What’s in Issue 319
| Novel |
Richard K. Lyon, The Long Dark Road to Wizardry Druin, obliged to drink a toast to his future father-in-law, realizes that the wine is poisoned. Ironically, the poison saves his life and plunges him into a trap where he will have to use dark powers he does not trust.
Book I: Wolves at the Wedding Feast
Episode 1: Druin’s Heritage |
|---|---|
| Novella |
Tala Bar, Lunari Five heroic women lead four men on a voyage of interstellar emigration. Their ultimate destination will not be the one they intend, and it will force them to adapt radically to unexpected circumstances.
Chapter 1: The Flight, part 1; part 2
|
| Serial | New contributor Sally K. Lehman introduces Audinita, a waitress and part-time writer of index cards; she goes by many names because no one really knows who she is: Small Minutes, part 1; part 2. |
| Short Stories |
“You used to be so amused at Napoleon in rags and the language that he used. Go to him now; he calls you, you can’t refuse. — Bob Dylan, “Like a Rolling Stone”: Zachary Ash, Napoleon in Rags, part 1; conclusion. Something important changes when the smell disappears: Gary W. Crawford, Gangrene. Sean Hower adapts a kitsune, a story of shape-shifting foxes, from Japanese folklore: The Road to Edo, part 1; conclusion. New contributor Jonathan J. Schlosser stages an action-filled rescue scene from a sword-and-sorcery epic: Of Snow and Steel, part 1; conclusion. New contributor Jay Stevol portrays a traveler who must decide what side to take in a bizarre quarrel: Sokran and the Twin Mad Monks. |
| Flash Fiction |
New contributor Steven J. Blander introduces two characters whom you might not want to meet but who are quite well-suited to each other: A Bewitched Man. New contributor Channie Greenberg has an idea for a new source of electrical power. It might even work — without the office politics: Recumbent Riches. Envy has different colors in various places; in this case, it’s green: Jennifer Walmsley, Friendly Offering. |
| Poetry |
Anna Ruiz, The Human Program John Stocks, Notes on an Elderly Couple in Church |
| Essay | Will Gray describes a seaside story from British folklore: Ginny Gallis. |
Departments
| Welcome | Bewildering Stories welcomes Steven J. Blander, Channie Greenberg, Sally K. Lehman, and Jonathan J. Schlosser. |
|---|---|
| Challenge | Challenge 319 sidles Sideways Around the Dragon. |
| Discussion | Pete Sierra and Don Webb, The Readers on the Front Line |
| The Reading Room |
Jerry Wright reviews Danielle L. Parker, The Infinite Instant. |
| Editorial |
Jerry Wright, Stumbling into 2009 Don Webb, Activate All Talismans of Good Fortune... |
| The Art Gallery |
A randomly rotating selection of Bewildering Stories’ art NASA: Picture of the Day Earth Observatory Picture of the Day |
Bewildering Stories News
Straw Poll: Thanks once again to Crystalwizard for calling our attention to the annual Preditors and Editors poll. It’s a popularity contest for the entire world of publishing, on line and in print. Readers, authors, and editors can nominate and vote for their favorite... just about anything. Please note that it’s a snap, fleeting, two-week poll open from January 1 to 14 only. If you blink, you’ll miss it.
The poll has a lot of pages and categories, which are more or less well chosen. Hot, time-saving tip: on every likely page, do a browser search for “bewildering.” If you don’t see your own or your favorite poem, flash fiction, short story, novel, editor or webzine listed, put in a nomination. As is said in some parts, vote early and often. After the poll closes, we never seem to hear of it again until next year. But the promotion is all in good fun.
Randomly selected Bewildering motto:
Randomly selected classic rejection notice:
Bewildering Stories’ official mottoes:
“Poems are not made with ideas; they are made with words.” — Stéphane Mallarmé
Ars longa, vita brevis. Rough translation: “Proofreading never ends.”
To Bewildering Stories’ schedule: In Times to Come
Readers’ reactions are always welcome.
Please write!
Copyright © January 5, 2009 by Bewildering Stories
