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The Third Alternative # 36 - Autumn 2003 check out website: www.ttapress.com
This A4 magazine containing over sixty pages of fiction, reviews, comment and reports is quite esoteric in nature. It makes a statement from the outset with an intriguing, almost disturbing but compelling front cover which enticed me to open and read. I found the fiction challenging and somewhat addictive. Stories that don't seem to be all that interesting on initial reading tend to take a hold, pulling you into their mysteries. Fishler's story, 'Miko', was my favourite. It took us to a society thousands of years hence at a place called Gateworld where all manner of races and species exist together. Miko likes putting it about but what commences as a conventional if somewhat unusual girl meets boy story takes on a curious twist which I won't spoil by relating now. Read it if you can! The Articles: Three interviews with subjects Trevor Hoyle, Paul di Filippo and Christopher Moore were included. While not normally keen on interviews in magazines, I was pleased to see that they were a bit more adventurous than the straight question and answer formats which we often encounter ad nauseam in many other publications. Other articles included a couple of cinema reviews and three regular columns. My personal preference was for the fiction but the other sections were appealing nonetheless. The Artwork: Don't search for flashy colour stuff here - you won't find it. Instead we have monochrome works which are associated with some of the stories and articles. They are quite evocative and very well done. The importance of good artwork is often neglected by many magazines which rely on words alone to convey what they want to say. Forgetting the old adage about a picture and a kilo of words, the inclusion of artwork takes us into another dimension of presentation which sometimes adds or detracts from overall quality. In this case the artwork is certainly an enhancement, despite being black and white, it gives colour to the magazine. About the magazine: 'The Third Alternative' is based in Cambridge, UK and Alaska, USA. It has two offices and subscriptions are taken in pounds, euros and dollars. Six issues will cost £21. Print size is slightly small for old codgers like myself, making reading glasses a necessity, but I imagine their philosophy is to get as much text as possible into the magazine. Some stories are quite long and there's even a novella. Overall, you get good value for money. This magazine survives where others fail because it has employed full use of the imagination in its presentation. People tired of the usual run of mill stuff will look at this and give a nod of approval. This is different and it's exciting. The standard of writing and use of language varies from being good to excellent on occasions. It stands in its own right as a literary magazine. Long may it continue to do so. Rod MacDonald
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OTHER REVIEWS - January 2004
Books and Magazines By Moonlight Only edited by Stephen Jones The MasterHarper Of Pern by Anne McCaffrey The Complete Book Of Gerry Anderson's UFO by Chris Bentley Down The Bright Way by Robert Reed Dragon's Kin by Anne and Todd McCaffrey Cerulean Sins by Laurell K. Hamilton The Third Alternative # 36 - Autumn 2003 Southern Fire by Juliet E. McKenna The Mabinogion by Evangeline Walton The Glass Mountain by Jessica Rydill The Gathering Storm by Kate Elliott Lord Of Snow And Shadows by Sarah Ash The Wind From The Sun by Arthur C. Clarke DVDS and Videos Terminator 3: The Rise Of The Machines The Tomorrow People 3:3 and 3.4: A Man For Emily and The Revenge Of Jedikah
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'The Third Alternative' is something different
from the norm but that's what it tries to be and it's successful
in doing just that. 
I
was glad that I did. The Stories: 'Third Alternative' like to name
drop in their advertising blurb (look up the website and you'll
get the picture). In this issue we have stories from David Ho, Karen
Fishler, Andrew Humphrey, Martin Simpson and Lucius Shephard.
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