REVIEW SUMMARY: The May issue of Lightspeed features two new and two reprint stories in both the science fiction and fantasy categories. This review covers the four stories being published for the first time in this issue. In addition to the short fiction, Issue 36 includes feature interviews with authors Karen Russell and Gregory Maguire and cover artist Giuliano Brocani.
MY RATING: 
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: The fantastic original fiction offerings in this issue of Lightspeed emphasize relationships set against the backdrop of mythology, end of the world, and parallel universe scenarios.
MY REVIEW:
PROS: Unexpected outcomes; familiar story ideas examined through a new lens; satisfying endings; imaginative world-building.
CONS: The focus on relationships over science fictional or fantastical concepts may not be to every reader’s liking. One of the original works has some potentially disturbing imagery.
BOTTOM LINE: The May 2013 issue of Lightspeed, from an original fiction standpoint, is quite good and comes highly recommended from this reviewer. The authors do not shy away from weighty issues while offering up interesting backgrounds against which they allow their dramas to unfold. As these stories become available on the website it would be a shame to pass them up.
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for their new issue:
Read the rest of this entry
REVIEW SUMMARY: The April issue of Lightspeed features two new and two reprint stories in both the science fiction and fantasy categories, including a new release from self-publishing sensation Hugh Howey, as well as feature interviews with authors Jane Yolen and Brandon Sanderson.
MY RATING:
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Alien invasion and visitation, past and future examination of the disparity between the haves and have-nots, the importance of relationships and the efforts humans go to in order to heal the past and much more is revealed in the eight short stories included in the latest issue of Lightspeed.
MY REVIEW:
PROS: Interesting ideas well-realized; contemporary stories that fuel nostalgia; a few likeable characters that the reader will root for; stories inspired by real places/events lend strength to the telling.
CONS: One story is longer and more descriptive than it needs to be to accomplish the same ends; fantasy offerings are weaker as a whole compared to the science fiction selections.
BOTTOM LINE: The April issue of Lightspeed is a good jumping on issue for those who have not given the magazine a try as it has a wide variety of stories balanced between new, upcoming authors and well-established storytellers. The science fiction stories are particularly enjoyable in this issue and it was particularly interesting to see a new story by Hugh Howey that is not set in the Wool universe.
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for their new issue:
Read the rest of this entry
REVIEW SUMMARY: Lightspeed issue 34 offers up four fantasy short stories and four science fiction short stories, each category containing two original works and two reprints.
MY RATING: 
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Virus-embracing post-humans, a future political activist and a group of friends playing poker rub shoulders with a dream detective and characters from more traditional fairy and folk tales in the latest issue of Lightspeed Magazine.
MY REVIEW:
PROS: A couple of chilling offerings good for a dark and stormy night; a few offerings exhibit structurally sound storytelling.
CONS: Fantasy offerings feel unfinished; two of the science fiction stories are short on science fiction; stories generated more feelings of apathy than engagement.
BOTTOM LINE: The weekly endeavor to feature some of the latest short fiction offerings continues to challenge me as a reader as I struggle to find balance between my personal tastes and objective reviewing. This is a struggle I am happy to embrace as it not only teaches me to be a better reader but allows for opportunities for you to read these same stories and tell me how wrong I am. This issue of Lightspeed was disappointing as I found no stories which engendered a good connection. There were a few stories that I can objectively say were well-written and internally consistent but did nothing for me on an emotional level.
Read the rest of this entry
REVIEW SUMMARY: Psychosis and special government operatives; alien manipulation; alternate history; mermaids; Stygian horrors; mechanized warfare; pause buttons for children and more await discerning readers in the February 2013 issue of Lightspeed.
MY RATING:
BRIEF SYNOPSIS: This issue contains two original works of science fiction and two original works of fantasy, plus two additional reprint stories in each genre, interviews with each featured author as well as extended interviews with Steven Erikson and Lois McMaster Bujold. There is an essay on homage in science fiction, a reprint novella by Tad Williams, and a novel excerpt from Karen Lord’s recently released The Best of All Possible Worlds.
MY REVIEW:
PROS: Seven out of the eight short stories are recommended; variety of selection in story styles; insightful author interviews; nice feature with the cover artist that includes full-color art gallery; well organized magazine layout.
CONS: One story was too enigmatic.
BOTTOM LINE: Issue #33 of Lightspeed is well worth picking up and is just the latest example of why this magazine is consistently strong and worth the price of a monthly subscription. There are entertaining, thought-provoking stories as well as bonus content that mirrors the type of work visitors to SF Signal expect to see on a daily basis. All four original works in this issue are solid offerings demonstrating the creativity and imagination present in contemporary SFF short fiction .
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for their new issue:
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for their new issue:
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for the December 2012 issue:
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for the November 2012 issue:
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for the October 2012 issue:
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for the September 2012 issue:
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for the August 2012 issue:
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for the July 2012 issue:
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for the June 2012 issue:
Read the rest of this entry
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for the March 2012 issue:
INTERVIEWS
- William Gibson
- Robin Hobb
ARTIST GALLERY AND SPOTLIGHT:
- Artist Gallery: Dylan Pierpont
- Artist Spotlight: Dylan Pierpont
FICTION
- “The Political Officer” by C. C. Finlay (ebook-exclusive novella)
- “The Sympathy” by Eric Gregory (fantasy)
- “Forget You” by Marc Laidlaw (fantasy)
- “Domovoi” by M. K. Hobson (fantasy)
- “The Steam Dancer (1896)” by Caitlin R. Kiernan (fantasy)
- “Ruminations in an Alien Tongue” by Vandana Singh (SF)
- *“Nomad” by Karin Lowachee (SF)*
- “Our Town” by Kim Stanley Robinson (SF)
- “Mother Ship” by Caroline M. Yoachim (SF)
- After the Fall, Before the Fall, During the Fall by Nancy Kress (novel excerpt)
- Black Heart by Holly Black (novel excerpt)
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHTS
- C. C. Finlay (ebook-exclusive)
- Eric Gregory
- Marc Laidlaw
- M. K. Hobson
- Caitlin R. Kiernan
- Vandana Singh
- Karin Lowachee
- Kim Stanley Robinson
- Caroline M. Yoachim
(Note: Features appear online as the month progresses, or you can get it all right now by purchasing the Lightspeed Magazine eBook.)
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for the March 2012 issue:
INTERVIEWS & SPOTLIGHTS
- R.A. Salvatore
- Ian McDonald
ARTIST GALLERY AND SPOTLIGHT:
FICTION
- “Cleopatra Brimstone” by Elizabeth Hand (ebook-exclusive novella)
- “The Day They Came” by Kali Wallace (SF)
- “My She” by Mary Rosenblum (SF)
- “Electric Rains” by Kathleen Ann Goonan (SF)
- “Test” by Steven Utley (SF)
- “Alarms” by S. L. Gilbow (fantasy)
- “The Legend of XI Cygnus” by Gene Wolfe (fantasy)
- “Beauty” by David Barr Kirtley (fantasy)
- “Halfway People” by Karen Joy Fowler (fantasy)
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHTS
- Elizabeth Hand
- Kali Wallace
- Mary Rosenblum
- Kathleen Ann Goonan
- Steven Utley
- S. L. Gilbow
- Gene Wolfe
- David Barr Kirtley
- Karen Joy Fowler
(Note: Features appear online as the month progresses, or you can get it all right now by purchasing the Lightspeed Magazine eBook.)
Lightspeed Magazine sent along the table of contents for the February 2012 issue:
INTERVIEWS
- Daniel H. Wilson
- Chuck Palahniuk
ARTIST GALLERY AND SPOTLIGHT:
FICTION
- “Hands Up! Who Wants to Die?”—Lucius Shepard (ebook-exclusive novella)
- “Her Words Like Hunting Vixens Spring”—Brooke Bolander (fantasy)
- “The Mermaid and the Mortal Thing”—Chris Willrich (fantasy)
- “The Gravedigger of Konstan Spring”—Genevieve Valentine (fantasy)
- “Not Our Brother”—Robert Silverberg (fantasy)
- “War 3.01”—Keith Brooke (SF)
- “Dark Sanctuary”—Gregory Benford (SF)
- “Craters”—Kristine Kathryn Rusch (SF)
- “Harry and Marlowe and the Talisman of the Cult of Egil”—Carrie Vaughn (SF)
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHTS
- Lucius Shepard (ebook-exclusive)
- Brooke Bolander
- Chris Willrich
- Genevieve Valentine
- Robert Silverberg
- Keith Brooke
- Gregory Benford
- Kristine Kathryn Rusch
- Carrie Vaughn
Coming Attractions
(Note: Features appear online as the month progresses, or you can get it all right now by purchasing the Lightspeed Magazine eBook.)
Lightspeed Magazine has posted the table of contents for the January 2012 issue:
FROM THE EDITOR: Editorial, January 2012
NOVELLA (EBOOK EXCLUSIVE)
- “Weyr Search” by Anne McCaffrey (reprint)
- Anne McCaffrey: In Memoriam by Todd McCaffrey
FEATURE INTERVIEWS
- R. A. MacAvoy
- Neal Stephenson
ARTIST GALLERY
SHORT STORIES: SCIENCE FICTION
- “How Many Miles to Babylon?” by Megan Arkenberg
- “Gene Wars” by Paul McAuley
- “Always True to Thee, in My Fashion” by Nancy Kress
- “The Five Elements of the Heart Mind” by Ken Liu
SHORT STORIES: FANTASY
- “On the Acquisition of Phoenix Eggs (Variant)” by Marissa Lingen
- “You Have Never Been Here” by M. Rickert
- “Blue Lace Agate” by Sarah Monette
- “A State of Variance” by Aimee Bender
AUTHOR SPOTLIGHTS
- Megan Arkenberg
- Paul McAuley
- Nancy Kress
- Ken Liu
- Marissa Lingen
- M. Rickert
- Sarah Monette
- Aimee Bender
COMING ATTRACTIONS: In Our Next Issue…
(Note: Additional features appear online as the month progresses, or you can get it all right now by purchasing the Lightspeed Magazine eBook.)
