Compelling Science Fiction
Entry updated 16 February 2021. Tagged: Publication.
US semi-professional Online Magazine which, unlike most such publications, publishes solely technological Hard SF. It is published by data scientist Joe Stech (in partnership with Flame Tree for issue #15) and edited by Emily Goodin. It began in August 2016 on a quarterly schedule but after ten issues switched to twice yearly. It can be read online or as an ebook. In his first editorial Stech noted that he wanted to publish science fiction that was "self-consistent, scientifically plausible, and technically detailed ..." The plausibility may be put to the test, especially in the many Time Travel stories it has published, including "Floaters Can't Float" (April/May 2017) by Pip Coen, which is the only story from the magazine so far to be nominated for an award, in this case the WSFA Small Press Award. Some stories are technically demanding, such as "Entangled" (February/March 2017) by Lars H Hoffmann, which considers the problems involved in using quantum entanglement to achieve Faster-Than-Light Communication. Also challenging was "The Engineering of Alyssa Langley" (Winter 2019) by Santiago Belluco, where a young woman attempts to reverse the genetic changes her parents had foisted upon her. Compelling is an enjoyable and refreshing magazine that warranted wider appreciation. It went on indefinite hiatus after issue #15. Other contributors include Marie DesJardin, James Beamon, Karl K Gallagher and R R Angell. [MA]
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