Challenging Destiny issue 18 - July 2004
01/09/2004 . Source: Rod MacDonald 

pub: Crystalline Sphere Publishing. 187 page ebook. Price: $ 5.00 (US from fictionwise.com)

check out website: www.Crystallinesphere.com and www.fictionwise.com

A Canadian eZine purporting to be 'New Fantasy & Science Fiction' is the subject of this review. Issue number 18? I must confess not to have read the previous seventeen issues but if they are anything as bad as this offering then it's a miracle that the magazine has lasted so long.

Despite some technical merit existing in its presentation, the art on the cover wasn't relevant or interesting. This was a pity because I think electronic magazines present great potential for sharp, colourful images which don't cost a lot to reproduce but this was a run of the mill thing you would see in 'Analog' or 'Magazine Of Fantasy & Science Fiction'. Never fear, it gets a lot worse.

The magazine has an editorial, five stories, a review and an interview. Let's have a look at the good work first before the demolition job can begin. 'The Miller And The Old Hag' was a quaint and well-written fairy story told in a style reminiscent of Hans Christian Anderson. Enjoyable to read, it enticed me to move on from one paragraph to the next to see what would happen. The author seems to have the skill to write a well-balanced story.

Also of some merit was the story about electronic implants by L. Blunt Jackson called 'Early Adopters'. Though I was slightly confused on a couple of occasions, probably more due to whisky than anything else, on the whole this was a good tale with strong characters. I hope the future doesn't end up like this! Jackson shows us the beginnings of mankind turning into machines.

James Schellenberg presented us with a competent review of everything to do with Frankenstein. Most will be familiar with many of the movies mentioned here but will we agree with Schellenberg's opinions? Personally, I thought Branagh's version was very good.

The interview with Karin Lowachee was boring. The questions were unimaginative, the format lacked surprise and the content came up with nothing spectacular. I was quite glad to get to the end of this piece. Now, the other stories. 'The Man Who Mistook Himself For A Super-Hero' by Karl El-koura began promisingly enough when a man awoke in an alleyway to find he had amnesia and super-powers.

However, the idea wasn't developed to its potential and fell flat on its face at the end. Rather disappointing. Similarly, 'Dead Man With A Stick' from Greg Beatty, a story about primitive deities, was without much point and also incomprehensible. I don't know what this story was trying to tell me.

Saving the most vehement criticisms to the last, I can truthfully say that 'Benedice Te' by Jay Lake was one of the worst short stories I have ever read. It was also quite derogatory to the British in particular. Written by an American and edited by a Canadian, I have no wonder now why the gulf across the Atlantic is widening on a daily basis. I also wonder at the standards of education over there.

This story was set in 1961 in a sort of alternative reality where the British hadn't lost the American part of its empire which became the United States in our dimension.

The world, apparently unable to advance much without the dynamism of the United States, is stuck in a type of Victorian iron and steam age where everyone who isn't a true Brit is a varying type of 'wog'. I don't think the author knows what a wog is, knows much about history and hasn't a clue about the British. Stereotypical rubbish, that's what we have here.

Apart from the above criticism, the story itself lacks cohesion and is presented in a rather garbled way. What was his reason for writing it? I couldn't think of one valid reason. Worse still, editor David M. Switzer thought this overlong abusive tripe was worthy enough to open the batting. Speaks volumes for his ability as an editor.

Rod MacDonald