http://scalzi.com/subterranean_issue_4.pdf

The publisher of Subterranean, having made the decision to move the mag online apparently decided to go with some guest editors for the latter issues, selecting Scalzi to do this one. Said editor having been kind enough to put this online, those of us not so keen on paying the price of a book to get a magazine delivered now have the pleasure of perusing this entertaining publication.

Also a theme issue, as the stories (and even a haiku!) are supposed to look at SF type cliches.

There are also pieces by editors of both short and long work, in John Joseph Adams and Teresa Nielsen Hayden about the abominations that they often encounter in the course of their work.

There are also a few book reviews, including yet another attempt to explain, briefly, George R. R. Martin's fattest of fantasies.

As far as the fiction goes, a pretty reasonable job done, with a 3.47 average over quite a large number of shorter pieces, for a magazine.

I'd call this one just about a 4.25.

Subterranean 4 : Subterranean 4 - John Scalzi
Subterranean 4 : Scene From a Dystopia - Rachel Swirsky
Subterranean 4 : The Third Brain - Charles Coleman Finlay and James Allison
Subterranean 4 : A Finite Number of Typewriters - Stuart MacBride
Subterranean 4 : Horrible Historians - Gillian Polack
Subterranean 4 : Hesperia and Glory - Ann Leckie
Subterranean 4 : What a Piece of Work - Jo Walton
Subterranean 4 : The Last Science Fiction Writer - Allen M. Steele
Subterranean 4 : Shoah Sry - Tobias S. Buckell and Ilsa J. Bick
Subterranean 4 : Labyrinth's Heart - Bruce Arthurs
Subterranean 4 : The NOMAD Gambit - Dean Cochrane
Subterranean 4 : In Search of Eileen Siriosa - Ron Hogan
Subterranean 4 : Tees and Sympathy - Nick Sagan
Subterranean 4 : Last - Chris Roberson
Subterranean 4 : Refuge - David Klecha
Subterranean 4 : The Inevitable Heat Death of the Universe - Elizabeth Bear

Profession assignment.

3 out of 5

Mindful of fraud.

3.5 out of 5

Monkeys better, but take up heaps more space, and throw their poo.

3.5 out of 5

Time viewing proves disappointing to huge history nerd. Roland not as interesting as abuse of pommie froggy bastards.

3.5 out of 5

Well, it is sword and planet time.

3.5 out of 5

Search censor.

4 out of 5

Genre simulation breakout.

4 out of 5

Dinah sure DNA.

3 out of 5

I'm not a bad guy, no bull.

3.5 out of 5

Alien plot treatment.

3.5 out of 5

Chip explosion dumping.

3.5 out of 5

Tasty aliens a bit tough.

3 out of 5

A planet run by a species with a Governor Spears needs pandemic termination. Really gone to the dogs.

4 out of 5

"Alright, you freak, listen up. If you don’t come along quietly, I’m going to make sure your doubly freakish girlfriend lives in Hell. You hear me?"

3 out of 5

Shark repair appetite.

3.5 out of 5

http://freesf.blogspot.com/2008/02/su... (

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