Number 6, April 1999

Cover illustration by Chris Jouan

Reprints

Daniel Pearlman's "Over the H.I.L.L." appears in the collection The Best-Known Man in the World & Other Misfits from Aardwolf Press.

Nicholas Pollotta's "A Matter of Taste" appears in the collection Tequila Mockingbird from Wildside Press.

K. G. McAbee's "Optical Orifice of the Beholder" appears in the 2002 science fiction issue of Whistling Shade.

Reviews

Paul di Filippo, author of the novel Ciphers and hundreds of short stories, says "What a great job you're doing. Entertaining fiction, alluring drawings, and intelligent design."

Emma Lee reviews this issue on the New Hope International Review web site. She says "CHALLENGING DESTINY is worth checking out." You can read the entire review here.

Jeff Verona reviews this issue on the Tangent web site.

Keith Walker, in Fanzine Fanatique (Nov 99), says: "Packed with quality new fantasy and fiction. With publishers consistently claiming that short fiction doesn't sell, zines such as this are essential outlets for writers using the shorter form."

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

Rust by Leah Silverman illustrated by Jason Walton	When Loren returns to Lighthouse station, she is shocked to find that her friend Sky has died. And that Sky had been scheduled to go back to the war, even though he hated killing. Loren doesn't know what to do, until she meets someone who knew Sky during his last days alive...
A Matter of Taste by Nicholas Pollotta illustrated by Billy Tackett	A crowd of Scottish villagers tracks down the vampire, and tries valiantly to destroy him. But to no avail, and as the vampire disappears he tells them that he will return exactly one year later to reap his revenge...
illustration for A Matter of Taste by Billy Tackett
With Murderous Intent by K. G. McAbee illustrated by Alfred L. Jones	When Andru is summoned by the king, he dutifully reports. He's shocked to find his ex-lover Madren there, since he thought he'd killed her months earlier. Madren is the best assassin around, so Andru doesn't expect to be living much longer...
illustration for With Murderous Intent by Alfred L. Jones
Ethne by Stacey Berg illustrated by Susan Thiessen	Long ago, everyone came to Ethne for advice and leadership. Although no one had visited her in years, she had come to enjoy the peace and quiet. Then a young woman showed up, claiming that she was about to be executed -- because of Ethne...
The Earth is Flat by Hugh Cook illustrated by Bill Reames	Ida wanted to be a xenologist. And she would be one, if she passed her exams. The exams have gone well, and now she's reached the final phase -- the personal question. Ida is shocked to find out that the thesis she's expected to support is anti-scientific nonsense...
Over the H.I.L.L. by Daniel Pearlman illustrated by Steve Berry	All of Mark Hazman's family and friends have ostensibly gathered to make his Day of Transition a joyous one. But he didn't particularly want to be around most of his guests. Even though he knew he would die of a massive stroke today, Mark felt fine...
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The Life of Philip K. Dick review by James Schellenberg	Philip K. Dick, best known for writing the novel that was the basis of the movie Blade Runner, wrote many other science fiction novels and short stories. His twin sister died soon after birth, he was married five times, he was once asked by the FBI to be an informant for them in Mexico, and he was addicted to drugs for many years. In the 1970s he had several mystical experiences which became the focus of his novels VALIS, The Divine Invasion, and The Transmigration of Timothy Archer.
Interview with Julie E. Czerneda interview by James Schellenberg & David M. Switzer	After writing textbooks for several years, Julie E. Czerneda broke into the science fiction field in 1997 with A Thousand Words for Stranger. Beholder's Eye followed in 1998, and she's recently published a workbook for teaching science using science fiction.
Let's Start Our Own Cult editorial by Robert P. Switzer	Bob decides that followers of his cult would believe that there is only one soul, and he examines the implications of this idea. We share the soul with all other humans, animals, and plants -- and even inanimate objects like pebbles, snowflakes, and dust. The soul moves back and forth in time, visiting each of its bodies. We are connected to everything by this common soul.

Last modified: November 24, 2003

Copyright © 1999 by Crystalline Sphere Publishing