Hatrack River Writers Workshop: IGMS Survey

This is topic IGMS Survey in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Edmund (Member # 2044) on :

You know, it occured to me that I'm really asking the wrong question here. IGMS has only had two issues out so far; there's really not enough of a body of work to attempt to analyze it properly.

What I should have asked is what are the best stories you've read in the past year in any of the SF/F magazines or anthologies. What stood out as being above average and why?

There are lots of stories out there that don't work for one reader or another and the whole thing is very subjective. But a discussion about what really worked well and why you think so would be of greater value.

(I replaced the old question with this one so people wouldn't go off in the wrong direction, so if some of the comments that follow this don't quite track, you know who to blame.)

[This message has been edited by Edmund (edited June 02, 2006).]

Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :

Are you also interested in hearing which stories we didn't enjoy?

Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

Issue 1: "Taint of Treason".
Issue 2: "The Mooncalf".

Absolute fave: "Taint of Treason".

Sorry to be so brief, I'll go into more detail later, when I don't have an appointment in five minutes

I'll second Beth's question.

What I should have asked is what are the best stories you've read in the past year in any of the SF/F magazines or anthologies. What stood out as being above average and why?

(I replaced the old question with this one so people wouldn't go off in the wrong direction, so if some of the comments that follow this don't quite track, you know who to blame.)

[This message has been edited by Edmund (edited June 02, 2006).]

Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :

I agree with Silver3. Taint of Treason was my favorite.

I have to admit I haven't gotten around to reading Issue #2 yet.

Yes, I know. I'm bad.

[This message has been edited by Keeley (edited June 02, 2006).]

Posted by Edmund (Member # 2044) on :

One more thing: when posting here let me know if you read issue one, two, or both.

What I should have asked is what are the best stories you've read in the past year in any of the SF/F magazines or anthologies. What stood out as being above average and why?

Posted by autumnmuse (Member # 2136) on :

For some reason every time I try to buy issue 2, I get a Paypal message saying my password doesn't work. I check the password, use Paypal elsewhere where it works fine, try again and get the same message. Anyway, end of story is I've only read issue 1.

But I have said before that my favorite from the issue was Scott Roberts' story "Eviction Notice". I really got caught up in the story, and the emotion was definitely a sucker punch to the gut for me.

And honestly my least favorite was "Taint of Treason" but I love everything else I've read by Eric and he knows that (in fact he has one called "Bird Dropping and Sunday" that he hasn't found a home for yet, but I love it so much I've made him promise to autograph a copy for me when he gets it published), so I don't feel bad admitting to not loving that particular one. Out of curiousity, what is it about that story that people like?

(And in case anyone is feeling squeamish about saying something negative about my story, I don't mind. I'd change several things about it now, if I could, though I still like the basic premise.)

Posted by autumnmuse (Member # 2136) on :

Edmund, you posted while I was composing my last reply. As far as stories I liked in other mags over the past year, there are three stand-outs to me. The first was Kelly Link's "Magic for Beginners" in F&SF which for some reason just struck a chord for me. However, I read her anthology of the same name and discovered that while I didn't mind the style she chose for that particular story, I'm not a fan of her style overall, and she is an example of style interfering with story for me. I couldn't even finish a couple of stories in her book. They did not hook me.

Probably my favorite story from this year was from the Asimov's double issue: "The Walls of the Universe" by Paul Melko. I like it because it reads like more old-fashioned sci-fi. MC gets caught up in adventure by accident, spends the story trying to go home. Plus I liked the worlds. However on Codex someone posted that they hated this story for its simplistic treatment of parallel universes. I guess there is really nothing so subjective as reader reactions to things. I also really enjoyed "Inclination" by William Shunn in the same issue.

In general I'm not a fan of the more experimental type story, and I like the basic sci-fi staples: aliens, spaceships, timetravel and parallel universes, with interesting characters fighting for something, even if that is mainly discovery. I love to explore new worlds. That's why I read (and write) sci fi.

Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :

"Eating Hearts", by Yoon Ha Lee. It's in the May or June 2005 F&SF issue, as well as in Hartwell's "Best Fantasy". It's short, and yet it packs a punch. Plus, it has Korean folklore, and that's sufficiently rare to be a bonus (ok, by now everyone will know where I stand on the issue of non-Western fantasy

"Fox Tails", by Richard Parks, in the June 2005 issue of ROF. I just love a good fantasy mystery.

BTW, I've read both issues of IGMS.

Posted by EricJamesStone (Member # 1681) on :

:: Crosses autumnmuse off his list of people he will give suitcases full of $100 bills to when he's richer than J. K. Rowling ::

Posted by autumnmuse (Member # 2136) on :

Dang. If I'd known there was money involved, I'd have sucked up. Oh wait, no I wouldn't have

Posted by Rahl22 (Member # 1411) on :

Hi Ed,

I'll give you an answer later when I've had the chance to think it over. You might also consider starting this thread in the main fora of this page, specifically "Discussions about Orson Scott Card." Writers are smart cookies, but don't neglect the readers without aspirations of scribing fantastic tales. They outnumber us, after all.

Posted by Minister (Member # 2213) on :

Now, I really didn't like Kelly Link's Magic for Beginners in F&SF. It seemed like it had so much promise, but never delivered on that promise to me.

My favorite that I've read lately in a publication was Beagle's story in F&SF. It was set in the same universe as his Last Unicorn, and apparently was intended to bridge the gap between that and a new novel. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of the story. But it was written with a gentle simplicity of style that allowed the characters to feel real, but still noble and sometimes tragic. It had a plot, characters that were easy to identify with, yet admirable, and a style that, while beautiful, stayed out of the way.

Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :

EricJamesStone, your story is the best thing I've ever read anywhere! Pls. send suitcases full of cash to PO Box 58591, SLC UT 84158. Thanks!

Posted by autumnmuse (Member # 2136) on :

That Beagle story was called "Two Hearts" by the way. I enjoyed that, but it didn't make my favorites. I did like the gentleness of the tale though. Very appropriate for the twilight of a life.

Posted by Kickle (Member # 1934) on :

I decided to list stories which I have read very recently and that have stuck in my mind—-not necessarily the best written or earth shattering, just stories I enjoyed.
The first two stood out to me because they were rich in tone, character and were stories I could get lost in.
“Bright Waters” by John Brown in #17 Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet
“Robin of the Green” by AC Wise in Realms of Fantasy June 2006

Also, lately, I’ve read a number of light hearted, quick reads that made me smile.

“Loophole” by Eric Stone which has been in several magazines (it was not that long of story so I don’t expect an entire suitcase of cash)
Rick Novy’s (Spaceman) story--“Hole in the Wall” published in Atomjack--there is a link here under “Writer’s Published”
I’m not just trying to flatter people from around here, but I truly enjoyed those stories.
And I can’t forget:
KD Wentworth’s “Born-Again” S&SF May 2005 –Nebula nominated from 2005, but I only read it last month.

I have read #1 IGMS and some of #2
Rachel’s story in #1 goes down as being one of the most memorable.

Thanks Minister, I hadn’t heard about that story by Beagle and I’ll have to make a point of reading it.

[This message has been edited by Kickle (edited June 02, 2006).]

Posted by EricJamesStone (Member # 1681) on :

OK, Beth, I added you to my list.

Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :

Why was autumnmuse already on your list when Beth had to be added?

It's because you already gave Beth something good, isn't it?

Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :

I suppose I should start my list with Kickle. Thanks for the kind commetns on "Hole in the Wall". (The story that OSC wants for IGMS is more of a drama than a comedy.)

[This message has been edited by Spaceman (edited June 04, 2006).]

Posted by jayazman (Member # 2818) on :

In IGMS #2, I really enjoyed "I Am the Queen." I thought it was great.

Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :

I regret my reading of the magazines has tapered off to leafing through them and occasionally reading something. But nothing current and contemporary sticks in my mind. (I read terrific stories both by Pohl and by Silverberg the other day, that I hadn't seen before now...but they're older than old...the Silverberg story might be older than I am.)

Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on :

I liked I am the Queen too.

Posted by Minister (Member # 2213) on :

Way to go, Will and LH!

Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on :

I liked I am the Queen because it was not trying too hard to be anything other than entertaining. Short fiction should be enjoyable, if not why read it? Unless, of course, you are a tenderfoot writer.

caveat: I think short fiction can be thought provoking (and better than that -- talk provoking) but the delivery has gotta be fun, not necesssarily bucket-o-laughs but at the minimum enjoyable. I reckon it's, as was mentioned, great characters having great adventures, what else could you want than that? The medium is naturally limited and often synoptic.

[This message has been edited by hoptoad (edited June 06, 2006).]