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Third Alternative # 38 - Summer 2004 check out website: www.ttapress.com/index.html
Overall,
the style of the magazine isn't a new one. A glossy artistic cover up front and
a 66 page count inside of fiction and spiced up with a smattering of articles.
The artwork is varied in style, keeping the tone of 'The Third Alternative' as
it should be, diversified in a homogenised world-view. The fiction
in 'The Third Alternative' has always claimed to have no boundaries. Horror, fantasy
and Science Fiction feature but in a more freer almost genreless fashion. The
precepts of genre have at times made fiction writing stale and uncomfortably restrained.
However, the stories in this edition are quite fresh and enthralling. 'Has
Anyone Here Seen Kristie?' by John Grant really touched me. I don't know if that
was because I am female or whether the ideas that John Grant proposed moved me
spiritually, although I know that it wouldn't be to every reader's taste. 'Nails' by Jeremy Minton was Science Fiction horror at its best. Giving
just enough futuristic information, it made the story subtle in its telling, but
powerfully thought-provoking upon reflection. I liked the fact that the work published didn't fit a prescribed opinion. The stories didn't necessarily have a life changing revelation at the end or a catastrophic demise when dealing with horror. Fantasy didn't wear a leather skirt and wave a big choppy-choppy sword. My overall feeling was that anything goes, as long as it is written with emotion and a good eye for word manipulation in the craft of writing.
The fact is that because 'The Third Alternative' has such an abstract sense
of genre, it will always have something within its pages that entertains us as
readers. I enjoyed the interview with Russell Hoban immensely. It was
heartfelt and unashamedly written, one human to another. The man of 79 years and
not in the best of health, came across as an inspirational and generous writer
with endless imagination and insight into the Kingdom of Authorhood. Most
of the articles enlightened my ideas about the world at large and I thought that
if the subject matter didn't turn me on, the way in which it was reflected did.
I found 'Japan's Dark Lanterns' by John Paul Catton particularly disturbing because
of the subject matter, but I had no idea as to the extent of the darker side of
Japan. Dare I review the reviews? Of course. The review section has
been written by a single reviewer, Peter Tennant, making the opinions consistent.
However, I felt that this could well be a problem. It would seem to me that I
would only get one friend to inform me of my next read and you would never have
only one person be your guide where fiction is concerned. 'The Third Alternative' takes writing and adds something to it - people! In all the pieces that are in this edition one resounding theme struck me the most, that every contributor: artist illustrating fact or fiction, writer telling their story or journalist were making their statement. Each individual voice was neither overshadowed
by the whole nor stood above the rest. I can't think of anyone that wouldn't enjoy
something in the pages of 'The Third Alternative', whether each story reaches
you or not there is something for everyone. Just allow their voices the time and
be open-minded. Thank God for magazines that aren't afraid to be honest
and ground-breaking. Thought-provoking and at times controversial, I hope that
my subscription will run for another ten years! Donna Jones
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OTHER REVIEWS - September 2004
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'The Third Alternative' is celebrating 10 years of publication
this year and it's certainly celebrating in style. Their front cover artwork is
quite simply beautiful, entitled the 'Summer Collector' by Dennis Sibeijn of Damnengine.
It is the second Damnengine cover to be used in TTA's anniversary year.
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