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Reviews
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Slow Dancing in Quicksand : Mitch?
(ed.)
ranthology.com 2005
ISBN: 0-9580594-1-1
80 pages
RRP: AU$5
Review by Liz Grzyb
What value! 22 short pieces (23 if you count Mitch?'s fabulous introduction)
from our best-loved authors for the low, low price of only $5! Do I need
to go on?
I picked this anthology up at Swancon 2005, amongst a pile of other acquisitions,
but it certainly stood out among the crowd, not only for the fact that
it's the only one I've read in its entirety yet. It features a stylish
black and white cover, not needing the technicolour dreamworlds necessary
for other publications. The 80 pages of fun, frivolity and fear (only
6 cents a page!) are a medley of styles and tastes, providing something
for everyone.
Standout stories for me included Robin Pen's "Stratablanca", exploring
the black market for SF versions of classic films; Deb Biancotti's weird
gardening and home improvement story "Six of One"; Cat Sparks' reincarnation
reinvention "Arcana" … actually, they all stand out. I can't work
out how Mitch? managed to convince all these cool people to give him such
cool stories to put into one easy-to-collect volume. I mean, come on!
This much fabulous writing could easily have been spread over three anthologies!
Put me down for some of that charisma, please.
I couldn't go on, however, without mentioning some of the other stories
that made me giggle, gulp or go "huh?" I snickered at Robert Hood's "Trevor
the Giant Killer", and cringed at Bill Congreve's "The Postman Delivers
Twice". I blinked in amazement when I realised that Martin Livings' "Future
Shock" left me smirking rather than disturbed. What a range of talent
that man has. Of course, I can't forget the contribution by TiconderogaOnline's
very own Russell B. Farr, "From Raggedy Anne to Ringlets", a light-hearted
tale of hair trauma and always following instructions. Plus there's an
illustration and dreamy short tale by Shaun Tan that many, many people
have said is worth the purchase price alone.
Each individual story is worth buying Slow Dancing in Quicksand
for. If you haven't already, go and click on the link below, or go hunt
Mitch? down and force him to sell you a copy.
Mitch?4: Slow Dancing in Quicksand is available from Slowglass Books.
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Thumbprints : Pamela Sargent
 Golden Gryphon 2004
ISBN 1-930846-29-0
281 pages
RRP: US$$29.95
Review by Russell B Farr
Pamela Sargent's third collection, and her first from Golden Gryphon
Press, is one of those rare, diverse collections that showcases a writer
able to produce stories of an impressive quality across a range of themes.
Sargent is a writer of great strength, and testament to her talent is
the way the early stories in this collection are able to sit comfortably
with her newer material, demonstrating thirty years of exceptional writing.
The collection opens with “Gather Blue Roses”, the earliest published
story in the collection and possibly the most disturbing. Thirty years
after the story was published, Sargent's exploration of the horror of
being truly empathetic is as relevant today as it ever has been. Esther
Greenbaum and her mother really do feel for people, basking in their happiness
and sharing their pain. The horror of the story is in the way Sargent
has left the reader to imagine exactly what this would feel like in the
worst of situations.
Most sf writers venture off-world in order to bring the reader a convincing
alien culture: Sargent merely looks around the globe. The collection features
two stories set in 12th century Mongolia, with a third story set in Mongolia
of the present day. “Erdeni's Tiger” and “Spirit Brother”, set against
a backdrop of tribal warfare, superstition and shamanism, present a culture
that is both incredibly fascinating and bizarrely alien, without having
to leave planet Earth. In “Erdeni's Tiger” a woman must face her past,
herself and the spirit of her grandmother in a confrontation that could
change the course of civilisation. “Spirit Brother” is the afterlife story
of Jamukha, childhood friend and lover of Temujin, or Ghengis Khan. Following
his execution by Temujin's order, Jamukha's spirit follows the Mongol,
until he must decide whether to save or betray the Khan. Sargent weaves
two engrossing tales into the foreign and exotic landscape of mediaeval
Mongolia.
A third Mongolian-themed story, “Climb the Wind”, shows a present day
country that is still alien to the Western world. When a great horde of
Mongol warriors appear in ghostly spirit form above Ulan Bator, the locals
are generally unfazed while Western tourists find this harder to deal
with. A story that is as much about culture shock as it is an exploration
of how another culture would deal with a very unusual event.
The highlight of the collection has to be “Venus Flowers at Night”, a
self-contained prequel story related to Sargent's “Venus” trilogy. In
this post-global warming story of a world ruled by a benign Islamic government,
a high level public servant dreams of terraforming Venus as a means of
alleviating the strain on maintaining terrestrian civilisation. But it
is not the dreams of Venus that make this such an astounding story, but
the characters and vision of a planet struggling to feed itself. Sargent
creates the perfect setting where someone would dream of establishing
a colony elsewhere.
Golden Gryphon have again done a very great thing with the publication
of this collection. Twelve impressive stories in well-presented hardcover,
the Golden Gryphon team have again demonstrated why they are one of the
world's leading small press publishers.
Thumbprints can be found at Golden
Gryphon or from Slowglass Books.
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The Life to Come : Tim Lees
 Elastic Press, 2004
ISBN: 0954881222
210 pages
RRP: UKŁ5.00
Reviewed by Lee Battersby
Elastic Press is a small press based in the United Kingdom, who state
they "showcase the talents of previously published independent press writers".
Tim Lees certainly fits that category. A quick scroll through the copyright
notices of his collection The Life To Come shows a cluster of appearances
in The Third Alternative, as well as a number of other credits
in magazines, some of which are also owned by TTA Press. In terms of international
exposure, Lees seems to stand within the British SF scene like many Australian
writers: a strong local reputation, enough to merit a collection without
necessarily being someone who has made an impact on a wider sphere.
So, not to put too blunt a point on it, is he any good? And is it worth
going through that whole "pay over the net and wait for weeks" palaver
to get your hands on a copy of the book?
In terms of overall quality, Lees reminds me very much of Trent Jamieson.
There's a quality of loss permeating his stories, a melancholy tone that
is highly reminiscent of Jamieson's work. And like Trent's work at its
best, Lees has the ability to haunt you beyond the turning of the page.
Stories like "The Leopard Girl", "Relics", and (my personal favourite)
"Homeground" seem to posit the argument that the acquisition of self-knowledge
can be nothing other than a bittersweet process. What is lost can be greater
than what is gained, and the knowledge you acquire may not be that which
you need to remain satisfied with your position in the world.
There's an essential sense of Britishness to the collection, too, that
gives it an air very different to Australian work at the same level. In
the main, it comes down to people: every story has a sensation of population,
as if played out against the tableau of a crowded background. This twists
the work in indefinable ways. Characters act differently, they talk differently,
than do Australian characters. There's a guardedness about Lees' characters,
an awareness that even when by themselves, they're not alone. As character
studies, each story is fascinating in its own right. Tied to the range
of plots that Lees has assembled, some of them become very individual
stories.
There's a lot to like in this book. None of the stories miss, and some
of them, such as those named above and the excellent "Boomtime" are the
reasons you pick up a collection. If Lees were Australian, there's no
doubt he'd be thought of in the same strata as the likes of Jamieson,
Geoffrey Maloney, or Kaaron Warren. Lees can turn a tale with grace and
subtlety, and whilst the upcoming plethora of Australian collections might
leave you without the cash to spend, I'd certainly recommend you think
about hunting this one down if you've got the lucre to spare.
The Life to Come can be found at Elastic Press or from Slowglass Books.
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The Portable Door : Tom Holt
 Orbit 2004
ISBN: 1841492086
304 pages
RRP: UKŁ6.99
Review by Lyn Triffitt
I'm going to be really honest here and admit I actually read this book
a year ago and haven't looked at it since. This is to the author's credit,
because the story is still very much lodged in my mind. Don't worry, though.
I do have the novel by my right hand as I type, so I won't be doing the
review totally blind.
As a reviewer, I'm asked to read a lot of fantasy novels. Now, it's no
secret to say that your modern fantasy is like the condom your mother
warned you about, unwieldy, transparent and full of holes. Not that I
have anything against condoms. I have five children and recognise their
relevance within society. Fantasy novels are another matter.
This is why I enjoyed Tom Holt's The Portable Door. No phat phantasy
here, folks. This novel is part fantasy, part horror and altogether funny.
Apparently there's a sequel. I haven't seen it, but it doesn't matter.
The story is enjoyable in its own right. The reader isn't tricked into
caring about what happened the next day. We're happy with what has been.
Here's a basic look at the premise. Paul and Sophie are two rather non-descript
people who have applied for a job with J W Wells and Co. Both humiliate
themselves at the interview, yet both find themselves fronting up for
their first day at work. As is usual at most jobs, they spend the first
day meeting their colleagues, being shown to their workspace and receiving
strict instructions not to lose the office stapler. After a rather inauspicious
start they settle in to the routine.
It doesn't take long, however, before Paul and Sophie discover there's
more to their new situation than meets the eye. The duo finds a portable
door, a portal that can literally take them anywhere they want to go.
Putting their discovery to good use, they begin to gain an understanding
as to the true identity of their employers. It turns out the craggy old
suits are not all they appear to be. The outfit, is in fact, run by goblins.
Some of these goblins are rather ordinary. They have a job to do and they
get on with it. Others, though, have an agenda and, as with any fantasy
novel, that agenda has a sinister heart.
Intelligent and funny, I found the novel absorbing with its twists and
turns. Holt's imagination borders on the bizarre, which made a refreshing
change to the usual offerings that land on our desk.
Like condom manufacturers, publishers of fantasy novels tend to think
that one size fits all. Like an extra-large, neon green ribbed tickler,
The Portable Door is a novel that suits those who like their reading material
a little more specialised. I would recommend The Portable Door
to anyone who likes to engage their brain when presented with the printed
word.
The Portable Door can be found at Time
Warner UK or from Slowglass Books.
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Gynaezine : Volume 1 Issue 3
 Gynaezine 2005
35 pages
RRP: AU$5
Review by Liz Grzyb
This issue of award-winning "funky feminist" Gynaezine is centred
around the theme of fannish creativity. Packed into the 35 pages of this
issue are interviews, fiction, poetry, non-fiction and art.
The three interviews included in this issue are with Shasta, a Young Fan;
Demelza Dravnieks, a New Fan; and Sarah Parker, a soon-to-be Mummy Fan.
Each interview shows a word-snapshot of the subject and their impressions
of fandom and femininity.
One of the non-fiction offerings of this issue is an article on Inspirational
Fandom from Liz Aitken, discussing the creative paths of fandom she's
travelled. Cathy Cupitt has contributed a logic puzzle called Fans
for the Memories. I haven't attempted this yet,but it very much reminds
me of my foggy remembrances of some cons! There's also an edited blog
discussion on slash fiction, which I found interesting and also instructive,
as I'm not really a slash fan.
On the fiction side of things, a poem entitled Ode to Spike takes
us along on the author's (completely understandable!) flight of fancy
about James Marsters' rendition of Spike on Buffy. The clever wordsmith
Bookworm54 evokes many a fannish giggle. Also included in this issue is
Exposure, a Due South slashy piece of fan-fic. Never having
watched Due South, I'm sure a lot of the allusion to the show was
lost on me, but the story is amusing nevertheless, and definitely provoked
a chortle or two.
The art in the issue was provided by Emma Hawkes, Tracey Taylor and the
prolific Tiki Swain. Tiki's native botanical sketches scattered throughout
the 'zine create a sense of continuity.
Tin Duck-winning Gynaezine is available for the low, low price
of only $5. Support fandom, buy the 'zine!
Gynaezine is available from the editors Emma or Gina.
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Mirror Me : Yvonne Navarro
 Overlook Connection Press
2004
ISBN: 1892950693
300 pages
RRP: US$37.95
Reviewed by Lee Battersby
Hannah Danior is cursed. Her body bears the scars of multiple assaults,
assaults that have happened to other people but for which Hannah carries
the physical results. Hannah is psychically linked to someone who is committing
atrocity after atrocity, and until she meets Detective Greg Jedrek, it
seems she will never be able to move past what she thinks of as Her Affliction.
Such is the speculative element of Yvonne Navarro's novel Mirror Me,
and as speculative elements go, it's one that draws the reader's interest
immediately. Unfortunately, it's merely the dressing upon a police procedural
whose plot is so transparent and mundane that it quickly loses any lustre,
and the reader is left to wade through a book that becomes less and less
rewarding as it moves towards its inevitable and obvious conclusion.
Navarro makes the mistake of creating a simple mystery and then trying
to create a sense of complexity by making the characters rather thick.
These characters, most of whom come straight from central casting (the
gum-cracking, smart-aleck best friend of the heroine; the bitter, twisted,
wife-beating cop; the good-natured cop from the country whose honesty
and belief in the heroine's innocence wins the day…) and whom Navarro
invests with the emotional growth of a puddle, spend so much time looking
in exactly the wrong direction in everything they do that by two-thirds
of the way through the plot the reader wants to reach into the book, take
the damn thing away from them and do it properly. Navarro's writing, clumsy
at times to the point of distraction, only serves to pull the reader out
of the story, giving one ample time to work out what comes next.
There are no surprises, no revelation that the reader hasn't seen coming
a mile away, and the twists at the end, when they do come, are so limp
and obvious that it leaves one with an overwhelming sense of weariness.
Why did we bother? No book should elicit such a reaction, but once the
reader has worked out what is going to happen (which occurred for this
reviewer at around page 96), there is no reason to stick around other
than to hope that Navarro has set us up, and will deflate our Criminal-Intent-inflated
self-belief with a brilliant piece of inspiration. She doesn't. The story
proceeds with crushing inevitability straight along the path set up within
the first arc, and never deviates far enough to create any doubt in the
reader's mind.
Any 300-page crime thriller that the reader solves before page 100 is
flawed beyond redemption. Faced with the prospect of finding the small
press publisher on the net, ordering it, and waiting the four to six weeks
for it to slowly ship its way across the ocean towards us*, there isn't
a single reason for an Australian to order this book in preference to
popping down the local genre stockist and picking up something far superior
from a local writer like Kerry Greenwood or KA Bedford. If you're looking
for a Spec-fic mystery story, there are too many better options available.
*(Editor's note: Overlook Connection have stated that they use Global
Priority mail service when shipping books out of the US, which takes 7-10
days to get to Australia.)
Mirror Me can be found at Overlook Connection Press
or from Slowglass Books.
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Fables & Reflections : Issue 7
 Lily Chrywenstrom (ed.) 2005
ISSN 1446-1900
64 pages
RRP: AU$6.00
Review by Russell B Farr
Fables & Reflections, edited by Lily Chrywenstrom, has over
recent issues built up a great deal of respect within Australia for its
consistent blend of quality fiction and non-fiction. Previous issues have
included some of the country's biggest names and this is a credit to the
efforts of the editor.
The most recent issue is a cause for excitement, as it features "Skein
Dogs", Leanne Frahm's first story for a number of years, and stunning
Cat Sparks cover.
Leanne Frahm has produced some of the most memorable stories I have ever
read. I can vividly remember the first time I read "Olivetruffles", "The
Lamadium Affiar" and "On the Turn", three amazing stories. "Skein Dogs"
is a well-written story of animals and genetics; however it not among
her more impressive stories.
Still, Frahm's story is the highlight of the issue, demonstrating that
even on a regular day Frahm is better than a lot of writers in Australia
today.
Six dollars will no longer get you a copy of Eidolon 10, featuring
Leanne Frahm's brilliant "The Lamadium Affair", but it will get you a
copy of the most recent issue of Fables, representing some of the
best value for money in the genre today.
Fables & Reflections can be found at Fables & Reflections
or from Slowglass Books.
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Path of Glory : Bret M. Funk
 Tyrannosaurus Press 2004
ISBN: 0-9718819-1-X
544 pages
RRP: US$19.95
Review by Kate Armitage
They always say not to judge a book by its cover. One of my great failings
as a reader is that I usually do, or at least select my books by their
covers, especially in the case of unknown entities such as the gloriously
named Mr Funk. Path of Glory, the first in a series by Brett Funk
has a rather eye catching cover befitting a fantasy novel. I was taken
in by the naďve rendition of castles and forests and magical cities appearing
on it and its sequel's jackets and even by the very cute Tyrannosaurus
publication logo on its spine. As a result, I was very much looking forward
to reading this book.
I won't bore you with the details of the story, you can basically find
out the entire plot by reading the blurb on the back of the book (something
I did after admiring the front). I can say, however, that as far as fantasy
novels go this is a safe interpretation of the genre. It contains wizards,
elves and poor urchins who discover that, shock horror; they are in fact
very noble indeed. The most exciting aspect for me (apart from the cover
of course) was that one of the main characters changed eye colour in the
space of two pages, no magic involved. Mr Funk may have dropped off to
sleep around this point, thanks to the predictable plot, in order to come
up with that one.
This novel is the fantasy version of warm milk - comforting, but ultimately
it leaves you feeling you should have gone for the hot chocolate and marshmallows
instead.
Path of Glory and its sequel Sword of Honour can be found
at Tyrannosaurus Press or from
Slowglass Books.
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