Thanks once again to Martin McGrath for running the poll, collating the results and collecting the comments. Thanks to everyone who voted – Martin says we received more votes than ever – and sent in letters of comment. Full results and comments are presented in IZ216 (out now), and continued discussion on the forum is welcomed!

So, many congratulations to Gareth and Kenn, and to the runners up in both categories. Special mention for Grace whose story had the same aggregate score as Gareth’s but one or two fewer positive votes; and for Aliette who had two stories voted into the top ten. Those top ten stories and the top seven artworks, as voted by IZ readers, are listed after the jump. (more…)

Tags: INTERZONE

All being well IZ216 will be on its to subscribers and contributors, and in shops on the 8th May. It’s the special Mundane-SF issue with fiction selected by guest editors and Mundanistas Geoff Ryman, Julian Todd and Trent Walters. (more…)

Tags: Alastair Reynolds • Anil Menon • Billie Aul • Chelsea Quinn Yarbro • Chris Beckett • Christopher Nurse • David Langford • Elisabeth Vonarburg • Geoff Ryman • Greg Egan • INTERZONE • Lavie Tidhar • Mundane-SF • Nick Lowe • Paul McAuley • R.R. Angell • Tony Lee

Geoff Ryman will be talking about Interzone 216, the mundane sf issue, on Radio 4 tonight (Friday 2 May) at 7:30, Front Row, I assume, and you should be able to listen again using the BBC website if you miss it.

Damien G Walter has a brilliant article in the Guardian Unlimited/Guardian On line.
Here is a quote

“The Mundane manifesto was perfectly pitched to infuriate the SF community. On the one hand it aimed a casual insult at SF readers who enjoyed the powerful myths it criticised. On the other it alienated the science-obsessed “Hard SF” faction who felt directly attacked by the Mundanistas. The attitudes of both sides hardened around a series of wonderfully arrogant statements issuing from the Mundanista camp, claiming ….â€�

Tags: Damien G Walter • Geoff Ryman • Guardian • Mundane-SF • Radio 4

IZ216 has now gone to press. It’s the special Mundane-SF issue with fiction guest edited by Geoff Ryman, Julian Todd and Trent Walters. Introduction by Geoff Ryman. Stories by Lavie Tidhar, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, Bille Aul, R.R. Angell, Anil Menon, Élisabeth Vonarbug and Geoff Ryman.

Cover art and all illustrations by featured artist Christopher Nurse. Greg Egan and Alastair Reynolds are interviewed. We have the results of the 2007 Readers’ Poll. And the usual columns and reviews including David Langford’s Ansible Link, Nick Lowe’s Mutant Popcorn and Tony Lee’s Laser Fodder.

IZ216 is out on the 8th May. Subscribe now!

Tags: Alastair Reynolds • Anil Menon • Billie Aul • Chelsea Quinn Yarbro • Elisabeth Vonarburg • Geoff Ryman • Greg Egan • INTERZONE • Lavie Tidhar • Mundane-SF • R.R. Angell

TTA Press will be there

with Interzone, Black Static, Alison, Success…, Crimewave etc.

Tags: alt Fiction 2008 • Derby • TTA

ELRIC by MICHAEL MOORCOCK
Gollancz/Millenium Masterworks paperback, 432pp, RRP GB£7.99

Reviewed by David McWilliam

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Elric of Melniboné can perhaps be considered Michael Moorcock’s most successful creation in terms of sheer popularity. The albino prince of a dying race, Elric is a powerful sorcerer whose physical prowess is bolstered by his sword, Stormbringer.The blade exacts a heavy price from its wielder, tormenting his dreams, influencing Elric’s decisions in favour of violence so that it can feed on the souls and blood of the living. Without Stormbringer Elric is reduced to a weakened, near-blind state, becoming vulnerable to his adversaries and execrable to his own elitist, imperial heredity. The blade and fighter have an almost symbiotic relationship, seemingly bound together by the threads of Fate - and it is unclear as to which of the two holds mastery over the other.

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Tags: book • Elric • Fantasy • Moorcock • review • Stormbringer

FUTURES FROM NATURE edited by HENRY GEE
Tor Books hardback, 320pp, RRP US$24.95

Reviewed by Shaun C Green

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Packed with a numeric century of sf yarns from as many writers, Futures From Nature is a book ideal for dipping into for a quick reading session. All the stories contained within first appeared in the pages of the British science journal Nature, and the consistent theme is the titular future.

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Tags: book • flash fiction • Futures From Nature • Nature • review • Science Fiction

AIRMAN by EOIN COLFER
Puffin hardback, 432pp, RRP £10.99

Reviewed by Iain Emsley

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Eoin Colfer’s Airman is a wonderful novel which is greater than the sum of its parts, half quasi-historical novel and half steampunk fantasy. Set on the Saltee Islands off the Atlantic coast of Ireland, Colfer creates an alternate history of derring-do and great invention.

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Tags: Airman • book • Eoin Colfer • Fantasy • historical • review • steampunk • YA • young adult

Readers cannot click the links in a printed magazine yet, so, as a service to readers and advertisers, here they are ready for clicking.
Advertisements are an important component of TTA’s finances and we’d like to sell more. If live links here improve responses maybe we will, so here are links from advertisements in Interzone 215
If you are interested in advertising e mail is roy (at) ttapress (dot) demon (dot) co (dot) uk (more…)

Tags: Abaddon • Advertisements • Harvey • INTERZONE • Murky Depths • Paul Western • youwriteon

THE RIVER KNOWS ITS OWN by JAY LAKE
Wheatland Press paperback, pp263, RRP $19.95.

Reviewed by PENNY HILL

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“Tommy “Leviathan” Hobbes was short, nasty and reeked of Brut.”

This is my favourite opening line in The River Knows Its Own, Jay Lake’s bohemian collection of short stories; simultaneously an homage to a cliché and a swift character sketch.

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Tags: book • collection • Fantasy • Jay Lake • review • Science Fiction • short stories • slipstream • The River Knows Its Own