Shimmer Magazine

The first thing you notice about Shimmer Magazine is the impressive physical package. No flimsy magazine in recycled newsprint, Shimmer is perfect-bound with low-acid paper and a sturdy paperback cover. Each article or story has its own illustration to boot.

The stories inside are well worth the packaging, as is the interview with science fiction’s hottest new writer, John Scalzi. Here’s my take on the stories:

- Halloween Night by John Parke Davis is a solid tale of a very unusual family reunion. He packs a lot of punch into not many words.
- Skeletonbaby Magic by Kathy Watts is set in the Native American culture of the Pacific Northwest. Here, a mother must decide whether to live in the real world or the spirit world.
- The Angel Wood by Angela Slatter is one of my two favorite stories in this edition. Set in Regency England, it’s the story of a family and their peculiar bond with a certain wood.
- "Pray For Us, St. Dymphna,"* is a story by Bryan Lindsey*. His character is most unusual – a psychic who is also agoraphobic.
- Through the Obsidian Gates by Aliette de Bodard is my other favorite story. Here, we see a classic epic struggle between life and death, except it is set in the Mayan tradition.
- A Wizard on the Road was written by Nir Yaniv in Hebrew and translated by Lavie Tidhar. This piece of flash fiction is a surprising story of an encounter between a very content man and a wizard.
- Voices of the Gods by Monica Eiland is an interesting fantasy story. Here, human girls must choose between having wings or living on the ground. The decision the lead character makes is an interesting but ultimately predictable one.
- King of Sand and Stormy Seas by Silvia Moreno-Garcia is a reminder that sometimes adventure isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.

If you’re not subscribing to Shimmer, you’re missing a great publication.

* edited to reflect the correct values on 12/11/06 - at the suggestion of Mary Robinette Kowal, who called me "a peach" for the review!