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A review by oleksandr
Analog Science Fiction and Fact September/October 2020 by Mary Soon Lee, James Van Pelt, Aimee Ogden, Lewis Padgett, Jacob C. Cockcroft, John J. Vester, Dan Reade, Wang Yuan, M.L. Clark, Sarina Dorie, Joel Richards, Holly Lyn Walrath, Sean McMullen, Beth Goder, John G. Camer, Sheila Williams, Richard A. Lovett, Don Sakers, Alan Dean Foster, Adam-Troy Castro, Jason Kahler, Derek Künsken, Jay Werkheiser, Stephen S. Power, Trevor Quachri, James Sallis
4.0
This is a review of September/October 2020 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact
The contents:
And the Mome Raths Outgrade[Editorial (Analog)]essay by Sheila Williams discussing another ‘best of 90 years’ story from the magazine due to its anniversary
Mimsy Were the Borogoves-1943 novelette by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore [as by Lewis Padgett] a nice piece about contemporary (i.e. 1940s) kids playing with toys from far future, which deny Euclidian geometry and teach kids do wonders. Oldie-goldie. 4*
After National Geographicpoem by Jason Kahler
Minerva Girlsnovelette by James Van Pelt three girls from 9th grade in our time – a math genius, a talented physicist and a good mechanics (who is the narrator) are about to be separated because families of the two of them are moving to other states. They decide to visit the Moon and do their best to achieve the goal. A very nice old-style juvenile SF, a bit naïve but a great read. 4*
The Science Behind The House of Styx[Science Fact (Analog)]essay by Derek Künsken the author of the novel that was serialized in previous issues (a very good one!) tells what is known about Venus and why he created this and that in the novel. A nice summary. 4*
Yes, Antimatter is Realpoem by Holly Lyn Walrath
Where There's Life novelette by John Vester [as by John J. Vester] a story told from two points: some kind of aliens, who move around in tunnels to suck meagre water from stones and waiting for return of some beings and a human expedition on Mars, which is stranded because a large asteroid nears Earth. I’m always vary about alien POVs in books, and this one was fine but not great. 3*
The Chrysalis Poolshort story by Sean McMullen a psychologist asks a technician (the narrator) to help getting data from her patient, who sees mermaids in local pools during his night jogging. 5*
A Skyful of Wingsshort story by Aimee Ogden an space ark is directed to a recently seeded planet to start a local ecosystem, but there is a problem, which halts the mission. 3*
Going Smallshort story by Jacob C. Cockcroft a spaceship with a library of genes and a witty AI is send from about-to-be-destroyed Earth. 3.5*
True Colorsshort story by Beth Goder flash-fic about a human and artistic AIs. 2.5*
Where's All the Antimatter?[The Alternate View]essay by John G. Cramer a non-fic why we witness so little antimatter around. 4*
Drive Safelyshort story by Stephen S. Power an AI Insists that a man (narrator) should switch to automatic, because he accidentally killed a boy a while ago. Unexpected ending about what really happened. 3*
Casualties of the Quakeshort story by Wang Yuan (trans.) a Chinese time-travel story with a protagonist returning to 1970s earthquake to save his son. Only his sentience is transported and only for 23 hours. 2*
The Home of the Kingshort story by Dan Reade an interviewer (narrator) tells backstory ad speaks with boxer, who transferred to a cloned body after fights damaged him. An extremely interested idea of making new bodies and sport, but the ending is abrupt and weak. 4*
In Times to Come (Analog, September-October 2020)[In Times to Come (Analog)]essay by uncredited what will be in the next issue(s)
Cityshort story by Joel Richards a city, whose residents sometimes (accidently?) move between parallel universes. How it affects love affairs… 2*
Seeding the Mountainnovelette by Maggie Clark [as by M. L. Clark] a small settlement in Colombia above the old mines, which collapse from time to time, a woman scientist tries to solve the problem. 2.5*
The Writhing Tentacles of Historyshort story by Jay Werkheiser far future and sentient squids find remains of a human (who of course cannot me sentient as they scientists argue). 3.5*
The Treasure of the Lugar Mortoshort story by Alan Dean Foster two guys dig sand dunes to find treasures remained from the old world (our Earth). 2.5*
The Post-Coronavirus "New Normal"[The Alternate View]essay by Richard A. Lovett what to expect? More work from home? 3*
Schools of Thoughtshort story by James Sallis parents worry about their son and bring the boy to a psychologist, who finds that … a mix of SF and horror? 2*
The Boy Who Went to Marsshort story by Mary Soon Lee a teenage son of a billionaire, who lived with his (divorced) mother is presented with an opportunity to be a part of Mars colony mad by extremely rich. 2*
I, Bigfootnovelette by Sarina Dorie bigfoots tribe hides from men, but a young one decided that it should change. 3.5*
Draiken Dies[Draiken]novella by Adam-Troy Castro I need other installments to fully appreciate it, but this is a story of gold-skinned strong woman fighter Delia Stang, who is interrogated by an unknown and her story slowly reveals, who she is and why she is in that situation. 3.5*
The Reference Library (Analog, September-October 2020)[The Reference Library]essay by Don Sakers
Brass Tacks (Analog, September-October 2020)[Brass Tacks]essay by various
Letter (Analog, September-October 2020)essay by Jeff Baker
Letter (Analog, September-October 2020)essay by Tom Powers
Upcoming Events (Analog, September-October 2020)[Upcoming Events]essay by Anthony R. Lewis [as by Anthony Lewis]
The contents:
And the Mome Raths Outgrade[Editorial (Analog)]essay by Sheila Williams discussing another ‘best of 90 years’ story from the magazine due to its anniversary
Mimsy Were the Borogoves-1943 novelette by Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore [as by Lewis Padgett] a nice piece about contemporary (i.e. 1940s) kids playing with toys from far future, which deny Euclidian geometry and teach kids do wonders. Oldie-goldie. 4*
After National Geographicpoem by Jason Kahler
Minerva Girlsnovelette by James Van Pelt three girls from 9th grade in our time – a math genius, a talented physicist and a good mechanics (who is the narrator) are about to be separated because families of the two of them are moving to other states. They decide to visit the Moon and do their best to achieve the goal. A very nice old-style juvenile SF, a bit naïve but a great read. 4*
The Science Behind The House of Styx[Science Fact (Analog)]essay by Derek Künsken the author of the novel that was serialized in previous issues (a very good one!) tells what is known about Venus and why he created this and that in the novel. A nice summary. 4*
Yes, Antimatter is Realpoem by Holly Lyn Walrath
Where There's Life novelette by John Vester [as by John J. Vester] a story told from two points: some kind of aliens, who move around in tunnels to suck meagre water from stones and waiting for return of some beings and a human expedition on Mars, which is stranded because a large asteroid nears Earth. I’m always vary about alien POVs in books, and this one was fine but not great. 3*
The Chrysalis Poolshort story by Sean McMullen a psychologist asks a technician (the narrator) to help getting data from her patient, who sees mermaids in local pools during his night jogging. 5*
A Skyful of Wingsshort story by Aimee Ogden an space ark is directed to a recently seeded planet to start a local ecosystem, but there is a problem, which halts the mission. 3*
Going Smallshort story by Jacob C. Cockcroft a spaceship with a library of genes and a witty AI is send from about-to-be-destroyed Earth. 3.5*
True Colorsshort story by Beth Goder flash-fic about a human and artistic AIs. 2.5*
Where's All the Antimatter?[The Alternate View]essay by John G. Cramer a non-fic why we witness so little antimatter around. 4*
Drive Safelyshort story by Stephen S. Power an AI Insists that a man (narrator) should switch to automatic, because he accidentally killed a boy a while ago. Unexpected ending about what really happened. 3*
Casualties of the Quakeshort story by Wang Yuan (trans.) a Chinese time-travel story with a protagonist returning to 1970s earthquake to save his son. Only his sentience is transported and only for 23 hours. 2*
The Home of the Kingshort story by Dan Reade an interviewer (narrator) tells backstory ad speaks with boxer, who transferred to a cloned body after fights damaged him. An extremely interested idea of making new bodies and sport, but the ending is abrupt and weak. 4*
In Times to Come (Analog, September-October 2020)[In Times to Come (Analog)]essay by uncredited what will be in the next issue(s)
Cityshort story by Joel Richards a city, whose residents sometimes (accidently?) move between parallel universes. How it affects love affairs… 2*
Seeding the Mountainnovelette by Maggie Clark [as by M. L. Clark] a small settlement in Colombia above the old mines, which collapse from time to time, a woman scientist tries to solve the problem. 2.5*
The Writhing Tentacles of Historyshort story by Jay Werkheiser far future and sentient squids find remains of a human (who of course cannot me sentient as they scientists argue). 3.5*
The Treasure of the Lugar Mortoshort story by Alan Dean Foster two guys dig sand dunes to find treasures remained from the old world (our Earth). 2.5*
The Post-Coronavirus "New Normal"[The Alternate View]essay by Richard A. Lovett what to expect? More work from home? 3*
Schools of Thoughtshort story by James Sallis parents worry about their son and bring the boy to a psychologist, who finds that … a mix of SF and horror? 2*
The Boy Who Went to Marsshort story by Mary Soon Lee a teenage son of a billionaire, who lived with his (divorced) mother is presented with an opportunity to be a part of Mars colony mad by extremely rich. 2*
I, Bigfootnovelette by Sarina Dorie bigfoots tribe hides from men, but a young one decided that it should change. 3.5*
Draiken Dies[Draiken]novella by Adam-Troy Castro I need other installments to fully appreciate it, but this is a story of gold-skinned strong woman fighter Delia Stang, who is interrogated by an unknown and her story slowly reveals, who she is and why she is in that situation. 3.5*
The Reference Library (Analog, September-October 2020)[The Reference Library]essay by Don Sakers
Brass Tacks (Analog, September-October 2020)[Brass Tacks]essay by various
Letter (Analog, September-October 2020)essay by Jeff Baker
Letter (Analog, September-October 2020)essay by Tom Powers
Upcoming Events (Analog, September-October 2020)[Upcoming Events]essay by Anthony R. Lewis [as by Anthony Lewis]