Paradox: The Magazine of Historical and Speculative Fiction - Issue 7 - Summer 2005
Table of Contents:
Fiction: A Tear Like A Rainbow by Meredith Simmons / The Avowing of Sir Kay by Cherith Baldry / A Monument More Lasting Than Brass by Steven Mohan, Jr. / The Tiger Fortune Princess by Eugie Foster / A Taste of Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick / A Hand in the Stream by Darron T. Moore / The Gods of Green and Gray by Paul Finch / Nonfiction: Beyond the Barbarian: History in the Works of Robert E. Howard by Patrice Louinet / Poetry: Prayer of Antigone by Angelo Sphere / The Greatness of Scipio Aemilianus br Darrell Schweitzer / Departments: From the Editor / New Books: Saga and Prince of Darkness / Film: Kingdom of Heaven / Contributor Biographies

This is the first issue of Paradox that I've read. This is not a purely science fiction/fantasy magazine but includes historical fiction as well. The best story in the issue is "A Monument More Lasting Than Brass" by Steven Mohan. It's an alternate history story in which Apollo 11 crashed on the moon and Apollo 12 failed as well. It takes more than a decade to return to the moon and when the new astronauts visit the crash site, they find something unexpected. Another very good story is "The Tiger Fortune Princess" by Eugie Foster. Set in ancient China this masterfully combines Chinese legend and familiar European tales.

Most of the other stories in the magazine are worth reading. "A Tear Like A Rainbow" by Meredith Simmons is a straight historical tale about a slave boy who must work for the Confederate army. "The Avowing of Sir Kay" by Cherith Baldry is set in the time of King Arthur. Besides Sir Kay, the story features Gareth and his brothers. "A Hand in the Stream" by Darron T. Moore is a first publication and another story about saving the Library of Alexandria. "The Gods of Green and Grey" by Paul Finch features Roman soldiers fighting ogres in ancient Britain. The only disappointing tale is "A Taste of Ashes" by Ilsa J. Bick which recycles one of the hoariest cliches in time-travel stories.

I will also mention that there is an excellent article about history in the stories of Robert E. Howard by Patrice Louinet. All in all there is much to recommend in this magazine.

(Source: Paradox)