The May 2000 issue of Asimov's Science Fiction contains 4 novelettes and 3 short stories as well as columns/articles, several poems and book reviews. Seems like an average issue, some weaker stories balanced by a couple very good ones. Robert Silverberg's Reflections column is an extended piece on author Bob Shaw and "slow glass".

The fiction stories, in order, are:

Going After Bobo • novelette by Susan Palwick
The Elephants on Neptune • shortstory by Mike Resnick
Requiem Antarctica • novelette by Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris
Calamity of So Long Life • shortstory by John Alfred Taylor
Merlin's Gun • novelette by Alastair Reynolds
Two Sams • shortstory by Robert Reed
The Noise of Their Joye • novelette by Tom Purdom

"Going After Bobo" made it into editor Dozois' best of the year collection for 2000. Although I liked it, it did not seem like a science fiction story. It examines a family and social situation surrounding a boy and his lost cat in a Reno winter. The boy's father has committed suicide although that is not immediately known to the reader. Resnick's "The Elephants on Neptune" was nominated for both the Nebula and Hugo short story award and won as best short story in the annual Asimov's reader's poll. Why this was I cannot fathom. I generally like Resnick's stories but this one bordered on cartoonish and inane. Perhaps other readers would get a chuckle from it. I liked "Requiem Antarctica" quite a bit at first for being an imaginative conjecture on why Robert Scott made a second expedition to the south pole in 1912, but then it seemed to drag, and no matter what, the reason was really absurd. This fantasy/horror really isn't science fiction by any stretch.

Of the remaining stories I really like Alastair Reynold's "Merlin's Gun." I have read this story before and was happy to read it again. I really enjoy Reynold's far future stuff and need to read more of his works. Also, Robert Reed's story was enjoyable as well. ( )

A mostly enjoyable issue with nothing really outstanding.

"Going After Bobo" - Susan Palwick 2.5/5
Well written, but really a mainstream story.
"Requiem Antarctica" - Jane Yolen and Robert J. Harris 4/5
Antarctic explorer Robert Scott as a vampire. An entertaining alternate history idea.
"Merlin's Gun" - Alastair Reynolds 3.5/5
Entertaining space opera, but the basic idea is right out of Ringworld Engineers.
"The Noise of Their Joye" - Tom Purdom 3/5
Time travelers meet Bach.
"The Elephants on Neptune" - Mike Resnick 2/5
Bizarre allegory that I didn't get the point of.
"Calamity of So Long Life" - John Alfred Taylor 2.5/5
Resurrecting talking heads. Couldn't buy the premise.
"Two Sams" - Robert Reed 3.5/5
Virtual reality obsession. Interesting, but strange. ( )