“The Quiet Calling” by R. V. Saunders
“Music for the Soul” by Pam L. Wallace
“Old Steelfist” by Sean T.M. Stiennon
“Voices from the Void” by Mirta Ana Schultz
“The Price of Peace” by K. N. Walker
“Undercity Initiation” by Robert Barlow

“The Quiet Calling” by R. V. Saunders is an Honorable Mention from the 2005 Fiction Contest and tells the story about the moment when Telea heard the Calling after her husband died of sickness. The Calling draws her south, and so she goes, but to what and where she does not know. “The Quiet Calling” is beautifully written, often bordering on lyrical poetry. The Calling itself is an interesting concept—the only absolute speculative aspect to the story—and helps drive it all the way to the end.

Another Honorable Mention from the 2005 Fiction Contest, “Music for the Soul” by Pam L. Wallace showcases the traditional conflict of a stern father and his son who doesn’t want to follow in the old man’s footsteps. Leryn’s father hopes he will join the Forest Guard, but in his heart is a fondness for music. What choice will he make and what will the consequences be? A great story with good values at the heart of it. Well worth the read.

Sean T.M. Stiennon’s “Old Steelfist” is a runner up for the 2005 Fiction Contest. Old Steelfist is one of the best goblin slashers around, but in the eyes of his neighbors, the combination of his vegetable garden and his wife pronounce him weak. The goblin tribe leader, Bault Bloodspit, and his followers mean to change that problem one way or another. Language is the strong point of “Old Steelfist,” showing a developed culture of creatures rich in accents and dialects. A fun read, and a bit different from other goblin tales.

The winning entry of the 2005 Fiction Contest is “Voices from the Void” by Mirta Ana Schultz. A group of travelers bound for the planet Phlida, all for their own separate reasons, share a cramped space and unwanted conversations. One woman is desperate to understand herself, why she is who she is, her silent nature, and her love of solitude.  Only in the quiet of space can she hear her own voice answer. An entry worthy of its prize.

“The Price of Peace” by K. N. Walker features antiheroes Adrien and Kirk, thieves sent on a mission to steal a mighty crown that symbolizes freedom for the land. What will be the consequences of their actions? The plot is fairly straightforward with little time and room to grow. More words are spent on backdrops than character development. Though filled with nice action scenes, the ending felt a rushed.

The January 2006 issue ends with Robert Barlow’s “Undercity Initiation,” a dive into the racial discrepancies, gangs, and evils that thrive under the city. Aaron and Jomo want to join the Toykos gang, but first they must survive the initiation process. Barlow uses the language of youth to his advantage to drive home points of racial tension, status class, and adolescent frustration without becoming crude and preachy. He’s crafted a dark world with well-rounded characters; it’s a mixture of all three genres done right.