Spectrum SF 2: April 2000

Keith Roberts - Drek Yarman

Part two of three. Helman's entries report on his efforts to help the common people and he reveals what happened to Yarman's sister Stel. In Yarman's narrative we learn of his life at sea and how he comes to acquire a ship (and take the name of her real captain). The writing captures perfectly the brutality and coarseness of a sailor's life.

Destiny on Tartarus - Eric Brown

Sinclair, a callow youth, journeys to the remote planet Tartarus, seeking information on his father who died there. Most of his knowledge about his father he has gleaned from a memory cube, which contains his father's personality. Tartarus is a backwoods planet, where large flying creatures are used to pull trains. Adventures befall Sinclair show more and he certainly meets his destiny. Atmospheric writing gives a steamy feel to the jungle planet.

The gentlemen go by - Jack Deighton

Things are seen from the perspective of a young girl in a small habitat on Mars whose only human contact is her father. From the wall screen she sees a female-only society. Once she reaches maturity she has a dream of something medical happening to her and then her father disappears. Understated and moving.

Green-eyed monster - Stephen Baxter and Eric Brown

Soppy tale of a drunk encountering a small flying saucer and then inhabiting the body of a variety of creatures, while viewing his life falling apart.

.zipped - Keith Brooke

Two versions of reality clash as memories and reality diverge. Luckily, there is a medical fix as memories are editable.

Dr. Vanchovy's final case - Stephen Palmer

A rather mundane detective story concerning a murder in an inn on a far-future Earth.

The sky tower - Barrington Bayley

Usqiuss, a tough barbarian who is very handy with his sword, hears the legend of a tower that reaches to the sky, where immortality awaits those who reach its highest level. He manages to find the tower and get in and then starts a long rise through the tower's levels. A neat parable. show less