Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Shiny Teaser

The Future is Already Seen
by Katherine Sparrow


Jamais Vu

Mr. Connell put me in a group with three total dweebs for the science competition. I was like no way, I don't want to be part of affirmative action for super-nerds. So unfair!

Then I thought about how I would get a really good grade in Physics, which would be good for college apps.

He put me in a group with Joshua, which felt awkward because we used to be best friends when we were little, which is hard to believe because we are so different now. He used to live next door to me, but his Dad got laid off when we were in 7th and they had to move. We probably wouldn't have stayed friends anyway - that was right around the time Maricela was teaching me how to wear makeup and clothes.

Joshua mumbled, "Hi Kamala," but he wouldn't even look at me when I pushed my desk over and we made a four desk square. I sat next to him and faced his two friends - Spence and Penny - who ignored me like I was the invisible woman. Thanks, hugs and teddy bears to you too. They each had a laptop open in front of them.

Spence chewed on his pen like it was a cigar, wiggled in his seat like a squirrel, and looked at Penny. Penny frowned at her computer screen and squinted at it behind big Velma glasses. Joshua laced his hands behind his head and stared up at the ceiling.

Shiny 2008

Shiny is going quarterly from Issue 4, which will appear in April.

Subscriptions are now available to buy for 2008 - Issues 4 through 6.

There have been some changes at the editorial desk for Shiny. Ben and Alisa remain the co-editors of the ezine and Tansy will continue to write some non-fiction (introduced in Issue 2) for the magazine.

We are now reading for Issue 4 so please continue to send us your submissions.

Meanwhile.. Issue 3 has finally been released. Subscribers should have already received their copies. Expect some teasers from the stories over the next couple of days.

Shiny 2007 Issues 1 through 3

The first three issues of Shiny formed the 2007 Trio Series.

Issue 1 stories:

"Small Change" by Trent Jamieson
"Close to Death" by Eugie Foster
"The Sun People" by Sue Isle.

Issue 2 stories:
"The Goats are Going Places" by Tina Connolly
"Cracks" by Trent Jamieson
"Blurred Horizons" by Bren MacDibble

Issue 3 stories
"The Future is Already Seen" by Katherine Sparrow
"Light on Water" by Lisa A Koosis
"Some People's Kids" by Sarah Totton

Monday, January 28, 2008

Shiny 2 review

Another review up at ASif. This time a more positive one, by Tehani Wessely.

She has plenty to say about the stories themselves, which you can read at the site. My favourite part though is the final line:

What I can say is that anyone who reads it - tween, teen or adult - will find three well-executed stories offering to grab the imagination of the reader and drag them along for the ride

Meanwhile, we're eagerly working on Issue 3, which should be out any day.

Saturday, January 19, 2008

Review of Shiny 2

Another review of Shiny 2, this time from Daniel Ausema over at The Fix.

Here's a brief snippet of what he has to say:

Based on this issue, Shiny is certainly a great ‘zine to point out to any teen and pre-teen reader you know if you want to get them interested in speculative short fiction

'swhat we like to hear!

He particularly liked Bren MacDibble's story but has some interesting things to say about all three.

You can read the whole review over here.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Funny lil' Buffy riff

Check out this great GOP Presidential Candidates versus Buffy Demons riff from Cogitamus