Magazine Review: Analog Science Fiction & Fact January/February 2024 edited by Trevor Quachri
Let’s look at a recent issue of this long-running science fiction (and fact) magazine. The opening editorial by Howard V. Hendrix, “Machines Passing for People Passing for Machines”, which among other things discusses the Turing Test, where a simulated person tries to convince a second party that they are human. The lack of “interiority” may yet prevent true artificial intelligence from arising; someone who is awake can pretend to be asleep, but the sleeper cannot pretend to be awake. But being too distinguishable from humans may doom the lesser AI machines we’ve created to be useless for many things.
“Kagari” by Ron Collins takes place on an alien planet where a human ship has crashed. The sole survivor is taken as a pet for the local bird-people princeling, and given the name Kagari. Rythane has some radical ideals that do not sit well with his conservative father. He’s had to give up the common-born woman he loves for an arranged marriage. He’s surprised when Kagari turns out to be intelligent and capable of learning language. Also, Kagari’s name is “Stewart.”
Stewart proves to be a quick study and becomes able to discuss basic philosophy with Rythane. Emboldened by this, Rythane tries to move forward with one of his progressive projects. His father reacts badly, and tragedy ensues. But perhaps there is the root of a brighter tomorrow in this sad soil.
“The Science Behind ‘Apollo in Retrograde'” by Rosemary Claire Smith talks about the things she learned while creating her tale of an alternate Apollo 17 mission. Geology, geography and vehicle engineering were key to the project. This is fascinating stuff for me, growing up fascinated by the moon missions as I did.
“Music of a Different Sphere” by Stanley Schmidt concerns a symphony orchestra on a cultural exchange visit to a previously lost human colony. A problem arises, not from cultural clash, but due to subtle physics. The one person who spotted the problem in advance was a rookie, so ignored by the snooty person in charge (not the director, he’s not trained in physics, but he would have listened if the rookie hadn’t been told to not bother him.) The problem is circumvented by a different performance than planned, then the visitors learn the colonists figured this out themselves ages ago and learned to compensate (the snooty guy had thought they would have lost all higher musical culture.)
Mr. Schmidt used to be an Analog editor himself back in the day, and shows off his knowledge of what makes a good Analog story.
“From the River to the Moon” by Kelsey Hulton has an aboriginal American woman leaving Earth for an orbital colony as she finally has to admit that the planet needs time away from humans to heal. The process is hard for her, but the end of the journey is not as sterile and beige as she had feared.
“Game, Set, Match” by Robert Friedman and Barry N. Malzberg hearkens back to the editorial. “Bob” and “Barry” correspond as Bob has noticed that his company’s failed stock market program is being bought out by a larger company at a handsome price. This seems to make no sense…unless another hand is at work. A bit slight.
“Homesick” by H.A.B. Wilt is a short-short that takes place in a future where humanity never got around to solving the problem of orbital debris…and then it was too late. Melancholy.
“Sluggish” by Martin L. Shoemaker is a bit more hopeful. A young entrepreneur is trying to get a load of giant slug roe through the swamp to a pickup point in time. Problem is that it’s giant slug mating season and the male slugs are attracted to her cargo, wrecking her high-tech vehicle. This is very much in the old Astounding tradition of plucky humans using creativity and gumption to survive and even thrive in an alien landscape…even if the exact situation involves stuff John W. Campbell would never have allowed to be spoken of.
“The Handmaiden-Alchemist” by Marie Vibbert takes place in the Loire Valley in 1520. The Baroness’ handmaiden Margot would like to avoid her unwanted suitor Estienne. He, unfortunately, enjoys that she’s playing “hard to get.” Margot would much rather be working in her father’s alchemical workshop or discussing theology with the kind Father Guillaime. Estienne forces the matter, and Margot fights back with chemistry. (Content note: period sexism, attempted rape.) I was reminded of The Apothecary Diaries.
“Places You Have Never Been” by David Cleden begins with a stranger coming to the ruined part of town. The local guide is suspicious of her, but she seems genuinely interested in what he has to say about the phenomenon of “nowhere bubbles” that’s slowly eating away the neighborhood. Turns out she wants to meet the local hermit, who may know more than he’s telling. The background involves a “Pokemon Go” style outdoor game that revealed the existence of nowhere bubbles in the first place. Open-ended.
“Microbiomes, Interstellar Travel, and Protocells: A Conversation with Rachel Armstrong” by Steve Toase is an interview with the title Professor of Regenerative Architecture. I’m sure it would be fascinating, but I just don’t have the modern science education to keep up. Normally with Analog fact articles, I get lost in the math, but here I was the guy who says, “in English, Doc” in movies.
“Song of Nyx” by Sam W. Pisciotta is another melancholy piece. A neural link allows a researcher to communicate with a humpback whale. Too bad she’s the last of her kind. As his marriage is falling apart, Nyx tells him the creation myths of her people.
“Barreira do Inferno” by Madeline Barnicle is a Leap Year story. A number of four-year periods into the future, there’s a space launch scheduled for February 29th from that location in Brazil. A scientist has discovered a fatal flaw involving the summer heat; can he convince someone of this in time for it to be an unmemorable Leap Day? Bonus points for integration of Brazilian culture into the plotline.
“The Invariant Speed of Destiny” by Phoebe Barton is another short-short. A trip to Alpha Centauri may not have been a good idea.
“The Most Expensive Family Vacation on Record” by Sheldon J. Pacotti looks at possible uses of and effects of rejuvenation treatments. It’s also about family, and how it can change.
“For Every Bee, a Hive” by Benjamin C. Kinney is set after A.I. has taken over most of human civilization. One of the refugees out in the asteroid belt runs into a lost bit of technology. Turns out the A.I. have factions, and not all of them are immediately hostile. Or at least that’s what Bee thinks. But can it be trusted?
“Hull Run” by David Goodman takes us to Venus. An airship of enormous size floats above the sulfuric acid clouds, dipping in every so often for resources. Some children of the ship’s personnel are bored, and decide to have a dangerous race on the surface of the hull during a storm. This is pretty exciting stuff, and would probably make a good seed for a young adult novel.
“Paytron of the Arts” by Raymund Eich comes back to Earth in the near future. A writer has finished up his latest novel, and is quite proud of it. But his biggest “patron” (using the Paytron system of the title, which has replaced that other one you’ve heard of) doesn’t like the ending, and strongly suggests it be altered. After kicking a bit, but still wanting that all important cash, the writer creates a different ending, but it betrays his vision, and he gets severe creative block.
He violates the secrecy of the Paytron system, and goes off to confront his patron directly. The ending twist is predictable.
“You’re 16” by Steve Ingeman. Quince is sixteen years old when she gets the modifications to allow her to become part of a computer network better than anything A.I. would ever be. She loses something, and gains something. Another melancholy story.
“The Next Big Collider” by John G. Cramer looks at the near future of particle physics, and which construction projects might get funded, their pros and cons. Dry stuff, but I could follow it.
“Tepid War” by Jay Werkheiser goes back to fiction. Advances in drone warfare have made it possible for there to be constant war between machines without…direct…harm to humans, so New York City is a battlefield of robots with civilians trying to get things done. This does not, however, do anything to stop humans from engaging in corporate politics. This one’s interesting.
“Thin as Blood” by Eric Del Carlo concerns Bale, a petty arms dealer, who is trying to profit from the rumors of war. He thinks his problem is that he has to take care of his orphaned relative, Locke, a strange lad. Due to intragalactic law, he can’t escape this responsibility. Until finally he does, but that seals his doom. There’s apparently another Locke story and this one might make more sense if you’ve read it first.
“A Vintage Atmosphere” by Hûw Steer is the last fiction piece. It’s mostly a slice of life piece about an oxygen farmer tending his crops on remote asteroids. Then he goes to market, and excitement happens. I liked this one a lot, having gotten more into patient stories that are about older people as I grow further from my youth.
“The Reference Library” by Sean C.W. Korsgaard reviews six books, the most interesting sounding of which is an anthology of Jewish science fiction.
“Brass Tacks”, the letter to the editor section, is short, but one correspondent talked about finding and reading Analog 1, which I reviewed a while back. He hadn’t realized how far the tradtion of the magazine goes back.
There’s also an index of stories and articles from 2023, as well as a couple of poems–the one about Carl Sagan was more interesting.
Overall, a good issue. Maybe a little less melancholy the next time?
