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Darker Matter: On-Line Science Fiction Magazine Issue 2, April 2007 edited by Ben Coppin
01/05/2007 . Source: Rod MacDonald 
If a magazine is free, does that mean it is also cheap and trashy? Not necessarily so and if you're reading this then you're reading it on a free magazine, SFCrowsnest! Buy Darker Matter in the USA - or Buy Darker Matter in the UK  check out website: www.darkermatter.com.
Now, with its large circulation which has been maintained for many years, you certainly couldn't say that SFCrowsnest was cheap and trashy!
'Darker Matter' is a new on-line magazine with a format which includes fiction, an article and a review. Although it is basically North American, some of the writers come from Europe, the editor is based in Cambridge, England and the advertisements come from all over the world. I suppose you could say it is international in character. Besides this, they actually pay for fiction and are also a charitable concern. In addition to this, the artwork is quite reasonable. I suspect, however, that the team involved with the production of this magazine are not making much money for themselves, at least for the time being, but it is in its early stages and who knows what will happen in the future?
As it is free, why not look it up on the Internet. You will have nothing to lose. The first thing that grabbed my attention about the magazine website was that it is a no-nonsense affair where everything is logically set out and you can immediately see what you were getting for your money, figuratively speaking that is, because you ain't paying no money.
In this issue there are five short stories. The recognisable name to most people is Jason Stoddard who has appeared in 'Interzone'. His story, 'Terms Of Service' is mainly a series of e-mails which involves aliens colonising the Earth. It's quite humorous and I like the colloquial nature of the text.
However, my favourite was 'Avatar' by Lou Antonelli. This is a story about Texas by an author from Texas. Only it is set in an alternative reality in the early 21st century, some forty plus years after a nuclear war had ravaged America and presumably the Soviet Union as well. Antonelli is of an age to have been around in the early sixties when everyone more or less expected the probability of a nuclear strike. Being of the same age, I can understand his concerns. The heroes in the story are geriatric guys involved in genetic research, a relevant issue especially with the high mutation rates caused by radiation. This is a worthwhile story and one which you should definitely read!
'All For One' by Steven J. Dines, who comes from Aberdeen, Scotland, presents us with a futuristic outlook of Britain where things haven't gone entirely to plan and something approaching a police state exists. Prime Minister Greengrass is in charge of this political satire which is somewhere between 'Yes, Minister' and 'Children Of Men'. A story and an author to look out for.
Along with two other stories and part of an interview from 1979 with Douglas Adams, there was part one of an interesting article by I. E. Lester entitled 'Is There Life Out There' which, as you would expect, concerns itself with extra-terrestrial life both in science and Science Fiction. Apart from the obvious question about the possibility of intelligent life on Earth, which he didn't really go into, interesting exploration was expounded on other planets in the solar system. Part two on the appearance and psychology of the alien should be illuminating.
This is a new magazine and its future is probably uncertain for the sole reason that, like the sea turtle, many are hatched but few endure to maturity. It's a difficult world out there for Science Fiction magazine survival but at least this one has made a promising start.
Rod MacDonald
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