What’s in Issue 137
| Story Contest |
The First Bewildering Story Contest closes at 2400 hours (GMT -5) February 28. Voting open March 1-15. Welcome & Rules | Handy References | Contest Entries to Date |
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| Novels |
Andina’s mage, Renson, really earns his keep in the aftermath of the battle. He and the survivors retreat to what they hope will be a refuge in a neighboring country: Julian Lawler, Battle Seer, chapter 15: The Journey to Corinn Ada, part 1; part 2. ‘Much earlier, the political climate back at Dome had unexpectedly altered. A message is received. The crew of the Mater are obliged to adjust their strategy, but the Captain also makes a brave tactical decision’: Michael E. Lloyd, Observation One: Singing of promises... |
| Serial | Can Jack be charged with breaking and entering a condemned structure? Be that as it may, he’ll have a hard time explaining his motives, not to mention what he discovers: Jeff Brown, A Wave from a Chimney, part 3. |
| Short Stories |
What do you have to do to qualify for Inclusion in the AI mass mind known as... God? Ian Donnell Arbuckle, Singalong, part 1; conclusion. Parents often know their children better than their children know themselves. Sometimes much better: R D Larson, Incident, part 1; conclusion. What high-tech weapon can save you from betentacled, protein-hungry Venusian slime monsters? With a Mac, use command-shift-delete. With anything else, you’re on your own: D. A. Madigan, Return to Sender. Does being politically correct mean you have to be a vampire? No, just be... polite: Danielle L. Parker, Rock Bottom and Up. |
| Flash Fiction |
New contributor David R. Eland has a whole new theory about the true origins of the Internet. It explains a lot. D. A. Madigan’s Venusian monsters may even have a tentacle in it: Xenophiles. |
| Poetry | Does this poem have anything in common with Ian Arbuckle’s “Writ on Water”? Maybe... Aryan Kaganof, Ten Pages. |
Departments
| Welcome | Bewildering Stories welcomes David R. Eland. |
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| The Critics’ Corner |
Conversations about: James Wasserman’s “Smoke and Mirrors” with Michael J A Tyzuk and Don Webb Danielle L. Parker’s “Galen the Deathless” with Danielle L. Parker and Don Webb |
| Letters |
Kevin Ahearn says Either Contemporary Realism or Irrelevance. Deep Bora writes about Scrutable Westerners in Assam. |
| The Reading Room |
Jerry Wright reviews Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife. |
| Editorials |
Ian Donnell Arbuckle, Writ on Water Don Webb, Writing for Bewildering Stories |
In Times to Come
News brief: A few contributors have noted that our first story contest is easy: pre-existing fairy tales already provide a plot; just ring changes on it. Perhaps that explains the gratifying response. In fact, it’s so gratifying that we’ve had to make the rules a little more flexible, for the benefit of both readers and authors.
In issue 138 — Novels: Julian Lawler, Battle Seer, chapter 16 “The Hunt for Romen Garrenson”; Michael E. Lloyd, Observation One, chapter 19 “Brussels, Belgium.” Novella: Jeff Brown, “Wave from a Chimney,” part 4. Serial: Danielle L. Parker, “The Thief of Joy and Light.”
Short stories: new contributor John Olson, “New Neighbors”; new contributor K. C. Stapeleton, “Party of One”; James Wasserman, “Eating Crow.” Flash fiction: new contributor Margaret O’Neal, “Looking Past Midnight.” Drama: new contributor William Spear,“Dead Men Don’t Party.”
A virtual medal goes to Michael E. Lloyd for discerning that the title of issue 136 is an atrociously English-accented line from the Marseillaise, « Qu’un sang impur abreuve nos sillons ! », roughly translatable as “Let’s soak our fields with enemy blood!” It seemed appropriate to Julian Lawler’s and Beverly Forehand’s warriors.
Readers’ reactions are always welcome.
Please write!
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