Realms of Fantasy - December 2007

I've subscribed to Realms of Fantasy for years.  I stink at reviewing and synopsis, so I thought I start doing a little practice on the stories in Realms.  I'm a little uncertain about Realms these days.  I don't really like urban fantasy all that much, although I'm well aware I'm in the minority about that.  So some of the stories leave me feeling a little blah.  I suppose I just like my fantasy a little more straight forward, which has left me thinking that perhaps it's time to switch my subscription to another magazine that publishes more of the kind of stories I like.  Anyway, here goes.

Realms of Fantasy - December 2007

"Still Point" by Graham Edwards

Another story about the smart-aleck detective with the magical coat -- turn it inside out three times and it's a coat of mail, take it off, turn it inside out again, and it's something else.  The story starts with our hero trapped in a labyrinth with a behemoth.  Instead of eating him, the behemoth asks why he's there.  The story intertwines from there with back story and present.  Let me just say I'm not a fan of urban fantasy.  I like fairy tales and epic stories.  But the writing is tight, the prose beautiful, and the story richly textured.

 

"Hot Water" by Richard Parks

Lord Yamada has been kidnapped by Kenji, the reprobate priest, and taken to a small temple west of the capital where a hot spring has been having problems with a spirit--or is it a demon?  Not content to leave matters as they are, Yamada sets out to unravel the mystery.  The solution is not as simple as it seems.

 

"The Fireman's Fairy" by Sandra McDonald

Steven Goodwin, newly graduated from the Fire Department Academy, is not happy to find he's been assigned to Engine Co. 14, whose supernatural mascot is not a fierce dragon, steel-corseted Valkyrie, nor even a Greek sphinx, but a -- fairy.  Steven hasn't much respect for Tinkerbob.  Bob tries to befriend Steven, to help him deal with the PTSD from his stint in the war, but Steven can't accept him.  I liked this story about courage and looking past superficialities, despite my usually not liking urban fantasy.

 

"Transformations" by David Barr Kirtley

Carus is an alien bot sent to Earth as part of an advance force, designed to blend into Earth society as a car, but capable of transforming to humanoid form if necessary.  Carus accidentally hits a boy, Alex, and defying orders to not reveal himself to humans, drives the boy home.  He's drawn to Alex, and keeps returning to take the boy for rides.  Years pass and finally Carus is recalled home.  Alex has begged through the years to go offworld with Carus when the time comes, but now he's at a point in his life where he has responsibilities.  Will misconceptions derail their friendship?  While this story could easily have gone to cliche with the Transformers link, it stayed away from that altogether and maintained a human touch and feeling.

 

"On Tuesday, It Rained Horned Toads" by Joe Murphy

By far, my favorite story of the issue, and not just because I'm prejudiced.  I've critted quite a few of Joe's stories on critters, and enjoyed each one very much.  This is another story of Sprokly, a constructed clockwork girl.  In this story, Sprokly has escaped from Gramsper (He Who Made Us All) and wanders into Jacob and Beth's ranch.  Nonplussed by obvious un-human form, they nevertheless invite her to stay with them.  Their son, Walter, is autistic and doesn't speak, but Sprokly can handle him just fine.  One night, it rains clockwork horned toads, who are looking for Sprokly.  Sprokly is a likeable girl, even if she is wooden, and you'll find yourself rooting for her.   This is the third or fourth Sprokly story I've read and I've enjoyed each one, although the first is still probably my favorite, I suppose because of the sense of wonder.

 

"The White Isle" by Von Carr

A witchgirl, alone in a white tower on an deserted isle, finds a shipwrecked man washed ashore one day.  She tends him, bringing water, and although she can understand his words, he cannot understand hers.  Nevertheless, he falls in love with her and promises that when his rich father comes looking for him, as he most certainly will, he'll take her away with him.  When the ship comes, he disregards the sailors' accounts of the white tower that spells death to any ship.  In the end, the man learns some things are best to leave as they are.  I liked the tone of the story; it set a spell that wrapped you tight into the story.