pub: Andromeda Spaceways. 168 page quarterly A5 magazine. $ 4.95 (AUS) PDF copy online, hardcopy: $12.95 (AUS). Subscription six issues $ 27.00 (AUS)).

check out website: www.andromedaspaceways.com/index.htm

Another issue of this interesting Australian magazine, 'Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine # 54', available in hardcopy and several electronic publishing formats. Best checkout the website to see what is on offer and how to subscribe. I'm here to review this particular edition which is another good one with plenty on offer for everyone! 'Andromeda Spaceways' has its own particular style, evolved over the last few years from a large collective of writers. You will always find witty writing with a cutting edge to make you think. This isn't pulp fed in from one end to come out the other, rather, it's food for the mind. There are no less than sixteen short stories, plenty of good art work plus book reviews, an interview and an article on offer.

Robert P Switzer opens proceedings with 'The Day The Iguana Stood Still'. No stranger to these pages, he delivers a triangular story with a man, his wife and an alien in the corners and an iguana in the middle. The conversations are interesting. This is a story you've got to read.

'Petting The Tiger' by Tamlyn Dreaver is all about an oracle in the form of an old woman or even an old tiger. The assembled audience ask questions about the future but the replies may not be what they expect. What questions would we ask? I liked the story.

Edwina Harvey is another well-known writer often appearing in these pages. Her story, simply entitled 'HG', is very intriguing. It's about a writer and, well, a writer who dies and someone else who picks up the pages. Saying more would spoil this excellent story.

'Going Fourth' was full of puns. Personified emotions, actions and other things, which is the only way to describe them as they fight it out in a competition. Kent Purvis, the creator of the story, has a lot to say and I'm sure we'll be seeing much more of his work in the future.

'Midwinter Night' by Sue Bursztynski was all about an ancient festival, sometime in the distant past. Centred around a feast, things happen to a young woman and her family which would alter the future. A story that takes you to a different place, it's quaint and endearing.

Anatoly Belilovsky's story, 'Durak', explains an aspect of the sinking of the Titanic. It all takes place in a lounge with various characters and a steward. Now, is this how it really happened? Perhaps not but you never know! After reading this, I certainly wouldn't take ice in my whisky!

These are only a sample of the excellent selection on offer in issue 54. I think 'Andromeda Spaceways' has improved since it went quarterly not so long ago. With more stories in each magazine, there is a wider selection of subject material contributing towards better satisfaction for the reader and also value for money for our recession hit pockets. Keep up the good work, guys!

Rod MacDonald