Keen Science Fiction
Issue #1
Theresa Keene, Editor/Publisher

This new monthly digest follows the standard layout of many small press 'zines, black and white cover on heavy, colored stock, with forty pages of fiction inside, but no artwork. I expect that will change--editor Theresa Keene says the page count will be increasing as well.

This issue contains seven stories. Gail Hayden's "Gookie Visits Her Moma" is the best of the bunch, with a witty voice, an amazing collection of future-speak euphemisms, and a clever storyline to boot.

"Ghosts" by Rawlin Trial presents the skewed perspective of an alien abductee, and "Dead Time" by Atk. Butterfly is a very short time travel piece that takes place entirely within the time travel office, with the unusual side effects visible scene to scene.

"The Truth About What Really Happened to the Dinosaurs" by Amy Sterling Casil takes a couple of unusual turns to explain the downfall of the great beasts and the possible consequences today.

The other stories include a replicating washing machine, a future where machines dictate everything and granting death is a favor, and a Twilight Zone glimpse at the fate of a woman who just can't get her life together.

As the submissions to this market increase, it is expected that more of the stories will have a true "classic" science fiction feel. In this issue, that couldn't be said for all of the stories, but there was certainly entertaining material that should be a good indicator of things to come.

--C. Holliday

Copyright © 1996 by Christopher Holliday. All Rights Reserved.