Scan barcode
tpietila's review
3.0
Flash Mob • novelette by Meg Pontecorvo
A young single mother studies squids. A species that usually lives on the coast of Japan is swarming on the US pacific coast. They use light flashes to communicate. She notices the squid response to light stimulus but doesn’t succeed in recording it. An ok story where science fiction content was very scant. ***½
The Trashpusher of Planet 4 • short story by Brenda Kalt
An alien generation ship is approaching a solar system. The culture and biology of the aliens are based on rigid castes. One individual has been born between castes and is scorned. The ship AI has a task for him, he should repair a partly destroyed shuttle and examine the fourth planet of the system - it might be habitable. A fairly good story from an alien point of view, but I wonder what happens with the inhabitants of the third planet? ****-
It's Cold on Europa • short story by Filip Wiltgren
A woman is living on Europa moon mining ice. As a companion, she has an android version of her wife. The android's memory and personality are updated regularly. After the last update, the android behaves rather coldly towards the main character. It would be easy to hack the personality profile, but would that be ethical. It is a pretty good story, but the ending was worse than the first half of the story and it was too abrupt. ***+
Tail Call Optimization • novelette by Tony Ballantyne
A mechanical construct has a cloned mind. There are other similar constructs with similar minds, or at least they are supposed to be similar. His mind seems to work worse, there is a computer worm eating his processing space and his body is in very poor condition mechanically. He is digging up the remains of a mystical high-level civilization for valuable parts. One day he finds a processing space that contains a human mind. A pretty good story, might have been in a little longer format, the end felt a bit rushed. Also, it took some time to really get what the word ”ve” meant, it was apparently used to replace he/she. ****-
The Acheulean Gift • short story by Matthew Claxton
Children with genes of cavemen have been created by genetic manipulation. There has been a backlash and, apparently, the company that created the children has gone bust. The children have trouble adjusting and are on a summer camp of sorts, where they split flint for arrowheads among other things. They work together very well. A pretty good story but I don’t believe human genes would allow so highly instinctive behavior – up to being an extremely talented stone worker. ***+
If a Tree Doesn't Fall • short story by Jerry Oltion
A man finds a floating tree in a faraway forest. Is he hallucinating? A simply implausible story, pretty subpar for Oltion. (There is an antigravity vest tied to the tree - how to get it to civilization?) ***-
John Henry Was a Steel Driving Man • short story by Shane Halbach
Welders who are building a space station are going to go on strike due to poor work conditions. Just when the strike is starting there is an alarm of a solar storm. Surely that is just the management scheming? (As a worker sabotaged the station, it takes a suicide mission to save all lives. Also, the company is guilty of stupid - far too stupid to believe - cost-cutting.) A fairly ordinary analog-style story about solving a dangerous situation. ***
Damocles • novelette by Sean McMullen
In WW2, a member of a fighter plane crew was ordered on a secret and urgent mission. Apparently, his late grandfather had invented a ray gun of sorts. His daughter (who was presumed dead) has been in captivity for years, and she hasn’t revealed the secret of the weapon. Maybe the main character might have some influence on her aunt? A very good cyberpunkish story about an invention that might be too dangerous to exist. ****
Recollection • short story by Elise Stephens
In a post-apocalyptic, rebuilding world, a government inspector comes to a small village. There is relatively little she can do, but at least something. She can’t help the well that is drying out though. There are rare recordings of the past. The inspector has some and according to a rumor, someone who recently died in the village did have one too. The background was scant, but it was a reasonably good story in spite of that. ***
The Burning Lands • short story by Tom Jolly
A detective examines strange fires. In one of them, several campers were killed, in other dead animals were found on site. Traces of methane were also found locally. Where could it have come from? (Genetically modified methane-producing bugs). A pretty basic story, but told well. ***+
Hillman, Charles Dallas, Age: 35, No Partner, Parents: Deceased • short story by Ron Collins
A man who is hiding from police volunteers for a scientific study where he gets to stay at a faraway hotel for a long time. It turns out that his personality is recorded, and it eventually spreads around the internet. He himself isn’t the same anymore. A pretty good, surprisingly optimistic story. ***½
The Pond Who Sang • short story by Charles Hand
After an extremely unlikely accident mixes neural networks and special chemical switches producing something new. It is a pretty good story, but it is just too short and just a beginning for the real story. ***
Second Hand Destinies • short story by Marie Vibbert
A rundown space station has very rundown inhabitants, one is even dead and inhabited by a parasitic being. A visitor arrives - does she have money to pay for her visit. A decent story, once more a bit too glimpse-like to be really good. ***+
The Shadow of His Wings • short story by Ray Nayler
Guerilla-style fights are still going on somewhere in the Middle East. It is possible to upload one’s personality to the mind of an animal, for example, a falcon. A young boy gets involved with the rescue and capture of one such creature. A pretty good story, once again it was a bit too short. ***
Problem Landing • novelette by Sean Monaghan
A small Martian colony is waiting for the landing of the first colony ship - which has private funding. The landing fails and the ship falls down. There is no communications working to the ship and the landing site a good distance away. A pretty standard ”rescue” story, nothing which hasn't been seen dozens of times before in analog. As such the writing was ok, but there were no surprises of any kind anywhere. ***-
Invasive Species • novella by Catherine Wells
A man lives in a small restricted colony on an alien planet and works in security. The planet has natives, who are very peaceful and calm, but have very strict restrictions: humans are not allowed outside a very limited zone, and all flying reconnaissance is strictly forbidden. The aliens (who have some shape-shifting abilities, like most animals and plants on their planet) work at the base in menial jobs, delivering stuff, cleaning surroundings, and taking care of children. They have been very trustworthy and have never caused any kind of trouble. Inside the zone, humans are allowed to mine minerals. The main character’s wife has disappeared. The human zone has been thoroughly searched without any sight of her. He decides to ask permission to seek outside of the human zone, and to his and everyone else’s surprise, he is granted it. A very well-written and fairly good story. There are some problems with logic and there were some huge coincidences. In fact, I figured out how the wife disappeared a few pages into the story, but dismissed it as far too unbelievable and stupid (alien – human spontaneous hybrids?). In spite of the faults in logic, not a bad story at all. ****-
A young single mother studies squids. A species that usually lives on the coast of Japan is swarming on the US pacific coast. They use light flashes to communicate. She notices the squid response to light stimulus but doesn’t succeed in recording it. An ok story where science fiction content was very scant. ***½
The Trashpusher of Planet 4 • short story by Brenda Kalt
An alien generation ship is approaching a solar system. The culture and biology of the aliens are based on rigid castes. One individual has been born between castes and is scorned. The ship AI has a task for him, he should repair a partly destroyed shuttle and examine the fourth planet of the system - it might be habitable. A fairly good story from an alien point of view, but I wonder what happens with the inhabitants of the third planet? ****-
It's Cold on Europa • short story by Filip Wiltgren
A woman is living on Europa moon mining ice. As a companion, she has an android version of her wife. The android's memory and personality are updated regularly. After the last update, the android behaves rather coldly towards the main character. It would be easy to hack the personality profile, but would that be ethical. It is a pretty good story, but the ending was worse than the first half of the story and it was too abrupt. ***+
Tail Call Optimization • novelette by Tony Ballantyne
A mechanical construct has a cloned mind. There are other similar constructs with similar minds, or at least they are supposed to be similar. His mind seems to work worse, there is a computer worm eating his processing space and his body is in very poor condition mechanically. He is digging up the remains of a mystical high-level civilization for valuable parts. One day he finds a processing space that contains a human mind. A pretty good story, might have been in a little longer format, the end felt a bit rushed. Also, it took some time to really get what the word ”ve” meant, it was apparently used to replace he/she. ****-
The Acheulean Gift • short story by Matthew Claxton
Children with genes of cavemen have been created by genetic manipulation. There has been a backlash and, apparently, the company that created the children has gone bust. The children have trouble adjusting and are on a summer camp of sorts, where they split flint for arrowheads among other things. They work together very well. A pretty good story but I don’t believe human genes would allow so highly instinctive behavior – up to being an extremely talented stone worker. ***+
If a Tree Doesn't Fall • short story by Jerry Oltion
A man finds a floating tree in a faraway forest. Is he hallucinating? A simply implausible story, pretty subpar for Oltion. (There is an antigravity vest tied to the tree - how to get it to civilization?) ***-
John Henry Was a Steel Driving Man • short story by Shane Halbach
Welders who are building a space station are going to go on strike due to poor work conditions. Just when the strike is starting there is an alarm of a solar storm. Surely that is just the management scheming? (As a worker sabotaged the station, it takes a suicide mission to save all lives. Also, the company is guilty of stupid - far too stupid to believe - cost-cutting.) A fairly ordinary analog-style story about solving a dangerous situation. ***
Damocles • novelette by Sean McMullen
In WW2, a member of a fighter plane crew was ordered on a secret and urgent mission. Apparently, his late grandfather had invented a ray gun of sorts. His daughter (who was presumed dead) has been in captivity for years, and she hasn’t revealed the secret of the weapon. Maybe the main character might have some influence on her aunt? A very good cyberpunkish story about an invention that might be too dangerous to exist. ****
Recollection • short story by Elise Stephens
In a post-apocalyptic, rebuilding world, a government inspector comes to a small village. There is relatively little she can do, but at least something. She can’t help the well that is drying out though. There are rare recordings of the past. The inspector has some and according to a rumor, someone who recently died in the village did have one too. The background was scant, but it was a reasonably good story in spite of that. ***
The Burning Lands • short story by Tom Jolly
A detective examines strange fires. In one of them, several campers were killed, in other dead animals were found on site. Traces of methane were also found locally. Where could it have come from? (Genetically modified methane-producing bugs). A pretty basic story, but told well. ***+
Hillman, Charles Dallas, Age: 35, No Partner, Parents: Deceased • short story by Ron Collins
A man who is hiding from police volunteers for a scientific study where he gets to stay at a faraway hotel for a long time. It turns out that his personality is recorded, and it eventually spreads around the internet. He himself isn’t the same anymore. A pretty good, surprisingly optimistic story. ***½
The Pond Who Sang • short story by Charles Hand
After an extremely unlikely accident mixes neural networks and special chemical switches producing something new. It is a pretty good story, but it is just too short and just a beginning for the real story. ***
Second Hand Destinies • short story by Marie Vibbert
A rundown space station has very rundown inhabitants, one is even dead and inhabited by a parasitic being. A visitor arrives - does she have money to pay for her visit. A decent story, once more a bit too glimpse-like to be really good. ***+
The Shadow of His Wings • short story by Ray Nayler
Guerilla-style fights are still going on somewhere in the Middle East. It is possible to upload one’s personality to the mind of an animal, for example, a falcon. A young boy gets involved with the rescue and capture of one such creature. A pretty good story, once again it was a bit too short. ***
Problem Landing • novelette by Sean Monaghan
A small Martian colony is waiting for the landing of the first colony ship - which has private funding. The landing fails and the ship falls down. There is no communications working to the ship and the landing site a good distance away. A pretty standard ”rescue” story, nothing which hasn't been seen dozens of times before in analog. As such the writing was ok, but there were no surprises of any kind anywhere. ***-
Invasive Species • novella by Catherine Wells
A man lives in a small restricted colony on an alien planet and works in security. The planet has natives, who are very peaceful and calm, but have very strict restrictions: humans are not allowed outside a very limited zone, and all flying reconnaissance is strictly forbidden. The aliens (who have some shape-shifting abilities, like most animals and plants on their planet) work at the base in menial jobs, delivering stuff, cleaning surroundings, and taking care of children. They have been very trustworthy and have never caused any kind of trouble. Inside the zone, humans are allowed to mine minerals. The main character’s wife has disappeared. The human zone has been thoroughly searched without any sight of her. He decides to ask permission to seek outside of the human zone, and to his and everyone else’s surprise, he is granted it. A very well-written and fairly good story. There are some problems with logic and there were some huge coincidences. In fact, I figured out how the wife disappeared a few pages into the story, but dismissed it as far too unbelievable and stupid (alien – human spontaneous hybrids?). In spite of the faults in logic, not a bad story at all. ****-
oleksandr's review
3.0
This is the March/April 2021 issue of Analog Science Fiction and Fact, the SF magazine, which is now 91 years in publication. As usual, the content is hard SF, several essays and stuff. Overall the stories aren’t very memorable, but several held nice ideas.
The contents:
Better than Being Fossilized [Editorial (Analog)] essay by Ian Watson a review of pills as a food source in SF, starting from 1894 essay for the world fair, via ideas of abolishing kitchen slavery to astronauts’ food bars. 4*
Flash Mob novelette by Meg Pontecorvo near future, global warmings leads to squid migrations, a researcher with her young son tries to understand them better 3.5*
Mostly Hydrogen poem by Jack Martin (I) on ocean like space. 3*
From Atmospheric Rivers to Super Typhoons: The Future Looks Bright for Weather Disaster Fans [Science Fact (Analog)] essay by Christina De La Rocha what global warming may bring (no one is sure). The idea of atmospheric rivers, how typhoons form, etc. 3.5*
The Trashpusher of Planet 4 short story by Brenda Kalt alien ship comes to a planet and starts to terraform it. The protagonist is low in that caste society, but is quite bright and AI uses him to do stuff. 2*
It's Cold on Europa short story by Filip Wiltgren two guys cut ice on Jupiter moon. To give them company, their constructs (androids) have uploaded personalities of their wives. The protagonist’s construct start acting strange, co-worker suggest to “look inside” but that violates privacy of personality upload, so our guy disagrees. 3*
Tail Call Optimization novelette by Tony Ballantyne a nice start: “There are three of me in the assembly station”… a xeno species with multiple copies of mind upload scavenges an asteroid that was a space port for a vanished civilization. The protagonist has a virus in his software which slows his thinking. He finds a human upload, who are also scavenging. 3.5*
The Acheulean Gift short story by Matthew Claxton kids in some kind of camp make stone tools. They are offspring of parents, who listened to frauds that called for gene hacks for kids that will ‘like in good old days’ make them want to be part of a family/tribe. Now older kids are taken away from such selfish parents. 3*
If a Tree Doesn't Fall short story by Jerry Oltion a tree grew thru alien antigrav belt, and a guy finds that tree in the forest, tries to get the tech. 2.5*
Rejuvenation and the DNA Methylation Clock [The Alternate View] essay by John G. Cramer what causes aging? Is it genetically determined? What if tweaking enzymes we can reverse old age – a lot of data about research on the topic. 4*
Thh*sh*thhh short story by Aimee Ogden an old woman is asked to take part in the first ceremony of funeral of extremely long living aliens, kind a pun story, but doesn’t work for me. 1*
John Henry Was a Steel Driving Man short story by Shane Halbach remake of a classic country song, but in space, where John drives bolts on an orbital station, saves the station. 3*
Damocles novelette by Sean McMullen The most interesting story bin this issue. WW2 and British bomber pilot ordered to get info from his auntie, whose father in WW1 developed a kind of deathray, but afraid of its use, hid all research and died on front. 5*
Recollection short story by Elise Stephens post-apoc reconstruction, a government agent visits settlements, shows them old 3D videos and decides whether to support them or relocate to larger cities. 2.5*
The Burning Lands short story by Tom Jolly there are forest fires and an investigation finds out that they are caused by 3.5*
Hillman, Charles Dallas, Age: 35, No Partner, Parents: Deceased short story by Ron Collins a finance guy finds how to get some funds from transactions he works on, FDI on his tail, he got to an experimental lab to hide, where 3*
I Have Loved the Stars too Fondly short story by James Van Pelt all homeless are collected to be sent to the moon, some afraid it is a hoax to kill them all. 2.5*
The Pond Who Sang short story by Charles Hand a biome with neural network machine learning falls to a pool by accident and starts to investigate the surroundings, controlling local life, a music critic from nearby hears strange harmony in frogs’ songs. 4*
Planet of Not? [The Alternate View] essay by John Vester [as by John J. Vester] what are definitions of a planet by astronomers and planetologists, what is Pluto? 4*
First Scientist (?-?) poem by Jessy Randall 4*
Second Hand Destinies short story by Marie Vibbert a girl Tatiana lives with her baba and brother in an abandoned spaceship, but she is something else… weird but not very coherent. 2*
The Shadow of His Wings short story by Ray Nayler a boy and his older brother help Arab sheikhs, who hunt is karakum desert. The boy has a teaching oculus to learn English and it suddenly turns on and tells boy to run away, while sheikhs are kidnapped for ransom. A bleak future where hi-tech co-exists with poverty. 3.5*
Problem Landing novelette by Sean Monaghan there are 6 persons on Mars mission, another 32 are to land, among them the protagonist’s sister. The ship lands badly and stops responding, the group tries to rescue. 2.5*
Invasive Species novella by Catherine Wells a human mining colony on an alien world. Locals are chameleons, try to look like dominant species, in this case humans. The protagonist’s wife is missing and he goes with a Native guy to find her. 3*
The Reference Library (Analog, March-April 2021) [The Reference Library] essay by Don Sakers some interesting books, e.g. [b:Domesticating Dragons|55522904|Domesticating Dragons|Dan Koboldt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603034521l/55522904._SY75_.jpg|86579896]
Brass Tacks (Analog, March-April 2021) [Brass Tacks] essay by various readers rage-quit about editorial that said that Tramp is not what the USA needs
The contents:
Better than Being Fossilized [Editorial (Analog)] essay by Ian Watson a review of pills as a food source in SF, starting from 1894 essay for the world fair, via ideas of abolishing kitchen slavery to astronauts’ food bars. 4*
Flash Mob novelette by Meg Pontecorvo near future, global warmings leads to squid migrations, a researcher with her young son tries to understand them better
Spoiler
they flash in response to kid’s safe-jacket LEDs and this flashing gives them something like a hive mindMostly Hydrogen poem by Jack Martin (I) on ocean like space. 3*
From Atmospheric Rivers to Super Typhoons: The Future Looks Bright for Weather Disaster Fans [Science Fact (Analog)] essay by Christina De La Rocha what global warming may bring (no one is sure). The idea of atmospheric rivers, how typhoons form, etc. 3.5*
The Trashpusher of Planet 4 short story by Brenda Kalt alien ship comes to a planet and starts to terraform it. The protagonist is low in that caste society, but is quite bright and AI uses him to do stuff. 2*
It's Cold on Europa short story by Filip Wiltgren two guys cut ice on Jupiter moon. To give them company, their constructs (androids) have uploaded personalities of their wives. The protagonist’s construct start acting strange, co-worker suggest to “look inside” but that violates privacy of personality upload, so our guy disagrees. 3*
Tail Call Optimization novelette by Tony Ballantyne a nice start: “There are three of me in the assembly station”… a xeno species with multiple copies of mind upload scavenges an asteroid that was a space port for a vanished civilization. The protagonist has a virus in his software which slows his thinking. He finds a human upload, who are also scavenging. 3.5*
The Acheulean Gift short story by Matthew Claxton kids in some kind of camp make stone tools. They are offspring of parents, who listened to frauds that called for gene hacks for kids that will ‘like in good old days’ make them want to be part of a family/tribe. Now older kids are taken away from such selfish parents. 3*
If a Tree Doesn't Fall short story by Jerry Oltion a tree grew thru alien antigrav belt, and a guy finds that tree in the forest, tries to get the tech. 2.5*
Rejuvenation and the DNA Methylation Clock [The Alternate View] essay by John G. Cramer what causes aging? Is it genetically determined? What if tweaking enzymes we can reverse old age – a lot of data about research on the topic. 4*
Thh*sh*thhh short story by Aimee Ogden an old woman is asked to take part in the first ceremony of funeral of extremely long living aliens, kind a pun story, but doesn’t work for me. 1*
John Henry Was a Steel Driving Man short story by Shane Halbach remake of a classic country song, but in space, where John drives bolts on an orbital station, saves the station. 3*
Damocles novelette by Sean McMullen The most interesting story bin this issue. WW2 and British bomber pilot ordered to get info from his auntie, whose father in WW1 developed a kind of deathray, but afraid of its use, hid all research and died on front. 5*
Recollection short story by Elise Stephens post-apoc reconstruction, a government agent visits settlements, shows them old 3D videos and decides whether to support them or relocate to larger cities. 2.5*
The Burning Lands short story by Tom Jolly there are forest fires and an investigation finds out that they are caused by
Spoiler
methane producing gene-mutated bugs based on bombardier bugs, created to collect gas but the firm went under and bugs got awayHillman, Charles Dallas, Age: 35, No Partner, Parents: Deceased short story by Ron Collins a finance guy finds how to get some funds from transactions he works on, FDI on his tail, he got to an experimental lab to hide, where
Spoiler
they inadvertently uploaded his conscioius, which starts to change the world, while is is brain damaged, arrested, spends time in jail to get out to a better world.I Have Loved the Stars too Fondly short story by James Van Pelt all homeless are collected to be sent to the moon, some afraid it is a hoax to kill them all. 2.5*
The Pond Who Sang short story by Charles Hand a biome with neural network machine learning falls to a pool by accident and starts to investigate the surroundings, controlling local life, a music critic from nearby hears strange harmony in frogs’ songs. 4*
Planet of Not? [The Alternate View] essay by John Vester [as by John J. Vester] what are definitions of a planet by astronomers and planetologists, what is Pluto? 4*
First Scientist (?-?) poem by Jessy Randall 4*
Second Hand Destinies short story by Marie Vibbert a girl Tatiana lives with her baba and brother in an abandoned spaceship, but she is something else… weird but not very coherent. 2*
The Shadow of His Wings short story by Ray Nayler a boy and his older brother help Arab sheikhs, who hunt is karakum desert. The boy has a teaching oculus to learn English and it suddenly turns on and tells boy to run away, while sheikhs are kidnapped for ransom. A bleak future where hi-tech co-exists with poverty. 3.5*
Problem Landing novelette by Sean Monaghan there are 6 persons on Mars mission, another 32 are to land, among them the protagonist’s sister. The ship lands badly and stops responding, the group tries to rescue. 2.5*
Invasive Species novella by Catherine Wells a human mining colony on an alien world. Locals are chameleons, try to look like dominant species, in this case humans. The protagonist’s wife is missing and he goes with a Native guy to find her. 3*
The Reference Library (Analog, March-April 2021) [The Reference Library] essay by Don Sakers some interesting books, e.g. [b:Domesticating Dragons|55522904|Domesticating Dragons|Dan Koboldt|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1603034521l/55522904._SY75_.jpg|86579896]
Brass Tacks (Analog, March-April 2021) [Brass Tacks] essay by various readers rage-quit about editorial that said that Tramp is not what the USA needs
More...