Ionospherics 120

It is with more than a little regret that I need to tell you that Sue Clennell, our regular "E-Scapes" columnist since September 2005, has decided to focus on her own fiction writing instead of that of others.

This regret, is of course, tempered by the fact that Sue has done a wonderful reviewing job for thirty-three issues — and she has done this for us here at AntiSF without remuneration or reward.

So, I offer a heartfelt thanks to Sue — for her persistence, dedication, and words. The magazine would not have been the same without "E-Scapes". We're all going to miss it.

And no, alas, the column won't continue without Sue. "E-Scapes" finishes with this issue.

But let's speculate. Is it possible that another reviewer is about to, "Go Critical"?

Can't wait for the supernova.

Ooroo for now,

Nuke.

Ionospherics 119

Sometimes, more is less. Ain't that the case with some of our fifty-worders?

Of course, I don't expect you all to agree with me. But sometimes the constraints of form force us to be more creative with what we have available to us. Adversity delivers invention.

And, if you do agree, then perhaps we've found the ideal story-telling form for display on those tiny mobile telephone screens...

Anybody tried it?

Ooroo for now,

Nuke

Ionospherics 118

Not convinced that astronomy has an influence on us? I did say astronomy not astrology. Take this Easter for example. Here's an event that's closely tied to astronomy. Have you wondered why it's so early this year?

Here's the thing: lunar cycles. Easter is based on the phases of the Moon and the solar equinox, even though it's a Christian religious event that we celebrate here on Earth.

So, Easter comes on the first Sunday after the first full Moon after (here in the Antipodes) the autumn equinox.

All of which isn't an excuse for this issue to be late. But hey, I hope it's worth the wait.

Ooroo for now,

Till next we meet under the glow of a distant red-shifted gamma ray burst...

Nuke.

Ionospherics 117

What can I say? Ten years of publication and we're still here, still going strong (stronger than ever, I'd say), with no plans to shut down any time soon. AntipodeanSF has been, and is, a success — as far as I'm concerned, at least.

In that ten years, well apart from the fact that I've published some real SF story gems, I have to admit a certain pride in the fact that AntipodeanSF has helped rather more than a few writers into first-time publication, and from there into successful publication elsewhere.

More than anything else, however, I must thank all of the contributors, right down the line, starting with Edwina Harvey and Rakel Hansen who both appeared in the first issue, to the hundreds of contributors that have made their fantastic work available for us to publish since then. Thank you all. Well done.

Ooroo for now, till next we meet on the surface of a dying supernova...

Nuke

Ionospherics 116

Ten years of publication next month. That long! In that time, yes, we've missed some issues, else we'd be at issue 120 rather than 117 for our tenth anniversary. So it's a grand total of three issues missed, probably (for I can't recall the details) after special double issues, or at times that I was away (lazy bugger that I am). Not that it matters. For a regular internet publication, I think we've done well.

By way of celebration next month we'll have another double issue. That's twenty selected pieces of flash fiction for you to enjoy.

There's also change in site design and implementation coming. But in the words of Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, "Don't Panic", for we'll still be focusing on what we do best — publishing the best in speculative flash fiction from around the world.

As for the timing of this change, I'd originally scheduled it for the anniversary issue, but I'm not sure that the new CMS-driven site will be ready on time. Unfortunately, while I enjoy producing AntiSF, it is something that I do with a seemingly dwindling amount of spare time.

Despite the above, I'm of the firm belief, barring the takeover of the internet by the awakening of a self-aware electronic nasty, that we'll continue to publish into the foreseeable future.

Ionospherics 113

So, you like SF? If you didn't grow up in the fifties or sixties, there's a good chance that you may have missed out on an important aspect of SF: radio.

That's right. SF storytelling by multimedia, before the days of TV. You'd call it a podcast these days. Luckily, some of the shows have been preserved as downloadable audio files. The internet will provide in the form of mp3s.

One of the programs you'll want to avail yourself of is "X Minus One". The stories produced in these half-hour NBC broadcasts usually came from the pens of the SF/F Grandmasters, and include classics such as: Nightfall, A Logic Named Joe, and Knock.

You can download some of the episodes of "X Minus One" from here: <www.archive.org> (just search for X Minus One in the search box).

Turn down the lights, relax into your recliner, watch the stars above if you're so inclined, and listen carefully for the seeds of our futures.

Ooroo for now, till the next time we're caught in the same sticky whirlpool of dark matter,

Nuke.

Ionospherics 112

You gotta do it.

From time to time I'm going to suggest things. Things you ought to read, watch, and experience as a lover of SF.

This month? In the interests of keeping it simple, it's some of the short stories by Philip K. Dick.

Classics all, and some of them made into movies:

"Second Variety"
"Paycheck"
"We Can Remember It For You Wholesale"

No explanations. No more prompting. After you're done with AntiSF, consider finding them. And enjoy.

Ooroo for now, till next we meet courtesy or not of that ever-so-elusive Higgs Boson...

Ionospherics 110

Are you dedicated weird? If you are, you may be a little like me, and do things that seem strange and vague to others of our race. Coming in August (Sunday, 12th), for example, is the annual Perseid meteor shower, something that's promising to be rather spectacular, aided by the fact that we don't have the washout effect of the Moon this time around. In order to catch the shower at its best I'll be camped somewhere away from city lights and I'll be waking in the wee hours of the morning, around three or four o'clock, then lying on a banana lounge in that freezing morning air to view the show.

Some would scorn this notion and say, "why not watch it on TV?"

Well hell. It's not like being there. Not that being there is necessarily a guarantee for awe. My partner, Karen, for example, didn't suffer from my affliction a number of months back when we were visited by one of the brightest comets in recent history. "Is that it?" she asked. "That tiddly thing?"

Tiddly? It's real, and it's a once-in-a-lifetime event to see a comet that bright. I went out of my way to view it as much as I could. And that's what SF is all about too — stretching the real into the future, being dedicated weird and interested not just in the unnatural, but the natural too.

Ooroo for now,

Nuke.

PS: for more info why not visit: <NASA>