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Eternal Sky #- The Bone War
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction September/October 2015
CONTENT:
Novella
"The Lord of Ragnarok" by Albert E. Cowdrey
Novelets
"We’re So Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss" by Nick Wolven
"Monsieur" by David Gerrold
"The Adventure of the Clockwork Men" by Ron Goulart
"Rascal Saturday" by Richard Bowes
Short Stories
"The Stamps Viewed Under Water" by Marissa Lingen
"A Hot Day’s Night" by Paolo Bacigalupi
"A House of Her Own" by Bo Balder
"Don’t Move" by Dennis Etchison
"The Bone War" by Elizabeth Bear
Novella
"The Lord of Ragnarok" by Albert E. Cowdrey
Novelets
"We’re So Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss" by Nick Wolven
"Monsieur" by David Gerrold
"The Adventure of the Clockwork Men" by Ron Goulart
"Rascal Saturday" by Richard Bowes
Short Stories
"The Stamps Viewed Under Water" by Marissa Lingen
"A Hot Day’s Night" by Paolo Bacigalupi
"A House of Her Own" by Bo Balder
"Don’t Move" by Dennis Etchison
"The Bone War" by Elizabeth Bear
329 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 19, 2015
About the author
C.C. Finlay
66 books97 followersFormer Editor, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Author of The Prodigal Troll, the Traitor to the Crown Series, and Wild Things, plus dozens of short stories. World Fantasy Award Winner, and finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Sidewise, Sturgeon, and Locus Awards. Teacher at Clarion and elsewhere.
Married to novelist Rae Carson.
Married to novelist Rae Carson.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 21, 2015
Really enjoyed most of the shorts like "The Bone War" by Elizabeth Bear and "Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water" by Marissa Lingen. "A Hot Day's Night" by Paolo Bacigalupi was good, better because I remember the story reference from The Water Knife.
May 15, 2026
Energy Matters - Sophie White : Blah
Monsieur - David Gerrold : Enjoyable
A Hot Day's Night - Paolo Bacigalupi : Enjoyable
We're So Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss - Nick Wolven : Highly Enjoyable
A House of Her Own - Bo Balder : Meh
Don't Move - Dennis Etchison : Meh
The Lord of Ragnarök - Albert E. Cowdrey : Ok
The Bone War - Elizabeth Bear : Ok
Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water - Marissa K. Lingen : Ok
Rascal Saturday - Richard Bowes : Ok
The Adventure of the Clockwork Men - Ron Goulart : Ok
Monsieur - David Gerrold : Enjoyable
A Hot Day's Night - Paolo Bacigalupi : Enjoyable
We're So Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss - Nick Wolven : Highly Enjoyable
A House of Her Own - Bo Balder : Meh
Don't Move - Dennis Etchison : Meh
The Lord of Ragnarök - Albert E. Cowdrey : Ok
The Bone War - Elizabeth Bear : Ok
Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water - Marissa K. Lingen : Ok
Rascal Saturday - Richard Bowes : Ok
The Adventure of the Clockwork Men - Ron Goulart : Ok
July 4, 2017
Mostly good. Particularly enjoyed Nick Wolven's "We're so Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss", "A House of Her Own", by Bo Balder, and Alfred E. Cowdrey's novella "Lord of Ragnarok". I felt like there was something deep I missed In Richard Bowes "Rascal Saturday", but not being able to see past the surface meant I didn't really enjoy it.
October 21, 2015
This was the issue discussed at Capclave in front of the publisher Gordon Van Gelder. I said I thought it an above average issue with no stories I strongly disliked.
"We're So Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss" by Nick Wolven was an interesting gimmick story. In the near future everything is wired and interconnected. Some technological fluke (explained in the story) has everyone thinking something tragic keeps happening to Meg and Meg can't figure out why everyone keeps getting messages that she's had a tragic loss. It's an emotional story, even though Meg is really the only character.
"Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water" has a stamp collector in a magical plague world. Like many stories in this issue, there's a high level of ambiguity as the narrator's sister may have gone crazy or may not.
"A Hot Day's Night" by Paolo Bacigalupi is another post-disaster story (this time drought) as a journalist wrestles with her objectivity when a junk thief challenges her to help. It's a good story but I expect more from Bacigalupi.
"The Lord of Ragnarok" by Albert E. Cowdrey. This novella essentially is a stripped down novel as Richard goes from peasant to soldier, to traitor, to knight, to being betrayed, and finally lord. It is an interesting character study. My favorite in the issue.
"A House of Her Own" by BBo Balder. On a planet where humans have been long isolated from Earth, they have formed their own culture in symbiosis with alien houses. When Earthmen return, they are horrified and the planet people strike back. This is a rare example of anthropological science fiction. This is my second favorite.
Don't Move by Dennis Etchison is another ambiguous story. It seems to be set in a police state where those captured by the secret police have their possessions given away. But another person in my discussion group made a good case for this really being about death.
Monsieur by David Gerrold. This is an excellent story about writers in a workshop with one either telling his life story about being a vampire or telling the listener how to write a convincing vampire story.
The Bone War by Elizabeth Bear was a bit disappointing. It was a good story about reconstructing a dinosaur from bones using magic and dealing with scholarly disputes by experts. But it would have worked just as well without the magic.
The Adventure of the Clockwork Men by Ron Goulart. This was a Victorian mystery solved with the help of an illusionist who gets visions. This was a fun adventure with a heroine who does more than just wait for a hero to rescue her.
Rascal Saturday by Richard Bowes. This was an interesting story of a family who can jump to a parallel world and how the younger generation disrupts the system by participating in a revolution. It reminded me of Charlie Stross' Merchant Princes series.
"We're So Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss" by Nick Wolven was an interesting gimmick story. In the near future everything is wired and interconnected. Some technological fluke (explained in the story) has everyone thinking something tragic keeps happening to Meg and Meg can't figure out why everyone keeps getting messages that she's had a tragic loss. It's an emotional story, even though Meg is really the only character.
"Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water" has a stamp collector in a magical plague world. Like many stories in this issue, there's a high level of ambiguity as the narrator's sister may have gone crazy or may not.
"A Hot Day's Night" by Paolo Bacigalupi is another post-disaster story (this time drought) as a journalist wrestles with her objectivity when a junk thief challenges her to help. It's a good story but I expect more from Bacigalupi.
"The Lord of Ragnarok" by Albert E. Cowdrey. This novella essentially is a stripped down novel as Richard goes from peasant to soldier, to traitor, to knight, to being betrayed, and finally lord. It is an interesting character study. My favorite in the issue.
"A House of Her Own" by BBo Balder. On a planet where humans have been long isolated from Earth, they have formed their own culture in symbiosis with alien houses. When Earthmen return, they are horrified and the planet people strike back. This is a rare example of anthropological science fiction. This is my second favorite.
Don't Move by Dennis Etchison is another ambiguous story. It seems to be set in a police state where those captured by the secret police have their possessions given away. But another person in my discussion group made a good case for this really being about death.
Monsieur by David Gerrold. This is an excellent story about writers in a workshop with one either telling his life story about being a vampire or telling the listener how to write a convincing vampire story.
The Bone War by Elizabeth Bear was a bit disappointing. It was a good story about reconstructing a dinosaur from bones using magic and dealing with scholarly disputes by experts. But it would have worked just as well without the magic.
The Adventure of the Clockwork Men by Ron Goulart. This was a Victorian mystery solved with the help of an illusionist who gets visions. This was a fun adventure with a heroine who does more than just wait for a hero to rescue her.
Rascal Saturday by Richard Bowes. This was an interesting story of a family who can jump to a parallel world and how the younger generation disrupts the system by participating in a revolution. It reminded me of Charlie Stross' Merchant Princes series.
October 4, 2015
8 • We're So Very Sorry For Your Recent Tragic Loss • 28 pages by Nick Wolven
Good/Fair. A variation on the computer glitch ruining your life. Megan is overwhelmed by sympathy for her non existent but tragic loss.
36 • Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water • 12 pages by Marissa Lingen
OK/Good. A deadly plague has taken over the world and there is little or no interaction. A pair of sisters live alone, once in a while talking to the neighbors over the fence. One is a magician and longs to help, but being only an apprentice she wasn't asked so has gone into stamp collecting to pass the time.
48 • A Hot Day's Night • 9 pages by Paolo Bacigalupi
OK/good. A journalist accompanies a scavenger/thief in a Phoenix even hotter presumably because of global warming.
78 • The Lord of Ragnarok • 42 pages by Albert E. Cowdrey
Very Good. In feudalistic times Richard was born a poor serf, was drafted into the Matilda's service, was captured during an invasion, but ended up being a hero and was promoted to knight. It took until the last page or two to catch up to the opening scene.
120 • A House of Her Own • 14 pages by Bo Balder
Good. A lost human colony has a symbiotic relationship with their hice. A party of humans arrives on the planet and sees aliens.
134 • Don't Move • 13 pages by Dennis Etchison
Good/OK. A man gets off a bus and individuals start warning him about stuff. TZ-ish.
147 • Monsieur • 37 pages by David Gerrold
Good/VG. Murray is part of a writers' workshop. A new guy stays late. Jacob and Murray start discussing vampires. After Murray makes his case about how vampires could be integrated into society, Jacob tells the story of his childhood.
189 • The Bone War • 15 pages by Elizabeth Bear
Good/VG. Wizard Bijou is commissioned by the University to animate some dinosaur bones. Two paleontologists are giving her 'helpful' but contradictory advice.
204 • The Adventure of the Clockwork Men • 26 pages by Ron Goulart
OK. Private investigator Harry Challenge wants to find the murderer of his client and rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, and foil whatever Doctor Grimshaw is planning with the clockwork men.
230 • Rascal Saturday • 26 pages by Richard Bowes
Poor/Fair. Our world is getting harsher. The cities are decaying, fertile lands becoming desert. On the other hand there have been technological advances. Sandy whose family died in a natural disaster is alive do to medical advances. Jasina Dineen's grandfather discovered a new world and became wealthy in ours and godlike in the other. I found it hard to follow. Present versus flashbacks. Whether the two worlds Jasina spoke of were this one and an alternate or this one and the rich world. It was the former, but I didn't know that until chapter four.
Good/Fair. A variation on the computer glitch ruining your life. Megan is overwhelmed by sympathy for her non existent but tragic loss.
36 • Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water • 12 pages by Marissa Lingen
OK/Good. A deadly plague has taken over the world and there is little or no interaction. A pair of sisters live alone, once in a while talking to the neighbors over the fence. One is a magician and longs to help, but being only an apprentice she wasn't asked so has gone into stamp collecting to pass the time.
48 • A Hot Day's Night • 9 pages by Paolo Bacigalupi
OK/good. A journalist accompanies a scavenger/thief in a Phoenix even hotter presumably because of global warming.
78 • The Lord of Ragnarok • 42 pages by Albert E. Cowdrey
Very Good. In feudalistic times Richard was born a poor serf, was drafted into the Matilda's service, was captured during an invasion, but ended up being a hero and was promoted to knight. It took until the last page or two to catch up to the opening scene.
120 • A House of Her Own • 14 pages by Bo Balder
Good. A lost human colony has a symbiotic relationship with their hice. A party of humans arrives on the planet and sees aliens.
134 • Don't Move • 13 pages by Dennis Etchison
Good/OK. A man gets off a bus and individuals start warning him about stuff. TZ-ish.
147 • Monsieur • 37 pages by David Gerrold
Good/VG. Murray is part of a writers' workshop. A new guy stays late. Jacob and Murray start discussing vampires. After Murray makes his case about how vampires could be integrated into society, Jacob tells the story of his childhood.
189 • The Bone War • 15 pages by Elizabeth Bear
Good/VG. Wizard Bijou is commissioned by the University to animate some dinosaur bones. Two paleontologists are giving her 'helpful' but contradictory advice.
204 • The Adventure of the Clockwork Men • 26 pages by Ron Goulart
OK. Private investigator Harry Challenge wants to find the murderer of his client and rescue his kidnapped girlfriend, and foil whatever Doctor Grimshaw is planning with the clockwork men.
230 • Rascal Saturday • 26 pages by Richard Bowes
Poor/Fair. Our world is getting harsher. The cities are decaying, fertile lands becoming desert. On the other hand there have been technological advances. Sandy whose family died in a natural disaster is alive do to medical advances. Jasina Dineen's grandfather discovered a new world and became wealthy in ours and godlike in the other. I found it hard to follow. Present versus flashbacks. Whether the two worlds Jasina spoke of were this one and an alternate or this one and the rich world. It was the former, but I didn't know that until chapter four.
March 8, 2016
I'm not a big science fiction or fantasy buff but I've been hungry for good short stories, and two in this issue blew me away. 1. Bo Balder's "A House of Her Own," 4,800 words: set on a different planet with an incredibly original human/alien symbiosis, feminist slant, expert child's P.O.V, not awkward, written spunkily. Spellbinding. It's so hard to build a world in 4,800 words. To do it effortlessly, to essentially not build a world at all, but only to tell a pitch perfect story that happens to take place on an alien planet you can easily picture, is masterful. I'd be the first to buy a book set in this world.
2. Nick Wolven's "We're So Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss" ~10k words. What happens when a glitch causes one of your social channels to think someone close to you has died, and then the glitch propagates to every other channel, and all your friends and family start getting notifications that you've just suffered a tragic loss, and the internet of things keeps offering depressing pseudo-empathy? Hilarity and prescient social commentary, that's what happens. "On the walk to the bus, store displays and ads and hawkers all fall somber as Meg goes by. The mannequins in department store windows drop their sexy poses and hang their heads. The sidewalk tiles flash ads for insta-therapy, funeral services, chocolate laced with metaqualone 'for when you just need to forget.' A promotional drone shaped like a Basset hound comes waddling out of an alley with a box of sample facial tissues hanging around its neck, slobbering, 'Need a good cry, Megal DeWal? When I get dow-wow-sown, I do my boo-hoo-holing with a Wintex tissue!'"
3. The short "Hot Day's Night" (2700 words) was a nice dry sliver of a look at the possible future of drought in the Southwest, with a very memorable character in the form of a solar panel pirate.
The rest of the stories were hard for me to get through this time. I'm not a die hard fantasy fan--when I thought the world-building was awkward, the premise unoriginal, or the action unforthcoming, I skipped it.
2. Nick Wolven's "We're So Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss" ~10k words. What happens when a glitch causes one of your social channels to think someone close to you has died, and then the glitch propagates to every other channel, and all your friends and family start getting notifications that you've just suffered a tragic loss, and the internet of things keeps offering depressing pseudo-empathy? Hilarity and prescient social commentary, that's what happens. "On the walk to the bus, store displays and ads and hawkers all fall somber as Meg goes by. The mannequins in department store windows drop their sexy poses and hang their heads. The sidewalk tiles flash ads for insta-therapy, funeral services, chocolate laced with metaqualone 'for when you just need to forget.' A promotional drone shaped like a Basset hound comes waddling out of an alley with a box of sample facial tissues hanging around its neck, slobbering, 'Need a good cry, Megal DeWal? When I get dow-wow-sown, I do my boo-hoo-holing with a Wintex tissue!'"
3. The short "Hot Day's Night" (2700 words) was a nice dry sliver of a look at the possible future of drought in the Southwest, with a very memorable character in the form of a solar panel pirate.
The rest of the stories were hard for me to get through this time. I'm not a die hard fantasy fan--when I thought the world-building was awkward, the premise unoriginal, or the action unforthcoming, I skipped it.
December 28, 2015
Good edition. Lots of stories that I enjoyed to varying extents and very few that didn't work for me at all.
Perfect for me
"A House of Her Own" by Bo Balder - Gorgeous story of a child growing up in a future colony in a life interwoven with aliens and what happens when this world gets interrupted by humans from the originating planet.
Enjoyable, worked for me
(*) "The Lord of Ragnarök" by Albert E. Cowdrey [novella] - A story set in medieval times with islands, ladies, revenge, forsworn earths and mysterious beasties.
"We're So Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss" by Nick Wolven [novelet] - In a more automated world, and a world where we're more dependent on that automation, the strangest of errors can occur.
"Monsieur" by David Gerrold [novelet] - A creepier take on vampires (and writer's groups).
(*) "Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water" by Marissa Lingen - Two sisters in a world struck by plague. Loved the structure and I'm always drawn to sister-stories.
"A Hot Day's Night" by Paolo Bacigalupi - A fun, quick piece about a journalist chasing an unusual story with water running out.
(*)"Bijou the Artificer" by Elizabeth Bear - Delightful tale about magic, art, academics and discovery.
Fine, but didn't resonate
"The Adventure of the Clockwork Men" by Ron Goulart [novelet] - I think I've enjoyed other episodes in the Harry Challenge stories more. This one just held no mystery or suspense for me.
"Rascal Saturday" by Richard Bowes [novelet] - A story of entrances to other worlds when ours is dying. This had some interesting aspects but didn't quite come together for me.
Not my cup of tea
"Don't Move" by Dennis Etchison - This sailed right over my head.
Perfect for me
"A House of Her Own" by Bo Balder - Gorgeous story of a child growing up in a future colony in a life interwoven with aliens and what happens when this world gets interrupted by humans from the originating planet.
Enjoyable, worked for me
(*) "The Lord of Ragnarök" by Albert E. Cowdrey [novella] - A story set in medieval times with islands, ladies, revenge, forsworn earths and mysterious beasties.
"We're So Very Sorry for Your Recent Tragic Loss" by Nick Wolven [novelet] - In a more automated world, and a world where we're more dependent on that automation, the strangest of errors can occur.
"Monsieur" by David Gerrold [novelet] - A creepier take on vampires (and writer's groups).
(*) "Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water" by Marissa Lingen - Two sisters in a world struck by plague. Loved the structure and I'm always drawn to sister-stories.
"A Hot Day's Night" by Paolo Bacigalupi - A fun, quick piece about a journalist chasing an unusual story with water running out.
(*)"Bijou the Artificer" by Elizabeth Bear - Delightful tale about magic, art, academics and discovery.
Fine, but didn't resonate
"The Adventure of the Clockwork Men" by Ron Goulart [novelet] - I think I've enjoyed other episodes in the Harry Challenge stories more. This one just held no mystery or suspense for me.
"Rascal Saturday" by Richard Bowes [novelet] - A story of entrances to other worlds when ours is dying. This had some interesting aspects but didn't quite come together for me.
Not my cup of tea
"Don't Move" by Dennis Etchison - This sailed right over my head.
November 9, 2015
Short, mostly personal notes. Maybe more in-depth reviews in the future.
So far, generally high quality.
We're so very sorry... - Really enjoyed this one, a lot of fun, light and thought provoking at the same time.
Ten stamps viewed under water - Never really pulled me in.
Hot Day's Night - Enjoyable, great pacing.
Lord of Ragnarok - n/r
House of Her Own - Really enjoyed this one, too. It was compelling, even though it felt a bit unfinished.
Don't Move - A bit dizzying? In a good way.
Monsieur - I agree; that's how to tell it. Surprised to love this one. Would read a full length.
The Bone War - n/r
Adventure of the Clockwork Men - n/r
Rascal Saturday - n/r
So far, generally high quality.
We're so very sorry... - Really enjoyed this one, a lot of fun, light and thought provoking at the same time.
Ten stamps viewed under water - Never really pulled me in.
Hot Day's Night - Enjoyable, great pacing.
Lord of Ragnarok - n/r
House of Her Own - Really enjoyed this one, too. It was compelling, even though it felt a bit unfinished.
Don't Move - A bit dizzying? In a good way.
Monsieur - I agree; that's how to tell it. Surprised to love this one. Would read a full length.
The Bone War - n/r
Adventure of the Clockwork Men - n/r
Rascal Saturday - n/r
September 17, 2015
It's rare that I love every story in an issue, but I have to give this issue more than just 3 stars as the standouts for me went above and beyond. I expected to love Albert Cowdrey's "The Lord of Ragnarok," and did, but was also introduced to Nick Wolven ("We're so very sorry for your recent tragic loss"), and Bo Balder in her first professional English short fiction ("A House of Her Own"). Well, I'd say more that I was blown away by the last one, and hope she publishes some more in English or I'd better learn Dutch. Marissa Lingen's "Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water" also has me wanting to look for more works by her and wondering how I've managed to miss her before this.
October 2, 2015
My favorite stories were "Ten Stamps Viewed Under Water" by Marissa Lingen, "A Hot Day's Night" by Paolo Bacigalupi, "A House of Her Own" by Bo Balder, and David Gerrold's novel excerpt, "Monsieur."
September 8, 2015
Some good stories in there and only one, "Rascal Saturday," that I found lacking quality.
February 3, 2016
3.5 stars. Review later.
April 15, 2016
If you liked The Water Knife, you'll enjoy this short story prequel.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews