Darker Matter : Issue Number #5

Reviewed By Gareth D. Jones

Darker Matter is a UK based webzine that promises to be ‘the high quality online science fiction magazine so many worlds have been waiting for’. It provides artwork with each story and also has a continuously-updated list of the top-ten ranked stories so far. The font on the main page is not the easiest on the eye, but the stories are laid out nicely.

True History is Jason Stoddard’s far future tale of humanity who’s minds are connected by the Grid. It’s the kind of story that Greg Egan might have written, a clever concept of how man could develop technology too far and change what it is to be human. A thought provoking piece that makes you wonder.

A much lighter tale is provided by Sue Lange with Peroxide Head, a story about a hairdo rather than the end of civilisation. Thinking about it, to a woman both issues are equally serious. :~D There are some interesting ideas on alien civilisations and clever comparisons with our own to make it an enjoyable little piece.

From Hank Quesne we have Sponsored by… , a satirical story of corporate sponsorship, war games and innovative ways to get rid of unwanted social groups. The thing that makes it special is the principled central character, and his idealistic thinking, right up to the ironic conclusion.

You wouldn’t normally expect an alien invasion to consist of deer, but in Jerry Oltion’s Starlings the forests are being taken over by a mysterious new species that has everyone puzzled. It’s an enjoyable story that explores different attitudes and weaves a satisfactory tale.

My favourite story of the issue is Young Love on the Drowned Side of the City by William D McIntosh. It’s a post-apocalyptic tale of youngsters left to fend for themselves in a ruined city while the adults struggle to cope with their own trauma. The society is well realised and the relationships between the characters make it a troubling but heart warming tale.

To round of the issue I.E.Lester provides an article about generation ships. It doesn’t go into vast technical detail, but is a nice introduction and summary of the subject. Read the stories; add your votes. It’s a strong selection and fulfils the editors aim of high quality.

Update: It appears, sadly, that Darker Matter has tanked. You can read the full story on Darker Matter’s Blog.

It seems to be a very unusual ‘zine that makes it into double figures…