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Jupiter: Taygete # 20: SF Magazine
01/06/2008 . Source: Rod MacDonald 
pub: Ian Redman, 19 Bedford Road, Yeovil, Somerset BA21 5UG, UK. 56 A5 page magazine. Price: £ 2.75 (£10.00 for 4 issues) (UK). ISSN: 17402069. check out website: www.jupitersf.co.uk
Twenty issues over five years and Jupiter is still going strong. This is my third review of 'Jupiter' magazine and I must say it seems to grow on you. It's an unassuming magazine which doesn't shout out about its contents but lets the fiction speaks for itself. It's good stuff and I would certainly recommend looking at the website to enquire about subscription.
No, the editor hasn't paid me. I wish somebody would, though. There's lots of talk on the news about brown paper envelopes bunged to politicians, referees and lots of other people but I'm always missed out. Still, I live in hope.
Returning to the magazine, 'Roadrider' by Gareth D. Jones concludes a trilogy of stories concerning the aftermath of an unspecified collapse of society where a road-making machine cuts its way through villages and towns of a community. The relatively simple people are astounded at the appearance of the road and it is the young, spurred on by curiosity, who decide to investigate.
In this part of the story, the boys reach the conclusion to discover the identity of the road-maker. However, it's not the end which is important, it is the journey. Jones has created a certain ambience with this work, almost quaint in nature, which is compelling enough for one to want to read more. I would certainly suggest that if you have missed the previous 'Road' stories then it might be worth looking at the purchase of back copies.
There were six other stories, all worth reading. 'The Humming Place' by Ralph Greco Jr was in many respects similar to the 'Road' stories in that the characters were simple people affected by happenings outside their control. In the tale, a blue shimmering apparition visits a farm and its owner. Although it has profound consequences, the main character is not really aware of the significance of both the events and visitations from the future.
'Asymptote' wasn't my favourite story. I think it tried to be too smart and too clever for its own good.
On the other hand, 'The Day Draws Nigh' by Sim Waters (I am left wondering about the author's name) is set in the distant future and it isn't pretentious. No, not just a few million years but billions upon countless billions of years when the universe has expanded and nothing remains except for the shells of dead stars. Bring into this the Ne'tat, the last race in the universe, and a wormhole from the past that introduces the remains of humanity! It's a depressing story with nothing to look forward to which is what you would expect at the end of the universe. Maybe it is pointless and I am tempted to think that the author wished to project this image. Humans are materialised into this universe only for them to depart in despair. However, it's an interesting story with thought-provoking elements.
I enjoyed reading this magazine to the extent that I look forward to the next issue. Now, if a magazine can do that with its readers, it is well travelled on the road to success. Of course, 'Jupiter' magazine, along with everything else, will come to an end sometime (you see, the stories have affected me) so sit back and enjoy the journey.
Rod MacDonald
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