Heliotrope: The Speculative Fiction Magazine, Spring 2009 (2009)

When I found out that there was a Michael Moorcock appreciation issue of Heliotrope, I had to have it. Fortunately, it was free (as it is a free e-publication), so I downloaded it with the quickest of haste. It contains the ever classic Gaiman short "One Life Furnished by Early Moorcock" and a new Cornelius story "The Rhondda Rendezvous" by Rhys Hughes. The rest of the Magazine are authors gushing about how much they love Moorcock, and I just have to say, were I asked to write a piece for that magazine, I would be just as gushy. Though, my only encounter with Moorcock was when I attended a book signing in Austin for his re-release of the Elric stories.

Gaiman's short tells the story of a young boy who wishes he could be an Eternal Champion, or at the very least, the Companion. Meanwhile, he suffers through life in a boys school, and all that that entails.

Hughes story, as I mentioned earlier, is a Jerry Cornelius story. To be honest, as much of a fan of Moorcock as I am, I have only read one Cornelius story by him. I would imagine that the feeling of Hughes story is more similar to the larger body of Cornelius stories. Nevertheless, it was very entertaining, giving me the feeling that I should make an effort to get some more Cornelius stories for my bookshelf.

The issue, though short, was an excellent cobbling together of stories and articles, making me interested in getting the other four issues that have previously been released.

Great job, Heliotrope staff. You've gained yet another reader! ( )