Number 7, August 1999

Cover illustration by Andrey V. Ivanchenko (Anry)

Honourable Mention

Tangent Online ran a poll for the favourite magazine cover of 1999. The Challenging Destiny Number 7 cover tied for fifth place with two other covers.

Reviews

Polly Bird, on the New Hope International Review web site, says "Whether or not fantasy and science fiction are your choice of reading matter this magazine is fascinating reading. The stories are original and compelling."

Keith Walker, in Fanzine Fanatique, says: "Excellent fiction zine that's superbly produced. As we've said before, the future of short fiction in the SF and fantasy field seems very much to rest in the hands of small press publications of this kind."

Here are some sneak previews of the stories you'll find in the seventh issue of Challenging Destiny:

The Oil-Spattered Corpse by D. K. Latta illustrated by Jason Walton	Garfield Ayres wakes up in a future with no humans in it. Only sentient androids, robots and computers living a very orderly existence. Why has Garfield been awakened? Because he used to be a detective, and there's been a murder...
Invasion of the Chickens by Hugh Cook illustrated by Chris Jouan	According to prophecy, today is the day that the city of Chi'ash-lan will be invaded by a monstrous regiment of Chickens. Vorn the Gladiator, slayer of dragons, is reluctantly persuaded to venture forth against this new dreaded enemy. But the chickens are not what Vorn or anyone else expects...
illustration for Invasion of the Chickens by Chris Jouan
Pulling Weeds by Kate Tompkins illustrated by Jeff Ward	When her village chooses Jori to learn how to become a Councillor, she is happy to go. She doesnąt think she's any more worthy than anyone else, but she'll work hard. But what question keeps nagging at her: what happens to the students who fail to become Councillors?
The Reluctant Scholar by Stefano Donati illustrated by Anne Kushnick	No one ever confused the students in Henry's English class for intellectual giants. But Steve Koger was worse than most, and Henry wished he would just disappear. Then one day he did. Several weeks later, he was back -- sort of. Steve's voice was now coming from inside Henry's own head...
Optical Orifice of the Beholder by K. G. McAbee illustrated by Alfred L. Jones	Ril'na and ArGre were happily engaged in battle -- otherwise known as their diurnal discussion on doctrine and its diversities. They each appreciated the intricate patterns that the other made in their shell and stone collection. Then an oddly symmetrical creature came along and interrupted them...
Casebook: In the Matter of Father Dante Lazaro by Michael Mirolla illustrated by Dwayne Harris	Father Dante Lazaro is delighted to find many of the aliens converting to Catholocism, while none of them convert to any of the other sects or religions represented on his team. The aliens are enthusiastic and devout. But are they converting for the right reason?
illustration for Casebook: In the Matter of Father Dante Lazaro by Dwayne Harris
plus
Feminist SF (Part 1 of 2) review by James Schellenberg	When you think of feminist science fiction, you probably think of books such as The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. LeGuin, The Female Man by Joanna Russ, and The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri S. Tepper. James reviews those key works, as well as Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (first published in 1915), and the movie Tank Girl.
Interview with Robert Charles Wilson interview by James Schellenberg & David M. Switzer	Robert Charles Wilson's latest novel, the Hugo-nominated Darwinia, starts out with Europe disappearing and being replaced by an entirely different continent. His novel Mysterium won the Philip K. Dick award, and his next novel, Bios, is coming out in November. He has written many short stories, and will be publishing a collection of science fiction stories set in Toronto.
Is Technology the Problem or the Solution? editorial by David M. Switzer	Technology has been around for a long time, and will be around as long as there are humans. But we now need to make some decisions about technology. Should we embrace or reject new technology? Should we accept it when experts tell us that a technology is safe? We put a lot of blind faith in technology, but a lot of people don't know as much as they should about it.

Last modified: December 2, 2001

Copyright © 1999 by Crystalline Sphere Publishing