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Continuum Science Fiction # 1 - Winter 2004
01/10/2004 . Source: Sue Davies 
pub: 50 page magazine. Price: $3.95 check out website: www.continuumsciencefiction.com
This episodic magazine looks to be the labour of love by its owner, William Rupp, who newly retired from the rat race has the time to bring to life the SF magazine of yesteryear.
It contains one novelette 'Requiem Ascendant' by Jay Lake and five additional short stories.
There are two science articles and a review page that will cover Hollywood genre films 'from new releases to old favourites' - hey that's our job! The editor's page explains his philosophy and plans for the magazine: basically where he is coming from and an implicit invitation to jump on and enjoy the ride.
I'm not a magazine reader, mainly confining my browsing of such content to the Internet and short stories are usually to be found in the occasional compendium. With this being the second magazine this year to arrive for review, I was curious to see what it had to offer that was different.
So back to what space and Science Fiction is about then, the chance to explore strange new worlds and come back to Earth without being harmed in any way. As I said before, I'm a story girl and most science leaves me cold unless it is explained in words of one syllable - Einstein For Dummies if you like. The 'science bit 'articles were no exception and I couldn't get too excited about them even though 'Hellfire' was about the amazing planet of Mercury.
The thrills and spills are within or not the 'amazing' stories and this kind of magazine birthed many a writer in yesteryear and probably frustrated many more. I don't know how Mr Rupp got these stories together out of the zillions available and I certainly wouldn't like to choose between original fictions when there are so few vacancies in the magazine.
He has done it and, I imagine, on the basis that he enjoyed them rather than worrying about what a focus group might say. Each story is different, demonstrating what a broad church SF can be. The novelette is an adventure story written in the first person and the pace races along nicely.
Of the five short stories those that I enjoyed the most were: 'Moving Fingers' by Melissa Mead, which looks at the power of the written word, especially important when the hand at the end of your arm isn't your own. 'Phantoms' by James McCormick, where a ship lost in space takes on some very odd hitchhikers. They were all sufficiently different to engage my attention fully and it was enjoyable to cherry pick and then finish them all off in one big session.
Overall, it's a good magazine to read and pass on as all good books should be. It would be great to receive this once a quarter through the letterbox. Anything that opens more readers' eyes to the wonders of the universe is to be commended and good luck to Mr Rupp in his new career.
Sue Davies
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