

the UW and studied genetics, had more more had genetics, studied and UW the whole. But to those who knew Vonda Vonda knew who those to But whole.

fact, Vonda, who went to grad school at at school grad to went who Vonda, fact, helped found), and science fiction as a a as fiction science and found), helped

bastion that women could write SF. In In SF. write could women that bastion Book View Café (both of which she she which of (both Café View Book

Ursula K. Le Guin showed the male male the showed Guin Le K. Ursula blow to the Clarion West Workshop, Workshop, West Clarion the to blow

wave feminism, Vonda and peers like like peers and Vonda feminism, wave On April 1st, we lost her. This was a a was This her. lost we 1st, April On

ing in the ’70s, concurrent with second- with concurrent ’70s, the in ing her Friend. Friend. her

- Start fiction. science on had men hold

thirty years, I had the privilege of calling calling of privilege the had I years, thirty

Vonda’s greatest triumphs: breaking the the breaking triumphs: greatest Vonda’s

me, Vonda was all this, but for the last last the for but this, all was Vonda me,

This anecdote brings me to one of of one to me brings anecdote This

even beader of small sea creatures. To To creatures. sea small of beader even

hold, for a long, long time…. long long, a for hold,

nations: award-winning author, mentor, mentor, author, award-winning nations:

says that Vonda stayed on that line, on on line, that on stayed Vonda that says

late Vonda N. McIntyre in many incar many in McIntyre N. Vonda late -

go to study yoga and witchcraft.” Amy Amy witchcraft.” and yoga study to go

Many in Seattle and beyond knew the the knew beyond and Seattle in Many

ter, and I was wondering where she could could she where wondering was I and ter,

“Excuse me,” she said. “I have a daugh a have “I said. she me,” “Excuse -

y

by Amy Wolf Amy by up the phone and dialed. and phone the up

and witchcraft in schools, Vonda picked picked Vonda schools, in witchcraft and My Friend Vonda Friend My My Friend Vonda Over the course of our long friendship, tient, caring, engaged, right up until the (cont. from p. 1) when we were living in the same town, day she died. we regularly went to dinner together. Sleep well, Vonda, my friend. I have Now, Vonda knew that I couldn’t get the comfort of knowing that the stuffed good ­Chinese food since my local place Flamingo I bought you (we named him Amy Wolf is from LA in Issaquah had closed. Do you know Fred) was in your hand that last day and and worked for the that for almost every month over those that you managed to finish your book, Hollywood studios. She is thirty years, Vonda would come with The Curve of the Earth, before you were an Amazon Kindle Scout me to Judy Fu’s Snappy Dragon in the taken from us. winner. She first met U district? She never said, “You know, Although she is gone, Vonda has left us Vonda McIntyre while Amy, I am actually sick of Chinese. Can so much: groundbreaking books and sto- attending Clarion West we do Indian?” No. Vonda’s thoughts ries, a film yet to come out, Clarion West, ,92 in Seattle and became were always of others. And so, for my Book View Café, but most of all…mem- a good friend for the next posse shifts during the last weeks of her ories of the person she was. Even three thirty years. life, because I drove in from the eastside, months after her passing, when I think Vonda went so far as to offer to pay for of her, I’m in tears. Still, when I picture my gas! In fact, she would always buy Vonda, she is wearing her brown leather whomever was sitting with her a meal. “Universal” jacket, her cool L.A. shades, That, for me, encapsulates Vonda —pa- and is jaunting along down the street like Like a Fish Needs a Bicycle someone at peace with herself. by Nancy Jane Moore y The Piscians did, of course, evolve The event of the year on Piscisterra — from the cold-blooded creatures that known to its inhabitants by their word live in their oceans, creatures not un- for water and to some disrespectful hu- like Earth’s fish. And although they, like mans as “Fishtank” — is the bicycle race humans, developed arms and legs over around the planet’s equator. time, they do still breathe through gills, H While ninety percent of the surface that being necessary on their planet. But 2 of Piscisterra is covered by water, a band not only is the typical human response of land ranging from a half kilometer rude, it is also misguided in its assump- to three kilometers in width divides the tion that the Piscians are a lesser spe- planet into two hemispheres. Piscians vie cies. After all, they discovered us, not the in a dozen shorter races throughout the other way around. year to qualify for one of the hundred It is true that humans introduced the slots in this ­twenty-thousand kilometer bicycle on Piscisterra. Some speculate race. Many others work on pit crews, and that Annie Londonderry, who brought it often seems as if every Piscian who is the first bikes to Piscisterra, did it as an not participating is lined up along the obscure joke. But the Londonderry Bi- cycle Importing Company did very well, route to watch for at least a few days dur- and worked with the Piscians to develop ing the race, which takes six of the ten- manufacturing facilities on the planet. day Piscian weeks. The Piscians are philosophical about With the advent of new tanks that use the lack of intergalactic interest in their the oxygen in water to create breathable race. “We know that the bicycle has been air for humans and others who cannot around for millennia in most of the gal- Nancy Jane Moore’s breathe underwater — the atmosphere books include The axy,” a race official said. “For us, this is a on Piscisterra contains almost as much Weave, Changeling, delightful new experience; for other intel- and Conscientious water as its oceans — the Piscians were ligent beings, it’s merely an old-fashio­ ned Inconsistencies. At present hoping to attract intergalactic tourists to form of transportation.” she’s writing nonfiction the race. However, initial sales have been A member of the Piscian Principal — the about empowerment disappointing. planet’s governing body — echoed those self defense and fiction Alas, humans have never taken to the sentiments. “Some outsiders have criti- that incorporates Aikido, Piscians. The response of one human to cized our passion for bicycles. It is true climate change, and a the race was typical: “You want me to that bikes are not a necessary part of life

generation ship. She lives spend two months on a water-soaked on Piscisterra. But they are fun to have

in Oakland, California. planet watching fish ride bicycles?” around.” n

n

Honor List. List. Honor harshly on the conditions of his own life life own his of conditions the on harshly

His clarity about issues that bore so so bore that issues about clarity His on this year’s Tiptree Tiptree year’s this on

of “the bourgeois the myth of free will.” will.” free of myth the bourgeois “the of published in 2018, was was 2018, in published

body dualism and carnephobia as well as as well as carnephobia and dualism body , , Femme La Chercher

made him a fierce opponent of mind/ of opponent fierce a him made Cycle. Her latest novel, novel, latest Her Cycle.

consciousness of the politics of disability disability of politics the of consciousness author of the Marq’ssan Marq’ssan the of author

set rather than a sin.” His nearly lifelong lifelong nearly His sin.” a than rather set Timmel Duchamp is the the is Duchamp Timmel He made the world a richer place. richer a world the made He

- as “an as disability chronic his present his voice was necessary and important. important. and necessary was voice his

he was constantly aware of the need to to need the of aware constantly was he Josh was both fierce and joyful, and and joyful, and fierce both was Josh

to me in 2001 that as a graduate student, student, graduate a as that 2001 in me to part of his life. life. his of part

fered for most of his life. He wryly wrote wrote wryly He life. his of most for fered conversation; all these were an integral integral an were these all conversation;

- suf he which from Disease, Crohn’s ness, sure in good food coupled with lively lively with coupled food good in sure

- ill debilitating the of spite in achieved - plea taking and encounter, social a into

larly extraordinary because they were were they because extraordinary larly wise, listening to music, inserting song song inserting music, to listening wise,

- particu were accomplishments Josh’s mented by his penchant for cracking cracking for penchant his by mented

Chandler Davis, among others. among Davis, Chandler - comple was clarity harsh His fuzzy. and

any stretch of the imagination warm warm imagination the of stretch any Patricia Highsmith, Jim Thompson, and and Thompson, Jim Highsmith, Patricia

ing” email; such emails were never by by never were emails such email; ing” Dick, K. Philip of work the on articles

- “uplift an for thanks with me to write He wrote numerous numerous wrote He review. minnesota

that Josh’s highest compliment was to to was compliment highest Josh’s that cial issue on Samuel R. Delany for the the for Delany R. Samuel on issue cial

through the years of our correspondence, correspondence, our of years the through - spe a as well as , States United 1950s the

that failed to “uplift” him. I understood, understood, I him. “uplift” to failed that ible Suburbs: Recovering Protest Fiction in in Fiction Protest Recovering Suburbs: ible

books that disappointed him were those those were him disappointed that books - Invis of editor the was and Fifties the

his reading, an uplifting experience, and and experience, uplifting an reading, his on on Paradoxa of issue special a Delany,

tives was “uplifting”: he demanded, from from demanded, he “uplifting”: was tives . He co-edited, with Samuel R. R. Samuel with co-edited, He . 7 Volume

- adjec favorite his of One will.” the of The WisCon Chronicles, Chronicles, WisCon The and Wilhelm”)

on “pessimism of the intellect, optimism optimism intellect, the of “pessimism on 3 Masculinity in the Early Work of Kate Kate of Work Early the in Masculinity

often cited Antonio Gramsci’s insistence insistence Gramsci’s Antonio cited often

(“Cold War War (“Cold Earth of Daughters to essays

i

pursuit of what I can only call joy. He He joy. call only can I what of pursuit and contributed contributed and Davis, Chandler of Prose

about Josh, accompanied by his constant constant his by accompanied Josh, about It Walks in Beauty: Selected Selected Beauty: in Walks It Press, duct

is, perhaps, what was most remarkable remarkable most was what perhaps, is, - Aque by published book a edited He

a disability studies scholar and a critic. critic. a and scholar studies disability a

ment, where he taught writing and was was and writing taught he where ment,

Wilham, Nisi Shawl, Timmi Duchamp, Ann Keefer, Josh Lukin Josh Keefer, Ann Duchamp, Timmi Shawl, Nisi Wilham, - Depart English University’s Temple

Dinner at the Duchamps’: from left to to right, John Berry, Eileen Gunn, Kath Kath Gunn, Eileen Berry, John right, to to left from Duchamps’: the at Dinner

Josh was an Associate Professor in in Professor Associate an was Josh

for his teaching. his for

ed to by his repeatedly winning awards awards winning repeatedly his by to ed

- attest as lives, students’ changing of ble

- capa are brilliance and attention whose

ideas. And he was one of those teachers teachers those of one was he And ideas.

pecially when it focused on politics and and politics on focused it when pecially

openness to engaged conversation, es conversation, engaged to openness -

ging sense of humor, and his constant constant his and humor, of sense ging

imaginative intelligence, his never flag never his intelligence, imaginative -

appreciation of feminist sf, his brilliantly brilliantly his sf, feminist of appreciation

many in Aqueduct’s community for his his for community Aqueduct’s in many

managing editor, and was well known to to known well was and editor, managing

ried to Ann Keefer, the CSZ’s second second CSZ’s the Keefer, Ann to ried

- mar was He 50. age at 25 July on died

and an early contributor to the CSZ, CSZ, the to contributor early an and

a frequent poster on Aqueduct’s blog, blog, Aqueduct’s on poster frequent a

Josh Lukin, an Aqueduct Press author, author, Press Aqueduct an Lukin, Josh

y by L. Timmel Duchamp Timmel L. by In Memoriam: Joshua B. Lukin (1968-2019) Lukin B. Joshua Memoriam: In The Nightmare of Those Who Walk Away, the Dream of Those Who Stay and Fight y by Steven Barnes

At the 2019 Norwescon Science Fic- they find that their friends have all been tion convention last April in Seattle, I murdered…by their own set of doppel- met with Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest gangers. Something is happening across Bradford and commented that Jordan the country, thousands or perhaps even Peele’s new film Us reminded me very millions of doppelgangers coming out much of Ursula K. Le Guin’s classic “The of some subterranean world to challenge Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas.” those on the surface. In a series of Nisi asked if I would be willing to ex- When Adelaide, seeking to rescue one confrontations of plore that connection in an essay, and if of her children, follows doppel-A­ delaide escalating violence, the I’d read “The Ones Who Stay and Fight” into the underground, she is captured “doppelgangers” torment by N.K. Jemisin. She provided me with and bound. There in the darkness, dop- Adelaide and her family, a copy of Jemisin’s story, I put it on my pel-Adelaide tells her the truth: the and when they escape, calendar…and here we go. tunnels beneath America are filled with fleeing to Josh and Kitty’s, x doppelgangers with psychic connections they find that their friends have all been murdered… (Warning: SPOILERS. If you haven’t to those on the surface. All those years by their own set of seen Us please don’t read further. It’s ago, little Adelaide wandered into the doppelgangers. available on Amazon streaming…and hall of mirrors and was captured and re- worth the five bucks and two hours.) placed by her double. All this time Ad- The film begins with a little girl elaide has thought she was human, but named Adelaide Thomas visiting a she was actually the duplicate. Mean- Santa Cruz beachside boardwalk with while, “real” Adelaide has orchestrated a her parents. She slips away to investi- rebellion. gate an abandoned house of mirrors, and The two battle, and Adelaide kills her H there encounters something bizarre and double and returns to the surface with frightening. her child. Together, the family flee…but 4 Many years later, adult Adelaide, hus- discover that this rebellion is happening band Gabe, and children Zora and Jason EVERYWHERE, and there may be no- where to run. return to Santa Cruz. Adelaide is ner- x vous about going to the beach, but Gabe convinces her that their friends Josh and Us may be, in retrospect, the second bit Kitty would be sorely disappointed if of evidence that Peele is the next great they didn’t, so she goes. While there, she genius of dark fantasy…of “Black” dark is haunted by the still-abandoned hall of fantasy, or “Horror Noire” or “Afrofutur- mirrors, and Jason wandering away from ism” or any of the other terms that relate the family. When she retrieves a son to fantasy, science fiction, and horror cre- MUCH confused by her sudden panic, ated by, featuring, or thematically linked Us may be, in retrospect, she insists they leave. to the children of the African Diaspora. the second bit of evidence Once home, however, strange things Peele is biracial, and as such has that Peele is the next start happening. Four strangers appear struggled to find his place in the world. great genius of dark in their driveway, and rather than leaving This can be seen in his first film, Get Out fantasy…of “Black” dark when challenged become home invaders (2017) wherein a young man is victim- fantasy, or “Horror Noire” of weird, almost animalistic movement ized by white Liberals who say all the or “Afrofuturism”…. and behavior. These are bizarre doppel- “right” things on the surface, but are gangers of their own family, and only actually seeking to steal his body. It is a the “mother” can speak: in a strained, terrifying film if you have ever wondered rasping, quasi-metallic voice she reveals who in the world you can trust, and if that they have come to take back what is even the people who claim to love you, theirs by right. or claim to be allies, might actually be In a series of confrontations of esca- monsters. From the white perspective, lating violence, the “doppelgangers” tor- one might suggest that the film asks “is

ment Adelaide and her family, and when there so much pain and damage that we

they escape, fleeing to Josh and Kitty’s, will never be able to communicate?” n

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- up being family, black a For house. ized act, to change the world. The story ends ends story The world. the change to act,

Cont. on p. 6 p. on Cont.

- computer glass-walled a in Loca Vida ter of one such murdered man vows to to vows man murdered such one of ter

vacation house and co-workers living La La living co-workers and house vacation - daugh the And murdered. “painlessly”

clearly upper middle class, with a second second a with class, middle upper clearly that those who do not quite fit in are are in fit quite not do who those that

for it. It ain’t buried. The Wilson clan are are clan Wilson The buried. ain’t It it. for evated prose, is unspeakably corrupt in in corrupt unspeakably is prose, evated

is obvious to anyone who wants to look look to wants who anyone to obvious is - el in detailed city, enlightened and ful

children the same way. But the metaphor metaphor the But way. same the children - beauti similarly a work, Jemisin’s In

listen to the same music and raise their their raise and music same the to listen truth choose to “walk away.” “walk to choose truth

any specific actions: white families might might families white actions: specific any so, some few of those who discover the the discover who those of few some so,

isn’t black by by black isn’t Us in family black the So stinking cell will destroy the city. And And city. the destroy will cell stinking

to comfort or free the child from the the from child the free or comfort to

x

able and misshapen child. Any attempt attempt Any child. misshapen and able act…it can destroy your soul. soul. your destroy can act…it

- miser single a of suffering the upon life ministering to lepers. But if you don’t don’t you if But lepers. to ministering life

All the beauty and wealth is dependent dependent is wealth and beauty the All crazy, or tempt you to spend your entire entire your spend to you tempt or crazy,

perfect. And of course it is NOT perfect. perfect. NOT is it course of And perfect. If you let it all in, it will drive you you drive will it in, all it let you If

question how in the world it could be so so be could it world the in how question The poor will always be with us…. with be always will poor The

a utopian city, slowly inviting you to to you inviting slowly city, utopian a unfortunate. We make our peace with it. it. with peace our make We unfortunate.

describing the transcendent beauty of of beauty transcendent the describing endless waves of the dispossessed and and dispossessed the of waves endless

“Omelas” Le Guin spends three pages pages three spends Guin Le “Omelas” love our families, and also care for the the for care also and families, our love

But it is also the road to hell. In In hell. to road the also is it But time to live our lives, work our jobs, and and jobs, our work lives, our live to time

care equally about everything or everyone. everyone. or everything about equally care And ultimately, none of us have the the have us of none ultimately, And

accept this necessity: it is impossible to to impossible is it necessity: this accept Or: Isn’t there something I can do? can I something there Isn’t Or:

needs of the few. Clearly, human beings beings human Clearly, few. the of needs There but for the grace of God…. of grace the for but There

the welfare of the many outweighs the the outweighs many the of welfare the a homeless encampment can be chilling. chilling. be can encampment homeless a

Utilitarian argument that suggests that that suggests that argument Utilitarian a disadvantaged community, driving past past driving community, disadvantaged a

really? with the same question. Specifically, the the Specifically, question. same the with ness? Even if you are NOT a member of of member a NOT are you if Even ness?

our origins? Who are we, we, are Who origins? our up, “The Ones who Stay and Fight,” deal deal Fight,” and Stay who Ones “The up, - happi our comes price what at And

5

IS our responsibility to to responsibility our IS elas” and N.K. Jemisin’s worthy follow- worthy Jemisin’s N.K. and elas”

we, really? really? we,

unless we all are? What What are? all we unless

i - Om from Away Walk Who Ones “The responsibility to our origins? Who are are Who origins? our to responsibility

happy, healthy, successful, successful, healthy, happy,

Ursula K. Le Guin’s classic short story story short classic Guin’s Le K. Ursula cessful, unless we all are? What IS our our IS What are? all we unless cessful,

none of us should be be should us of none

- suc healthy, happy, be should us of none

x are free,” does that mean mean that does free,” are

unless all of us are free,” does that mean mean that does free,” are us of all unless Thought-provoking, excellent film. excellent Thought-provoking,

us are free unless all of us us of all unless free are us

me? If you accept “none of us are free free are us of “none accept you If me? sion path with disaster? Great questions. questions. Great disaster? with path sion

If you accept “none of of “none accept you If

bors and friends who couldn’t come with with come couldn’t who friends and bors - colli a on we Are right”? by “theirs is

- neigh those of any hurt I Did sell-out? be right to rise up against us? Take what what Take us? against up rise to right be

But the self-doubt remains: am I a a I am remains: self-doubt the But plicit? Harsh questions. And would they they would And questions. Harsh plicit?

few manage to make the adjustment. the make to manage few - com complacency, our by we, are degree

them “keep it real.” And some fortunate fortunate some And real.” it “keep them being poor and dysfunctional? To what what To dysfunctional? and poor being

mer community (“The Posse”) to help help to Posse”) (“The community mer that many of Calvinist leaning blame for for blame leaning Calvinist of many that

- for their of chunk enough large a along and neglected our society refuses to see, see, to refuses society our neglected and

Some crash and burn. Some try to bring bring to try Some burn. and crash Some pelgangers represent the very homeless homeless very the represent pelgangers

themselves into poverty are legend. legend. are poverty into themselves gangers begs the question: Do the dop the Do question: the begs gangers -

destroy their lives, or rappers who bling bling who rappers or lives, their destroy the confrontation with their doppel their with confrontation the -

and the stories of lottery winners who who winners lottery of stories the and While they never agonize about this, this, about agonize never they While

This can be destructive to the psyche, psyche, the to destructive be can This ethnically, a very real phenomenon. real very a ethnically,

“tribe” behind and enter a new world. world. new a enter and behind “tribe” of accomplishment has isolated them them isolated has accomplishment of

der about THEIR place. They leave their their leave They place. THEIR about der that is the world they live in: their level level their in: live they world the is that

have achieved unusual success to won to success unusual achieved have - is white, it is reasonable to assume that that assume to reasonable is it white, is

world, it is just as painful for people who who people for painful as just is it world, virtually every other character in the film film the in character other every virtually

people, wonders about his place in the the in place his about wonders people, have excelled. In fact, considering that that considering fact, In excelled. have

If Jordan, like many bi-racial or mixed mixed or bi-racial many like Jordan, If Nor were their childhood friends. They They friends. childhood their were Nor

families of origin were not as well-off. well-off. as not were origin of families

x

So we can easily imagine that their their that imagine easily can we So is probably impossible to separate them. separate to impossible probably is

ited wealth differential is just that large. that just is differential wealth ited tertwine strongly in the United States. It It States. United the in strongly tertwine

for a white family white a for - inher average the — than class, although of course these in these course of although class, than -

per middle class is like being millionaires millionaires being like is class middle per , on the other hand, is less about race race about less is hand, other the on , Us The Nightmare with the suggestion that we’d best “get Christianity says: “A new command- (cont. from p. 5) to work.” ment I give to you, that you love one an- Shall we take this literally? If so, other even as I have loved you.” these two stories offer a thought: If Hinduism says “A man obtains a the horror is happening to a child we proper rule of action by looking on his do not know, we can walk away. If it neighbor as himself.” The price of being free happens to one of “us”: a father or Buddhism says: “Full of love for all to walk away, or ignore mother, son or daughter, we will stay things in the world, practicing virtue in the misery of others, is and fight. order to benefit others, this man alone to not now, not EVER The price of being free to walk is happy.” treat them as if they are away, or ignore the misery of others, And Islam says: “None of you have members of our family. is to not now, not EVER treat them faith until you love for your neighbor Or more specifically… as if they are members of our fam- what you love for yourself.” they are not you. Not It’s all right there. This is what we are “us.” They are “Other.” ily. Or more specifically…they are not you. Not “us.” They are “Other.” commanded to do, by every spiritual We must do this to survive. But we discipline. And yet, if we take that to must also engage, or our souls die. the extreme, we have no life. There will We can’t share equally with every- ALWAYS be someone hurting. What one: that communist dream simply do we do? doesn’t allow for human nature. But a We do the best we can. We raise our families with love. We act with all the pure demand economy, which rewards kindness we can. We are aware of our and cares for only those who can pay blessings and never stop fighting for so- their way, ignores the damage societ- cial justice. We nurture our own strength ies often do to their most vulnerable. AND softness, so that we are not afraid Perhaps. Selfishness is All bodies, all societies, have divid- not the problem. The of, or seek to control, the opposite gen- ing lines between themselves and the der. And we remain aware, always, that definition of “self” is outside world. Without that, you can’t the problem. Most world there is more to be done. Those who H even define them as entities or beings. religions suggest that need to leave may leave. Not everyone is 6 when we extend our As the potential for selfishness in- a fighter. But those who stay and fight own “self” to include creases geometrically, the greater the are warriors of the heart, and so long as others, we begin to grow separation: the self-righteous oblivi- they can balance it with joy in their own spiritually. ousness of the guy who was “born lives, and care for their own families… on third base and thought he hit a deserve the deepest respect of all. triple” to not understand how your What we ignore, what we disown, great struggles in life were real, but breeds in the darkness. And WILL come advantaged by generational support, to eat us, one fine day. Either build your sometimes at the cost of those who walls high…or open your hearts wide. lost land, labor, or life itself, which was then invested in the dominator ­community. There ARE no easy answers here. Perhaps there is nothing but honest admission of an issue. Perhaps only Steven Barnes is a NY Times the ability to share our thoughts and bestselling author, television concerns in art, or support that art, writer, and teacher. Nominated so that those artists know they aren’t for Hugo and Nebula awards, his “A Stitch In Time” episode of screaming into the wind. What we ignore, what The Outer Limits won an Emmy we disown, breeds in the Perhaps. Selfishness is not the (Best Actress, Amanda Plummer) darkness. And WILL come problem. The definition of “self ” is the and his mystery novel Casanegra, to eat us, one fine day. problem. Most world religions sug- won an NAACP Image Award. gest that when we extend our own He lives in Southern California “self ” to include others, we begin to with his wife and writing partner, grow spiritually. British Fantasy Award winning

Judaism says “Thou shalt love thy author Tananarive Due.

neighbor as thyself.” n

n

knows we are made of stardust.” Here Here stardust.” of made are we knows jective tone of a scientist, which creates creates which scientist, a of tone jective

Cont. on p. 8 p. on Cont.

had,” this line shines through: “everyone “everyone through: shines line this had,” - ob the maintains voice The researcher.

actual lab notebook and journal of the the of journal and notebook lab actual a “conversation a couple of our ancestors ancestors our of couple a “conversation a

dicating that the collection itself is the the is itself collection the that dicating seems to include Carl Sagan. Labeled as as Labeled Sagan. Carl include to seems

- in table, periodic partial a of picture a ute to persevering. “Archive of Sky” also also Sky” of “Archive persevering. to ute

beyond you.” Each section begins with with begins section Each you.” beyond - trib a perhaps …” burdens my down lay

The narrator is a “post-scientist…you “post-scientist…you a is narrator The I’m gonna gonna “I’m begin, words The loop.” “on

possible with our present apocalypse.” apocalypse.” present our with possible with speakers repeating Lorde’s words words Lorde’s repeating speakers with

- im or possible making are we realities after-earth finding herself in a room room a in herself finding after-earth

the far-into-the-future witnesses to the the to witnesses far-into-the-future the speaker presents a female figure in the the in figure female a presents speaker

written in collaboration with survivors, survivors, with collaboration in written scription of the new world setting. The The setting. world new the of scription

ancestrally co-written but is also also is but co-written ancestrally not - de a in Journals Cancer The Lorde’s dre

“speculative documentary, which is not not is which documentary, “speculative - Au to homage pays Sky” of “Archive

as a a as Spill, collection Gumbs’s to sequel a help understand the future it constructs. constructs. it future the understand help

, , Archive M describes note opening The erature throughout the collection to to collection the throughout erature

Gumbs’s collection. Gumbs’s - lit of pieces several on calls Gumbs

the world. These ideas drive the pieces in in pieces the drive ideas These world. the and other acts of destruction. of acts other and

gender, and LGBTQ movements around around movements LGBTQ and gender, et. hold the world together” after fracking fracking after together” world the hold et.

researcher lives. researcher of Toronto whose work attends to race, race, to attends work whose Toronto of - plan the cool to takes it what is “this with

destruction in which the the which in destruction and Professor Emerita at the University University the at Emerita Professor and under water, a consequence explained explained consequence a water, under

that have caused the the caused have that spring. Alexander is a writer, activist, activist, writer, a is Alexander spring. This imagery creates a portrait of living living of portrait a creates imagery This

scientific and social paths paths social and scientific

dational text from which these creations creations these which from text dational and sweat appear and repeat throughout. throughout. repeat and appear sweat and

mass shootings, and and shootings, mass

- foun a as 2005) UP, (Duke Sacred the problem. Later, in “Archive of Ocean,” salt salt Ocean,” of “Archive in Later, problem.

and race discrimination, discrimination, race and

Feminism, Sexual Politics, Memory, and and Memory, Politics, Sexual Feminism, choice of blissful ignorance as the main main the as ignorance blissful of choice

climate change, gender gender change, climate

Pedagogies of Crossing: Meditations on on Meditations Crossing: of Pedagogies a return.” Here, the researcher notes the the notes researcher the Here, return.” a

real-world approaches to to approaches real-world

feminist theorist M. Jacqui Alexander’s Alexander’s Jacqui M. theorist feminist that didn’t require, include, value, or chart chart or value, include, require, didn’t that

on and critiquing today’s today’s critiquing and on

speculation, this collection uses the Black Black the uses collection this speculation, sustain generations below. depth of a plan plan a of depth below. generations sustain

unfolded, commenting commenting unfolded,

7

etry, part essay, and all vibrant in detailed detailed in vibrant all and essay, part etry, for longer, to plan for a plan that would would that plan a for plan to longer, for

the history of what has has what of history the

- po Part Gumbs. Pauline Alexis by World “it was not long before they started to long long to started they before long not was “it

i

new present that writes writes that present new

After the End of the the of End the After : Archive M in searcher plains the further decay of living things: things: living of decay further the plains

together remnants of a a of remnants together

- re anonymous an of eyes the through - ex researcher The time.” of out running

Gumbs’s researcher pieces pieces researcher Gumbs’s

no longer exists. What remains appears appears remains What exists. longer no heart ‘ticker’ were close to being right… being to close were ‘ticker’ heart

seven titled sections, sections, titled seven

The Earth as humans have known it it known have humans as Earth The who had used the colloquial name for the the for name colloquial the used had who

Over the course of of course the Over

future. future. — ber urgency of action…those specific people people specific action…those of urgency

- som — ceral reactions to our prospective our to reactions ceral time: “the engaged heart…ticked like the the like heart…ticked engaged “the time:

- vis with margins the up marking and the speaker begins with wordplay about about wordplay with begins speaker the

language, finding patterns of sound, sound, of patterns finding language, Last Experiment” (note: “last” is a verb), verb), a is “last” (note: Experiment” Last

loving the the loving — dog-earing page after page after page dog-earing section, “From the Lab Notebooks of the the of Notebooks Lab the “From section,

the book in my hands, I read it quickly, quickly, it read I hands, my in book the as allusions to other literature. In the first first the In literature. other to allusions as

sparked my curiosity. When I found found I When curiosity. my sparked casionally internal and end rhyme as well well as rhyme end and internal casionally

devices, and prose poetry all together together all poetry prose and devices, niques of repetition, polyptoton, and oc and polyptoton, repetition, of niques -

prospect of seeing science-words, poetic poetic science-words, seeing of prospect poems and mini-essays using poetic tech poetic using mini-essays and poems -

ates a world. I was sold immediately. The The immediately. sold was I world. a ates lives. Most of the pieces are untitled prose prose untitled are pieces the of Most lives.

that blurs genre as it destroys and cre and destroys it as genre blurs that - the destruction in which the researcher researcher the which in destruction the

as a must-include. Here’s a collection collection a Here’s must-include. a as scientific and social paths that have caused caused have that paths social and scientific

Alexis Pauline Gumbs (Duke UP, 2018) 2018) UP, (Duke Gumbs Pauline Alexis race discrimination, mass shootings, and and shootings, mass discrimination, race

by by World the of End the After : Archive M approaches to climate change, gender and and gender change, climate to approaches

Fantasy Poetry Association suggested suggested Association Poetry Fantasy ing on and critiquing today’s real-world real-world today’s critiquing and on ing

eral members of the Science Fiction and and Fiction Science the of members eral history of what has unfolded, comment unfolded, has what of history -

- sev , Riot Book for works speculative and remnants of a new present that writes the the writes that present new a of remnants

In crowd-sourcing a solid list of sci-fi sci-fi of list solid a crowd-sourcing In tions, Gumbs’s researcher pieces together together pieces researcher Gumbs’s tions,

the poems I read and the poems I write. write. I poems the and read I poems the Over the course of seven titled sec titled seven of course the Over -

into my poetry in recent years, both in in both years, recent in poetry my into world falling apart. apart. falling world

Science and speculation have crept crept have speculation and Science an overarching eeriness in describing a a describing in eeriness overarching an

y Christina M. Rau M. Christina y b y

M Archive: After the End of the World the of End the After Archive: M by Alexis Pauline Gumbs Pauline Alexis by On M Archive is a gorgeous sentiment that hints at a by giving a visual shape to the sound. It (cont. from p. 7) natural world, untouched and in order. begins, “her heart was accelerated coal… The later section “Baskets” references beautiful blackening heart.” The scream- “‘the Butlerian moment’…‘Octavian ing turns to crying, and the two merge Overture.’” This overt allusion creates a about halfway through the next section, Science pushes boundaries connection to Butler’s works that drive “Archive of Ocean”: “her mother is not of nature while the at the same worries about the world. Africa…Africa is the place before she majority of people More subtly, “Baskets” also includes the screamed chained there in the dark…her have chosen to neglect lines “let’s shape our new home in the mother’s name is a vessel she screams in their environment. This contour of the last toddler foot- / prints, alone.” Now the chaotic movement and combination leads to in honor of the ones who walked away.” sounds have more certain bodies but are confusion and inaction. “The ones who walk away” is a probable still under great strain, as seen through reference to Ursula K. Le Guin’s “The the unrelenting screams. Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas,” The discomfort for the reader finds another dystopian tale. Here, the refer- some solace in “Baskets.” While some ence seems to build hope as “Baskets” pieces in “Baskets” refer to walls fall- is subtitled “Possible Futures,” meaning ing and planes crashing (allusions to the pieces here describe options for how terrorism), others are meditative and to proceed in this new world. quiet. One such piece in the beginning Boundaries and disconnection emerge of “Baskets” reveals the nature of every- as issues. “Archive of Dirt” describes thing but love being mutable. Some offer even food science as causing the prob- a solution, such as the piece that states, Gumbs frequently deploys lems that lead to the world’s downfall. “if you think you would have survived internal and end-rhyme The speaker explains, “they were addict- without the love of fat black women you to drive home memorable ed to things like hydrogenated soybean are wrong.” This piece then enumerates ideas, usually at the end oil and mutant chicken. their memories the many tasks “fat black women” com- of sections. were linked to the taste of things the plete to support everyone around them, studies said were poison.” Science push- countering the image of a woman in H es boundaries of nature while the major- chains screaming and crying that recurs 8 ity of people have chosen to neglect their through previous sections. environment. This combination leads to Gumbs frequently deploys internal confusion and inaction. “What did we and end-rhyme to drive home memo- each do then? on the day that everything rable ideas, usually at the end of sections. went wrong. when transportation and The following appears towards the end of The satisfaction of the communication technologies conspired “Baskets”: “it was the half-blind poets and rhymes helps to create against use individually…when we didn’t the beautiful remaining grandmothers some logic and solace ask for help…when the sun died. when who finally taught us to see. to remem- among the vivid imagery we lost everything…how did we keep ber. to be.” “Archive of Ocean” ends in the of a world torn apart. breathing past it (because we are the ones same rhyming way, also showing some that did).” After this destruction, in the hope: “here the sun is not strip- / ping same section, the basic human need for your skin. this is the dark water of renew- connection appears: “they wanted to rec- al. offering only one / message: / begin.” ognize them…still wanted recognition.” The satisfaction of the rhymes helps to create some logic and solace among the Christina M. Rau is The pieces in each section touch upon a variety of issues in a seamless manner. vivid imagery of a world torn apart. the author of the sci-fi This speculative collection creates fem poetry collection, At times, reading this collection be- a powerful, perhaps in some sections Liberating the Astronauts comes difficult. The events that unfold plausible, vision of future post-destruc- (Aqueduct Press, 2017), are sometimes unclear because they oc- tion both immediate and painful. M: which won the SFPA cur in a completely made-up post-apoc- Archive is a call for admitting undeni- 2018 Elgin Award. alypse. These actions are fueled by sheer Her chapbooks include terror. The difficulty is brilliant and sad. able truths and taking action that will WakeBreatheMove In “Archive of Sky,” sound becomes the lead to improvement without ruin. The (Finishing Line Press, main element to convey the world. The book’s language is simply beautiful, and 2015) and For The Girls, speaker says, “there was a world made its cataloging of observations builds I (dancing girl press, of her screaming.” This screaming con- through each section, evoking first pain,

2014). http://www. tinues through the pieces in this section. and then hope.

christinamrau.com “Archive of Fire,” the next section, begins n

n

and he told her: that of her beloved. her of that her: told he and

name, his for him asked she everything, trying After

word. a said never who guard a was there but

beloved, her save to order in

door that through pass to had She

The Guard’s Name Guard’s The

and began to hear the voices of the ants. the of voices the hear to began and

trunk, the against leaned she Defeated,

the language of the birds, for the birds flew too high. high. too flew birds the for birds, the of language the

know didn’t and it reach couldn’t she but

The key had appeared in the heights of the tallest tree, tree, tallest the of heights the in appeared had key The

The Language of the Birds the of Language The

where its ruby color came from. came color ruby its where

understood he moment, last the At earth. the into down

them dragged and hands his trapped roots the But

again. it plant to possible everything did and

shout in pain. Then he repented of his avarice avarice his of repented he Then pain. in shout

it heard he plant, ruby the up pulling On

The Ruby Flower Ruby The

Madrid. Madrid.

literary translator based in in based translator literary

but to become a gardener. a become to but

English) author and and author English)

choice other no had hero the And

a bilingual (Spanish/ bilingual a

hyacinth. lovely a into transforming up wound

Lawrence Schimel is is Schimel Lawrence

whose waist seemed like that of a flower, flower, a of that like seemed waist whose 9

petals, as smooth as was skin whose

i

as subtle and as golden as the pollen of the flowers, flowers, the of pollen the as golden as and subtle as

The princess whose tresses were were tresses whose princess The

Blancaflor

some of the apples had wings, and others, tiny strings. tiny others, and wings, had apples the of some

and leaving them near the apple tree. The next summer, summer, next The tree. apple the near them leaving and

he continued writing verses to her about birds and harps harps and birds about her to verses writing continued he

that despite but dreams, his of product a was

woman leaf the perhaps that thought He

The Leaf Woman Leaf The

that face appear, they knew who to look for. look to who knew they appear, face that

about books. about

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, a ghost story story ghost a , página

plunged he and there, on went what see to yearned also he

Espérame en la última última la en Espérame

marvelous, so was heard he music the since However,

fairytale retelling, and and retelling, fairytale

ear. an without live could he that thinking

award winning humorous humorous winning award

there, on goes what hear to able be to handkerchief, the inside

, a Celsius Celsius a , Róndola include

ear his wrap to thought he So fairies. the of realm the to Her novels for adults adults for novels Her

go must objects the that thought he and won the Dwarf Stars. Stars. Dwarf the won

disappeared, it in wrapped was that everything that for Rhysling awards and and awards Rhysling for

discovered He fairies. the to belonged it that poet, she was shortlisted shortlisted was she poet,

knew and forest the in handkerchief tiny a found He especulative author. As a a As author. especulative

experimental and and experimental The Fairy Handkerchief Fairy The

Sofía Rhei is an an is Rhei Sofía

translated from Spanish by Lawrence Schimel Lawrence by Spanish from translated

Rhei Sofia by Poems y The Exile Waiting by Vonda N. McIntyre by Debbie Notkin

In the middle of 1975, I turned 24. I The first Women in Science had been embedded in science fiction Fiction panel, featuring fandom for just a couple of years, and Ursula K. Le Guin and was not yet a bookseller, let alone an edi- Susan Wood, would be tor, or Pat Murphy and Karen Joy Fowl- held in Australia at the er’s co-­conspirator on the James Tiptree 1975 World Science Fiction Jr. Literary Award. A small handful of us convention in the fall. in fandom were just becoming aware of A similar panel in 1976 feminist science fiction as a separate way in Kansas City would of thinking about either feminism (then galvanize the US science more often called “women’s liberation”) fiction community and be one identifying characteristic and not a the genesis of WisCon or science fiction. The first Women in Heinlein-ian convenient plot saver, I felt Science Fiction panel, featuring Ursula a weight lifting from my shoulders. So K. Le Guin and Susan Wood, would for forty-four years, when I’ve thought be held in Australia at the 1975 World or talked about this book, that’s the as- Science Fiction convention in the fall. pect I’ve put front and center. A similar panel in 1976 in Kansas City On the sad occasion of Vonda’s death would galvanize the US science fiction in April of this year, I decided to pre- community and be the genesis of Wis- empt the Le Guin stack that has been Con, which began in 1977. most of my re-reading since her death Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness in January 2018, and pick up The Exile had been around for several years, as had Waiting. I was expecting a good, strong ­Joanna Russ’s The Female Man. Suzy read, and a protagonist whose math skills McKee Charnas’ Walk to the End of the H don’t save the ship. I was not expecting a World was published in 1974. So Von- 10 da N. McIntyre’s first novel,The Exile stunningly complex and rich novel ad- Waiting, did appear in an existing con- dressing many themes I don’t think I was text, although that context was thin on even remotely aware of in 1975. the ground and not at all well-defined. The story takes place on “old earth,” a McIntyre herself had achieved a reputa- ravaged future vision of our planet, and tion among science-fiction readers: her specifically the city of Center. Center extraordinary short story “Of Mist, and seems to be the most sophisticated and Grass, and Sand” was published in 1973, developed place on earth, and one way it and won the Nebula Award for that year. protects itself is by sealing itself off during I don’t remember first readingThe Ex- the stormy winters, when no spaceships ile Waiting, but given who and where I or nomads can come in or out. Nonethe- was, I probably read it within months of less, Subone and Subtwo (“pseudosibs”) its first publication. I remember liking land their ship near Center in the midst it; one experience of reading it stands of a storm and politely force their way out very clearly: The protagonist is Mis- into the Stone Palace, where Center’s cha, a young woman, who turns out to rulers dwell. Among their crew is Jan be somewhat of a mathematical genius. Hikaru, an itinerant poet, stewarding the Once that talent is revealed, at just over corpse of the elderly navigator Hikaru 100 pages into the story, I steeled my- has come to love, who only wanted to be self for the moment when she uses her buried on old earth. mathematical abilities to save the ship, Mischa, Subtwo, and Hikaru are the or rescue her family, or some other he- three viewpoint characters around whom roic plot climax. I understand now why I the story unfolds. Mischa is a skilled didn’t want that to happen; I’m not sure thief in Center, shackled to her family by Grandmother Magma I understood it at the time. But when telepathic linkages beyond her control.

the book was over, and Mischa’s math- Her telepathic bond with her brother has

ematical talents turned out to be just been her lifeline, but now she is not just n

n

who will either teach her some basics or or basics some her teach either will who

sible. Subtwo foists her off on Hikaru, Hikaru, on off her foists Subtwo sible.

loves the books and stories. and books the loves - impos as off possibility a wrote ever she

and an award judge. She still still She judge. award an and Mischa would not have survived so far if if far so survived have not would Mischa

organizer, a fanzine publisher, publisher, fanzine a organizer, and and — enue to saving Mischa’s brother Mischa’s saving to enue

bookseller, a convention convention a bookseller, - av possible only the is he because life

Award Motherboard, a a Motherboard, Award Mischa inserts herself in Subtwo’s Subtwo’s in herself inserts Mischa

editor, chair of the Tiptree Tiptree the of chair editor,

as well as in the present. present. the in as well as

a professional acquisitions acquisitions professional a

changed his relationships in the future future the in relationships his changed

Debbie Notkin has been been has Notkin Debbie

the jump to understanding that she has has she that understanding to jump the

In the science fiction world, world, fiction science the In

she mattered to him, let alone to make make to alone let him, to mattered she

he barely had time to realize how much much how realize to time had barely he

and thus he is mourning her death when when death her mourning is he thus and

person until he met the aging navigator, navigator, aging the met he until person this one. one. this

portant lasting connection with another another with connection lasting portant colonialist science fiction should skip skip should fiction science colonialist

- im an had have never to seems he man, re-read it. No reader of feminist or anti- or feminist of reader No it. re-read

ent experience with bonds. A fully adult adult fully A bonds. with experience ent will get even more out of it when I next next I when it of out more even get will

- differ completely a having is story, the than I expected. I am confident that I I that confident am I expected. I than

Jan Hikaru, the third protagonist in in protagonist third the Hikaru, Jan more satisfying and more illuminating illuminating more and satisfying more

most unheard of forty years ago. ago. years forty of unheard most ful and ahead of its time. I found it both both it found I time. its of ahead and ful

- al and now rare subtlety a with chasm - skill jaw-droppingly was it ago, years 45

complexities of a relationship across this this across relationship a of complexities writer. As a first novel published almost almost published novel first a As writer.

responsibilities. McIntyre handles the the handles McIntyre responsibilities. by a well-established and experienced experienced and well-established a by

Palace slave with major administrative administrative major with slave Palace able book if it had been written in 2019 2019 in written been had it if book able

expected.

He yearns after “Madame,” a Stone Stone a “Madame,” after yearns He

- remark a be would Waiting Exile The

more illuminating than I I than illuminating more

with a slave. slave. a with — generous, empathic love empathic generous,

selves. selves.

more satisfying and and satisfying more

in in — forward. He is also falling in love in falling also is He forward.

- them of aspects deeper find also they

11

time. I found it both both it found I time.

- straight not are people and square not

allies. In the spirit of excellent fiction, fiction, excellent of spirit the In allies.

skillful and ahead of its its of ahead and skillful

i

suffering in a space where corners are are corners where space a in suffering ported by unexpected and unpredictable unpredictable and unexpected by ported

it was jaw-droppingly jaw-droppingly was it

pation of the Stone Palace, Subtwo is is Subtwo Palace, Stone the of pation - sup and enemies relentless by pursued

almost 45 years ago, ago, years 45 almost

- dissi the in revels Subone While are. the spirit of grand adventure, they are are they adventure, grand of spirit the

As a first novel published published novel first a As

Center reveals how very different they they different very how reveals Center in ways unfamiliar to each of them. In In them. of each to unfamiliar ways in

unexplored. The pseudosibs’ time on on time pseudosibs’ The unexplored. panions are forced to rely on each other other each on rely to forced are panions

of speculation about nature and nurture nurture and nature about speculation of - com unlikely three the together, trial

twins” and then leaves an encyclopedia encyclopedia an leaves then and twins” As they undertake this escape/quest/ this undertake they As

as “the behavioral equivalent of genetic genetic of equivalent behavioral “the as ferent paths. ferent

writing, she describes the pseudosibs pseudosibs the describes she writing, - dif slightly by into led all are they which

extremely typical of McIntyre’s later later McIntyre’s of typical extremely cally and physically demanding journey, journey, demanding physically and cally

ferentiated from Subone. In an elision elision an In Subone. from ferentiated - psychologi a on themselves find Hikaru

has never been apart from, or much dif much or from, apart been never has - Later in the story, Mischa, Subtwo, and and Subtwo, Mischa, story, the in Later

Subone’s impulsive hedonism. Subtwo Subtwo hedonism. impulsive Subone’s punished for a crime she didn’t commit. commit. didn’t she crime a for punished

cetic nature is constantly challenged by by challenged constantly is nature cetic so-merry chase…and then is caught and and caught is then chase…and so-merry

one, though Subtwo’s methodical, as methodical, Subtwo’s though one, - the staff of the Stone Palace on a not- a on Palace Stone the of staff the

- Sub to linked inextricably is Subtwo the novel, when Mischa-the-thief leads leads Mischa-the-thief when novel, the

him what he needs. he what him story. We get a hint of adventure early in in early adventure of hint a get We story.

aware of in 1975. in of aware

Mischa is compelled to come and give give and come to compelled is Mischa structure is also one hell of an adventure adventure an of hell one also is structure

think I was even remotely remotely even was I think

needs money, he threatens Gemmi, and and Gemmi, threatens he money, needs of character and and character of force de tour This

many themes I don’t don’t I themes many

Gemmi. When their unscrupulous uncle uncle unscrupulous their When Gemmi. confusing to Hikaru as the first one was. was. one first the as Hikaru to confusing

rich novel addressing addressing novel rich

and intellectually disabled younger sister sister younger disabled intellectually and a new bond between the two of them, as as them, of two the between bond new a

stunningly complex and and complex stunningly

Worse, she is bonded to her physically physically her to bonded is she Worse,

Hikaru can impart to her, is the core of of core the is her, to impart can Hikaru I was not expecting a a expecting not was I

ter, especially during the winter storms. storms. winter the during especially ter, plus Mischa’s craving for the knowledge knowledge the for craving Mischa’s plus skills don’t save the ship. ship. the save don’t skills

heal, but there is no escape from Cen from escape no is there but heal, - body in keeping with her wishes. That, That, wishes. her with keeping in body protagonist whose math math whose protagonist

take him off planet, where he might might he where planet, off him take in his yearning to bury the navigator’s navigator’s the bury to yearning his in strong read, and a a and read, strong

through her link to him. She yearns to to yearns She him. to link her through knowledge of Earth is crucial to Hikaru Hikaru to crucial is Earth of knowledge I was expecting a good, good, a expecting was I

she’s experiencing it in her body body her in it experiencing she’s — tion way they won’t bother Subtwo. Mischa’s Mischa’s Subtwo. bother won’t they way

watching him fall victim to drug addic drug to victim fall him watching - learn that she is not teachable, and either either and teachable, not is she that learn y “Articulated Restraint” by Mary Robinette Kowal, Tor.com (Feb. 6, 2019), edited by Beth Meacham; “Every Little Star” by Fiona Moore, Mad Scientist Journal (Winter 2019), edited by Dawn Vogel and Jeremy Zimmerman; Then Will the Great Ocean Wash Deep Above by Ian Sales (Whippleshield Books 2013) by Karen Burnham In 2019 we’re passing the 50th anni- (no politician was willing to put a wom- versary of the Apollo Moon landings and an on a rocket that might blow up), and well into the second decade of efforts to pure social sexism. reclaim women’s place in that history. The astronaut corps has made enor- While the dominant narrative has been mous strides since the Mercury 7 were the (all male, all White) astronauts and chosen in 1959. Valentina Tereshkova the (all male, all White) mission con- was the first woman in space (1963). trollers of NASA, there has been a lot Other noteworthy spacewomen include of work done recently to remember that Dr. Sally Ride (first American woman, none of the NASA centers ran solely on 1983), Dr. Mae Jemison (first Black testosterone. N. Katherine Hayle’s book woman, 1992), Anousheh Ansari (first My Mother was a Computer (2005) re- self-funded woman, 2006), and Liu Yang minds us that the words of her title once (first Chinese woman, 2012). However, made a perfectly reasonable and not at as much as sf can imagine the future, all science fictional sentence: there was a sometimes it also imagines the past. I’ll job titled “computer” and most of those forgo any debate about whether sf is jobs were filled by women. Being a com- sf when it is also alternate history. The puter involved doing the extensive cal- stories I’ll be discussing are comfort- culations by hand that were required by ably both, and they all imagine a differ- H complex engineering problems before ent past: one in which the mid-Century electronic computers evolved to a point Space Race included American women. 12 where they were truly useful. Many of First off is a story that hews as closely these women worked behind the scenes as possible to our timeline. Then Will the of famous historical moments, from the Great Ocean Wash Deep Above is part of Manhattan Project (Richard Feynman Ian Sales’ hard sf quartet of novellas, was a bit ahead of the game in remind- each imagining the Apollo era of NASA ing people of the computers’ role in his unfolding in different ways with Forte- autobiography Surely You’re Joking, Mr. an events intruding into each alternate Feynman! [1985]) to the Apollo mis- history. In this story the Jonbar Point sions. Hidden Figures by Margot Lee (where the story diverges from our time- Shetterly (both book and film, 2016) line) is simple: the Korean War stays hot brought this particular neglected bit of much longer than the 1953 cessation of history into recent prominence. hostilities in our world. That ties up the Other early books like Promised the American fighter pilots who were other- Moon by Stephanie Nolen (2002) and wise available for the space program in The Mercury 13 by Martha Ackmann the late 1950s, but doesn’t particularly (2003) brought to light those women slow down the Russians who were not who were qualified pilots at the same actively fighting in Korea. In order to time the Mercury 7 astronauts were be- avoid falling completely behind, NASA ing chosen, some of whom were able enlists the Mercury 13, and Jerrie Cobb to pass the same extremely demand- becomes our viewpoint character. The ing physical and mental tests that the space exploration program unfolds along male astronauts were subjected to. They very similar lines as ours, but with ex- were kept out of the astronaut corps for WASP Jackie Cochran keeping tight reasons including bureaucratic require- rein on all the female astronauts. In in-

Dust Lanes ments (which involved being a test pi- terleaving chapters, a Lt. Cmdr McIntyre

lot, which only US Air Force men were takes the deep sea submersible Trieste II

allowed to be), political considerations (a real ship in our world) down to the n

n

- in colonization long-term be to has goal perience of terrorist sabotage on Mars, Mars, on sabotage terrorist of perience

Cont. on p. 15 p. on Cont.

ternational in scope, and because the the because and scope, in ternational - ex her from scarred she’s importantly,

- in more necessarily and immediately is is something of an open secret. More More secret. open an of something is

husband is a chief engineer. The program program The engineer. chief a is husband sexist press coverage, but her girlfriend girlfriend her but coverage, press sexist

becomes the NASA equivalent, while her her while equivalent, NASA the becomes in 1967. She has to put up with some some with up put to has She 1967. in

tion level event. She’s a computer at what what at computer a She’s event. level tion an agoraphobic Moonbase commander commander Moonbase agoraphobic an

- extinc an being of point the to climate temisia “Artie” Quelch, is the story of of story the is Quelch, “Artie” temisia

teroid impact will gradually change the the change gradually will impact teroid - Ar Evangeline character main the by if

- as the that realizes quickly York Elma Little Star” by Fiona Moore, written as as written Moore, Fiona by Star” Little

direction. In the novel, our heroine Dr. Dr. heroine our novel, the In direction. alone are worth the cover price. “Every “Every price. cover the worth are alone

all of human history) in a very different different very a in history) human of all mad scientists, and the product reviews reviews product the and scientists, mad

in 1952 pushing the space program (and (and program space the pushing 1952 in ties to you; it is written as if by and for for and by if as written is it you; to ties

ally drops a rock on Washington, DC, DC, Washington, on rock a drops ally - oddi short of periodical this commend

- liter author the Here 2019. February . I warmly warmly I . Journal Scientist Mad quarterly

lated Restraint,” appeared at Tor.com in in Tor.com at appeared Restraint,” lated in the Winter 2019 issue of the quirky quirky the of issue 2019 Winter the in

- “Articu story, short recent most the and Another story that caught my eye is is eye my caught that story Another

the Nebula and Hugo awards in 2019, 2019, in awards Hugo and Nebula the for the pulps. pulps. the for

, won won , Stars Calculating The novel, first the sf unfolds with mostly women writing writing women mostly with unfolds sf

Kowal’s Lady Astronaut series, of which which of series, Astronaut Lady Kowal’s women’s fiction, and the Golden Age of of Age Golden the and fiction, women’s

our history is found in Mary Robinette Robinette Mary in found is history our (2015), in which sf is classified as as classified is sf which in (2015), Allows

The most extreme departure from from departure extreme most The All That Outer Space Space Outer That All series, the in novella

as well. as well. readers might be interested in the final final the in interested be might readers

Age writer or editor probably imagined imagined probably editor or writer Age CSZ that note also should I there. it for

QUILTBAG friendly than any Golden Golden any than friendly QUILTBAG you can find excellent reference material material reference excellent find can you

international, more feminist, and more more and feminist, more international, and ’70s that you might be interested in, in, interested be might you that ’70s and

sions to Alpha Centauri. And it’s more more it’s And Centauri. Alpha to sions the space programs of the 1950s, ’60s, ’60s, 1950s, the of programs space the

- mis and colonies, Mars bases, Moon ed: at the end: if there’s any topic related to to related topic any there’s if end: the at

13

- want fans and writers sf Age Golden the mend the bibliography that he includes includes he that bibliography the mend

i needed to actually create the future that that future the create actually to needed - recom also I here. respectfully and well

cal breakthroughs that would have been been have would that breakthroughs cal and I believe that Sales does it quite quite it does Sales that believe I and

- technologi of kind the achieved we’ve as characters requires a very fine touch, touch, fine very a requires characters as

(1948) and dreams of a world where where world a of dreams and (1948) Writing fiction that uses real people people real uses that fiction Writing

structure of Heinlein’s “Ordeal in Space” Space” in “Ordeal Heinlein’s of structure nate history). nate

a fun story that in some ways mirrors the the mirrors ways some in that story fun a - alter this in landings Moon the before

emergency situation on her base. This is is This base. her on situation emergency that the space program hits when it stops stops it when hits program space the that

system, one that helps her through an an through her helps that one system, ing that kind of public life, the ceiling ceiling the life, public of kind that ing

ets is enabled by an FTL virtual reality reality virtual FTL an by enabled is ets - liv of requirements makeup and clothes

- rock towards back and life settled a successful orbital missions) and ill (the (the ill and missions) orbital successful

communications; her turn away from from away turn her communications; cally, both for good (the women fly many many fly women (the good for both cally,

they’ve cracked lightspeed travel and and travel lightspeed cracked they’ve He plays out the scenario quite realisti quite scenario the out plays He -

includes more tech than ours because because ours than tech more includes space program in her deep religious faith. faith. religious deep her in program space

rate Moon bases established. Her world world Her established. bases Moon rate acter, grounding her perspectives on the the on perspectives her grounding acter,

China, Brazil, and others all have sepa have all others and Brazil, China, - with Jerrie Cobb as the viewpoint char viewpoint the as Cobb Jerrie with -

monwealth space program; America, America, program; space monwealth dives of the time. Sales does a great job job great a does Sales time. the of dives

For Artie that’s in the British Com British the in that’s Artie For - and that of Trieste II and military deep deep military and II Trieste of that and

astronaut corps. astronaut grams: the NASA/Mercury 13 history history 13 NASA/Mercury the grams:

for ex-WASPs like Artie to apply for the the for apply to Artie like ex-WASPs for winds up with a history of both pro both of history a with up winds -

Soviet space program and paved the way way the paved and program space Soviet tion between the two worlds, and Sales Sales and worlds, two the between tion

cast to the world. This blew open a secret secret a open blew This world. the to cast the film he retrieves hints at the connec the at hints retrieves he film the -

wouldn’t return in one piece were broad were piece one in return wouldn’t - Bermuda Triangle. What develops from from develops What Triangle. Bermuda

transmissions when it became clear she she clear became it when transmissions beneath what is popularly known as the the as known popularly is what beneath

and her her and — veritable graveyard of ships and airplanes airplanes and ships of graveyard veritable first cosmonaut to reach space reach to cosmonaut first

— he ends up discovering a a discovering up ends he in the 1960s) the in tional Ludmilla Kovalenko became the the became Kovalenko Ludmilla tional

(also a real reconnaissance method used used method reconnaissance real a (also - fic 1957, their in bit: a quite ours from

a film canister ejected by a spy satellite satellite spy a by ejected canister film a capsule for weeks. Quelch’s 1967 differs differs 1967 Quelch’s weeks. for capsule

supposedly barren sea floor to search for for search to floor sea barren supposedly which left her trapped alone in a space space a in alone trapped her left which y Flipping Off Holmes The Affair of the Mysterious Letter: A Novel by Alexis Hall, Ace Books, June 2019, 350 pp., $16. reviewed by Cynthia Ward

“Flipping” is the act of altering one or In the speculative more significant aspects of characteriza- fiction field, flipping tion in a pastiche, remake, or adaptation. is controversial and For example, the 1995 filmRichard III increasingly popular. relocates William Shakespeare’s histori- Sometimes it also cal play to an alternate interwar Britain, incorporates other genres. turning the characters into 20th Cen- One such genre-blender tury royalists and fascists. is Alexis Hall’s new novel, The Affair of the In the speculative fiction field, flip- Mysterious Letter…. ping is controversial and increasingly popular. Sometimes it also incorporates other genres. One such genre-blender is Alexis Hall’s new novel, The Affair of the Mysterious Letter, in which Sir Arthur phemies against nature an advantage. Conan Doyle’s fictional consulting de- No laundry service. Enquire S. Haas, tective, Sherlock Holmes, becomes the 221b Martyrs Walk.” Said new situation cis lesbian sorceress Shaharazad Haas, offers a tolerably accommodating land- and his friend and chronicler, Dr. John lady: Mrs. Hive, an ambulatory corpse H. Watson, becomes the gay trans man inhabited by a wasp group mind. It also Captain John Wyndham. includes a roommate: a magic-wielding This is not to imply that Hall’s new- investigator of frightful insight, mad- H est novel confines itself to SH/JW flips dening eccentricity, multiplex addiction, with peanut butter magic in the choco- and homicidal yet charming sociopathy, 14 late mystery. It’s also a mash-up in the Ms. Shaharazad Haas. tradition of the late Philip José Farmer’s And, as the Canonical Holmes had Wold Newton universe and Alan Moore “the woman,” Irene Adler, Ms. Haas and Kevin O’Neill’s League of Extraor- has Miss Eirene Viola. In Haas’s case, dinary Gentlemen series. The Affair of the woman is an ex-lover — and some- the Mysterious Letter mixes elements of one who has been even less reluctant to many authors’ creations, predominantly engage in dubious enterprises than her Lovecraft’s aquatic race and the King in inspiration. However, the refugee from Yellow Mythos, along with a soupçon of Carcosa has reformed, and become affi- Edgar Rice Burroughs’s Barsoom and, I anced to a respectable businesswoman of suspect, borrowings I missed. However, the triplet cities of Kelathra-Ven. Hall takes the mash-up a giant step fur- Alas, a criminal past leaves even the ther, altering it so significantly as to com- reformed vulnerable to blackmail. An prise, ultimately, something else again. anonymous letter threatens to reveal Recognizable elements remain. Like one of Viola’s indiscretions (the one in his inspiration, Captain Wyndham is a which she and Haas persuaded a man to, medical man and disabled war veteran, “of his own free will, expose…himself to complete with a migratory wound (clev- extradimensional forces that tragically erly explained). And, since veterans are consumed him”), unless Viola immedi- as poorly pensioned in his world as in ately breaks her engagement with Miss Watson’s, the captain (an honorable and Cora Beck. Unwilling to sacrifice the sympathetic prig) is in urgent need of af- couple’s happiness, or at least her own, fordable lodging. He finds a new living Viola spends much of the chapter wear- situation when he answers the following ing down Haas’s understandable reluc-

Reviews broadsheet advertisement: “Co-tenant tance to search for the blackmailer — no

required. Rent reasonable to the point of easy task, given the ex-villainess has “left

arousing suspicion. Tolerance for blas- a veritable legion of jilted lovers, double- n

n

out to prove themselves worthy pretty pretty worthy themselves prove to out with her family. family. her with

own and achieve in their own ways. ways. own their in achieve and own

flight seats available, every astronaut is is astronaut every available, seats flight Michigan, where she lives lives she where Michigan,

were given the chance to soar on their their on soar to chance the given were

should note. With more astronauts than than astronauts more With note. should the automotive industry in in industry automotive the

— ones where women women where ones alternate versions alternate

Illinois Press. She works in in works She Press. Illinois

(This isn’t unique to female astronauts, I I astronauts, female to unique isn’t (This

our own history, but we can enjoy these these enjoy can we but history, own our

from the University of of University the from

feels the need to prove herself every day. day. every herself prove to need the feels

and Neil Armstrong. We can’t change change can’t We Armstrong. Neil and

is available available is Egan Greg

in 1960. She’s in the astronaut corps but but corps astronaut the in She’s 1960. in

inspiring as Yuri Gagarin, John Glenn, Glenn, John Gagarin, Yuri as inspiring

Her single-author study study single-author Her

ed Restraint” we meet Ruby Donaldson Donaldson Ruby meet we Restraint” ed

would have been just as competent and and competent as just been have would

online and other venues. venues. other and online

- “Articulat In Coleman). Bessie to back

had been allowed to try, many of them them of many try, to allowed been had Magazine Locus for writes

have a storied history in aviation going going aviation in history storied a have

There’s simply no question that if they they if that question no simply There’s reviewer and critic. She She critic. and reviewer

White women, but Black women pilots pilots women Black but women, White

ment of space exploration in our world. world. our in exploration space of ment

and avocationally a book book a avocationally and

racial divide racial all of the Mercury 13 were were 13 Mercury the of all —

- develop the in were women involved ly

electromagnetics engineer engineer electromagnetics

of obstacles (and also acknowledging the the acknowledging also (and obstacles of

- deep how just learned we’ve uncovered,

is vocationally an an vocationally is

woman in space, overcoming a number number a overcoming space, in woman

As more and more history has been been has history more and more As Karen Burnham Burnham Karen

Eventually Elma is chosen as the first first the as chosen is Elma Eventually

her dedication to space. to dedication her

mental power of these women. women. these of power mental

let nothing even possibly compromise compromise possibly even nothing let

as they were, success boils down to the the to down boils success were, they as

to put her dancing days behind her and and her behind days dancing her put to

electric computers, even as “primitive” “primitive” as even computers, electric

the day is eventually saved, Ruby decides decides Ruby saved, eventually is day the

New Jersey in our world. Without those those Without world. our in Jersey New NBL pool is a thing of wonder). While While wonder). of thing a is pool NBL

MIT in Massachusetts and Bell Labs in in Labs Bell and Massachusetts in MIT it is to work in space suits in the gigantic gigantic the in suits space in work to is it

ic computer technology that happened at at happened that technology computer ic description of just how immensely hard hard immensely how just of description

- electron in work revolutionary the upset failure (Kowal’s thoroughly researched researched thoroughly (Kowal’s failure

the Eastern Seaboard would dramatically dramatically would Seaboard Eastern the injured ankle almost leads to complete complete to leads almost ankle injured

imagine that vaporizing a huge chunk of of chunk huge a vaporizing that imagine to dock with the space station. Ruby’s Ruby’s station. space the with dock to

mention it directly in her Afterword, I I Afterword, her in directly it mention low a damaged shuttle, with passengers, passengers, with shuttle, damaged a low

our timeline our and while Kowal doesn’t doesn’t Kowal while and — - al will that sequence EVA an out figure

when it happens a decade earlier than in in than earlier decade a happens it when Instead of normal practice, they have to to have they practice, normal of Instead

15 play in the space program’s development development program’s space the in play out the training run is deadly serious. serious. deadly is run training the out

ly women, have a much greater role to to role greater much a have women, ly

the night before, but this time it turns turns it time this but before, night the i

- exclusive computers, Human pearances. She’d sprained her ankle while dancing dancing while ankle her sprained She’d

- ap cameo make 13 Mercury world real gravity environment) at the space center. center. space the at environment) gravity Dux Bellorum. Dux

Elma is an ex-WASP, and some of the the of some and ex-WASP, an is Elma - micro a of equivalent Earthly closest The Adventure of the the of Adventure The and

to make their case to become astronauts. astronauts. become to case their make to Neutral Buoyancy Lab (a giant pool, the the pool, giant (a Lab Buoyancy Neutral Countess Incognita the of

is just slightly cracked open for women women for open cracked slightly just is The Adventure Adventure The novels, short She’s scheduled for a training run in the the in run training a for scheduled She’s

Aqueduct published her her published Aqueduct much every day of their working lives.) lives.) working their of day every much stead of mere boots-and-flags, the door door the boots-and-flags, mere of stead

. . Approach Practical A Other:

Writing the the Writing ­authored co-

Dust Lanes (cont. from p. 13) p. from (cont. Lanes Dust

With Nisi Shawl, she she Shawl, Nisi With

Volumes 1-2. 1-2. Volumes , West Weird

Forgotten Tales of the the of Tales Forgotten

others’ blunt language are too frequent to to frequent too are language blunt others’ Lost Trails: Trails: Lost edited She

, and elsewhere. elsewhere. and , Nightmare Wyndham’s prudish circumlocutions for for circumlocutions prudish Wyndham’s

, , Asimov’s , Analog to stories The novel has some issues. Captain Captain issues. some has novel The vo, Mr. Hall! Hall! Mr. vo,

Cynthia Ward has sold sold has Ward Cynthia prose, wit, and world-building. and wit, prose, help but hope devotedly for sequels. Bra sequels. for devotedly hope but help -

And the journey is as inventive as the the as inventive as is journey the And with fiction in many months. I cannot cannot I months. many in fiction with

yet it’s not what I expected. expected. I what not it’s yet — its own thing, and the most fun I’ve had had I’ve fun most the and thing, own its suspect

mately, however, this book is very much much very is book this however, mately, mystery is one I rather quickly began to to began quickly rather I one is mystery

rather too much of a tonal shift. Ulti shift. tonal a of much too rather - not apply to sorcery). The solution to the the to solution The sorcery). to apply not

as trans-spatio-temporal madness, offers offers madness, trans-spatio-temporal as sonal interactions, however much it may may it much however interactions, sonal for sequels. for

dham experiences what I’ll oversimplify oversimplify I’ll what experiences dham Haas values logic and deduction in per in deduction and logic values Haas - help but hope devotedly devotedly hope but help

Too, the Carcosa section, wherein Wyn wherein section, Carcosa the Too, - roommate solve the case (like Holmes, Holmes, (like case the solve roommate many months. I cannot cannot I months. many

ent as alt.Europe with alt.Oriental trim. trim. alt.Oriental with alt.Europe as ent ful and intelligent-though-non-genius intelligent-though-non-genius and ful I’ve had with fiction in in fiction with had I’ve

- pres to inclined too bit a is homeworld the sorceress-investigator and her faith her and sorceress-investigator the - thing, and the most fun fun most the and thing,

book is very much its own own its much very is book setting strains credulity. The principals’ principals’ The credulity. strains setting vast slate of potential blackmailers until until blackmailers potential of slate vast

Ultimately, however, this this however, Ultimately, everyone else in the Victorian-esque Victorian-esque the in else everyone The plot consists of winnowing the the winnowing of consists plot The

tology, and/or obscenity from practically practically from obscenity and/or tology, wake. her in victims” ioned

remain amusing, while blasphemy, sca blasphemy, while amusing, remain old-fash good and associates, crossed - - y Women…in Time! Kate Heartfield’s Alice Payne duology: Alice Payne Arrives by Kate Heartfield, Tor.com Publishing, November 2018, 176 pp., $15.99; Alice Payne Rides by Kate Heartfield, Tor.com Publishing, March 2019, 176 pp., $14.99. reviewed by Arley Sorg

If you love good adventure stories, in a few spots, it smooths out early on. these books are for you. Better yet, if How does time travel work? A cool, spar- you long for adventure stories featur- kly orb. There’s a little more meat to this ing women —robbing the rich, leaping science fictional aspect than that, and the through time, making decisions and series loves paradoxes and intricate flows driving the plot — pick up these books of consequence (you will need a spread- immediately. And, if you like a bit of sheet to keep up), but these books aren’t depth to your fiction, good news: these attempting to present a plausible time adventures are seasoned with subtext travel theory. In fact, the ideas behind and commentary, while never losing the ideological war and the societal no- touch with the spirit of adventure. tions of various times are where some of Alice Payne Arrives begins with a rob- the most intriguing (social) science fic- bery, which sets the tone perfectly: ac- tional concepts live. tion, a strong-willed woman, and a Characters and motivations also have touch of steampunk. By day, Alice is the to be established, and the characters are …if you long for half-Black (but fairly passing) daughter great. The story navigates the challeng- adventure stories featuring to Colonel Payne, a cruel veteran whose es of being a lesbian, and a woman — a women — robbing the rich, health is quickly declining, a condition stubborn one at that — without mak- leaping through time, which is mirrored by the state of his ing it too easy or too hard. The people H making decisions and driving the plot — pick up house. By night, Alice is a Georgian era and their situations are both believable 16 these books immediately. highwaywoman, punishing the deserv- enough and fantastic enough to be en- And, if you like a bit of ing and keeping coin flowing into her tertaining and engaging. depth to your fiction, good house at the same time. Ignorant of the A great deal of the tale takes place in news: these adventures are lengths Alice goes to just to keep the 1788. Descriptions are convincing, and seasoned with subtext and house afloat, her father wishes her mar- the writing is confident, while the read commentary, while never ried off, but Alice has no interest. She’s moves along easily. You don’t have to be losing touch with the spirit happily entangled with her companion a Georgian enthusiast to enjoy this book, of adventure. and counterpart, Jane. Where Alice is but there are probably a few details the daring and bold, Jane is brilliant, an in- enthusiasts will love. ventor, and a scientist. Whereas Arrives is mainly centered on In another place and time, Major Alice, with a strong secondary focus on Prudence Zuniga is getting tired of the Zuniga, Rides feels a bit more like time futility of a time war. Two ideological travel: A-Team through time, in a sense, How does time travel armies, the “Misguided” and the “Farm- but keeping the focus on Alice as the star. work? A cool, sparkly orb. ers,” are constantly rewriting history, Essentially, a group has come together, There’s a little more meat each side making calculated decisions and the focus of the story shifts for the to this science fictional that don’t always end up as expected. group entire. The sparkly newness of set- aspect than that, and Zuniga hatches a plot to destroy time ting and characters is replaced by the the series loves paradoxes travel completely, hoping to end the sparkly newness of sharp interpersonal and intricate flows of time war once and for all. As it happens, tensions and complications, not to men- consequence (you will according to her calculations, she needs tion “new adventures!” need a spreadsheet to an individual who lives in 1788, specifi- Parish constable Captain Wray Auden keep up), but these books cally a native to that time. Enter Alice wants to see the notorious highwayman, aren’t attempting to and Jane! the Holy Ghost, brought to justice. He present a plausible time As Alice Payne Arrives is book one, doesn’t know that the criminal in ques-

travel theory. foundational ideas must be presented. tion is his own friend, Alice Payne.

While the exposition is slightly clunky Meanwhile, the group’s time travel mis- n

n

face

launch more. launch

into orbit, and hopes to to hopes and orbit, into

thrown a few short stories stories short few a thrown

together a novel, has has novel, a together

. He’s soldering soldering He’s . Magazine

Lightspeed Lightspeed for jobs odd

and does does and Magazine Locus

an associate editor at at editor associate an

Workshop graduate, he’s he’s graduate, Workshop

Odyssey Writing Writing Odyssey

Oakland, CA. A 2014 2014 A CA. Oakland,

Arley Sorg lives in in lives Sorg Arley

17

i

travel conflict without certain ethical and and ethical certain without conflict travel

questions rising questions forward prose. You can hardly have time time have hardly can You prose. forward emotion. emotion.

ethical and philosophical philosophical and ethical - straight and dialogue strong through with moments of wonderful, genuine genuine wonderful, of moments with

conflict without certain certain without conflict moments between characters, delivered delivered characters, between moments ries presents solid adventure, but glitters glitters but adventure, solid presents ries

can hardly have time travel travel time have hardly can ideas are balanced by humor and great great and humor by balanced are ideas - se the Overall choose. you family the

straightforward prose. You You prose. straightforward Throughout the series, intelligent intelligent series, the Throughout these works are about family, especially especially family, about are works these

through strong dialogue and and dialogue strong through moves fast, and manages to stay fun. stay to manages and fast, moves she is at the center of it all, as a body, body, a as all, it of center the at is she

characters, delivered delivered characters,

lotta plot for 176 pages. But it works, it it works, it But pages. 176 for plot lotta trouble she got herself into. And while while And into. herself got she trouble

great moments between between moments great

Yes, it’s a lot to follow. It’s a whole whole a It’s follow. to lot a it’s Yes, her, I want to listen to her talk about the the about talk her to listen to want I her,

balanced by humor and and humor by balanced

cover his dark secrets. dark his cover hang out with her, I want to ride with with ride to want I her, with out hang

intelligent ideas are are ideas intelligent

- un to hoping Revolution, American the pulsive enough. As a reader I want to to want I reader a As enough. pulsive

Throughout the series, series, the Throughout

decides to don a disguise and head for for head and disguise a don to decides being charismatic, capable, and just im just and capable, charismatic, being -

a mysterious event during the war. She She war. the during event mysterious a Alice cuts a superb figure as a hero, hero, a as figure superb a cuts Alice

specifically the way he was changed by by changed was he way the specifically long monologues or grandstanding. or monologues long

ice contemplates her father’s nature, nature, father’s her contemplates ice virtue of narrative resistance, rather than than rather resistance, narrative of virtue

complicated enough for a novella, Al novella, a for enough complicated - preachy, and so much of it happens by by happens it of much so and preachy,

in book one. Because this is not nearly nearly not is this Because one. book in out being weighed down or becoming becoming or down weighed being out

by the military leader she tried to escape escape to tried she leader military the by tions of justice. They do all of this with this of all do They justice. of tions -

future) to get a vaccine and is confronted confronted is and vaccine a get to future) there’s a running conversation around no around conversation running a there’s -

beyond. Zuniga goes (ahem: back to the the to back (ahem: goes Zuniga beyond. tween science/reason and passion; and and passion; and science/reason tween

tially to Alice’s entire household and and household entire Alice’s to tially both play with the age-old conflicts be conflicts age-old the with play both -

- poten but adventurers, the to only not those dealing with race and gender; they they gender; and race with dealing those

thur has smallpox, which poses a threat threat a poses which smallpox, has thur of war and several social issues, especially especially issues, social several and war of

from his own era. Things get worse: Ar worse: get Things era. own his from - on. Both books also tackle the darkness darkness the tackle also books Both on.

(read: kidnapping) Arthur of Brittany Brittany of Arthur kidnapping) (read: morality of impacting timelines, and so so and timelines, impacting of morality

sion goes awry, resulting in bringing bringing in resulting awry, goes sion philosophical questions rising: fate, the the fate, rising: questions philosophical y Getting the Neurosexism Out of Neuroscience Gender and Our Brains: How New Neuroscience Explodes the Myths of the Male and Female Minds by Gina Rippon, Pantheon Books, New York, August 2019, 424 pp., $30. reviewed by Nancy Jane Moore

One of my favorite parts of British First, much of the reporting in both neuroscientist Gina Rippon’s thorough professional and general media on a analysis of scientific research into sex great deal of brain research has over- differences in the brain in Gender and emphasized very tiny differences in the Our Brains comes in a chapter titled “The findings. This flaw is compounded by Gendered Waters in Which We Swim — small sample sizes and limited informa- The pink and blue tsunami.” In June of tion about the people studied. Given 1986 Rippon had just given birth and those gendered waters we’re all swim- was in a labor ward in the hospital when ming in, it’s obvious that a lot of studies she heard something that “sounded like were promoted as finding significant dif- an approaching steam train.” It was a ferences when those differences were, in carriage of newborns being delivered to fact, quite small. Rippon also notes that their mothers. studies that found no differences were The nurse gave a newborn boy much less likely to be published. (wrapped in a blue blanket) to the Secondly, and very importantly, brain woman next to her, saying “Here’s Gary. plasticity has been found to continue Cracking pair of lungs!” throughout life, and the things we learn So, for example, the often Rippon goes on to say: “The nurse can have a major impact on our brain. cited idea that men are then passed me my package, wrapped So, for example, the often cited idea that better at spatial reasoning in a yellow blanket (an early and hard- men are better at spatial reasoning and H and map reading might won feminist victory), with a perceptible map reading might well have to do with well have to do with the sniff. ‘Here’s yours. The loudest of the lot. the fact that more boys than girls play 18 fact that more boys than Not very ladylike!’ Thus at the tender age with Legos and similar toys. Our ability girls play with Legos and of ten minutes, my tiny daughter had her to do things is not fixed at birth in the similar toys. Our ability first encounter with the gendered world way some would like it to be. to do things is not fixed into which she had just arrived.” Lastly, we are social beings, and we at birth in the way some It is stories like this one that show construct our brains to fit in with our so- would like it to be. just how much difference it makes to cial surroundings. “Social cognitive neu- have women in science and technology roscience is putting the self centre stage, as well as in all the other professions making us realize that the construction stereotyped as male. Rippon’s personal of ourselves as social beings is perhaps experience with the “tsunami” of gender the most powerful triumph of the brain’s policing has given her added informa- evolution,” Rippon writes. tion when she evaluates research to de- On that last point, Rippon cites many termine which studies have been tainted studies showing that even small boosts by neurosexism as well as which ones or insults to our self-esteem have an ef- might actually provide useful informa- fect on our attitudes about what we can tion about brains. do and what we’re good at, as well as Rippon, professor of cognitive neu- how well we fit in. She notes that while roimaging at the Aston Brain Centre at some people can deal with the world Aston University in Birmingham, Eng- with a “this is who I am, take it or leave land, addresses most of the significant it” approach, “self-esteem for most of us brain research of the last half century in is determined by how well we seem to be this book, contrasting early studies with embedded in the social groups in which the more detailed work available with we find ourselves.” modern imaging technology. She makes For those whose work requires them three key points throughout the book, to operate in a social sphere in which

points that undermine most of the dif- they are not well-represented — such as

ferences attributed to sex. women working in tech — this can cre- n

n

n n Rippo ­ study, brain for available now are - Rec goals. one’s achieving in teachers,

Cont. on p. 20 p. on Cont.

and powerful analytical protocols that that protocols analytical powerful and includes the respect of peers, bosses, and and bosses, peers, of respect the includes

In urging the use of the large data sets sets data large the of use the urging In of the importance of recognition, which which recognition, of importance the of

differences altogether?” differences Fels wrote wrote Fels Lives. Changing Women’s in

perhaps we should just stop looking for for looking stop just should we perhaps Necessary Dreams: Ambition Ambition Dreams: Necessary in ago years

leads Rippon to observe, “Alternatively, “Alternatively, observe, to Rippon leads psychiatrist Anna Fels set out fourteen fourteen out set Fels Anna psychiatrist

to biological sex. A discussion of that that of discussion A sex. biological to brains brought to my mind the thesis thesis the mind my to brought brains

they can be shown to be directly related related directly be to shown be can they experience on our construction of our our of construction our on experience

text, whether they overlap, and whether whether and overlap, they whether text, This discussion of the effect of social social of effect the of discussion This

- con on depend they whether lifetime, a in the world very early. early. very world the in

ferences are persistent or transient across across transient or persistent are ferences of birth. Babies start learning their place place their learning start Babies birth. of

they will fit in. fit will they - dif whether about questions add studies these skills is present from the moment moment the from present is skills these

supposed to act so that that so act to supposed and Margaret McCarthy suggesting that that suggesting McCarthy Margaret and in the brain that allows us to develop develop to us allows that brain the in

gender and how they are are they how and gender cites work by Professors Daphna Joel Joel Daphna Professors by work cites sexes well.” She adds that the plasticity plasticity the that adds She well.” sexes

on about the rules of of rules the about on should be considered in studies. She She studies. in considered be should lutionary advance has not served both both served not has advance lutionary

small children learn early early learn children small researchers to come up with areas that that areas with up come to researchers - evo major this that reveal may men, and

And that also leads Rippon and other other and Rippon leads also that And learning means that that means learning seem to be for girls and boys, women women boys, and girls for be to seem

resume for each participant. participant. each for resume Examining how different these rules rules these different how Examining coupled with social social with coupled

should include a detailed biography and and biography detailed a include should may be based on biased information…. information…. biased on based be may This plasticity of brains brains of plasticity This

pon’s argument suggests research studies studies research suggests argument pon’s in the world and our journey through it it through journey our and world the in

- Rip research. neuroscience of cussions engagement that determine our place place our determine that engagement

- dis other in mentioned been rarely has “our understanding of the rules of social social of rules the of understanding “our

is a crucial observation, and one that that one and observation, crucial a is of evolutionary success. But, she warns, warns, she But, success. evolutionary of

ly affects what their brains are like. This This like. are brains their what affects ly ate has been seen as the underlying basis basis underlying the as seen been has ate

- strong lives their with done have people - cooper to ability corresponding our and

of lives these brains have lived.” What What lived.” have brains these lives of Rippon points out that our social brain brain social our that out points Rippon

She adds, “We need to know what kind kind what know to need “We adds, She

and made me question my own worth. worth. own my question me made and

19

just the sex and age of our participants.” participants.” our of age and sex the just

other women in my fields affected me me affected fields my in women other

i we have to pay attention to more than than more to attention pay to have we nize just how much that isolation from from isolation that much how just nize

ing sex/gender differences in the brain, brain, the in differences sex/gender ing - recog to coming am I spaces, dominated

- study in that, means brain human the has spent a great deal of my life in male- in life my of deal great a spent has

long experience-dependent plasticity in in plasticity experience-dependent long qualified to be there. As someone who who someone As there. be to qualified

Rippon points out, “The discovery of life- of discovery “The out, points Rippon they may begin to believe they are not not are they believe to begin may they

But that plasticity doesn’t stop. As As stop. doesn’t plasticity that But ties as their coworkers, but also because because also but coworkers, their as ties

posed to act so that they will fit in. in. fit will they that so act to posed - opportuni same the get not may they

- sup are they how and gender of rules ate a substantial barrier, not just because because just not barrier, substantial a ate

small children learn early on about the the about on early learn children small

coupled with social learning means that that means learning social with coupled

adult levels. This plasticity of brains brains of plasticity This levels. adult question my own worth. own my question

affected me and made me me made and me affected gradually pruned back until they reach reach they until back pruned gradually

other women in my fields fields my in women other and adolescence, these connections are are connections these adolescence, and

much that isolation from from isolation that much tions with everything. During childhood childhood During everything. with tions

to recognize just how how just recognize to partly because they are making connec making are they because partly -

spaces, I am coming coming am I spaces, as many synaptic connections as adults, adults, as connections synaptic many as

life in male-dominated male-dominated in life brain volume of adults. Babies have twice twice have Babies adults. of volume brain

spent a great deal of my my of deal great a spent

child is six, they have 90 percent of the the of percent 90 have they six, is child

As someone who has has who someone As

birth, Rippon points out. By the time a a time the By out. points Rippon birth,

Brains grow in volume beginning at at beginning volume in grow Brains

as physics, at each level of education. of level each at physics, as

in the drop of women in some fields, such such fields, some in women of drop the in

show up in their brains. It also shows up up shows also It brains. their in up show

difficulty succeeding, and that, too, will will too, that, and succeeding, difficulty

worth is constantly questioned will have have will questioned constantly is worth

placed in an environment where their their where environment an in placed

key element of social experience. Those Those experience. social of element key ognition for one’s accomplishments is a a is accomplishments one’s for ognition Gender and Our Brains (cont. from p. 19) people are constantly subjected. Rippon is not as wickedly witty as Cordelia Fine, notes that these days we can look at whose Delusions of Gender and Testoster- multiple variables, not only biological one Rex can make the reader laugh out sex. And she points out that gender im- loud. But Rippon has given us an easily balances in mental and physical health understood discussion of how brain im- This thorough and conditions leads to a need for studies aging began and developed, coupled with readable book provides that do include sex differences that may a rigorous analysis of the flaws in many us with analysis and data well matter. studies and clear descriptions of what we to block the misogynist But as she points out in her conclu- need to do to develop real understanding stereotypes to which sion, “We need to persistently challenge of human brains. That makes this a use- people are constantly gender stereotypes.” She goes on to say, ful resource for all of us looking for an subjected. “Neuroscience can play a role here. It can end to gender stereotyping. help bridge the gap between the old na- ture versus nurture arguments and show Nancy Jane Moore’s books include how our world can affect our brains…. The Weave, Changeling, and Despite earlier waves of neurobunk and Conscientious Inconsistencies. At neurobaloney, neuroscience explanations present she’s writing nonfiction are not always seductive nonsense.” about empowerment self defense This thorough and readable book pro- and fiction that incorporates vides us with analysis and data to block Aikido, climate change, and a the misogynist stereotypes to which generation ship. She lives in Oakland, California. y The Dust of Purgatory The Heads of Cerberus by Francis Stevens, Modern Library Trade Paperback, 2019, 198 pp., $15. reviewed by Kathleen Alcalá H 20 “Sit down — sit down, man, and for- nightmare under the gaze of the huge give me for a fool of an Irishman! Should statue of William Penn, transformed you kill me right here for laughing, I’d into a despotic god ruling over a closed not be blaming you.” city. Most of the action takes place in And so the main characters in this City Hall, where ignorance of history novel, long acquainted, reintroduce and the outside world is enforced on the themselves to each other, but mostly to sheep-like populace by a corrupt few. the reader. A wealthy Irishman, a disrep- The descriptions in this book read like utable lawyer, and the Irishman’s lovely the sourcebook for novels such as The young sister meet up in Philadelphia for Hunger Games and The Time Machine. At a time travel romp. the same time, we see the author dipping The vehicle for their adventure is a into the classical past with references mysterious gray powder kept in a glass such as the title; a wide, grassy expanse vial with the heads of the dog Cerberus, reminiscent of the Elysian Plane, and Originally published in serial form (in 1919’s The guardian of the underworld, engraved on Jules Verne influences. Thrill Book), The Heads the lid. The lawyer, having left his native Originally published in serial form of Cerberus was written by Cincinnati to begin a life of crime since (in 1919’s The Thrill Book), The Heads of Gertrude Barrows Bennett, he can no longer earn an honest living, Cerberus was written by Gertrude Bar- who was born in 1883…. happens to break into his friend’s home, rows Bennett, who was born in 1883, Bennett, formerly a where he is knocked unconscious by an- under the pen name of Frances Stevens. journalist, turned to pulp other intruder. Because the vial has al- Bennett, formerly a journalist, turned fiction when her husband ready been targeted, the Irishman is not to pulp fiction when her husband died died unexpectedly, surprised to see him, thus the inappro- unexpectedly, producing about a dozen producing about a dozen priate laughter. One accidently inhales stories of which five were whole novels. stories of which five were some of the dust, and the rest follow. The new edition ofThe Heads of Cerberus

whole novels. Their destination, starting from 1918, includes an introduction by British SF

is Philadelphia in 2118, a dystopic writer Naomi Alderman, who notes the n

n

- “compro Drayton, Robert lawyer, The

www.kathleenalcala.com

be accepted as such and let it go at that.” that.” at go it let and such as accepted be

at More Northwest.

to face “every wonder as a fact by itself, to to itself, by fact a as wonder “every face to

writing, and lives in the the in lives and writing,

upbringing, Terence and Viola are able able are Viola and Terence upbringing,

writes, teaches creative creative teaches writes,

of meeting it.” Because of their Catholic Catholic their of Because it.” meeting of

author if six books. She She books. six if author

known possibility there are three ways ways three are there possibility known

Kathleen Alcalá is the the is Alcalá Kathleen

marvelous oversteps the bounds of of bounds the oversteps marvelous

Chapter Five starts out, “When the the “When out, starts Five Chapter

characters. ­characters.

cycles through its closeness to the various various the to closeness its through cycles tive history ever published. published. ever history tive

the point of view is in third person, but but person, third in is view of point the - alterna first the be to many by sidered

Wood calls “free indirect style,” meaning, meaning, style,” indirect “free calls Wood - con is Cerberus of Heads The do.” longer

book is told in what literary critic James James critic literary what in told is book many of her contemporaries’ works no no works contemporaries’ her of many

serves a further purpose, however. The The however. purpose, further a serves main highly entertaining in a way that that way a in entertaining highly main

The Trenmores’ Irish background background Irish Trenmores’ The - re which themselves, writings her for

in the development of weird fantasy, and and fantasy, weird of development the in

of the number. the of

“deserves recognition both for her place place her for both recognition “deserves

ties; but benevolence was hardly hardly was benevolence but ties;

Bennett/Francis Stevens,” says Lazerus, Lazerus, says Stevens,” Bennett/Francis

- quali possible several indicating

ration for her work. “Gertrude Barrows Barrows “Gertrude work. her for ration

low, slightly protruding forehead forehead protruding slightly low,

- admi his acknowledged who and style,

cruel lips, narrow-set eyes, and and eyes, narrow-set lips, cruel

writer, A. Merritt, who wrote in a similar similar a in wrote who Merritt, A. writer,

must be misleading. Those thin, thin, Those misleading. be must

her work had been ascribed to another another to ascribed been had work her

or his title, in Trenmore’s opinion, opinion, Trenmore’s in title, his or

admiration for her work. her for admiration

between 1917 and 1923. Until 1952, 1952, Until 1923. and 1917 between

covered the pit. Either his features features his Either pit. the covered

who acknowledged his his acknowledged who

a dozen stories, including five novels, novels, five including stories, dozen a

the eagle and dove symbol that that symbol dove and eagle the

in a similar style, and and style, similar a in

2013), Stevens/Bennett published about about published Stevens/Bennett 2013),

took his place, standing fairly upon upon fairly standing place, his took

A. Merritt, who wrote wrote who Merritt, A.

Forays into Fantasy series ( June 12, 12, June ( series Fantasy into Forays

emerged from behind the dais and and dais the behind from emerged ascribed to another writer, writer, another to ascribed

According to Scott Lazerus, in his his in Lazerus, Scott to According

21 A short, stocky, heavily built man man built heavily stocky, short, A 1952, her work had been been had work her 1952,

unsavory powers. powers. unsavory

1917 and 1923. Until Until 1923. and 1917

i

Century, but still grating. still but Century, lost city, and weird magic that draws on on draws that magic weird and city, lost

five novels, between between novels, five

common in literature of the early 20 early the of literature in common

men and a woman as the adventurers, a a adventurers, the as woman a and men

a dozen stories, including including stories, dozen a

th

moral and intellectual standing, more more standing, intellectual and moral many of the same tropes: a trio of two two of trio a tropes: same the of many Bennett published about about published Bennett

throughout the book as a reflection of of reflection a as book the throughout features features Fear, of Citadel novel, famous 12, 2013), Stevens/ 2013), 12,

her brother. Physical description is used used is description Physical brother. her for a sequel. While not a sequel, her most most her sequel, a not While sequel. a for into Fantasy series (June (June series Fantasy into

also doesn’t have as heavy an accent as as accent an heavy as have doesn’t also goings-on, as well as leave things open open things leave as well as goings-on, Lazerus, in his Forays Forays his in Lazerus,

this danger is constantly implied. She She implied. constantly is danger this vide a workable explanation for all the the all for explanation workable a vide According to Scott Scott to According

ing her virginal status violated, although although violated, status virginal her ing - pro to manages Stevens end, the By

- hav of danger in left never lady, young a way out. out. way a

ter, Viola, is the epitome of the proper proper the of epitome the is Viola, ter, vow to die together are they able to find find to able they are together die to vow

- sis His hot. bit a get things when fix contagious behavior of the Servants and and Servants the of behavior contagious

and strength, get our protags out of a a of out protags our get strength, and when the four of them shake off the the off shake them of four the when

who can, because of their superior size size superior their of because can, who elers into their badly laid plans. Only Only plans. laid badly their into elers

the current popularity of superheroes superheroes of popularity current the and betray each other, drawing the trav the drawing other, each betray and -

distinct dialect, but also fits nicely into into nicely fits also but dialect, distinct holders are called, constantly undermine undermine constantly called, are holders

fers from stereotypes that include his his include that stereotypes from fers Servants of Penn, as the twelve office- twelve the as Penn, of Servants

- suf Irishman, the Trenmore, Terence their own morality compromised. The The compromised. morality own their

tion for life, until our time travelers arrive. travelers time our until life, for tion with a fourth companion, gradually find find gradually companion, fourth a with

- posi pampered a insure that conclusions ous forms of death, the travelers, along along travelers, the death, of forms ous

erest, Quickest, et cetera, with foregone foregone with cetera, et Quickest, erest, In trying to save each other from vari from other each save to trying In -

but still grating. still but

their twelve positions as Loveliest, Clev Loveliest, as positions twelve their - explained. ­ be must things whom to

of the early 20th Century, Century, 20th early the of

The ruling class holds a competition for for competition a holds class ruling The pretty closely to Drayton as the skeptic skeptic the as Drayton to closely pretty

more common in literature literature in common more

their numbers as lapel pins at all times. times. all at pins lapel as numbers their

For this reason, the point of view sticks sticks view of point the reason, this For and intellectual standing, standing, intellectual and

no longer have names, but must display display must but names, have longer no The third response would be madness. madness. be would response third The as a reflection of moral moral of reflection a as

People in this politically themed fantasy fantasy themed politically this in People are there or that I really believe in you!’” you!’” in believe really I that or there are used throughout the book book the throughout used

able numbers to be flung into the breach. breach. the into flung be to numbers able you now, but I am not at all sure that you you that sure all at not am I but now, you Physical description is is description Physical

treatment of individuals as interchange as individuals of treatment - cepted with a mental reservation as, ‘I see see ‘I as, reservation mental a with cepted

mised on the second approach, and ac and approach, second the on mised - influence of the First World War in the the in War World First the of influence The Salt We Take Away by Mark Rich

Watery reachings arrive and subside. Here, salt and sand interweave. Sudsy risings for air. Subtle tuggings at feet. what's the matter with I linger and wonder, and wait by Gwynne Garfinkle for upwashings. Shells tumble like dice. Snail spirals at wave-ebb all point to the life no ingenue no leading lady hatchet-faced hag with had on land. In this way do they tell us to cleave eyebrows for days whatever happened to what's the to our ways, ashore — to retreat matter with the matter is she won't go away how dare the faded ladies age hush hush why won't she from upsweeping, turned tides? Yet their spires may augur the way for keepers of lairs shut up already whatever happened to sister cousin in the deep. Their gazes I feel. Each roll aunt Charlotte Alice Helen Jane what's the matter brings in chill, rippling fingers that pull with Davis Crawford Stanwyck the sand from under my heels. the horror of the camera capturing her descent from Should we urge them to air? Or swim for our fears? dewy youth into middle age edging toward decay This I ask of a crone, in the dark of her hut, (unlike distinguished Jimmy Stewart William Holden well inland. She gives me dry fruit, Cary Grant) how dare she turn fifty-five fifty-six and even most unseemly sixty nuts, and seeds, when I visit from fishing, with briny-fresh catch. See this hourglass, filling this may-as-well-be-dead ringer for her former self no with sand, she says. Should they learn to breathe longer bankable/fuckable nothing to stop her going in our air, on our land, we shall leave; volcanic with rage feast your eyes on incandescent desperation time to sell her shattered scream her red- however much waves help relieve painted sneer her unhinged stare behold the movie our remembrance, our swept-away sorrows now give H star turned Medusa Medea in grotesque close-up she to those forms — much like ours, with deeper blue skins — cold longings. Say I: Salt runs 22 raises the axe and murders whatever happened to her in our tears, in the wells of our eyelids — our pulses mark surges, our own salted floods — Gwynne Garfinkle lives in we eat salt, release it — our joy sings and sways with the Moon — for we must be the sea’s Los Angeles. Her work has appeared in such publications as as the sea’s are these deep-keeping dwellers. Uncanny, Strange Horizons, Apex, Why flee them? Her words mere sighs, she murmurs: Lackington’s, and Not One of Us. Such days are incoming, our hopes may well thin Her collection of short fiction and in the way vision mists, as it dims poetry, People Change, is available after gazing too long on green swells, from Aqueduct Press. too long on gray foam — in the way touch dulls in damp chill. Should undertow’s emerald hand then beckon, weak hearts might descend to meet such strong as arise. Yet air must we breathe. Even having had lives swimming hard for forgetfulness, fresh in our salt quicken dreams. In our salt, we depart.

Mark Rich is the author of C.M. Kornbluth: The Life

and Works of a Science Fiction

Visionary. He lives in Wisconsin. n

n

Ghost Signs. Ghost and , Bikhl

Province of Hyphens, A Mayse- A Hyphens, of Province

and Experience, Postcards from the the from Postcards Experience, and

Singing Innocence Innocence Singing in previously

and and Shores Sleepless the Forget

in the Lambda-nominated Lambda-nominated the in

have been collected most recently recently most collected been have

Rhysling Award-winning poetry poetry Award-winning Rhysling

Sonya Taaffe’s short fiction and and fiction short Taaffe’s Sonya

than to leave a mermaid hanging. mermaid a leave to than

better known have should he

act last his by

evasions modern of master that Tell

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Sea. Black the in shipwreck a make to

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for a one. a for 23

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me. except

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Sonya! Uncle to, wake to Greece a has he as long so

dreams Endymion say

by Sonya Taaffe Sonya by reigns, and lives Alexander Say

Collapse? Age Uncle Sonya Uncle

who dozed through Venizelos and the Bronze Bronze the and Venizelos through dozed who

history of know he did what no,

Akropolis, the of

emptiness

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eyes my behind fresco the

from Linear B through the Eurozone, the through B Linear from

dream a of length the me loved goddess No

me. except

sleep of years thousand three needs one No

Endymion. assassinating of dream I

by Sonya Taaffe Sonya by And a Sleep Full of Sweet Dreams Sweet of Full Sleep a And Creating the World through Poetry/Collage Jean LeBlanc

Poetry is my way of exploring the I wrote above about poetry as my way world — my way to create a little cor- to explore the world. It goes a little be- ner of order and sense in the universe, yond “explore.” For me, poetry is a way as well as a way to travel through time. to create the world as it should be. At I use photography and collage to rein- least for the brief interval of the poem, force (for me) the primacy of the poetic I am in control. I can bring to the fore- image. For an image to begin to convey ground that which is beautiful and life- meaning, it must exist on literal and enhancing, and diminish that which figurative levels simultaneously — this would diminish me. And I hope that, for interplay of literal and figurative is what a reader, each poem is a portal to that I strive to get onto paper, and what I ex- slightly better world. I see now that this periment with through collage. holds true for my collage work as well, Each collage I create is a visual poem. especially the foregrounding of elements Usually I begin with a human element: both visual and textual that enhance a face, an eye, a hand. Something bo- something thought-provoking or sim- tanical may follow, or something to add ply mood-provoking, some new way of texture. Birds sometimes put in an ap- seeing. From shape and color to subject matter and self, each collage I create of- pearance. A shard of text is usually pres- fers a new way of seeing. ent, and asemic calligraphy — abstract So much of life comes to us as collage. writing — adds to the mood and to the Dreams. Advertisements. Memories. many possibilities of interpretation. Im- Scrapbooks and photo albums. A small ages in a poem can (should!) have differ- box of keepsakes. Gardens. Mosaics. H ent interpretations, and collage is a way Bookshelves. Junk drawer. Journal. Play- 24 to explore how meaning can transform list. Birdsong. Map. All these quotid- from one viewer to the next — or even ian things are composed of discrete yet from one viewing to the next by the interrelated images. Like poetry, these same set of eyes. interrelated images can be organized (in- The interplay of literal and figurative tentionally or accidentally or cognitively) is the key to the transformative power as lyrical or narrative. The more poetry I of literature and art. Metaphor, paradox, write, the more I feel the terms “lyrical” catachresis, pleonasm, anthimeria, tme- and “narrative” present a false dichotomy. sis — all these figures of speech have vi- Collage is helping me get past these la- sual parallels in my collages. Synecdoche bels. My collages each tell a story. The plays a central role in collage, where a story may be different for everyone who part of something represents the whole. looks at the collage, but that’s okay. Bet- By using snippets of text in collage, I ter than okay: It’s the whole point. have come to understand the power, the To see more of my work and my magic, that can be contained in a phrase thoughts on poetry, art, and the world unburdened by context. “Rivers to slip.” around us, please visit: “Touches a question.” Collage gives me www.jeanleblancpoetry.blogspot.com. a freedom in my poetry to let a phrase On Facebook: Jean LeBlanc Poetry. suggest meaning and something be- yond. Suggest wonderment. Encourage astonishment. Finally, collage is a “feel thing.” It is so satisfying to tear stuff up! Textured

Featured Artist paper, tissue paper, glossy magazine pa-

per — for me, every collage is a process

of discovery, from materials to meaning. n

n

strange land strange

touches a question a touches

these questions about questions these

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i falling fast falling rivers to slip

the secret to fly

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