Aurealis #103, August 2017

“The Kovacs Incident” by Mitchell Salmon

Reviewed by Victoria Silverwolf

Readers of this Australian magazine have a choice of science fiction, fantasy, and superhero fiction.

In the future depicted in “The Kovacs Incident” by Mitchell Salmon, a tourist can rent another person’s body to use while on vacation. A woman has her own body placed in storage in Melbourne while her consciousness enters the body of a woman in Budapest. Because she is on vacation, she feels free to engage in behavior she would not normally consider, leading to unintended consequences. This is a well-written story with convincing futuristic details. It’s a little hard to believe that the mind-switching process, with its obvious dangers to the host body, would be a common, casual procedure. The protagonist’s actions are foolish and risky, making it difficult to empathize with her.

A young woman living on an isolated farm with her father and brothers is the narrator of “The Beast That Laid the Crystal Eggs” by J. M. Melican. During a storm, a gigantic beast flies over their land, leaving many enormous eggs behind. The men of the family go out to destroy them with chisels and sledgehammers. The father refuses to let her join them. She sneaks out at night and learns the truth about the beast and the eggs. The story is told in a realistic manner, which makes its fantastic events believable. The conclusion is satisfying, if somewhat predictable.

“As Portrayed by John Cusack” by Brian C. Baer takes the form of the diary of a costumed vigilante in 1991. His image appears in comic books and a blockbuster movie. He is annoyed by the inaccuracy of these media depictions. While tracking down a kidnapper, he has to put up with the distorted expectations of those he encounters and learn something about public relations. This is a wry, satiric look at popular culture.

Victoria Silverwolf has never been to Budapest, in mind or body.