Retrospectives: 2001
Realms of Fantasy: December 2001 (Issue 44)
Part forty-four in my ongoing retrospective as I read the fiction to the back issues of Realms of Fantasy and offer my thoughts, right up to the present. This time around I’ll be going on about the December 2001 issue.
There’s a lot to talk about with this issue. As always, though, I’ll start with the cover. The cover to this one is by John Montelone, which marks his seventh illustration in the magazine. It features a woman warrior who appears to be on horseback.
Until this point, the magazine’s lone assistant editor has been Rebecca McCabe. If you check the masthead, she’s still listed as such. Now here’s where things get interesting. Follow with me. Yes, this is the December issue, but this issue was released in September. It’s always like this, i.e. we release the magazine at the beginning of when it hits the newsstands (in this case September), but on the cover the publication date is the month it comes off the newsstands. Now, Rebecca’s successor was Carina Gonzalez, who you won’t find in the masthead in this issue (No surprise here, as when I came aboard ROF it took some months before my own name appeared in the masthead). However, according to Carina’s website, she accepted her position at Realms of Fantasy on–of all possible days–September 11, 2001. So she either came aboard right before this issue was released, or right after. As to whether Rebecca was still working with the magazine too, I don’t know for certain. I would guess yes. She was there since the beginning (or close to it), and until this point she was the only assistant editor. She was pretty entrenched. I’d imagine a bit of transition was in order. Either way, this point in RoF’s history marks an important changing of the guard in the editorial department (or at least the beginning of such), which is worth noting.
And since I mentioned the masthead above, I’ll also mention that according to the masthead, Dawn M. Stein’s run as Graphic Designer is over. In her place we get to welcome Ryan Costa. As to other preliminaries, after going AWOL last issue, the editorial page makes its return, as Shawna discusses her time teaching at Clarion over the summer.
Whew. Breath. On to a rundown of this issue’s nonfiction:
In the movie/TV column, Resa Nelson provides a rundown of the fall 2001 speculative lineup on TV; the folkroots column is back this issue, and Gregory Frost discusses the fairy tales that came out of French salons; in the adult books column, Gahan Wilson reviews Wicked by Gregory Mcguire, From the Dust Returned by Ray Bradbury, and Paul Di Filippo reviews The Devil is Not Mocked and Other Warnings by Manly Wade Wellman, The Crow: Hellbound by A.A. Attanasio, The Treachery of Kings by Neal Barrett, Similar Monsters by Steve Savile, and Will World by J.M. DeMateis; in the artist gallery, semi-regular columnist Jane Frank covers the artwork of Richard Powers; and in the gaming column, Eric T. Baker reviews Max Payne for the PC, the RPG, Exalted, from White Wolf Publishing, the D&D module, Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil, and the comic RPG, HackMaster’s Player Handbook.
On to the fiction …
The lead story is “If on a Moonlit Night” by M. Shayne Bell, which marks his fourth appearance in the magazine. This one is an urban fantasy tale that catches your attention because of the various elements the author incorporates into the tale? Ready? Our protagonist is a gay man with AIDS, taking medicine for it that causes side effects, faced with the daily challenges of maintaining this lifestyle …as well as those that come with being a werwolf. I haven’t read that many werewolf tales, but I feel pretty confident in saying that this is an unusual blend of story elements. And clearly the author was doing something right with this mix, because the story was nominated for the 2002 Gaylactic Spectrum Award for Best Short Fiction. Art to this one was provided by Lori Koefed, which marks her second illustration in the magazine.
Next up we have “As Sweet” by Daniel Abraham. This one also relies on an unusual mix of elements. Ready? Our protagonist is experiencing a midlife crisis and is seriously considering having an affair with the father of one of her students in her English class. Concurrently, she’s being visited by the ghost of Rosalind, Romeo’s “other love” in Romeo & Juliet, and in a tale that manages to span the ages, we learn how Rosalind is none other than Leonardo Da Vince’s Mona Lisa. Sorry, I can’t explain it any better than this. You’ll have to read it. Art to this one was provided by Paul Lee, which marks his third illustration in the magazine.
Following this we have “The Innocent and the Piper” by Eric T. Baker. I should take a moment to mention that Eric has been (and is) the longtime fantasy games reviewer at ROF. Board games, video games, RPGs, you name it and he plays it and reviews it. I’ve never really mentioned this aspect of the magazine, but I’m not really a gamer. I played some AD&D in high school, and a few years ago I went through a Magic: the Gathering phase, but that’s about it. I don’t really play video games or anything else, so I don’t feel particularly qualified to comment on Eric’s columns. That said, there are lots of people who enjoy fantasy games, so Eric’s columns are certainly an important part of the magazine. As to the story itself, this one had a sort of urban gothic feel to it, with a rather interesting take on vampires. Imagine if you would that the vamps invented a a drug that is highly addictive to humans. Now imagine that the reason they created this drug because it makes human blood tastier. Now imagine that the two main characters in the story are a human hooked on the drug and a vampire who hates being a vampire and still remembers what it was like to be human …and the two of them are in search of a cure for vampirism. Of course, the human could use something of a cure herself for her addiction. Like I said, an interesting take. Art to this one was provided by David Seeley, which marks his second illustration in the magazine.
Then we have “Queen” by Gene Wolfe. Now, anyone who knows anything about Wolfe’s writing knows that much of his fiction can be quite intelligent, and it often challenges the reader to figure out what is going on. “Queen” is no exception. I’m not ashamed to admit that while I consider myself a pretty savvy reader, in my time I’ve read some Wolfe material that has left me scratching my head. But I’m happy to say that I understood what was happening in “Queen.” I’m not going to tell you, of course. First, trying to explain this one would give everything away. Second, part of the fun and/or headache (he said in good fun) of reading many a Wolfe story is figuring out what he’s doing. And if you do manage this, you get to claim victory as I have. 
But I suppose I should tell you something about this story, so here it is: “Queen” was selected for inclusion in the 14th edition Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror, edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling. It was also selected for inclusion in Year’s Best Fantasy 2, edited by David Hartwell & Kathryn Cramer. Lastly, it was long listed for the 2002 Locus Award for Best Short Story. Art to this one was provided by Mahendra Singh, which marks his fourth illustration in the magazine.
After this we have “A Respectful Silence” by Richard Parks, which marks his 10th appearance in the magazine. It should also be noted that with this story, he moves into sole possession of the title of ROF’s most published fiction author, leaving Tanith Lee in second with nine tales. It should also be noted that with this publication, Richard becomes the first author to reach double-digits in terms of fiction publications with the magazine. As to the story itself, Richard once again demonstrates his versatility in fantasy as he introduces us to an alternate universe where the existence of ghosts is accepted by everyone. And in such a universe, it’s only natural that the FBI would have paranormal agents who are more than part of some obscure department, ala X-Files. From here, he does a very convincing job of postulating how such agents would conduct their investigations, as our FBI protagonist looks into the case of a ghost of a female figher pilot from WWII. Art to this one was provided by John Berkey, which marks his eighth illustration in the magazine.
Next up we have “Artie’s Angels” by Catherine Wells. I don’t for a moment consider this a fantasy. It’s post-apocalyptic sf. Why, you ask? Well, picture a world where the radiation levels are so high that if you don’t take shelter in special city-sheltering spheres, you and your children become horribly deformed. Even in these spheres, there are extremely lawless and dangerous areas, and there is the threat of mauraders from outside the spheres breaking in and wreaking havoc. There are occasional shuttles that leave Earth behind for a better world, but unless you’re rich it’s impossible to book passage on one. If you’re not one of the wealthy waiting your turn on the shuttle, those in the spheres are left to carve whatever semblance of a life they can manage. For many of them it’s a rather hopeless existence. That’s post-apocalyptic sf if I’ve ever encoutered it. And yet, if I were the editor instead of Shawna and I came across this story, I would’ve taken it for ROF in a heartbeat. Why? Well, besides being a really strong story, there is a strong King Arthur analogy that is woven throughout the tale with considerable skill. Artie=Arthur, and his Angels=the Knights of the Round Table. Blending post-apocalyptic sf with Arthuriana is a rather unusual choice, but it works rather well here, which is why I’m glad Shawna took this one. Of course, if you need further proof that this is in fact post-apocalyptic sf, I will point you to Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse, edited by John Joseph Adams. This one was released within the past year, and it’s a reprint anthology that assembles what Adams considers the best post-apocalyptic literature released in recent times. “Artie’s Angels” was among his choices. Art to this one was provided by Scott Grimando, which marks his third illustration in the magazine.
Finally we have “Last Tour of Duty” by Devon Monk, which marks her third appearance in the magazine. It also marks the 250th story to be published in Realms of Fantasy. We’ve published a number of war stories in the magazine, but I’m fairly certain this is the first one that takes place during the Vietnam War. In this piece, we’re exposed to the war through the perspective of an overwhelmed doctor. Among his unit, there is an intern who is considered the ultimate good-luck charm, because every solider he’s treated for injuries has lived. So our protagonist goes on an unauthorized mission to recruit this intern from another unit to help with the mounting injuries …and that’s where everything takes a sharp left turn. I won’t tell you what happens, but suffice it to say we’re provided a solid example of duty, loyalty, and sacrifice, three of the more noble results that emerge from the horrors of war. Art to this one was provided by John Picacio, which marks his fourth illustration in the magazine.
So that wraps up this issue, as well as the 2001 publishing year. And my favorite story this issue? “Artie’s Angels” by Catherine Wells. And my favorite illustration? John Picacio’s illustration to “Lasy Tour of Duty” by Devon Monk. Next time around I’ll kick off the 2002 publishing year when I dive into the February 2002 issue.
Until then …
Realms of Fantasy: October 2001 (Issue 43)
Part forty-three in my ongoing retrospective as I read the fiction to the back issues of Realms of Fantasy and offer my thoughts, right up to the present. This time around I’ll be delving into the October 2001 issue, which marks the seventh anniversary of the magazine.
The cover to this one is by Luis Royo, which marks his ninth illustration in the magazine. It is of the chick in chain mail variety, featuring a scantily clad beauty with a bow and arrow up to her thighs in a swamp.
I will note the editorial in this issue has gone missing again. And now a rundown of this issue’s nonfiction is as follows:
In the Movie/TV column, Resa Nelson covers the TV show, Witchblade and also discusses Edgar Allen Poe movies of years past; in the adult books column, Gahan Wilson reviews City of Saints & Madmen: THe Book of Ambergris by Jeff VanderMeer, The Exchange by Jeff VanderMeer (as Nicholas Sporlender, illustrated by Louis Verden), American Gods by Neil Gaiman, Bran Mak Morn, The Last King by Robert E. Howard, The Conan Chronicles, Volumes 1 and 2 by Robert E. Howard, and Paul Di Filippo reviews Everybody Has Somebody in Heaven by Avram Davidson, Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, Issola by Steven Brust, and The Arthurian Companion by Phyllis Ann Karr; in the artist gallery, Karen Haber covers the artwork of Michael Whelan; and in the gaming column, Eric T. Baker reviews Gauntlet: Dark Legacy for the PlayStation 2, Defenders of the Faith: A Guidebook to Clerics and Paladins for third edition D&D, The Dying Earth Roleplaying Game based on Jack Vance’s novels of the same name, and the RPG, Rune, and newcomer Jim Stutz reviews the RPG, Faded Suns. There is no Folkroots column in this issue.
On to the fiction …
The lead story is “Big City Littles” by Charles de Lint, which marks his third appearance in the magazine. This one is a reprint, and it originally appeared in a complimentary limited edition chapbook published by Triskell Press in 2000. In this piece, de Lint tells an entertaining urban fantasy tale about the Littles, a tiny race of beings who once had wings but lost them a long time ago. When they read about their own story in a book by a children’s author, they seek out the author in the hopes that she can help them reclaim their wings. Unfortunately, the author learned the story from her grandfather and that’s it. She has no special knowledge about how they can reclaim their wings, so she’s forced to think outside the box to solve this problem. This story ended up being reprinted in Year’s Best Fantasy 2, edited by David Hartwell & Kathryn Cramer. Art to this one was provided by Web Bryant, which marks his fourteenth illustration in the magazine.
Next up we have “Limnery in Cursive” by Terry McGarry. This high fantasy tale is set in the same universe as her novel, Illumination. It depicts a rather interesting society, where mages are forbidden to use their magic without being ordered to do so by the aristocracy. In order to recognize a mage, it is standard practice to brand them. Unsurprisingly, this one is a tale about fleeing persecution …only here it is the mages who are oppressed by the everyday man. Art to this one was provided by David Anderson.
After this one is “The Sea of Time and Space” by Liz Williams. This one was a dark fantasy tale about a haunted soul who has been alive for many ages, and due to an ancient curse it craves human blood. Many aspects of this one had a Lovecraftian feel to it. Art to this one was provided by J.K. Potter, which marks his seventh illustration in the magazine.
Then we have “Once” by Jack Slay Jr. This one is a southern gothic tale about a man who has the somewhat innocuous ability to glimpse small mundane moments in the near future. But everything is thrown into question when after years of just going about his business he’s confronted with the dangerous choice of actually using his power to make a difference. Art to this one was provided by Toran Kotter.
Following this we have “Patterns” by Mary Soon Lee. This one has suggestions of being a post-apocalyptic tale, though there’s no way to be certain. Basically, the weather patterns throughout the world have stopped changing, so wherever it’s snowing it continues to snow, etc.. In this world, the author weaves a brief tale of family by telling quick tales from their lives that are interlinked. As you might imagine, not all of them are in the same weather pattern area at the start of things. Art to this one was provided by Melissa Ferrreira.
Finally we have “A Hole in Her Head” by Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff. In this one, we are introduced to an artist whose work used to be somewhat mediocre …until some sort of portal to another realm started opening in her mind. This portal allows her to create paintings that have become the latest rage, and every critic and buyer considers her an absolute genius. The problem? Tapping into this realm gives her tremendous debilitating headaches that ultimately lead to seizures and a tumor. She is faced with the choice of removing the tumor and losing her gift or leaving it in and risking losing her life. This one takes a powerful look at the sacrifces creative people will go to create a works of art that matter. Art to this one was provided by Michael Kerr.
So that wraps up this issue. And my favorite story? “A Hole in Her Head” by Maya Kaathryn Bohnhoff. And my favorite artwork? Web Bryant’s illustration to “Big City Littles” by Charles de Lint. Next time around I’ll tackle the December 2001 issue.
Until then …
Realms of Fantasy: August 2001 (Issue 42)
Part forty-two in my ongoing retrospective as I read the fiction to back issues to Realms of Fantasy and offer my thoughts, right up to the present issue. This time around I’ll be offering my two cents concerning the August 2001 issue.
The cover here represents another first for Realms of Fantasy, as this marks the first time it has featured a scene from a TV mini-series. There was one previous cover dealing with a television series (Xena, for the August 98 issue), but as I said, this is the first mini-series cover. The cover itself features Julianna Marguilies from THE MISTS OF AVALON mini-series TNT produced some years back. The less said about this mini-series the better, I think, as I considered it a steaming pile of garbage. The one point in its favor is that I read the novel by Marion Zimmer Bradley in anticipation of the mini-series, and the novel I quite enjoyed (confession: I’ve never read the sequel and never will. Why? The cover! Something about that girl and in particular her hands gives me a serious case of the heebie-jeebies. I can’t explain it, as no other cover or artwork of any kind has ever done this to me).
A rundown of this issue’s nonfiction is as follows:
In the movie/TV column, Resa Nelson covers the aforementioned The Mists of Avalon mini-series; in the folkroots column, Gregory Frost writes about the Thousand and One Nights; in the adult books column, Gahan Wilson reviews Horror of the Century: An Illustrated History, edited by Robert Weinberg, Dreamside by Graham Joyce, The Ash Tree Press Annual Macabre 2000, edited by Jack Adrian, and Paul Di Filippo reviews The Treasury of the Fantastic, edited by David Sandner & Jacob Weisman, Talking in the Dark by Dennis Etchison, The Dragon and the Fair Maid of Kent by Gordon Dickson, and Warrior Fantastic, edited by Martin Greenberg & John Helfers; in the artist gallery, Laura Cleveland discusses the art of Camelot (no doubt a thematic decision for the magazine, given the cover and the movie/TV column’s subject); and in the games column, Eric T. Baker reviews White Wolf Publishing’s RPG, Mummy: The Resurrection, Realm Overseer 3D for the PC, and the 3rd edition D&D supplement, Sword and Fist: A Guidebook to Fighters and Monks.
On to the fiction …
The lead story is “Giants and Ogres and Trolls” by Lois Tilton, which marks her second appearance in the magazine, and her first solo appearance (her previous story in ROF was co-authored with Noreen Doyle). If you read this title aloud and pay attention to its cadences you might be able to guess where the author is drawing her inspiration for this story. If not, the first sentence clues you in: “Oh my!” said Dorothy. Yup. It’s a remix of L. Frank Baum’s Wizard of Oz, the first reimagining of this classic milieu to appear in ROF. It’s a fairly amusing tale, and the author does a superb job of capturing the wacky feel of Oz and the charming innocence of Dorothy. It’s a somewhat darker Oz we encounter, though certainly familiar. And because it is familiar, to say more is to spoil this one. Art to this one was provided by Gary Lippincott, which marks his fifth illustration in the magazine.
Next up we have “Incognita, Inc.” by Harlan Ellison. This story was originally published a few months earlier, in the January 2001 issue of Hemisphere Magazine. In addition to its reprint in ROF, it was also reprinted in the 14th edition of Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror, edited by Ellen Datlow & Terri Windling. It was also Short Listed for the 2002 Locus Award for Best Short Story. Once you learn the premise, it becomes abundantly obvious as to why so many editors bought this one. How many fantasy stories have you read where this is a map to a lost land? But …have you ever wondered who in the hell is drawing these maps??? Ellison answers this unasked question in very clever fashion, as we learn about who draws the maps to the Isle of King Kong and Ur and Zothique (yes, he mentions all of these places, and I give him props for the shout-out to Zothique), and many others. Well worth the read and quite charming. Art to this one was provided by Patrick Arrasmith & Allen Douglas. It is the first appearance in the magazine for Douglas, but the 7th for Arrasmith. This also marks the first co-illustrated piece to appear in the magazine.
Following this we have “Wait-a-While” by Allan Dean Foster, which marks his second appearance in the magazine. In this one, a disillusioned writer takes a vacation to Australia in the hopes of finding some inspiration, so he might write something fresh and new, instead of the shclock he’s been churning out. Then he learns about a naked woman and her naked daughter inhabiting the nearby forests and decides to investigate. In the process, he discovers more than he bargained for, about himself and the world at large. Art to this one was provided by Scott Grimando, which marks his second illustration in the magazine.
After this is “The Butterfly Man” by Steven Popkes. In this one, there is a doctor with a presence inside him that he terms “the butterfly man.” The butterfly man allows him to see babies inside the fetus, and to see their defects. One day the doctor’s life becomes entangled with a pregnant woman whose child is going to be born without a brain. Drama ensues. Powerful stuff. Art to this one was provided by Paul Lee, which marks his second illustration in the magazine.
Then we have “The Slayers” by David Lee Summers. It’s real simple to summarize this one: Moby Dick, but with dragons instead of whales. Fun, clever stuff. Art to this one was provided by Mark Harrison, which marks his second illustration in the magazine.
Finally we have “The Stars Underfoot” by James Van Pelt, which marks his fifth appearance in the magazine. In this young adult tale, an adolescent experiences a somewhat surreal adventure when the ice he’s standing on breaks. Only …it seems that the ice on the “other side” is breaking too, so that while the protagonist is falling into the water, someone else is simultaneously falling out of the water and into the protagonist’s world. Heady stuff. Art to this one was provided by David Beck, which marks his eleventh illustration in the magazine.
So that wraps up this issue. And my favorite story? “Incognita, Inc.” by Harlan Ellison. And my favorite story that is original to Realms of Fantasy? “The Butterfly Man” by Steven Popkes. And my favorite artwork? Gary Lippincott’s illustration to “Giants and Ogres and Trolls” by Lois Tilton. Next time I’ll offer some thoughts on the October 2001 issue.
Until then …
Realms of Fantasy: June 2001 (Issue 41)
Part forty-one in my ongoing retrospective as I read the back issues to Realms of Fantasy and offer my thoughts, right up to the present. This time around I’ll be documenting the June 2001 issue.
The cover to this one is by Scott Grimando. It features a woman outlined in flames, holding a sword in reverse.
A rundown of this issue’s nonfiction is as follows:
In the folkroots column, Heinz Insu Fenkl explores the origins of the words “Heaven” and “Hell-o”; in the movie column, Resa Nelson covers The Forsaken & The Mummy Returns; in the adult books column, Gahan Wilson reviews The Amber Spyglass by Phillip Pullman, Declare by Tim Powers, The Whisperer and Other Voices by Brian Lumley, Dark Terrors 5: The Gollancz Book of Horror, edited by Stephen Jones and David Sutton, and Paul Di Filippo reviews Moonlight by Susan Dexter, Nasty Stories by Brian McNaughton, Tagging the Moon by S.P. Somtow, and St. Patrick’s Gargoyle by Katherine Kurtz; in the artist gallery, Karen Haber covers the art of Janny Wurts; and in the games column, Eric T. Baker reviews the RTS game, Kingdom Under Fire, the second edition of RPG, Lord of the Five Rings, and the RPG, Unknown Armies.
On to the fiction …
The lead story is “What the Tyger Told Her” by Kage Baker, which marks her second appearance in the magazine. In this one, the story unfolds through the perspective of a yong girl. The reader is forced to connect some dots, as the child doesn’t understand everything she witnesses. Of course, any confusion is cleared up by the pet tyger her rich family keeps locked away in a cage, because the tyger starts talking to her, and it has a preturnatural understanding of what is going on. And what is going on? The child’s father has passed away. Her mother is considered a lowborn woman, but because the child has younger baby brothers, this branch of the family stands to inherit a rather significant fortune. Enter the sleazy and depraved uncle, and a rather fascinating tale unfolds that was selected for inclusion in Years Best Fantasy 2, edited by David Hartwell & Kathryn Cramer. Art to this one was provided by Mark Harrison, which marks his second illustration in the magazine.
Next up is “The First Law of Power” by Richard Parks, which marks his ninth appearance in the magazine. It also marks his second “Power” story to appear in the magazine, and with this tale he pulls into a tie with Tanith Lee for most stories in Realms of Fantasy. In this high fantasy piece, we witness how the quest for the Seven Laws of Power started, and meet a couple of familiar characters along the way. As with “The Third Law of Power” (his other power story in Realms), we learn that discovering a Law of Power is not so simple as reading it in a book or having it recited to you. Of course, the irony here is that to learn what the Law of Power is, we the readers are reading to learn what it is! Art to this one is a rare interior reprint. It is by Stephen Youll, which marks his second illustration in the magazine.
Following this is the baseball fantasy “If I Never Get Back” by Bruce Glassco, which marks his fifth appearance in the magazine. This one draws on the lyrics of that familiar song, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” as it weaves a post-WWII tale about the ghosts a baseball team doomed to repeat the same game over and over …until a war veteran comes along that happened to do a little umpiring once upon a time. A couple of thoughtful twists on the nature of ghosts prevent this one from falling into the realm of cliche. Art to this one was provided by John Berkey, which marks his seventh illustration in the magazine.
Then we have “In Sorrow Bring Forth the Children” by Franklin Thatcher, which marks his second appearance in the magazine. In this one, an older gentleman witnesses his wife wasting away from cancer. Since they don’t have children, it’s all the more painful for him to lose her. The only time she doesn’t seem to be suffering is when she’s creating these detailed toles, but the toles end up being horrible creatures in miniature, such as gremlins, goblins, etc. In effect, these toles are representations of her malignant suffering. After she dies, the man finds himself surrounded by hundreds of these little buggers. As you might expect, they start coming to life, but to tell you where it goes from here would be to spoil everything that follows. Art to this one was provided by Lori Koefed.
After this is “The Panther and the Lamb” by Donna Farley. This one is a tale about a scholar who summons a female jinn, or a jinniyah. Something about those first few paragraphs gave me an idea for a story, and I thought to myself, “Wow, if I had a female jinn in front of me, a real clever wish might be to make her fall in love with me.” And wouldn’t you know it, this is exactly what the author did! There goes my story idea! Anyway, as I my own brief explosion of brilliance had suggested would happen with my own tale, this sort of wish leads to all sorts of freebies, as the jinniyah is anxious to please her loved one in every possible way. Everything seems to be going according to plan, until we learn how just as you “can’t by me love,” neither can you wish it. Fun tale, but you can’t really be surprised I’d say this. After all, this was “my idea.” Art to this one was provided by Mahendra Singh, which marks his third illustration in the magazine.
Finally we have “Between the River and the Road” by Jonathan L. Howard, which according to his bio marks the author’s first published story. This takes place in modern-day times in the city of York in merry old England. The author does an excellent job of capturing the local flavor through descriptions and dialect, and the opening tirade by one of the characters against the evils of various candy corporations is downright hilarious. Apparently, York is one of the most haunted places in the world, and the author provides us an example as two friends investigate an odd church that you see when you’re walking toward it, but it’s completely invisible when you start walking toward it from the opposite direction. As you might expect, the results of this little venture are fairly disastrous. Art to this one was provided by Chuck Demorat, which marks his ninth illustration in the magazine.
So that wraps up this issue. And my favorite story? “What the Tyger Her” by Kage Baker. And my favorite illustration? Stephen Youll’s reprint that accompanied “The First Law of Power” by Richard Parks. And my favorite original artwork? Chuck Demorat’s accompanying illustration to “Between the River and the Road” by Jonathan L. Howard. Next time I’ll discuss the August 2001 issue.
Until then …
Realms of Fantasy: April 2001 (Issue 40)
Part forty in my ongoing retrosepective as I read the fiction in the back issues of Realms of Fantasy and offer my thoughts, right up to the present. This time around I’ll be focusing on the April 2001 issue.
The cover features the iconic Conan, which marks the third time he has graced a Realms of Fantasy cover. The artwork is by Doug Beekman, which marks his second illustration in the magazine. I’d say Frank Frazetta’s classic Conan paintings influenced this piece quite heavily. In the masthead, I’ll note that Laura Cleveland, our current Managing Editor, has been promoted from Copy Editor to Associate Editor.
A rundown of this issue’s nonfiction is as follows:
In the movie/TV column, Resa Nelson writes about strong women fantasy characters in TV other than Xena; in the folkroots column, Terri Windling discusses how Victorian fantasies represented England’s Golden Age of fairy art, literature, and drama; in the adult books column, Gahan Wilson reviews Come Twilight, A Novel of Saint-Germain by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, The Wooden Sea by Jonathan Carroll, The Face in the Frost by John Bellairs, The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale, and Paul Di Filippo reviews When the King Comes Home by Caroline Stevermer, Shadows Bend by David Barbour and Richard Raleigh, The Life of Sir Aglovale de Gallis by Clemence Housman, and The Vampire Master and Other Tales of Horror by Edmond Hamilton; in the art gallery, Terri Windling keeps her Victorian theme intact by exploring Victorian fairy paintings; and in the games column, Eric T. Baker reviews Rune for the PC, the RPG, The Sights of Freiburg, the computer RPG, Sea Dogs, the RPG supplement, Ars Magica for The Mysteries: The Mind of the Magus, and the RPG supplement, The Creature Collection for the Sword and Sorcery brand name from White Wolf Publishing.
On to the fiction …
The lead story is “Redmond’s Private Screening” by Kevin J. Anderson. This one relies on the rather interesting setting of 1911 Hollywood. Basically, a samurai and his parents have fallen on hard times. The samurai agrees to commit ritual suicide in front of the camera to raise $$$ to send his parents back to Japan. It leads to a ghostly tale of vengeance, and along the way it is demonstrates that even during its earliest days Hollywood was quite corrupt. This was podcasted on the Pseudopod website under its 11/24/06 entry. Art in the magazine was provided by Jon Foster, which marks his fourth illustration in the magazine.
Next up we have “Messages” by Rob Vagle, which according to his bio is his first published short story. In this one we meet two young boys who are the best of friends. One of them is slowly dying, from what I believe is cancer. They’re out playing one day when the dying boy comes across a bottle in the water. The bottle speaks to him in a message his friend can’t hear. He speaks a message back into the bottle, seals it, and throws it back into the water. The next day the bottle is back, with a new message. The dying boy comes to trust the bottle, as he thinks it’s trying to help him, but his friend remains suspicious. Everything reaches a climax when a fight breaks out over the bottle, and the other friend finally hears the voice in the bottle. What is said and how it ends is for you to find out by reading this piece. Art to this one was provided by Laurie Harden, which marks her fifth illustration in the magazine.
Following this we have “Otherling” by Juilet Marillier. I have to admit that this is the sort of story that turned me into a fantasy fan. It also feels like it’s the sort of story that was always there, just waiting for someone to pluck it from the writerly ether and set it to paper, sort of like Ursula K. Le Guin’s WIZARD OF EARTHSEA. What we have here is a high fantasy tale that deals with a tribe of people who rely on the magical powers of Bard to use his or her gifts to lead the tribe down the right path. Bard always picks his successor …to an extent. Once each generaton, twins are born to the tribe. Bard chooses which of the twins to make his apprentice. It then falls to him to kill the other twin. The other twin becomes “the Otherling,” a spirit that flows into his or her sibling, providing the necessary power to become one day become Bard. The Otherling can offer guidance to Bard, and its initial sacrifice also provides a measure of balance that is demanded (i.e. it is the way of things). This particular tale focuses on one woman’s rise and reign as Bard, and her existence as teacher to her eventual replacement when the twins are born to the tribe and she must make her choice about who lives and who dies. I think Shawna sums this one up quite nicely in her editorial byline for this one: “When we choose with our hearts, sometimes the choices we make are flawed. When we choose with our heads, they almost always are.” I figured out much of the ending to this one early on, but I didn’t care. If it ended any other way, I would’ve been disappointed. But the author delivered, and I was quite pleased. Art to this one was provided by Paul Lee.
Next up is “Harden Times” by Susan J. Kroupa, which marks her third appearance in the magazine. This one is a post-apocalyptic tale that takes place in Utah. Something known as the Death has swept through many parts of the country, leaving few survivors in its wake. This one focuses on a woman who survived but lost her family, and a young Navajo, trying to return to his reservation in th desperate hope that he’ll find his family is still alive. The two of them end up bonding through a horse, which each of them desires for different reasons. If there is a fantastical element in this piece, I’d point to the horse, although the fantasy element is intentionally slight and intentionally ambiguous. I think this another piece where Shawna is pushing/expanding the boundaries of what she considers fantasy by taking it for the magazine. For those of you unaware, through these years I’ve noticed an ongoing debate in the Letters Page that pops up every so often. You have the traditionalists who write in, complaining that just about any story not set in a secondary world isn’t fantasy and therefore has no business in Realms of Fantasy. “Harden Times” would have them up in arms (and perhaps it will in the Letters Pages of the next couple of issues). Then you have the other camp, which says you shouldn’t put constraints/limitations on the genre. Let the magic/fantasy occur where it will. Clearly Shawna falls into the latter camp, but she very fairly gives both parties their say in the Letters Pages. As for me, I must confess that in my heart of hearts I harbor a preference for secondary world fantasies, but I am by no means a traditionalist. I am open to all sorts of fantasy. Of my 19 slush survivors (to date), only 6 of them are set in secondary worlds. That should tell you everything you need to know. Art to this one was provided by David Robyn Seeley.
After this we have “Sop Doll” by Milbre Burch. This is a sort of indirect sequel to Jack & the Beanstalk, as it features the same Jack, but in an entirely new story. It definitely has a fairy tale feel to it, and it’s told in a true storytelling voice as Jack finds himself stuck in the middle of a game of cat-and-mouse between a pack of enchanted cats and another one of enchanted hounds. The fairy tale aspect worked really well for the queen of fairy tales herself, one Terri Windling, because she selected it for inclusion in the 15th editon of the Year’s Best Fantasy & Horror, edited by herself and Ellen Datlow. Art to this one was provided by Tony Di Terlizzi, which marks his second illustration in the magazine.
Lastly we have “The Premature Burials” by Andy Duncan, which marks his second appearance in the magazine. This is a darkly humorous tale about a stunning woman who refuses to marry any man, unless he agrees that the moment she dies, he will be buried next to her, be he alive or dead. She in turn would return the favor, if he should die first. Growing up, I rather enjoyed watching TALES FROM THE CRYPT on HBO, and while the language in this story carries a sophistication that far exceeds the show in question, in terms of content I could totally envision this story being adapted for an episode of this show. I’m uncertain about the author’s feelings toward said show, but this is meant to be complimentary. Art to this one was provided by Stephen Johnson, which marks his second illustration in the magazine.
So that wraps up this issue. And my favorite story? “Otherling” by Juliet Marillier. Quite the beautiful tale. And my favorite artwork? Doug Beekman’s cover. Next time around I’ll slice and dice the June 2001 issue.
Until then …
Realms of Fantasy: February 2001 (Issue 39)
Part thirty-nine in my ongoing retrospective as I read the fiction to the back issues of Realms of Fantasy and offer my thoughts, right up to the present. This time around I’ll be breaking in 2001 by discussing the February 2001 issue.
The cover to this one is by Luis Royo, which marks his eighth illustration in the magazine. It features a close-up of a “chick in chain mail.”
A rundown of this issue’s nonfiction is as follows:
In the movie/TV column, Marty Baumann discusses bringing Stephen King novels to the big screen; in the adult books column, Gahan Wilson reviews The Yellow Sign and Other Stories by Robert W. Chambers, edited by S.T. Joshi, The Complete Weird Tales of Robert W. Chambers, edited by S.T. Joshi, Out of the Dark, Volume One: Origins by Robert W. Chambers, edited by Hugh Lamb, Out of the Dark,Volume Two: Diversions by Robert W. Chambers, edited by Hugh Lamb, The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove by Christopher Moore, In the Dark by Edith Nesbit, edited by Hugh Lamb, My Favorite Horror Story, edited by Mike Baker and Martin H. Greenberg, and Paul Di Filippo reviews The A’Rak by Michael Shea, A Wizard in the Way by Christopher Stasheff, and Wheel of the Infinite by Martha Wells; in the folkroots column, Heinz Insu Fenkl discusses how Australian Aboriginal art and American television share a mystic bond; in the artist gallery, Karen Haber discusses the art of Terese Nielsen; and in the games column, Eric T. Baker reviews Baldur’s Gate II for the PC, Heavy Metal: F.A.K.K.2 for the PC, Rail Empires: Iron Dragon for the PC, the RPG, Three Days to Kill, and the RPG, Lesser of Two Evils for the Legend of the 5 Rings game.
On to the fiction …
There is one point of interest I’d like to note before I start dissecting the fiction. In the previous issue, I noted it was the first time the magazine had run stories by as many as five previous contributors. This issue also has stories by five previous contributors. The difference is that last issue had a total of six stories. This issue has a total of five. In other words, this marks the first issue wherein the fiction all came from previous contributors to the magazine. Just one more example of how Realms has been building up a stable of authors over the years, but that the previous 38 issues should always have at least one new voice contributing fiction is just as significant. Generally speaking, I think the best speculative magazines achieve a nice blend of repeat offenders and new voices. I have no hesitation in saying that Realms has managed this just fine since I’ve come aboard, but clearly this wasn’t a new development brought on by yours truly. Well, maybe we have a few more stories coming out of the slush than we used to.
On to the fiction itself …
The lead story in this issue is “The Trickster’s Wife” by Richard Parks, which marks his eighth appearance in the magazine. This is a short piece steeped in Norse mythology. It deals with Ragnarok, and as Richard often seems to do in his Realms stories (and I’d imagine in other venues as well), he does so in an unexpected way. Being as this one is on the short side, saying anything more would pretty much give it away, so mum is the word. Art to this one was provided by Mahendra Singh, which marks his second illustration in the magazine.
Following this we have “The Darbies” by Kate Riedel, which marks her fourth appearance in the magazine. This one deals with a mother and her troubled teenage daughter. After her daughter has a run-in with the law, mom moves them into the woods, where she hopes to bond with her daughter and get her back on the right track. Things slowly seem to be changing for the better, but along the way mysterious hints are dropped about the Darbies, who own this area, as well as some local folklore about some fairies that supposedly inhabit the forest. Gradually these three ideas come together, and it’s demonstrated to the reader that’s it’s one thing to set your child along the right path and quite another to believe they’re walking it. Art to this one was provided by J.K. Potter, which marks his sixth illustration in the magazine.
The middle story is “The Man Who Stole the Moon: A Story of the Flat Earth” by Tanith Lee, which marks her ninth appearance in the magazine. This one deals with a master thief whose arrogance and carefree ways finally lead to his capture. When he meets the king, he is given the impossible task of stealing the moon or his life will be forfeit thanks to some spells cast upon him by the court wizards. The thief has a year to manage this task, though it hardly seems like enough time. But when he strikes a bargain with a minor demon, it leads to layer upon layer of deception, until it finally catches the attention of the head honcho among demonkind. It’s a very rich, otherworldly tale, and it was selected for inclusion in Year’s Best Fantasy 2, edited by David Hartwell & Kathryn Cramer. Art to this one was provided by Carol Heyer, which marks her eighth illustration in the magazine.
Then we have “Breaking Spells” by M. Shayne Bell, which marks his third appearance in the magazine. This one is a young adult piece with an ambiguous fantastical nature. Dad is having an affair and Mom has become a mess as a result. Brother & sister suspect the mistress of being a witch who has placed an enchantment on Dad. They resort to various methods to break the spell, but in the end they resort to love lure him back. It’s left to the reader to decide whether love conquers all, even magic, or whether the resolution is the more mundane home is where the heart is, and the “spell” was nothing more than lust. I chose to believe the mundane in this one (I usually go the other way in such stories), but as I mentioned this one is ambiguous, so I don’t view it as any less of a fantasy piece. Art to this one was provided by John Picacio, which marks his third illustration in the magazine.
Finally we have “Night Sweats” by Jim Van Pelt, which marks his fourth appearance in the magazine. I guess the best way to describe this one is a post-apocalyptic ghost story. It involves a woman who moves into a house that turns out to be haunted. This woman’s grandfather was among the native population in Japan subjected to the horrors of the Atom Bomb. Meanwhile, back in America, there was a teenage couple. At the precise moment the bomb was dropped, said boyfriend was on his way to meet his girlfriend for what would be their first time giving themselves to each other, shortly before he left town. On the way he tragically loses his life in an accident with a milk truck …and this happens at the precise moment the Bomb is dropped. Ths unfortunate chap would be the ghost mentioned above. As you might imagine, he’s got some unresolved issues. As to the hauntee (i.e. the woman living in the house), when you combine her past with the fact that she’s also a thirty-something virgin with issues of her own regarding sex & sexuality, we’re left with a powerful combination of elements with some deep characterizations. Jim recently mentioned to me that there was actually a whole subplot he took out of this piece before submitting it to ROF, though I can’t imagine what it is. The story feels quite complete as it is. Art to this one was provided by Michael Gibbs, which marks his seventh illustration in the magazine.
So that wraps up this issue. And my favorite story? “Night Sweats” by Jim Van Pelt. And my favorite artwork? Carol Heyer’s illustration to “The Man Who Stole the Moon: A Story of the Flat Earth” by Tanith Lee. Next time around I’ll delve into the April 2001 issue.
Until then …
