What’s in Issue 109

Bewildering Stories News: “By the Numbers”

Novel	Dar, Nim and Nunez have a hard swim to the shore of the volcano island, and they’re running low on food. While exploring a cave, they make two discoveries: one is welcome; the other, strange. Tala Bar, Gaia, chapter 6: “The Volcano,” conclusion of part II ; part III.
Novellas	Two sets of characters seem to be getting ready for a change; a plot comes to fruition; Jonkil et Sharma and the Grand Council are perplexed at the turn of events, and Katia seems to have taken control: euhal allen, The Bridge, part V, installment 1. Parker and his unwelcome partner Qezbek search for Madelyne Dawes in the blighted and sinister area of Nullsville. Parker suddenly finds himself in danger he never imagined: Wallace W. Cass, Vessel, part 4.
Serials	Michael J A Tyzuk’s new Moonshadow crew and their allies raid a pirate base. The action starts well, but then everything goes wrong, and an indispensable crew member is captured. Through a Glass, Darkly, part 1. New contributor Omar E. Vega also deploys a team of agents to investigate a crime: an explosion in the port of New York. Are they tracking terrorists or a crime syndicate? Does the crime involve drug smuggling? There seems to be something more at stake. The Coke Maker, part 1.
Short Stories	New contributor Joel Gn uses medical technology to take a character through the labyrinth of a deceased friend’s memory. The memories are haunting, troubling and vivid. But are they real? And if some aren’t, what is? Mindfield, part 1; conclusion. Gregory Hansen has us listen in on cacophonic space aliens as they noisily conspire to conquer Earth. Now why would they choose a particular, talented captive as an infiltrator? Chalk it up to a stroke of genius: Return of the King. New contributor Sean Eric Hower introduces us to a tribe of barbarians struggling to eke out an existence in a howling wilderness. As a drought sets in, the savages struggle to appease fate with rituals of human sacrifice. Banishments makes us glad modern civilization is more humane. It is, isn’t it? New contributor Bob Sorensen tells the story of Tim Shannon, who accidentally injures a dog while driving home one night. Tim stops and courteously offers assistance to a boy and the boy’s mother when they come looking for their pet. All’s well that ends well. But not for Tim: he’s already on the road to tragedy. Call Waiting, part 1 ; conclusion.
Essay	Steven Utley follows up his essay “Day Job” in issue 108 with an account of his service in a mysterious government agency: I Was a T-Man Temp.

Departments

Welcome	Bewildering Stories ties the record set in issue 106 by welcoming four new contributors: Joel Gn, Sean Eric Hower, Bob Sorensen and Omar E. Vega.
Challenge	Challenge 109 asks several questions about Style Small and Large.
The Reading Room	Michael J A Tyzuk reviews Spider Robinson’s Callahan’s Con. Jerry Wright reviews Cornelia Funke’s Inkheart.
Editorial	Jerry Wright, Illmannered Maniacs

In Times to Come

Except for the serials, it’s never easy to predict the contents of the next issue. However, we can look forward to welcoming two or three new contributors.

Hot flash! Gnart returns! The newly-promoted fiend begins to have questions: where is Hell going? And what is it doing in this handbasket?

Readers’ reactions are always welcome.
Please write!

Return to top

Return to the issue index