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A review by oleksandr
Analog Science Fiction and Fact, July/August 2020; Vol 140, Nos. 7 & 8 by Robert R. Chase, Tom Jolly, Filip Wiltgren, Vonda N. McIntyre, Jerry Oltion, Marie Vibbert, Celine Malgen, Allen Lang, Alec Nevala-Lee, Derek Künsken, Elisabeth R. Adams, Trevor Quachri, Sean Viver, Andrew Kozma, Rich Larson
3.0
This is the July-August 2020 issue if Analog magazine.
Here are the contents and my rating of them.
The Analytical Laboratory (,) essay by uncredited the best works published in the magazine in 2019. I haven’t read them so cannot judge.
Outliers essay by Emily Hockaday and Trevor Quachri About stories that were published in the magazine, but usually considered “not in the style” like softer SF. This is a slight preface to this year “best of 90 years” selection
Letter (Analog, July-August 2020) essay by Ben Bova another preface from old (and sadly recently deceased [a:Ben Bova|12407|Ben Bova|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1230227407p2/12407.jpg].
Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand by Vonda N. McIntyre this is 1973 Analog story, which was nominated for Hugo and won Nebula for the Best Novelette in 1974. It grew up to an award-winning novel, [b:Dreamsnake|263021|Dreamsnake|Vonda N. McIntyre|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440756641l/263021._SY75_.jpg|254960] which I reviewed here. 3.5*
In Times to Come (Analog, July-August 2020) essay by uncredited a glimpse in next issue(s)
Sticks and Stones novelette by Tom Jolly a strange planet, Earth-size but a fraction of mass is discovered by a human-crewed research vessel. It is a world formed from chained together asteroids. Wo made it and why? A nice concept, but it is a part of larger series I guess. 3*
Alien Biochemistry: Rejecting the Carbon Chauvinist essay by Jay Werkheiser a very nice view of life chemistries alternatives to carbon and their problems. 4*
Isotopical poem by d'Ores and Deja
Flyboys by Stanley Schmidt another story set in the already established universe, this time a planet were males are bat-like and females are marine creatures. They made a contact with Earth colonists in the earlier story and now a group of males plans to violate a peace treaty and attack humans. 2.5*
The Mad Cabbage short story by Céline Malgen? an old style invention SF, this time in the lab an extreme acidophile bacteria (pH 1) are developed in cabbage. 3.5* for bringing true science back
Aboard the Mithridates short story by Sean Vivier a generation ship on a way to a planet with high sulfuric acid content is atmosphere. The future colonists train (and modify) their organisms to withstand it by slowly increasing its presence. One buy cannot come and a girl protagonist tries to save him. 2*
On the Changing Roles of Dockworkers short story by Marie Vibbert one of robots in docks has strange damages. Can they be self-inflicted, a robot’s curator tries to find out. 2.5*
Lowlife Orbit short story by Rich Larson two guys at the Earth’s Lagrange point wait to intercept (illegally) a regular terraforming rocket sent to Mars. Why they do it? 2*
Frame Dragging and Pulsars essay by John G. Cramer another experimental proof of Einstein’s theory
Rite of Passage short story by Jerry Oltion a flash-fic about wearing a new spacesuit. 1*
Mars, the Dumping Ground of the Solar System short story by Andrew Kozma far future when all (modified) people from all over the Solar system are dumped on Mars. A protagonist is a clerk in local community and among multitude of daily problems a woman comes asking to help her find her daughter. 1.5*
Nanoscopic Nemesis short story by P. K. Torrens a flash-fic told from POV of nanite, whose goal to find and kill cancer cells. 4*
Retention short story by Alec Nevala-Lee someone calls to a company to cancel his account. The AI tries to keep him subscribed. Then a surprising twist. 4*
Baby Talk [The Alternate View] essay by Richard A. Lovett a review of studies what infants (?) her before birth and how speaking develops.
Fuel Me Once short story by Allen Kim Lang [as by Allen Lang] flash fic about getting funds to mine Titan’s hydrocarbons. 3*
Keeping the Peace short story by Elisabeth R. Adams some kind of alien ritual is on the way, and the narrator is passing it. 1.5*
Maryam Mirzakhani (1977-2017) poem by Jessy Randall
Ennui short story by Filip Wiltgren an AI helps future humans to fight a strange disease – boredom and ends up needing human help. 3.5*
The Offending Eye novelette by Robert R. Chase an inquisitor helps to find who changed AI and grows a mutual respect with the AI in the universe split between people like him, the society of Eternals and Trans-humans. 3.5*
The House of Styx (part 3 of 3) by Derek Künsken1] The final part of the first volume. 3.5*
The Reference Library (Analog, July-August 2020) [The Reference Library] essay by Don Sakers
Review of non-fiction book: "To Mars with Love" by Patricia Ann Straat essay by Don Sakers
Review of graphic novel: "ba.i.ley" by Jared Barel and Shane Riches essay by Don Sakers
Brass Tacks (Analog, July-August 2020) [Brass Tacks] essay by various
Letter (Analog, July-August 2020) essay by Ron Miller
Letter (Analog, July-August 2020) essay by John Vester
Letter (Analog, July-August 2020): The Author Responds essay by Gregory Benford
Upcoming Events (Analog, July-August 2020) [Upcoming Events] essay by Anthony R. Lewis [as by Anthony Lewis]
Here are the contents and my rating of them.
The Analytical Laboratory (,) essay by uncredited the best works published in the magazine in 2019. I haven’t read them so cannot judge.
Outliers essay by Emily Hockaday and Trevor Quachri About stories that were published in the magazine, but usually considered “not in the style” like softer SF. This is a slight preface to this year “best of 90 years” selection
Letter (Analog, July-August 2020) essay by Ben Bova another preface from old (and sadly recently deceased [a:Ben Bova|12407|Ben Bova|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1230227407p2/12407.jpg].
Of Mist, and Grass, and Sand by Vonda N. McIntyre this is 1973 Analog story, which was nominated for Hugo and won Nebula for the Best Novelette in 1974. It grew up to an award-winning novel, [b:Dreamsnake|263021|Dreamsnake|Vonda N. McIntyre|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440756641l/263021._SY75_.jpg|254960] which I reviewed here. 3.5*
In Times to Come (Analog, July-August 2020) essay by uncredited a glimpse in next issue(s)
Sticks and Stones novelette by Tom Jolly a strange planet, Earth-size but a fraction of mass is discovered by a human-crewed research vessel. It is a world formed from chained together asteroids. Wo made it and why? A nice concept, but it is a part of larger series I guess. 3*
Alien Biochemistry: Rejecting the Carbon Chauvinist essay by Jay Werkheiser a very nice view of life chemistries alternatives to carbon and their problems. 4*
Isotopical poem by d'Ores and Deja
Flyboys by Stanley Schmidt another story set in the already established universe, this time a planet were males are bat-like and females are marine creatures. They made a contact with Earth colonists in the earlier story and now a group of males plans to violate a peace treaty and attack humans. 2.5*
The Mad Cabbage short story by Céline Malgen? an old style invention SF, this time in the lab an extreme acidophile bacteria (pH 1) are developed in cabbage. 3.5* for bringing true science back
Aboard the Mithridates short story by Sean Vivier a generation ship on a way to a planet with high sulfuric acid content is atmosphere. The future colonists train (and modify) their organisms to withstand it by slowly increasing its presence. One buy cannot come and a girl protagonist tries to save him. 2*
On the Changing Roles of Dockworkers short story by Marie Vibbert one of robots in docks has strange damages. Can they be self-inflicted, a robot’s curator tries to find out. 2.5*
Lowlife Orbit short story by Rich Larson two guys at the Earth’s Lagrange point wait to intercept (illegally) a regular terraforming rocket sent to Mars. Why they do it? 2*
Frame Dragging and Pulsars essay by John G. Cramer another experimental proof of Einstein’s theory
Rite of Passage short story by Jerry Oltion a flash-fic about wearing a new spacesuit. 1*
Mars, the Dumping Ground of the Solar System short story by Andrew Kozma far future when all (modified) people from all over the Solar system are dumped on Mars. A protagonist is a clerk in local community and among multitude of daily problems a woman comes asking to help her find her daughter. 1.5*
Nanoscopic Nemesis short story by P. K. Torrens a flash-fic told from POV of nanite, whose goal to find and kill cancer cells. 4*
Retention short story by Alec Nevala-Lee someone calls to a company to cancel his account. The AI tries to keep him subscribed. Then a surprising twist. 4*
Baby Talk [The Alternate View] essay by Richard A. Lovett a review of studies what infants (?) her before birth and how speaking develops.
Fuel Me Once short story by Allen Kim Lang [as by Allen Lang] flash fic about getting funds to mine Titan’s hydrocarbons. 3*
Keeping the Peace short story by Elisabeth R. Adams some kind of alien ritual is on the way, and the narrator is passing it. 1.5*
Maryam Mirzakhani (1977-2017) poem by Jessy Randall
Ennui short story by Filip Wiltgren an AI helps future humans to fight a strange disease – boredom and ends up needing human help. 3.5*
The Offending Eye novelette by Robert R. Chase an inquisitor helps to find who changed AI and grows a mutual respect with the AI in the universe split between people like him, the society of Eternals and Trans-humans. 3.5*
The House of Styx (part 3 of 3) by Derek Künsken1] The final part of the first volume. 3.5*
The Reference Library (Analog, July-August 2020) [The Reference Library] essay by Don Sakers
Review of non-fiction book: "To Mars with Love" by Patricia Ann Straat essay by Don Sakers
Review of graphic novel: "ba.i.ley" by Jared Barel and Shane Riches essay by Don Sakers
Brass Tacks (Analog, July-August 2020) [Brass Tacks] essay by various
Letter (Analog, July-August 2020) essay by Ron Miller
Letter (Analog, July-August 2020) essay by John Vester
Letter (Analog, July-August 2020): The Author Responds essay by Gregory Benford
Upcoming Events (Analog, July-August 2020) [Upcoming Events] essay by Anthony R. Lewis [as by Anthony Lewis]