The Long Haul by Ken Liu

Issue 98, Nov 2014

21/100

Alternate history stories can really make you think.

Here the question of, what if the Hindenburg never crashed and burned?

There would be Zeppelins everywhere is what. 

In this story Liu shows us an impeccably realized time where a world that has embraced green energy and transportation solutions created a market for heavy-lift cargo Zeppelins. 

It is written like a magazine article where a reporter accompanies a married couple, who operate their own independent ship, on a typical run from China to the U.S.  

I loved this story, it showed what could have been just a normal slice of life. 

Recommended. 

Ken Liu's website is:
http://kenliu.name/

Ken Liu

Pernicious Romance by Robert Reed

20/100

Presented here is a mystery. What seems like a terrorist attack at a college football game has very unusual results. 

The blast at centre field was an unusual explosion. Those closest to the epicentre died but most of the 70,000 fans were knocked into a strange kind of unconsciousness. 

I liked the way the story was structured and I found it very entertaining. I could certainly see it developed as a movie. It's very cinematic in the telling and there is a lot to consider here. It's definitely something you can spend some time discussing with your friends. 

Robert Reed's website:
http://www.robertreedwriter.com/

 Robert Reed

Cameron Rhyder’s Legs by Matthew Kressel

November 2014

19/100

What a strange time travel/alternate reality story.

A rock concert is the ultimate battleground in a war to preserve True Time.

In this battle technology so advanced is used to instantly occupy and control minds.  Warriors from the future try to change the outcome of the concert by manipulating small details of the lives of people in the concert hall.

Sound confusing?  Well, it kind of is but the author does a great job of keeping the story from spinning out if control.  It's disorienting enough to make you feel like you've had one too many drinks before you started reading.

This was definitely strange and fun. 

Matthew Kressel's website:
http://www.matthewkressel.net/

Matthew Kressel