On-Spec is a quarterly magazine featuring short stories by a variety of science fiction writers. Now when I think science fiction, I envision 30-something rotund males in way-too-tight old hockey jerseys playing chess at the library and trading X-Files cards. Not a pretty sight I assure you. However, my bias aside, upon reading the well written and intriguing stories in On-Spec, my views on science-fiction writing have opened up significantly. They seem to focus on very real aspects of the human condition; dealing with loss, love and regret as they pertain to beauty myths, and standing up for one’s convictions in the midst of war, professional stress and technology. While the situations are similar, what differs in these stories are the time, place and characters. They are of other worlds and future places. All of this adds to the character of the stories, and while it is sometimes difficult to actually imagine the settings, that’s half the fun. While I was skeptical when I first approached this, I found it to be a real nice read. Now where is that old Jets jersey? I’m gonna get me some Scully cards! (DR)
science fiction litmag, 112 pages, $6.00, winter 1998, The Copper Pig Writers Society, Jena Snyder (editor), Box 4727 Edmonton, AB T6E-5G6