I bought a copy of Andromeda Spaceways #68 the day it came available, with a view to posting a timely review. ‘Timely’ is a word decreasingly applicable to my life, but here, at last, are my thoughts on the current edition of Australia’s most approachable journal of speculative fiction.
'Ash Upon the Starry Night' by Melanie Rees
Set in a post-apocalyptic world, this story sees one of the survivors trying to remotely direct a Spanish droid to retrieve Picasso’s ‘Guernica’ from an art gallery. When the droid lays eyes on the painting, it doesn’t react well.
This strikes me as a bit of a shaggy-dog story, the plot (such as it is) acting as nothing but a means to an end. Cute in its way, but not particularly effective. 2.5/5
'Mrs Coleman’s Backyard Refugee Camp' by Jennifer Shelby
Told from the perspective of her sceptical son, this is the story of a woman who takes in the imaginary creatures that are displaced when an imaginary enchanted forest is cleared. But as Mrs Coleman explains partway through the story, “You have no idea how much work goes into a refugee camp,” and it’s her series of problems and her son’s reactions to her “nonsense” that generate the laugh-out-loud humour in this silly but enjoyable tale. It ends a little abruptly, and could easily have sustained another page or two of amusing situations before delivering its ‘twist’ (if that’s the right word). 3.5/5
'The Fear Engine' by Peter Ayscough
My kind of title! Government scientist Dr Philippa Kindred conducts neurological experiments on apes, with a view – at the urging of her military bosses – to moving on to human subjects so they can fight back against an encroaching enemy. But she is in a romantic relationship with a woman, Erica, who is part of a resistance against the military’s war on the enemy, so Philippa’s loyalties are murky and uncertain.
The themes are a little old hat and the author’s political barrow leaves quite a deep rut, but the writing is sound and the final revelations send off this story with a lot of energy. 4/5
'The Case of the Discounted Death' by Jamieson Ridenhour
If an author dares employ a Chandlerian voice for his narrator, the execution had better be spectacular. I’m afraid that isn’t the case here. The story begins with the hero penning badly-rendered naturalistic prose (“That don’t make me a poet or nothin’”) and then a few paragraphs later using phrases like “surreal proposition” and “pre-mortem reverie”. Things improve once the plot gains traction, but this genre mash-up never quite finds the right gear.
It’s meant as a spoof, of course (the hero’s name is Chandler, for heaven’s sake), and merging Raymond Chandler’s detective world with George Romero’s zombie lore does result in some amusing satire, but the mechanics of the story don’t work. Aside from the abovementioned authorial voice and often unconvincing hard-boiled dialogue, there are inconsistencies (why don’t the zombies behave like zombies from the outset?), some misguided attempts at Chandler-esque similes, and the final paragraph feels like the author stating something he was unable to impart in the story proper. I’m afraid I must file this under ‘Great idea, mediocre execution’. 2.5/5
'The Wolves Are on Their Way' by Charlotte Bond
An elderly woman, snowbound in her forest cottage, tries to lure and kill a dangerous wolf pack that has terrorised local villagers. Not one to read if you’re feeling glum – grim doesn’t begin to describe this story; imagine Little Red Riding Hood meets The Shining but without the cheerfulness of either. It’s beautifully written, save for a couple of grammatical howlers (“It seems that old age and the cold has frozen them”) and many superfluous reminders that the heroine is old – both things the editor should have picked up. 3/5
'Marbles' by Teresa Milbrodt
A woman inherits from her grandmother a box of coloured marbles that, when swallowed, can control emotions. The marbles come in handy for her job as a repo man, but are not so good for her love life.
This is an original and fascinating piece that asks the reader to ponder the effects repressed or expressed emotions can have on a relationship. 4/5
'A Mage’s Prophecy' by E. Don Harpe and Eugen Bacon
Evocative language brings to life this compelling fantasy tale about Sigereth of Sandark, a mighty warrior and king whose life is turned upside down when he encounters the beautiful Queen Yon on the battlefield.
This story really spoke to me. It’s a fine allegory for that period in our lives when we meet someone new and our entire outlook changes. The prose, which I also enjoyed, has a style all its own. One of the standouts in this edition. 4/5
'Seven Signs Your Roommate is a Vampire, With Additional Advice on Surviving Orientation If It’s More Complicated' by Jameyanne Fuller
Rose, a college student suspects her new roommate, Ellie, is a vampire. She confronts her with seven reasons for this deduction, including Ellie’s strange sleeping arrangements, her aversion to books, and her conveniently positioned tattoo. But the truth is far stranger than Rose imagines.
This is a more compelling narrative than the facetious synopsis-title might suggest. The writing is competent, too, if not remarkable, and the characters are likeable. The conclusion is somewhat unsatisfying and is also a thematic mishmash (coming-of-age, heroism and friendship all jostle for a place), but the story is so amiable it’s impossible to be disappointed. 3/5
'The Rabbi’s Daughter' by Sean Mulroy
“Surely you kept a strict log of your experiments and research?”
This line appears about a thousand words into a story which has, theretofore, promised to be about Jewish mysticism or culture clash, and its impact is profound. Set in the 18th century, it concerns a Christian man who has been corresponding with a Rabbi in a Prague ghetto regarding his daughter. Their agreement, however, proves to have little to do with matrimony.
Overuse of chess images, more grammatical flubs, a cliché so threadbare it is almost comical (“like a ton of bricks”), dialogue attribution that would make JK Rowling blush, a glaring spelling error (“unphased”), and a neophyte writer’s tendency to overdo figurative language all distract from what is otherwise an admirable speculative fiction story and literary homage. A firmer editorial hand would have resulted in a higher score. 3/5
'The Marachel Job' by Mike Adamson
An ex-military officer, now running freight, helps a disciple from the People of Silence (an Amish-style sect that spurns 25th century modernity) evade two men attempting to abduct and possibly murder him. She takes him to the authorities, who then ask her to help bring down the sect, which appears to use illicit technology and have ties to organised crime.
This story is essentially a techno-thriller and I personally found the jargon hard-going at times, but decent writing and a couple of twists rewarded perseverance. 3/5
Writers Unearthed
This series of interviews with lesser-known authors is a new addition to the pages of Andromeda. One is with the American author Steve Case and the other is with some jumped-up bogan from south-western Sydney. The interviewer is Eugen Bacon (co-author of ‘A Mage’s Prophecy’, above).
Final thoughts
Nothing here is as impressive as ‘Pan’ by Christopher Ruz or ‘Saturday Night Genocide’ by Dominic Dulley (from the last issue of Andromeda I reviewed, number 62), but it is nevertheless a solid collection of speculative fiction. Best in show for me is ‘Marbles’ by Teresa Milbrodt – original concept, interesting heroine, and thematic substance, all contained in a relatable, down-to-earth story.