If you like what you see then you could buy something from Daniel's shop or get the app for the iPad; and I hear that the story is going to be turned into an actual paper book, too. Me, I cannot wait, for both the book as well as Chapter 5!
The story follows Phoenix, an experimental (post-?)human with special abilities/powers, created and modified as a test subject in Tower 7 by the 'Big Eye', all in the name of science and the various, not always verys salubrious uses it is being put to. It also talks about the meaning of 'home' and 'belonging' as well as the responsibilities that come with freedom.
The story can be read, for free, here on the Subterranean website - I'd suggest that you do so, but also that you purchase the magazine itself!
Claude Lalumière is a Canadian writer, this collection of short stories is his first book; his most recent publication was the Novella “The Door to Lost Pages”. He is the Editor of 8 Anthologies, writes “Fantastic Fiction” for the Montreal Gazette, and is one of the artists behind the Lost Myths site.
Objects of Worship is introduced by James Morrow, and rounded off with author's notes on inspiration for and process of writing for each of the stories. Overall I can recommend the book. Yes, this is a new writer still working on finding his voice, and thus the quality and consistency of the stories here is mixed; but his is a new voice with an unusual take on a lot of things, and is worth reading.
Below is a short summary of and my thoughts on each of the stories in the book. The Object of Worship The story that gave the collection its title and theme – providing us with a short insight into a world/society which has Gods – present, visible, and interacting with the all-female inhabitants – for every aspect of life (home, work, …). What impact will it have that an Atheist (not that I'd call it that, given that the Gods are very much real) moves into the block of flats?. It's a sad, and rather compelling story – and a clear candidate for more, or something longer in the same setting.
Tall Stories is the 5th book in an ongoing series of re-issues of Tom Holt stories (`Tom Holt Omnibus') containing several stories in a similar vein per book. Both books (Expecting someone taller & Ye Gods) are obviously available as individual issues, too. Tom Holt himself, author of 41 books, winner of absolutely no awards, frequently nicknamed `the new Terry Prachett/Douglas Adams/insert your own comic SF writer here', living in Somerset doesn't really need to be introduced here. Darn, just did it. Anyway, here's some information on the stories in this book, for those who don't know them yet.
Expecting someone taller - Malcolm Fisher accidentally (in the truest sense of the word - by running over the last of the ice giants, in the shape of a badger, with his car) gets hold of the Ring of the Nibelungen (yes, the one from Wagner's Opera) and the tarn helmet, which nominally makes him ruler of the world. All kind of mayhem ensues, as the entire cast of the Opera (which is true to the last letter, of course!) try to get their hands on the goods (especially the cursed ring) before he gets the hang of them, settles in his new role, and becomes invincible. Cue intrigues, amorous encounters, people who are not what they seem (when are they, anyway?), and Wotan with his weather problems, of course...
Charles Stross is a Scottish SF writer, with, to date, 21 novels, 2 collections, a plethora of short stories, and several major Awards to his name. His latest book – The Apocaplypse Codex (Book 4 in the Lovecraft/Geeky crossover Laundry Series) is due out in July 2012.
Glasshouse, in contrast, was published in 2006, and has spent ways too much time deeply buried in my reading midden... but, as they say, rather late than never!
The story picks up with Robin working his way through his post-memory-surgery (in his case a substantial erasure of nearly all his memories) dissociation. We follow him as he hooks up with Kay, another surgery patient undergoing therapy before being allowed back into society, and learn (as he does) that someone wants him dead, presumably due to his former life (which he cannot remember).
Robin flees into the conveniently available offer to participate in an experiment to re-create a 20th Century society, of which only a limited amount is known.
“There's a gap in the historical record, which jumps straight from carbon ink on macerated wood pulp to memory diamond accessible via […] intentionality protocols. Somewhere in that gap is buried the origin of the posthuman state.”
Amazing Stories, a magazine with a history spanning back until 1926, is being resurrected - go to http://www.amazingstoriesmag.com/ to see for yourself.
Most of the content of the "Relaunch Prelaunch" issues is available online for a limited time, so it's worth going back once in a while, and checking what is coming on-stream.
Or you could, of course, just pay the $1.99 for the full editions - actually, I'd recommend you either do this, or donate something to the effort!
