ParSec Issue#3

We open with a piece from Kim Lakin—her first new fiction in a while but it proves well worth the wait. Redolent with heat and the clammy swamps of the Deep South, Kim delivers a sassy and highly entertaining tale that straddles the boundary between life and death and along the way provides inspiration for Mabel’s evocative cover art.

There follows a clever thought-provoking piece of science fiction from Brian D. Hinson involving political ambition and its consequences, and a short sharp fantasy tale that turns stereotypes on their heads from World Fantasy Award-winning author Natalia Theodoridou. Gary Gibson delivers a more contemporary short jab of fiction with “You Can Call Me Al” and Allen Stroud a dark slice of historical fiction involving forces beyond our ken. The fiction part of the issue winds up with a typically inventive tale from the unique mind of Ian Watson, featuring a party of Oxford academics determined to track down the ‘non-person’ Fibonacci in the past, and finally, a wonderfully crafted piece of deep space SF from Scott Edelman set in the far future.

Scott’s would be the longest piece in the issue were it not for “Bai Roses” from debut author Victoria Navarra. I knew I’d found something special as soon as I discovered this among the submissions—a tale set in a milieu where the verses of poets shape the physical reality of the world around them; a tale of the bitter rivalry this can lead to. With only a little polishing that initial submission has become a real gem of a story, and the author has subsequently sold a second short . . . to Analog.

Of course, ParSec isn’t all about the fiction. Accompanying these great stories we have, this time around, a fascinating career retrospective from literary agent John Jarrold, in which John explains how he first became involved in publishing and provides insight into his time running genre imprints for some of the major publishing houses. For their “In the Weeds” column, Anne and Jared take a look at the recent mind-bogglingly successful fund raiser by Brandon Sanderson (which ended up raising $41 million to fund four books) and discuss its implications for the publishing industry. Then we have the reviews section: twenty-seven titles covered in this issue. Of course, we finish as ever with an author interview, masterfully orchestrated by Andy Hedgecock. The interviewee is the ever-entertaining Sarah Pinborough, whose meteoric rise from small press horror writer to international best-selling dark thriller writer has been a joy to watch.

What lies ahead? Don’t worry, we’re not letting up, with #4 and beyond already taking shape. I can promise even more fabulous stories and articles coming your way.

I will be at Eastercon this weekend (14th to 18th April)

I'll be either at the NewCon Press table in the dealers room or in the bar (purely in the line of duty, of course). If you’re attending and would like to discuss anything ParSec related or otherwise, do come and say hello. To celebrate the magazine’s first presence at a convention, we’re offering a special discount for subscribers for the next week: just £17.00 for four issues!

NO MORE HEROES reviewed by Clare Rhoden, Aurealis #149

Stupendous talent burning hot and fast is the commanding back-story in this anthology. All the stories here derive from reality—the real lives of talented rock musicians who died young. No More Heroes is especially poignant because of the passing of gifted contributor Storm Constantine, who was to be the editor, not long before publication.

All the fiction here embraces rock’n’roll stars, some of them household names and others more obscure. Readers unfamiliar with the music can rest assured this is a cracking anthology. Knowledge of the dead hero, and especially fandom, adds depth to a collection that stands on its own firm specific feet.

‘Session Man’ by Keith Brooke explores fate and destiny delivered via musical talent, with a spooky look at brilliance that implodes spectacularly (dedicated to Amy Winehouse); ‘Let’s Dance’ by Alison Littlewood harnesses Cinderella’s shoes in a bloody fantasy with a twist (David Bowie). ‘Motörhead on the Orient Express’ by Gavin G Smith combines Agatha Christie-esque mystery with the persistence and world-weary sangfroid of an ageing rockstar (Ian ‘Lemmy’ Fraser Kilmister). Maura McHugh’s intriguing ‘Naught’s Reckoning’ is an intelligent and elegant zombie tale (Dolores O’Riordan).

The persistence of the spirit inhabits Vaughan Strange’s ‘A Stranger Shade’ (Steve Strange) in a tale of lost opportunities. ‘Ninety-seven-point-six’ by Jaime Fenn (Glenn Frey) is a delightful galactic adventure that adopts ‘Hotel California’ as its springboard: no matter how many farewells you say, you’re stuck on this luxury space station for ever. ‘Onward’ by Ian Whates (Chris Squire) plays with time and alternate Londons to deliver a reassuring tale of the continuance of brilliance.

The rollcall of writers in this satisfying music-themed collection is impressive, as are the stories. With a focus on mainstream figures, there exists room for relatively minor players to shine on. The premise of the dead hero never ages, leaving potential for more exploration.

FLIGHT reviewed by Eugen Bacon, Aurealis #149

Flight, a beautiful hardback evocatively illustrated by Kathleen Jennings, is a delectable nibble. It’s a tasty entrée to Angela Slatter’s richly-flavoured fairy tales in worlds of darkness and light. This not so tiny book refreshes the appetite of those already familiar with Slatter’s gothic fantasies.

The graphic illustration of a lengthy short story in well-sized text makes Flight enchanting to read in a single sitting, a most agreeable and vivid tale in rich language where flowers shimmer like ruby, topaz, amethyst and sapphire. A young girl’s quest for freedom, yearning for a life that’s hers, truly hers, harvests an unfortunate encounter with a raven that morphs her world.

Pulsing with the unkindness of ravens and dereliction of castles, this costume story sates an aunt’s vengeance and bleeds a mother’s love in a duality of beloved fairy tale tropes.

Innocence, enchantments and twists spring from the seasoned hand and mind of Slatter’s craftiness. A dark tale enmeshed in the beauty of language.

UNDISCOVERED TERRITORIES reviewed by Belinda Brady, Aurealis #149

Short story collections are the often-overlooked treat tucked away on a bookshelf. Single author collections are unlike anthologies, mostly comprising authors writing stories based around the same theme. A collection often puts out some of an author’s best work, resulting in a mixed bag of memorable stories—as in this collection.

Undiscovered Territories by Robert Freeman Wexler is nothing short of magnificent. Everything about this book is perfection: the cover, the layout, the presentation, the story notes. Wexler has pored over every detail in his body of work, and it shows. This book is something short story authors will aspire to create. Wexler’s writing is pure brilliance. Effortlessly descriptive, he gets straight to the point, plunging the reader into the protagonist’s world. Each story is captivating, disturbing and memorable.

Wexler’s genre is dark and bizarre at times, but he doesn’t rely on heavy gore or horror to drive his story. He tugs at the psychological horrors one can and will experience—marriage failures, breakdowns, anxiety—as well as the odd thing that goes bump in the night. For the most part, he has made the monsters the things we live with daily, and this makes each story haunting in its own right.

Readers will likely each find at least one favourite story among the stellar stories on offer. Standouts include: ‘The Baker’, which follows an ex-footballer’s dream to open a bakery; ‘Indifference’, where a man’s struggle with his marriage breakdown slides into a bizarre mental breakdown; and ‘New Neighbours’, which tells the tale of a young man who, desperate to start over, moves into an idyllic isolated town and finds much more than he bargained for.

Undiscovered Territories by Robert Freeman Wexler is a fantastic collection of stories by an exceptionally talented author. It’s a book that fans of the weird and weirdly wonderful will want to revisit again and again.