On Spec Magazine Review (#75 Winter 2008/2009

On Spec is a digest-sized, perfect bound magazine containing science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories. I've been subscribing to the magazine for over ten years and find it to be as consistently strong as the major magazines such as Asimov's, Analog, or The Magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy. On Spec publishes a wider range of material than these larger magazines, often with stories that might fit outside of genre traditions.

On Spec has around since 1989 and has published stories by Robert Sawyer, Tanya Huff, Cory Doctorow, Peter Watts, and many others. In more recent years it has published stories by up and coming writers such as Cat Sparks, Leah Bobet and Tony Pi.

According to the Prix-Aurora Awards pages, On Spec has been rewarded with awards in 1990, 1991, 1995, and 1997. Stories by James Alan Gardner and Robert Sawyer that have appeared in On Spec have also won Aurora Awards. On Spec stories have also won, or been nominated for, a number of other awards, worldwide.

Editors have changed over the years and have included Holly Phillips, Peter Watts, and Jena Snyder. The current editors are Diane Walton, Susan MacGregor, Robin S. Carson, Barb Galler-Smith, and Ann Marston.

The Winter 2008/09 Issue (#75) was a good read, here's a brief blurb about each of the stories:

Every Single Round a Last Call - Ryan Laliberte
A man is stuck moving through time, but sits in a bar in which the bartender is the only constant presence in his life -- everything else changes constantly. I found this story enjoyable because both characters were interesting and both had secrets that were only revealed through the course of the story. Additionally the events occurring in the background, outside the bar - the constantly changing timeline - were quite interesting.

Taming the Beast - Hannah Strom-Martin
A fun fantasy story, of a woman who has to resist demons until the prince, who is her betrothed, arrives (he must first undergo a series of trials, of course). The woman is no traditional fantasy woman, nor is the prince the standard hero. Both have their own tale to tell, and both come to the realization that traditions should not rule their life.

Hesitant Ripples - Alexander Curnow
This is a bit of experimental fiction, with a man delving deep into his own consciousness during a monumental moment in his life. A little strange, and perhaps a tad long, but interesting.

Glamour - B.C. Holmes
A woman is the daughter of the fey but was raised by humans. She is just now coming to control the strange powers she possesses and is trying to understand why her father abandoned her. Part of the story is told during her sessions with a psychologist and eventually the woman comes to understand herself better, as well as realize that her father did what he did for a reason.

Graveyard Orbit - Jon Martin Watts
A man, nearing retirement, is performing his last salvage job. He encounters an old robot and the interactions between the two characters were very amusing and drew me into the setting and the story. A very good, fun read.

Coolies - Suzanne Church
A man is part of a unit that salvages parts from soldiers killed during a war. His daughter, who doesn't know that he is her father, joins his unit, and opens up old wounds, reminding the man of what he has given up.

The Corrections - Jared Young
A man gets his first cell-phone and immediately receives a call from a mysterious, but helpful stranger. Over the course of his life the man receives more calls, all the while puzzling to determine the identify of the caller. What I enjoyed about this story was the characterization, the main character is interesting (though sometimes frustratingly dense!) and his experiences genuine.

All in all a fine issue and is as good a place as any to start your On Spec subscription.

Sources
"Professional Awards", Prix-Aurora Awards Page