Interzone # 217 -
02/08/2008 . Source: Gareth D Jones 
bi-monthly magazine: UK publisher/editor address: Andy Cox, TTA Press, 5 Martins Lane, Witcham, Ely, Cambridgeshire CB6 2LB. Price: £ 3.75 (UK) $ 7.00(US). ISSN: 0264-3596). Buy Interzone in the USA - or Buy Interzone in the UK  check out website: www.ttapress.com
I suspect 'Interzone' needs no introduction for most of you. If you've not come across it before, the fact that it's up to issue #217 and has been nominated for the Best Semi-Prozine Hugo every year since the dawn of time will tell you quite a lot. The colour cover illustration is followed up by a number of atmospheric full-page b&w spreads and a sizeable reviews section is complemented by David Langford's always entertaining 'Ansible Link'.
The first piece of fiction this time is 'Africa' by Karen Fishler. Humanity has been banished from the Earth to live in city ships while a small group of Guardians are left in orbit to prevent their return. When the last two humans return and seek permission to land on Earth, the last two Guardians must decide whether their ancient purpose must still be upheld. I don't know whether it was intentional but this and most of the issue's other stories are full of futuristic marvels that contrast sharply with the previous 'Mundane SF' issue. Of course, this story is not about the technology, but the intergenerational relationship between the two Guardians and about the choices or compromises that their beliefs bring them to make. It's a thoughtful and intelligent story that left me with a lasting impression of the Guardian's view over Africa.
Last year, I saw a documentary about a two-headed girl, so when Paul G Tremblay's 'The Two-Headed Girl' turned out to actually be about a two-headed girl I was a little disappointed. Fortunately, there was a little more to the story, in that the second head is randomly taken over by the personas of various historical and literary characters. There's a pleasing lack of clarity to the setting and explanation. Firstly, I was reminded of the mutated children and post-apocalyptic setting of 'The Chrysalids'. There are aspects to suggest something similar: home-made equipment to generate electricity, an inordinately popular bookshop and obviously the two heads. Being told in the first person from the girl's point of view does away with any possibility of explanation; to her it's all perfectly normal. Her long-suffering mother is one of the best-written minor characters I recall and the whole story gave me cause to smile. A slightly puzzled smile admittedly, but a smile nonetheless.
Jason Sanford comes up with some fabulous ideas in 'The Ships Like Clouds, Risen By Their Rain'. On a muddy world where the surface slowly grows to engulf the houses, a weatherman keeps a eye on the ships passing overhead that bring constant showers of rain and organic matter. The planet in question is a mystery itself, a pre-industrial society constantly on the brink of destruction, contrasting with the evidently highly advanced spaceships that pass them by. I particularly enjoyed the idea that the house was built on a long series of levels that had gradually disappeared below ground level. It's the kind of thing we'd all like to discover down in the basement. There's plenty of good characterisation and a deep and meaningful explanation for the whole thing, but I wasn't too worried about those things - it's just a very enjoyable yarn.
'Concession Girl' is an equally enjoyable bit of space opera from Suzanne Palmer. The girl in question runs a hot-dog stand on a space station and ends up embroiled with high level talks between alien ambassadors and all kinds of intrigue and excitement. It's written with warmth and humour and Palmer does a particularly good job of describing both sets of ambassadors with different speech patterns and attitudes, rather than both just not being human. If you fancy a bit of light, feel-good entertainment then I'd certainly recommend this story.
Paul McAuley's title 'Little Lost Robot' refers to an AI killing machine 'bigger than an asteroid, smaller than a moon'. During its ages-log mission to destroy every trace of intelligent life from the galaxy it gradually gets worn and damaged, leading to confusion and uncertainty when it encounters beings that claim to have created it. The insight into its machinations is very well written, the sheer number of super-weapons and technical gizmos thrown in gives it a rampant pace and the single-minded destruction is sobering indeed. It's a well-rounded tale that provides some thoughtful entertainment.
Finally, we switch to fantasy for M.K.Hobson's 'Comus Of Central Park' in which a down-trodden mother finds a faun in Central Park. The creature promises to satisfy her desires but is soon up to all kinds of lascivious antics instead. It's written with a mischievous sense of humour and entertaining characterisation. I'm not really one for fantasy, but this story managed to overcome my prejudices by doing what the whole magazine accomplished this time round: it entertained me.
Gareth D. Jones
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