Interzone 229 'a sexy prime' issue.

[Roy1]

Wiki states that 229 is a regular, a long, a twin (with 227), a cousin and a sexy prime. 229 is also a prime triplet (with 227 and 233) while a sexy prime is a pair (p, p + 6) of prime numbers that differ by six.

As you'll see from Interzone 229's cover it has a prime number (5) of stories by prime authors; Toby Litt, Jim Hawkins, Paul Evanby, Antony Mann & Rochita Loenen-Ruiz.
Jim Hawkins' title 'Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Matter' is one that makes me want to read it now.

Toby Litt's 'The Melancholy' has a female engineer working on a robot appliance that she sees as having the equivalent of severe depression. She is convinced she's not foisting her own fragile emotional state onto her work but when the robot goes missing beneath the icy surface of Jupiter's moon, Europa, she has to speak to someone about her suspicions. Did the appliance commit suicide?

Warwick Fraser-Coombe's cover is part 4 of 6 in his Playground (Hide and Seek) tableau plus all the usual features.

 

[Roy1]

You can see the internal illustrations and teasers for IZ 229's contents here plus I can reveal two of the authors are from the Nederlands to celebrate their football team's arrival at the FIFA World Cup Final.
81

 

[J-WO]

I'm liking candy moments particularly. Its almost got a 60's New Wave novel cover feel, but updated with the magic of CGI.

But great pictures all round.

 

[Anthony G Williams]

Featured author in the July-August issue of this British SFF magazine is Jeff VanderMeer, with both an interview and a review of his book Finch. I've only read one of his books - Veniss Underground, reviewed on this blog in December 2007 - and was quite impressed by it, but I did skip over the more gruesome bits. I probably won't read Finch, since it seems to be a similar blend of horror set in a dystopian future and therefore not really to my taste, but VanderMeer's story-telling skills are such that I suspect I would enjoy it if I read it. However, I have too many books to read already, and not enough time.

The usual book, film, TV and DVD reviews included the final series of BBC TV's Ashes to Ashes. I was pleased to see that the reviewer liked it too. There are five short stories this time:

Mannikin by Paul Evanby, illustrated by Ben Baldwin. During an alternative American War of Independence, a scientist on the Dutch West Indian island of Saint Eustatius works to replace slaves by developing artificial humanoids. A bizarre plot and a story strong on atmosphere.

Candy Moments by Antony Mann, illustrated by Richard Wagner. Some time in the future, a mysterious organisation begins offering a unique service to unhappy people; a process which removes the pain of such memories. The after-care treatment consists of a particularly enticing brand of chocolate. One man is tempted to participate because of the guilt and grief he feels over his wife's death, but is there more to this than meets the eye?

The Melancholy by Toby Litt, illustrated by Paul Drummond. Even an intelligent computer programme, switched from machine to machine as different tasks require, feels a need for a home.

Alternate Girl's Expatriate Life by Rochita Loenen-Ruiz, illustrated by David Senecal. An artificially constructed girl from a land of robots tries to settle in a human area. A surreal take on identity and belonging.

Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Matter by Jim Hawkins, illustrated by Richard Wagner. A more conventional SF tale of an orchestra of expert killers which tours rebellious worlds, wooing them with music; but if that doesn't work….

Being something of a traditionalist I enjoyed Hawkins' story the most, although Mannikin was also memorable.

(An extract from my SFF blog)

 

[J-WO]

Mannikin was very good, I thought, especially if one is fascinated by the era. Dark Matter was fun too, though I'm sorry to say I found its satire hammer-like in its application.

Haven't read the others yet but I'm sure looking forward to it. Strong turn out from the illustrations, too.