Friday, February 7, 2014

Review: Analog, April 2014, Vol. CXXXIV No. 4

A pretty good issue, although there is nothing really impressive. "Whaliens" by Tidhar made me laugh out loud.

"A Fierce Calming Presence" by Jordan Jeffers is this month's novelette. An interesting story about a federal ecologist who has been called on Ceres to investigate attacks by gulls. Within cries from the local authorities to exterminate (Avatar style) the attacking birds, an evil plot will be uncovered. Enjoyable.

"Pollution" by Don Webb. Billy Parsons lives in Japan and wants to be a japanese. He tries everything - including being interested in "japanese zombies" - to fit in but can't. Sad story.

"The Oracle of Boca Raton" by Eric Baylis. Short piece on learning on the job. Mystique piece which left me pretty cold.

"Wind Reaper" by Jon Hakes.  A four page story on alternative energy and hurricanes. Interesting idea.

"It's not 'The Lady or the Tiger?' It's 'Which Tiger?'" by Ian Randal Strock. It seems that lately bars are becoming important for science fiction as Asimov's (Vol. 38, No.3, March 2014) had a similar piece. It's a sad tale on success, failure and the future. I enjoyed thoroughly and I am glad it ended the way it did.

"Whaliens" by Lavie Tidhar. Best piece in this issue, although some people might actually hate it. Whaliens (alien whales...) come to Earth and decide to investigate human religions. The aliens expect the US government to teach them Judaism within a week or they will destroy our planet. Meanwhile, cats do not approve this invasion, as Earth and humans are in their power (if you have cats like me, you know it is true). It seems that cats don't want to lose their status and will do anything to keep it. Meanwhile a sci-fi writer is put in charge by the government to come up with a plan. It's incredibly messed up and funny.

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