Abyss and Apex, #28, October 2008

In the Fourth Quarter 2008 issue of Abyss & Apex, #28, editor Wendy S. Delmater describes her ideal or what she calls a “yummy” story:

“I love circularity…distinctive voice…unforgettable characters…[and] an ‘inevitable surprise.’”

Luckily for readers, Delmater and her staff deliver these “yummy” tales, from a virtuoso of authors, straight to the screen, no tip required. So pour your favorite wine or a frosty stein then settle in for a fantastical feast. First course, aliens in Europe. They have a busy German tour schedule and the president’s boy must finagle an interview.

In Ruth Nestvold’s “Troy and the Aliens,” a team of anthropologist aliens takes a whirlwind tour of Stuttgart, Germany. Accompanying them is Troy Jackson, personal aide to the U. S. President. Nestvold’s style, reminiscent of a Douglas Adam’s anything-and-everything-can-happen-in-SF satire, is two parts slapstick, one part social commentary, with a shade of wit.

Delightful in its plot twists, the story plays on expected SF tropes, using them to anchor then disarm the reader, pleasantly so, and transforming the aliens’ visit into a “Fahrvergnügen” affair of winks and nods for experienced SF fans, all while smacking readers upside the head with a wry hand. Especially enjoyable for this reader was the suggestion that aliens might assume that Americans worship their automobiles. Kurt Vonnegut is probably smiling at this.

At times, Nestvold’s scenes and characterization mix to a thematic depth such that the reader requires a bit of connection to fully appreciate it; however, instead of laying bridges or footpaths, so that the reader may come to their own realization, Nestvold’s language borders on over-commentary. Her situational setups are quite capable of pulling off sentiments with lighter bridgework, and by staying the narration a bit more, she might have allowed her readers to more fully appreciate her wit and craft. Still, this piece is a fun read with an unexpected outcome. Global, socially conscious, and satiric, “Troy and the Aliens” had this reader smiling. Classic SF satire fans will likely enjoy this one.

Next is Cat Rambo’s “Angry Rose’s Lament.” Paul Rutter is a rep to the Solins, hive mind insects who resemble giant wasps. Paul was a Stardrift addict for years before kicking and starting a corporation with his fellow recovering addict buddies. If this business negotiation with the Solins doesn’t succeed, then they’ll all most likely succumb to their addictive ways. Enter Angry Rose, the pilot who shuttles Paul to his meetings with the Solin named Kizel whom he’s negotiating with. Rose had a friend named Luke Parse who was consumed into the hive mind of Kizel, but doesn’t believe her friend is actually alive or himself inside the Solin. Seeking revenge, she offers Paul a choice. What will Paul do?

Patrick Thomas begins “Snips and Snails: a tale from the DMA casefiles“ with a horrifying hook, and as much as I wanted to hide my eyes behind my hands, peeking through the slits of my fingers, I could not help but continue reading.

Karver, a Department of Mystic Affairs (DMA) agent and one-time demon-possessed serial killer, has been rehabilitated and now must battle a kidnapper. We first meet Karver and his supernatural partners as they begin an undercover sting operation.

In this fantasy setting, Thomas mixes ancient lore with what I like to call keyhole terror. The effect is a breakneck ride through established myths with full-bodied characters, while glimpsing the effects of horror through a keyhole, not in your face blood and gore, but the hint of its occurrence. Just enough scare to set the scene, the reader assumes the rest. The effect is one hell of a ride. No pun intended. The setting is not hell, though “Snips and Snails” does take the reader to more than one realm.

Fae, changelings, and realm travel combine for a fun read. This is not literary-speculative fiction, but it does not make any pretense to be. For a fantastical plot-based tale, this fits the bill. Characters are anything but stock, and their interaction imparts a history that unfolds naturally. The recurring mechanical/proofing/punctuation/tense issues throughout the text are a bit distracting; still, the story moves along at a good pace and with an interesting flow. Recommended for readers who like dark fantasy with a subtle twist of terror.

In “Orange Is Just Another Color” by S. K. Richards, Oneek Mellon must take on a dangerous assignment in order to avenge her lover’s death and stop a powerful drug cartel that is peddling dims’oil.

Richards creates a depth of worldbuilding and characterization that anchors the reader effectively, acceptingly. Deceptions, intrigues, and social prejudices all mirror the social dynamics of today but place the reader in the future where a mind-altering additive, dims’oil, can show up in everyday products. A Roline native and Sec-Force agent, Mellon is visited by Gilas Ledowski, who is Sec-Force, too. Ledowski has a proposition, but what he has to offer could get Mellon killed. Mellon, grieving and embittered, must battle attackers at every turn. She cannot trust anyone, and she suffers constant slurs against her culture. Sometimes, she dreams of returning home to her family on Roline and living a more peaceful, sedentary life.

Richards spins a finely woven tale. For the most part, subtle dialogue and gestures support a mature style, focusing on characterization and setting for communicating detail. Periodically, however, over-wrought details distract, though minimal in occurrence. The pacing is good, with a decent hook and level of intrigue to drive the reader onward. This story is for readers who enjoy worldbuilding with dystopian futures.

“Musings on Flesh and Other Prisons” by Jennifer Greylyn is a flash piece, written with a legendary tone. Tenella has a gift, which is also her prison, as she is an anomaly that awes everyone around her.

“Musings on Flesh” is a study of the human condition. It explores the positive and negatives of immortality and how it might both free and entomb. Greylyn’s language is lovely, and she turns phrases in a nearly poetic way, leaving the reader room to engage with the story on a more personal level. Descriptions of Tenella’s situation and her surroundings are rich in detail, painting a picture as though her story were laid out upon a canvas colored with oils and soft swirling shapes. It is a tale to ponder, to let linger in one’s mind for fuller effect. The protagonist and her foil are reminiscent of choice and consequence. Metaphor expounds in this tale, inviting the reader between the lines. Whether the reader ponders beauty, age, sacrifice, or commercialism, this one has it all in compact form. Lyrical whimsy in high accord, this tale is recommended to any reader who enjoys a poetic plot.

Overall, Delmater and her staff have put together a pleasing and eclectic mix of speculative works, making this issue of Abyss & Apex one with something for most readers. Enjoy.

[Reviewed by Rae Bryant except for “Angry Rose’s Lament” by Cat Rambo which was reviewed by Marshall Payne.]