Reviewed by Chuck Rothman
There are two stories in November’s Waylines, one humorous, the other philosophical
“Best Regards” is a humorous look at future technical support as Garrin Lipnik has to deal with three issues for users of the Quasarion X-7000 Home Teleportation System. Alexa Kinston has her cells mixed up with her pet dog; David Hasenpfeffer loses his coccyx; and Zak McFrampton has his evil twin show up. I was afraid that this would become a collection of one liners, but Andrew S. Williams has crafted an amusing romp that manages to tie everything together nicely.
Anaea Lay contributes “A Long Fuse to a Short Detonation,” set in a generation ship where an epidemic called “The Walking Plague” is slowly attacking the crew. Marnie, in an attempt to stop it, creates an explosion that puts into the Empty Place, a punishment where there is no time. Most of the story is Marnie musing about love and time, but I didn’t find the result particularly compelling.
Chuck Rothman’s novels Staroamer’s Fate and Syron’s Fate were recently republished by Fantastic Books.