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ParSec in Print [Trade Paperback]
ABOUT THIS BOOK When putting this anthology together, I was determined that it should not be called The Best of ParSec or anything of that ilk. A title such as that would be a slight on those stories that were not selected, suggesting they are in some way inferior to those that have been, and that’s simply not the case. Permit me to explain. Two thirds of the stories published in the first seven issues of ParSec , from which this volume is drawn, came to us via the three brief open submission periods we’ve held to date. During those three windows I received around 1,000 submissions. Of these, I’ve accepted just 8%. I’ve turned away some good stories in the process, I know that, but those that have made it into the magazine are all stories I love. TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction by Ian Whates
Down and Out Under the Tannhauser Gate – David Gullen
Nineteen Eighty-Nine – Ken MacLeod
A Moment of Zugzwang – Neil Williamson
From Below – Warren Benedetto
Lustre Mining – Eliza Chan
The Summer Husband – Angela Slatter
Radicalised – Lavie Tidhar
Rotten Things – Kim Lakin
It Only Amplifies – Shih-Li Kow
Personal Satisfaction – Adrian Tchaikovsky
CSGCOVWR – Natalia Theodoridou
Portuguese Essay – George Tom
A Kingdom of Seagrass and Silk – Cécile Cristofari
Theo Ballinchard And The Oranges Of Possibility – Patrice Sarath
Lovers on the Yuleton Lip – Aliya Whiteley
The Power of 3 – Anna Tambour
Red Horse, Running – Joanne Harris
Umbilical – Teika Marija Smits
Are We Going Under? – Simon Bestwick
Within The Concrete – Steve Rasnic Tem
The Primacy Of The Cube – Paul Di Filippo
The Equality Virus – Gwyneth Jones
The Operculum Necklace – Alison Littlewood
But Once a Year – Ramsey Campbell
FiveO’Clock In The Bar At The End Of The World – Bryony Pearce
Introduction by Ian Whates
Down and Out Under the Tannhauser Gate – David Gullen
Nineteen Eighty-Nine – Ken MacLeod
A Moment of Zugzwang – Neil Williamson
From Below – Warren Benedetto
Lustre Mining – Eliza Chan
The Summer Husband – Angela Slatter
Radicalised – Lavie Tidhar
Rotten Things – Kim Lakin
It Only Amplifies – Shih-Li Kow
Personal Satisfaction – Adrian Tchaikovsky
CSGCOVWR – Natalia Theodoridou
Portuguese Essay – George Tom
A Kingdom of Seagrass and Silk – Cécile Cristofari
Theo Ballinchard And The Oranges Of Possibility – Patrice Sarath
Lovers on the Yuleton Lip – Aliya Whiteley
The Power of 3 – Anna Tambour
Red Horse, Running – Joanne Harris
Umbilical – Teika Marija Smits
Are We Going Under? – Simon Bestwick
Within The Concrete – Steve Rasnic Tem
The Primacy Of The Cube – Paul Di Filippo
The Equality Virus – Gwyneth Jones
The Operculum Necklace – Alison Littlewood
But Once a Year – Ramsey Campbell
FiveO’Clock In The Bar At The End Of The World – Bryony Pearce
- GenresHorrorAnthologies
277 pages, Paperback
Published September 1, 2023
3 people want to read
About the author
Ian Whates
123 books82 followersIan Whates lives in a comfortable home down a quiet cul-de-sac in an idyllic Cambridgeshire village, which he shares with his partner Helen and their pets – Honey the golden cocker spaniel, Calvin the tailless black cat and Inky the goldfish (sadly, Binky died a few years ago).
Ian’s earliest memories of science fiction are fragmented. He remembers loving Dr Who from an early age and other TV shows such as Lost in Space and Star Trek, but a defining moment came when he heard a radio adaptation of John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids. From that moment on he was hooked and became a frequent haunter of the local library, voraciously devouring the contents of their SF section.
This early love of science fiction manifested most tellingly during his school days, when he produced an SF murder mystery as homework after being set the essay title “The Language of Shakespeare”, much to the bemusement of his English teacher.
Ian’s first published stories appeared in the late 1980s in small press magazines such as Dream and New Moon Quarterly, after which he took a break from writing in order to research his chosen fields of science fiction and fantasy. In other words, he read copious amounts of both. Clearly the research was extensive, because he published nothing further for some seventeen years. In the early 2000s he made the decision to pursue writing seriously, joining the Northampton SF Writers Group in 2004 after being introduced to its chairman, Ian Watson.
In 2006 he started submitting stories again, and has subsequently been surprised at how many otherwise eminently sensible people have chosen to publish him. A couple have even appeared in the science journal Nature, and one, “The Gift of Joy”, even found its way onto the five-strong shortlist for best short story in the British Science Fiction Association Awards. And it didn’t come last! Ironically, the award was actually won by Ken MacLeod’s “Lighting Out”, a piece Ian had commissioned, edited and published in the NewCon Press anthology disLOCATIONS (2007).
In 2006 Ian launched independent publisher NewCon Press, quite by accident (buy him a pint sometime and he’ll tell you about it). Through NewCon he has been privileged to publish original stories from some of the biggest names in genre fiction, as well as provide debuts to some genuinely talented newcomers. The books, their covers and contents have racked up an impressive array of credits – four BSFA Awards, one BSF Award to date, inclusion in ‘Year’s Best’ anthologies and recommendations and honourable mentions from the likes of Gardner Dozios and Locus magazine.
In addition to his publishing and writing, Ian is currently a director of both the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) and the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA), editing Matrix, the online news and media reviews magazine, for the latter.
His first two completed novels are both due to appear in early 2010: City of Dreams and Nightmare via Harper Collins’ imprint Angry Robot, and The Noise Within from Rebellion imprint Solaris, with sequels to follow. When not pinching himself to make sure this is all really happening, Ian is currently beavering away at the sequels… honest!
Ian’s earliest memories of science fiction are fragmented. He remembers loving Dr Who from an early age and other TV shows such as Lost in Space and Star Trek, but a defining moment came when he heard a radio adaptation of John Wyndham’s The Chrysalids. From that moment on he was hooked and became a frequent haunter of the local library, voraciously devouring the contents of their SF section.
This early love of science fiction manifested most tellingly during his school days, when he produced an SF murder mystery as homework after being set the essay title “The Language of Shakespeare”, much to the bemusement of his English teacher.
Ian’s first published stories appeared in the late 1980s in small press magazines such as Dream and New Moon Quarterly, after which he took a break from writing in order to research his chosen fields of science fiction and fantasy. In other words, he read copious amounts of both. Clearly the research was extensive, because he published nothing further for some seventeen years. In the early 2000s he made the decision to pursue writing seriously, joining the Northampton SF Writers Group in 2004 after being introduced to its chairman, Ian Watson.
In 2006 he started submitting stories again, and has subsequently been surprised at how many otherwise eminently sensible people have chosen to publish him. A couple have even appeared in the science journal Nature, and one, “The Gift of Joy”, even found its way onto the five-strong shortlist for best short story in the British Science Fiction Association Awards. And it didn’t come last! Ironically, the award was actually won by Ken MacLeod’s “Lighting Out”, a piece Ian had commissioned, edited and published in the NewCon Press anthology disLOCATIONS (2007).
In 2006 Ian launched independent publisher NewCon Press, quite by accident (buy him a pint sometime and he’ll tell you about it). Through NewCon he has been privileged to publish original stories from some of the biggest names in genre fiction, as well as provide debuts to some genuinely talented newcomers. The books, their covers and contents have racked up an impressive array of credits – four BSFA Awards, one BSF Award to date, inclusion in ‘Year’s Best’ anthologies and recommendations and honourable mentions from the likes of Gardner Dozios and Locus magazine.
In addition to his publishing and writing, Ian is currently a director of both the Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) and the British Science Fiction Association (BSFA), editing Matrix, the online news and media reviews magazine, for the latter.
His first two completed novels are both due to appear in early 2010: City of Dreams and Nightmare via Harper Collins’ imprint Angry Robot, and The Noise Within from Rebellion imprint Solaris, with sequels to follow. When not pinching himself to make sure this is all really happening, Ian is currently beavering away at the sequels… honest!
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
February 20, 2026
Various (Editor: Whates, Ian) - ParSec In Print
Hodgepodge collection of SciFi, Fantasy, Horror, primarily SciFi.
To be honest, I don’t care for SciFi, but I am open to new authors, other styles.
“Down And Out Under The Tannhauser Gate” shows a post apocalyptic Earth, ruined after a brief war, now a tourist destination for the victors. Humanity hangs by a thread and lives on crumbs.
“Nineteen Eighty-Nine” seems a satire on Orwell’s classic, obtuse by design.
Fantasy arrives with “The Summer Husband”. For females readers, one summer ought to be long enough for any relationship. Afterward, menfolk quickly outstay their welcome.
Oh, for something that would improve our lives. Like the internet, or AI, or a brain implant. What could go wrong? Especially since “It Only Amplifies”, meaning the root lies within you already.
Fairy tales for modern readers. Pigs, a wolf, three bears, don’t you know? Back in the day, readers and characters were more innocent. In “The Power Of 3” jaded cynicism runs the game.
Christmas, thank God, comes “But Once A Year”. As endured by adolescent Dick, diminished to Dickie by his parents and relatives. Childhood torments that linger for decades. Family, what can one do?
This came as part of a PS grab-bag. This book was hit and miss, and not a keeper for me.
Hodgepodge collection of SciFi, Fantasy, Horror, primarily SciFi.
To be honest, I don’t care for SciFi, but I am open to new authors, other styles.
“Down And Out Under The Tannhauser Gate” shows a post apocalyptic Earth, ruined after a brief war, now a tourist destination for the victors. Humanity hangs by a thread and lives on crumbs.
“Nineteen Eighty-Nine” seems a satire on Orwell’s classic, obtuse by design.
Fantasy arrives with “The Summer Husband”. For females readers, one summer ought to be long enough for any relationship. Afterward, menfolk quickly outstay their welcome.
Oh, for something that would improve our lives. Like the internet, or AI, or a brain implant. What could go wrong? Especially since “It Only Amplifies”, meaning the root lies within you already.
Fairy tales for modern readers. Pigs, a wolf, three bears, don’t you know? Back in the day, readers and characters were more innocent. In “The Power Of 3” jaded cynicism runs the game.
Christmas, thank God, comes “But Once A Year”. As endured by adolescent Dick, diminished to Dickie by his parents and relatives. Childhood torments that linger for decades. Family, what can one do?
This came as part of a PS grab-bag. This book was hit and miss, and not a keeper for me.
December 26, 2023
The anthology collects a number of original stories previously appeared in the online magazine Parsec, published by the British imprint PS Publishing.
This selection assembles stories addressing various themes in the area of speculative fiction.
Among the various, interesting contributions I’ve found three which really stand out.
“ Are We Going Under ?” by Simon Bestwick is a vivid tale depicting the events taking place during one night in a city area where the law is the hands of a small group of persons.
“ Within the Concrete” by Steve Rasnic Tem features a man trying to locate his missing wife. The story has not a real ending but provides an excellent, disturbing description of hospitals as nightmarish places.
Ramsey Campbell contributes “But Once A Year”, a reminiscence of a particular Christmas spent by a young man at his parents’ house filled with relatives.
This selection assembles stories addressing various themes in the area of speculative fiction.
Among the various, interesting contributions I’ve found three which really stand out.
“ Are We Going Under ?” by Simon Bestwick is a vivid tale depicting the events taking place during one night in a city area where the law is the hands of a small group of persons.
“ Within the Concrete” by Steve Rasnic Tem features a man trying to locate his missing wife. The story has not a real ending but provides an excellent, disturbing description of hospitals as nightmarish places.
Ramsey Campbell contributes “But Once A Year”, a reminiscence of a particular Christmas spent by a young man at his parents’ house filled with relatives.
October 24, 2024
I bought this to see if ParSec magazine could replace Interzone (after 2 lifetime subs then a 6 issue sub, I now find Interzone boring). The stories all seemed to be well written and quality stories, but mostly uninteresting. I finished 4 stories, and particularly enjoyed the Ken MacLeod and Gwyneth Jones contributions, which isn't surprising. The rest were fantasy/horror/adjacent genres which I am not interested in.
May 7, 2024
As usual from PS Publishing, a very enjoyable read overall!
August 27, 2024
Full review at Happy Goat Horror:
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/08/1...
This is collected stories of horror and peculiar fiction that appeared in PS Publishing's issues of ParSec magazine (also great for horror fans!). As with most anthologies, there are stories that I like much more than others here, but overall I really enjoyed the book.
My favourite stories are 'A Moment of Zugzwang' by Neil Williamson, 'Lustre Mining' by Eliza Chan, 'Rotten Things' by Kim Lakin, and 'Umbilical' by Teika Marija Smits.
https://happygoathorror.com/2024/08/1...
This is collected stories of horror and peculiar fiction that appeared in PS Publishing's issues of ParSec magazine (also great for horror fans!). As with most anthologies, there are stories that I like much more than others here, but overall I really enjoyed the book.
My favourite stories are 'A Moment of Zugzwang' by Neil Williamson, 'Lustre Mining' by Eliza Chan, 'Rotten Things' by Kim Lakin, and 'Umbilical' by Teika Marija Smits.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews