Number 11, December 2000

Cover illustration by Robert Pasternak

Reprint

Mark Anthony Brennan's "The Beauty of the Arrangement" appears in the collection Shelter From the Storm from Perplexed Puffin Press.

Reviews

Deian Vincent, on the New Hope International Review web site, says "CHALLENGING DESTINY is a good read and well worth the cover price. Long journey ahead of you? Do yourself a favour and buy a copy."

David L. Felts, on the Tangent Online web site, says "Challenging Destiny is an attractive magazine with very high production standards... There are some good stories here."

Zine Kat, in dragon's breath (#69), says: "Superb genre mag in slim p/b form." They rate the issue 9/10 ("rocks"). You can find their mini-reviews here.

Keith Walker, in Fanzine Fanatique Quarterly (Summer 2001), says: "Superbly produced fantasy & science fiction zine with some great illustrations... Lots of fine fiction."

Here are some sneak previews of the stories you'll find in the eleventh issue of Challenging Destiny:

Weed by Peter S. Drang illustrated by Rhett Ransom Pennell	Richard is a genetic botanist who senses feelings from plants. When he takes his son Tommy to his new mountain retreat, they find a weed he’s never encountered before. And this weed seems to have more complex feelings than any plant he’s encountered before…
illustration for Weed by Rhett Ransom Pennell
A Manner of Speaking by Harrison Howe illustrated by Dave Fode	The patient was known as Q -- he was so embarrassed about his condition that he didn’t want his real name used. Doctors had tried everything they could think of, but Q was a mutant. What do you do when you have a condition that makes you involuntarily act contrary to the fundamental law of your society?
The Truth About Edward and Wormwood by Karl El-Koura illustrated by Chris Jouan	Every spaceship has a galactic map installed in it, but Algie has maps of places that aren’t on the official maps. One day someone demands to be taken to Wormwood, a shielded planet rumoured to have some very nasty people on it. When they get to his ship, Algie is surprised to find that it’s the Laubron, the fasted ship ever created…
The Beauty of the Arrangement by Mark Anthony Brennan illustrated by John Hancock	Years after the Human/Laj conflict, Meeka works to fulfill the Master's mission, spreading the harmony of duality. Due to the efforts of Persix, the high priest, most dogs and cats are paired. But after attempting to pair a snake and a rodent, Meeka still has a lot to learn…
illustration for The Beauty of the Arrangement by John Hancock
The Invention of Stones by Hugh Cook illustrated by Craig Jennion	Just when Adam thought he’d gotten used to life after Paradise, his sons start inventing games with stones. And the girls they hang around with start playing music. Eve says it’s natural for their children to be doing different things, but Adam thinks there’s going to be trouble…
Basque by Hugh Cook illustrated by Jason Walton	It's been discovered that once you've travelled back to a particular time and place, that time and place cannot be visited by anyone else. A moratorium has been placed on time travelling while the phenomenon is studied. But that doesn't stop some people from doing it anyway… Read the complete text here.
The Queen of Self-Help by Diane Turnshek illustrated by Britt Martin	Belzei is the only survivor of an accident aboard her ship, and with help she manages to land on Arkania. So she becomes de facto ambassador to the planet. When she discovers something disturbing about the Arkanians during negotiations, her collection of self-help books may not be enough to help her solve the problem...
plus
The Life and Works of Judith Merril review by James Schellenberg	Judith Merril's first story "That Only A Mother" was published in 1948. She continued publishing stories as well as novels in the 1950s and 60s. She also edited many anthologies, organized clubs and conventions, and donated her sizable book collection to the Toronto Public Library. According to Spider Robinson, "without Judith Merril, neither science fiction nor Canadian science fiction nor Canadian literature nor the world at large would exist in their present form."
Interview with Guy Gavriel Kay interview by James Schellenberg & David M. Switzer	Before he became an author, Guy Gavriel Kay assisted Christopher Tolkien in editing J. R. R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion. Kay's first three novels are high fantasy, forming The Fionovar Tapestry. His later novels, including the recent two-volume Sarantine Mosaic are based on specific historical places and events. He is a non-practising lawyer, and has also written for radio, television, and film.
Is it Ever OK to Kill a Person? editorial by David M. Switzer	What would you do if someone was going to kill you or someone you love? It's a question often asked of pacifists. Are there really "good guys" and "bad guys" in real life just like there are in books and movies? Dave examines the religious and moral aspects, as well as the expectations behind this question. He imagines different ways of dealing with the problem, and gives some real-life examples of nonviolent responses to violence.

Last modified: April 12, 2005

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