ResAliens #6
Edited by Lyndon Perry
Tule Fog Press
January/February 2023
80 pages

Upon learning of ResAliens magazine I was skeptical as to if I would like it. Typically, I read large amounts of fiction—primarily S&S, but I do venture into historical fiction and several different genres of speculative fiction. Although, I do not venture into the realms of science fiction often, and that is exactly where I thought ResAliens stood. The old adage about not judging a book by its cover is sage advice. What I discovered wasn't in fact strictly science fiction but a varied collection of stories that feature an out of this world or alien presence. In fact, the variety of stories harkens back to the days of the pulps.

The first story is written by an author whose name seems to be prominent in several publications that I have read within the last few years, Mike Chinn. “The Airs of Eden” is set upon the world of Erberow, which is a paradise to the lost and wayward creatures from all across creation. Erberow is under attack from the voracious Zzyschyth Swarm and Rhyma the eternal is seemingly all that stands in their collective way. Mike Chinn's stories seem to be set in a universe akin to Moorcock's Eternal Champion and Adrian Cole's Voidal series, which lends a sandbox to play in that is only limited by his imagination.

The second story is written by Cliff Hamrick, another author whose name has been prominent recently in my reading. I especially look forward to reading his collection, Jarek the Scholar. In “The Signal” Hamrick departs from the S&S that I have grown used to seeing from him and presents us with a modern story. The candid internal monologue of the protagonist is shocking, but also instantly engaging. This new patient brings a novel and unsettling problem to his session leaving the therapist on the ropes as to how to handle this. The solution is all the more shocking.

The next few stories are very short.

”A Small Sacrifice” by Mike Lynch is about the hunter Kelsic 5 hunting his Simeran prey on a planet of lesser beings. The choices presented to Kelsic 5 vary from bad to worse. Failure is not an option.

”Gears, Grease, and a Little Bit of Magic” by H. A. Titus concerns a young woman who has agreed to repair a device she knows nothing about. In a specifically short time frame.

”Turnabout” by T. M. Hunter presents us with a protagonist in the same line of work as Han Solo. In need of some quick revenue Aston West takes a job that seems too good to be true. Sure enough, he falls into the sights of a woman from his past who wants his blood. Numerous other characters come to mind in a similar vein by well-known authors such as E. C. Tubb, Harry Harrison, and A. Bertram Chandler. If this is your cup of tea, then you are in for a treat. Hunter has penned four novels and numerous short stories featuring Aston West.

In “New Life at Death Springs” by Lyndon Perry and Stoney M. Setzer the peddler Obadiah Riddle comes to the town of Death Springs. The town is under a pall. When Riddle confronts the town pastor things begin to become clear. Can faith and a power of the highest order cast out the darkness?

The final story is by the highly esteemed Adrian Cole. In “The Burning Blade” we discover humanity has been cast down and enslaved. A stranger clad in crimson brings unexpected hope. Change is seldom wrought without sacrifice. The revelation at the end brings the story to a tidy close.

ResAliens was an unexpected delight. Editor Lyndon Perry has presented a superb collection with brief editorial blurbs before each story. Each introduction illuminates a brief back story of the submission. While the conclusion of each story features a brief bio of the author. Certainly, a labor of love and it shows. Bravo.