On Spec #129 Vol. 34 No. 3 (magazine review).
‘On Spec: The Canadian Magazine of Speculative Fiction’ is a quarterly publication that features short stories, poetry, and a few articles. The 129th issue is out now. The following tales took my fancy.
In Julie E. Czerneda’s ‘Saving Week,’ a good wizard faces a death curse, but he can prolong his life for an additional week by rescuing something evil by sunset each day. Then, he will face his own demise for unleashing evil into the world. Still, with death looming, a week looks good. This clever tale of turned tables features dragons, werewolves, ogres, and trolls.
“Giant of the Stars’ by Alex Langer is a different take on the story of David and Goliath from the Old Testament, with the giant having unusual origins. Smiting Philippines is still relevant 3000 years later. Plus ça change, huh?
I very much enjoyed ‘The Butterfly Effect’ by Catherine MacLeod, which is one of those small town horror stories involving some local young people. Dino, Bobby-Ray, and Sherry are all employed at Calithene Gas and Gifts, but they each have their own personal passions. Dino is interested in writing mysteries, while Sherry is interested in speculative fiction. Bobby-Ray has acting ambitions. When Vanessa Garcia comes to town and opens a tattooist shop, many locals fall in love with her beautiful butterfly designs. This issue’s interviewee, MacLeod, mentions that she became interested in horror after reading ‘Salem’s Lot,’ which has a King-esque quality to it. The horror has more impact thanks to likeable characters. Good stuff.
‘You Ain’t Supposed To Die On A Saturday Night’ is both a song and the title of a story by Jonathan Gensler. Johnny Fire is the lead singer of a band playing at the Paramount, Asbury Park, New Jersey. It’s their first gig in six months following a tragedy, and the fans are demanding that song, but Johnny doesn’t want to play it this Saturday night. In this well-crafted tale, music not only soothes the savage breast but may also possess other powers.
Rachel Unger’s ‘Bargains’ is a story of faerie folk told with a light touch. Rebecca’s mother told her never to mix milk and honey, as the faeries might think you want to bargain. Now, Rebecca manages a small care home, engulfed in a state of powerlessness, with several residents relying on her for survival, and she harbors a desire to negotiate. She makes a deal, expecting trickery. This was a charming little story.
Ghost stories based on actual history have a bit more verisimilitude than ordinary ones, so “Legio XVII Inquieta’ by Marie Brennan works well. In September 9AD, the German leader Arminius annihilated three Roman legions led by Publius Quinctilius Varus—the 17th, 18th, and 19th. He took the legion’s standards, but they were supposedly recovered later. However, if an archaeologist discovers one, it could potentially make or break her career. I remember the battle from I, Claudius, and other Roman epics. You can’t beat a delightful Roman story. Well done.
‘Atalanta Runs’ features a young lady on the run in an icy landscape. Her pursuer is the male scientist who has been experimenting on her for years and made many changes. She aspires to transform from a hunted individual into a skilled hunter, akin to Atalanta from Greek mythology. The immersive storytelling by author Colleen Anderson immerses the reader in Georgia’s world and problems. Another winning tale evokes pity and terror.
‘On Spec’ continues to provide an entertaining mix of stories. If you’re a fan of speculative fiction and it’s not available through the usual sales channels, there are links provided here.
Eamonn Murphy
October 2024
(pub: The Copper Pig Writers Society, 2024. Ebook: 144 pages. Price: $ 4.99 (CAN). ePub: $4.99 (CAN)
check out websites: https://onspec.ca/current-issue/ , https://weightlessbooks.com/on-spec-magazine-129-vol-34-no-3/ and https://ko-fi.com/s/80356ff0cf Price: $ 2.99 (CAN)