“At the End of the World” by David K. Yeh
“Suckers” by Kirsty Logan
“Drinking Problem” by Hilary C. Smith
“John-A-Dreams” by Steve McGarrity
“Touch the Dead” by Brent Knowles
“Henry” by Erin O’Neill
“Block Party” by Andrew S. Fuller
Reviewed by Bob Blough
On Spec is a quarterly Canadian SF semi-pro magazine that has been publishing since 1989. Throughout, they have published the early work of many of the best Canadian writers who are well known today.
This current issue’s opener, “At the End of the World” by David K. Yeh, is a fantasy from a different viewpoint — the mythology of the Eskimo of Northern Canada. The protagonist, whose wife has been killed in Louisiana (and child stolen) by a demon, returns to his roots in Northern Canada to learn from his shamanistic grandfather how to kill the beast. It is a strong story using a mythology new to me. A fine and twisty tale.
Unfortunately the editors have seen fit to follow this story with two stories about zombies –- and both from the zombie’s point of view. I am tired of zombie stories and can hardly wait for this literary flash crowd to move on. Until then these stories are not bad, just redolent of the whole pack –- not very memorable.
The first is a “cute” vampire tale using comics and a vampire wannabe told from the viewpoint of a true vampire who runs a comics store. There is a fun twist which keeps this one going but “Suckers” by Kirsty Logan is pretty thin.
Next up, the vampire in question is in a “cute” situation as well. We meet her at her first Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. She is trying to deal with her addiction to drinking blood. This one is better structured and written with some of the inner vampire shown but is still thin gruel when taken against any number of other vampire goods on the market today. Hilary C. Smith in “Drinking Problems” shows promise but should forget about following the crowd when it comes to subject.
“John-A-Dreams” by Steve McGarrity is an enjoyable first story from a writer who shows talent. Since I am an actor, the context of a theater in 2049 is an instant hook. The lead actor in Hamlet undergoes a scientific experiment to become Hamlet rather than just acting the part. The characters are delineated — if not deeply –- at least realistically. The milieu feels true but the story is simply an SF version of a movie called A Double Life in which Ronald Coleman (in an Oscar winning role) crazily descends into the belief that he is Othello.
Here, the experiments cause our hero to forget he is an actor and to actually become Hamlet. So, while the story is not a new one the writing is clean and clear. This author deserves to be watched. After all, how many versions of Moby Dick and Faulkner-esque or Conrad-like novels have authors already dressed up as SF?
“Touch the Dead” by Brent Knowles is a rather uninteresting tale about ghosts appearing after killing one’s beloved. There is nothing awful here for the story is perfectly clear in the telling, but nothing stands out as very interesting.
Now we have “Henry” by Erin O’Neill. Henry is probably my favorite story in this issue. It’s a first sale to a genre magazine by a young writer (by young, I mean 17). It is a short-short that very movingly tells the story of a boy who sees things for exactly what they are. This is more of a fable than SF or F but I found it affecting.
The final story, “Block Party” by Andrew S. Fuller, is another short-short. This fantasy story rewrites an old adage –- “When the humans are away, the block will play.” Short enough to remain fun and not overstay its welcome. Good work.