Asimov's, January 2001
reviewed by David Soyka
The magazine has a well-earned reputation as an eclectic publisher of work that, with the exception of
slipstream, largely defines the Science Fiction and Fantasy genre in almost all of its permutations. Indeed, the
index of the previous year's stories that traditionally appears in the January issue is replete with "heavy hitters"
both new and longstanding -- from Arthur C. Clarke to Greg Egan to Cory Doctorow to Jane Yolen -- who mine the
field from various angles.
Asimov's Science Fiction, June 2001
reviewed by Nick Gevers
There's a nice irony to these contents, one of the magazine's stronger issues. The
theme linking its four novelettes seems to be New Blood, the necessity of rejuvenation; and it may be no coincidence,
given Gardner Dozois's perceptiveness as an editor, that the solid established professionals who staff his pages
here -- James Patrick Kelly, Nancy Kress, Kage Baker -- are joined for the occasion by Andy Duncan, the finest
writer of short fiction produced by American SF in some time, and Charles Stross, who is Duncan's opposite number in
Britain. To read Stross and Duncan is to experience all over again the aesthetic exhilaration that came from first
acquaintance with the work of Lucius Shepard, or Greg Egan; they are new blood indeed...
Asimov's Science Fiction, April 2001
reviewed by Nick Gevers
There's something to be said for convention, for a story fully conscious of
and grateful to the conventions that guide and nourish it; but such reverence
should never be taken too far. Unfortunately, two of the four novelettes in
this issue bend over backwards in their genuflection, to such an
extent that serious spinal damage is to be apprehended.
Asimov's Science Fiction, March 2001
reviewed by Nick Gevers
In his "On Books" column, Norman Spinrad complains with a measure of justice that the SF genre has gone predominantly "retro".
Which is to say that, in accordance with the postmodern aesthetic, SF has become the reverse of progressive, content
to recycle its commoditized tropes rather than innovate, and prone to a grievous kind of pasticheur's
nostalgia. The remainder of the issue, in some cases, supports and, in other cases, contradicts Spinrad's thesis.
Asimov's Science Fiction, February 2001
reviewed by Nick Gevers
Highlights of this issue include Bruce Sterling's "User-Centric" and Eleanor Arnason's "Lifeline," another
in her Lydia Duluth cycle, "Ice and Mirrors " by Brenda Cooper and Larry Niven and
"The Gods Abandon Alcibiades," an intriguing sortie into the classical past, by Joel Richards.
Asimov's Science Fiction, October/November 2000
reviewed by Nick Gevers
A quite impressive array of fiction in this double issue: a new novella by Larry Niven;
a long and sensuous exploration of the future potentials of bull-fighting; a new ironic
glance at the matter of Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers; an equally ironic take on the issues of The
Island of Doctor Moreau.
Asimov's Science Fiction, December 2000
reviewed by Nick Gevers
This is a particularly fine and well-balanced issue: of its 6 stories, 3 are
rousing adventure narratives, and 3 are quiet, sober meditations on time and chance. The tales of action
assert that justice can and must be seized, effected; the philosophical pieces suggest that justice comes randomly if
at all.
Asimov's Science Fiction, January 2001
reviewed by Nick Gevers
The January Asimov's is dominated by Allen Steele's substantial novella "Stealing Alabama," a proficient
thriller and the first in a promising series. Steele, in his usual rather conventional but also very readable
Heinleinian manner, relates how, in an economically depressed mid-21st century rump USA, a conspiracy of
courageous souls steals back destiny from a right-wing dictatorship.
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Asimov's Science Fiction, September 2000
reviewed by Nick Gevers
Highlights of this issue include Stephen Baxter's novella "Silver Ghost,"
and the short stories "Comp.Basilisk FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)" by
David Langford and "Tinkerbell is Dying" by John Alfred Taylor.
Asimov's Science Fiction, August 2000
reviewed by Nick Gevers
The one gem in this issue is Lucius Shepard's "Radiant Green Star." narrated by a young Vietnamese man of the mid-21st
century, who has, apparently, been exiled from power and fortune by his scheming father. His exile is with Radiant Green Star,
a circus that travels the backroads of rural Vietnam; his mentor is the circus's owner, an old man withdrawing from this
world towards the dubious bliss of a cybernetic Heaven; his narrative precursor is a miraculously long-lived American Vietnam veteran,
who gradually remembers and exposes the moral failure of the previous century.
Asimov's SF, February 2000
reviewed by Trent Walters
Ursula K. Le Guin once again turns convention on its head in "The Royals of
Hegn," which details the customs and habits of the royal family in a country
where everyone is royal except for a single common family; L. Timmel Duchamp
wrestles with compelling issues of personhood in "How Josiah Taylor Lost His
Soul"; and Esther M. Friesner presents "The Shunned Trailer," which
chronicles 2 days in the life of an Ivy League city-boy who stumbles upon
the Cthulhu horrors of the South.
Asimov's SF, October-November 1999
reviewed by Rich Horton
Each year Asimov's SF publishes a double-sized issue dated
October-November. These tend to be showcase issues, featuring lots of
well-known authors, and some very good stories. This time out, Rich's
favourites include Gardner Dozois' "A Knight of Ghosts and Shadows" and Tony
Daniel's "In from the Commons."
Asimov's SF, May 1999
reviewed by Ken Newquist
Some speculative fiction stories promise a bright, shining optimistic future. You
won't those kinds of stories in the May edition.
Ranging from melancholy to all-out depressing, these tales are not for those
seeking a pick-me-up from the trials of everyday life.
Asimov's, March 1999
reviewed by David Soyka
An interesting cross-section of pulp adventure and intellectually mature fiction
from authors such as R. Garcia y Robertson, Stephen Baxter, Mark W. Tiedemann,
Esther M. Friesner, Miriam Landau and Rick Shelley.
Asimov's SF, December 1998
reviewed by David Soyka
Without an overt Christmas theme, David found this issue of Asimov's
to provide a selection of stories in which situations of despair
are, if not entirely overcome, at least offer hope of redemption. Overall,
readers get a pretty good package for their holiday reading.
Asimov's SF, February 1999
reviewed by Steve Lazarowitz
Steve was quite surprised reading through this issue of what he considers
to be one of the best SF magazines. Surprised not by the quality of the work
(Asimov's has never disappointed there), rather, it was the somewhat
political nature of the stories.
Asimov's SF, August 1998
reviewed by David Soyka
Asimov's contemplates the existence of God in its August issue, and the
revelations it arrives at are hardly comforting. From Greg Egan's
excellent novella "Oceanic" to James Patrick Kelly's clever "Bierhorst,
R.G. Seera, B.L., and Jennifer R.P., 'Proof of the Existence of God and
an Afterlife,' Journal of Experimental Psychology, Volume 95, Spring
2007, Pages 32-36," the focus is on about humanity's relationship with
divinity.
Asimov's SF, June 1998
reviewed by David Soyka
The June issue of Asimov's SF marks the debut of a new larger format resulting in
10% more content. This issue also appears to send a few probes to the
fringe regions of SF while maintaining a home base in the terra firma of the mainstream.
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