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Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
December 2001

This month's issue of Asimov's features a Reflections column by Robert Silverberg that looks at a certain book known as the Hobson-Jobson. This book is a dictionary (of sorts) of colloqial words used on the Indian subcontinent during the British Empire, and it is full of unusual and fascinating words like "bobachee", "bobbery-bob", "gubber", etc.

Stories featured in this issue are:

"The Longest Way Home (Part 2 of 3)" by Robert Silverberg. The continuation of the story of a young boy trying to make his way back home across an unknown landscape. He is taken in as a healer by an aliens who 'trade' him from village to village. Eventually, he is found by some people who may be potential enemies. Can he continue to hide his identity from them?
"deck.halls@boughs/holly" by Connie Willis. This story has Willis's usual serving of Christmas cheer and absolute chaos in the lives of some people. In this case, the lives of people who are 'professional Christmas party designers' who produce themed Christmases for their clients. One client of a designer may not who she turns out to be, leading the designer to wonder whether she should do her job or 'sabotage' her client.
"The Applesauce Monster" by Kage Baker. A convoluted tale set in a future where some parents just want a perfect child and do it via DNA manipulation. This results in an uproar, causing them to get a bodyguard. But this bodyguard may be more than just an ordinary bodyguard.
"My Stolen Sabre" by Uncle River. A tale about a sabre who may be more than just an ordinary sable. It gets transferred (and stolen) from owner to owner, finally ending up in a shop. But this sabre may have plans of its own for mankind.
"Grey Earth" by Stephen Baxter. A side story to his book, Manifold 3: Origin, this story traces the end of the life of a woman who has been transported to a very different alternative Earth where Neanderthals live. She tries to live with them but is constantly frustated by differences in looking at their very different world. Probably best read along with his Manifold books.
"In the Days of the Comet" by John M. Ford. A short, little tale about prions and how they may be used to deliver very interesting messages.
James Patrick Kelly writes a On the Net article titled "Singular." In this case, the singularity is an artificial intelligent surpassing that of human which we may be heading towards whether we like it or not. Kelly gives internet citations by various people who have thought about this and have come up with their own 'paths' towards this singularity.

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Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine December 2001

Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine
December 2001