A small, thick little hardcover book, the contents of which are not science fiction, despite the "51-shaped" space ship illustrated on the cover. What is inside is 18 new pieces of fiction, photography, comics and essays, plus the Letters section. I clearly remember of number of the stories, a good sign this was a strong issue. ( )

Not much here that held my attention very well, I'm sorry to say. Pretty run-of-the-mill stories. ( )

As always, a joy to read.

Highlights…

The letter to the editor from Niela Orr, on the implications of using three question marks in a row in emails or texts. Also, the one from Rajeev Balasubramanyam relating his apathy about voting in a rigged system to being forced to play rugby in school growing up.

‘The Interview’ by Nick Arvin, which has 8 young men show up for a job interview late in the day because of a scheduling mistake, and then get locked in the conference room while the secretary goes down to a bar during a snow storm to figure out what to do with them.

‘A Dispatch From Myanmar, What I Learned About Fake News in Southeast Asia’, nonfiction from RJ Vogt recounting his time working for the Myanmar Times during a period when the country shifted into a democracy. The manipulation of the press and oppression/fear-mongering of a minority group have such strong parallels to other political situations, including our own, and the line “I realized then that the truth doesn’t depend on who runs a country; it depends on who runs a country’s newspaper” was brilliant. My favorite piece from this edition.

‘Vanishing Point, a Mobius Atlas’, by Merrill Feitell, about wanderlust, coping with a dying father suffering from dementia, and demons in the family closet.

‘Cutting Horse’, by Latoya Watkins, about an African-American marriage in decline because of the difference in the husband and wife’s backgrounds and affluence. Fantastic voice in this one, and it speaks to how difficult it is to assimilate in a culture with racist elements.

‘Eviction, A Story From Detroit’, by Jeffrey Wilson and Armin Ozdic, a graphic short story about a couple losing the home that had been in his family for 65 years.

‘Stay Brave My Hercules’, by Ernie Wang, about a man who dispenses life advice dressed up as Hercules in Disneyland, while dealing with his own drama, his older partner being diagnosed with cancer.

There were a couple of clunkers, but they are the minority, and shall remain nameless. ( )