Update (03-11-07):In the interest of bringing you only the highest quality science fiction, the March issue will be postponed. Check back often or join the Yahoo! group for the latest news.
Five years ago, I decided to try vegetarianism. I was at the International Cafe with the good Reverend, and, as he was buying my food, I was eating a vegan falafel wrap with hummus. He suggested that I try being a vegetarian for a week, just to see how I liked it.
The next day I visited my grandparents and ate a hamburger at a restaurant. I'd forgotten what I was supposed to be doing, so the next day, (after I'd remembered), I decided to give it another week from that date.
I've been vegetarian since then, for many reasons (but none of those hippie/liberal animal-freedom reasons), and I've come to a conclusion. A vegetarian diet, with the proper vitamin supplements, exercise regimen, and cybernetic implants could very well be the thing that propels us mere mortals into the realms of immortality.
In science fiction, immortality plays a great role. Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, arguably the first sci-fi novel ever, introduced the mad scientist hellbent on destroying death. Since then, we've had so many great (and not-so-great) sci-fi stories, novels, movies, etc., that explore the idea of immortality, of banishing death like we did small pox. Zelazny's Hugo-award winner This Immortal, Tad William's massive Otherland quadrology—the December issue of Fantasy & Science Fiction even has a story, probably the most realistic of the bunch, in which the protagonist aims for immortality through a proper diet (though not vegetarian), exercise, medical check-ups and pills forever. It's good to know that in this world where we're surrounded by casual violence on TV and the ridiculous gore of slasher flicks, writers and readers of science fiction still ponder how long we are for this world.
In this issue, we explore the stars on paper in the hopes that one day we might explore other worlds for us to live our immortal lives upon. “The Martian Marathon” by David Wright tells of war and how a single woman turned the tides for humans living on the Red Planet. “To the Stars” charges us with the important task of finding alien worlds, crushing resistance and taking what's ours. Manifest Destiny! And Lawrence Dagstine, who you might remember as writing this story for us, explores the possibility of a colony on Europa, and explorers trapped beneath the ice of a frozen ocean in "Jupiter's Child". Also, we have a review of the haunting 9/11 Report by our in-house chameleon Rusty McCain, as well as a review of the robot novella Days of Allison by James Maddox. The comic on the current page, as always, by the mysterious Gary Thomas.
Get 'em while they're hot!
And don't forget to submit your best to the Atomjack Contest.
Adicus Ryan Garton, the Editor Cosmic
In memory of Robert David Marsh and Clarence Adkins, Jr., grandfathers
