Issue #12 of Flurb is out, with astonishing tales by fifteen writers: Byrne, Callaway, Di Filippo, Ellwood, Gunn, Hayes, Hogan, Moore, Rucker, Salinas, Shirley, Skaftun, Sterling, Tambour, Webb!
This makes five years of Flurb since the first issue, by the way, with 153 stories published thus far.
Go to flurb.rudyrucker.com and be among the first of the sixty-five thousand people who’ll be checking out our new issue over the coming six months!
Seek the gnarl, dear readers, seek the gnarl.
And when you take a break, come back here and post something encouraging in the comments. Our authors need your support.
September 6th, 2011 at 8:34 am
Very impressed by Justin’s story-& impressed by the company he’s keeping in the cyber-realm! All Hail Gertrude & Ludwig’s Spawn!
September 6th, 2011 at 7:53 pm
Another great story by the world famous Justin Patrick Moore….
September 7th, 2011 at 8:24 am
Rucker and Di Filippo’s story–love the pictures. Set off the story with proper surreality. Only thing missing is Norweigian fish soup–the best in the world. Ordering my semiotic device from Amazon.
September 7th, 2011 at 8:54 am
“Gertrude Stein is in fashion just now, but perhaps you didn’t know of her marriage to Ludwig Wittgenstein.”
No as a matter of fact I didn’t, and I read a fair amount of both writers when I was young, educationally reckless, and full of my own head. So I gave this story a spin and I have to say I laughed myself senseless through the whole thing. Can’t – no won’t – say in a “comment” which part I liked the best.
How about the whole bloody thing! Thanks for a good chuckle. 🙂
WV
September 7th, 2011 at 9:58 pm
I was so excited when I saw a new Flurb had come out without me knowing about it ahead of time that I actually released a squeal of pleasure. Tell no one 😉
September 7th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
I could swear, the last time I read that it had a sad ending.
Weird.
September 9th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
Quite a gnarly Flurb® you got there, sir.
FJAERLAND is a cool idea – I’ve seen elves and fairies depicted in many ways, but this concept is very meaty . . . I mean, it’s kinda hard to grasp and keeps wiggling away. I’m just digging myself in deeper, ain’t I?
CURSE OF THE . . . Gee, that reminded me of being eighteen.
PULPED AND BOUND – neat idea, and reminiscent of China Miéville. I wonder if you could grind up a bunch of Kindles and make a homunculus out of the slush?
ROBERT ARMSTRONG – the ‘retro’ part of this story didn’t work for me, although it was a good story. Too many concepts that could not have been present in the 1930s, even words like ‘data’ and ‘node’ are anachronistic. Without the setup as a 1930s comic it works fine as space opera.
THE OYSTER – This is the kind of tale I expect from Flurb: salty and still wriggling!
GERTRUDE AND LUDWIG – Again, a very characteristic Flurb Story©.
XUANITO – A Flurb Story© that would make a good comic, maybe even a decent Godzilla movie.
WALLS BETWEEN WORLDS – well-written and character-driven, and a good take on the emotional problems multiple realities would cause.
I CAN’T ESCAPE – Great writing and gripping story, but now I have to wait for the book . . .
THE ONSET – Sterling is right on target as usual, and again I have to wait for the book . . .
EVERYTHING IS BROKEN – What I said about Sterling goes here too. A minor theme of this collection is ‘first chapters.’
CONCERNING TAVIA – Nice, but shouldn’t they have been listening to ‘Bringer of War’ instead? Any friend of John Wyndham’s is a friend of mine.
AFTER THE THAW – When all you have are words, you make them count. Reminded me of a Tom Disch story. Any friend of IAFA is a friend of mine.
BIG RIPPLES – I saved this one for last. Good Lord, this is a strong story! It ought to get some nominations at least. I think his central idea would be more seductive to deep thinkers than to the petty and venal, and that simulations would be easier to con and deceive, but it’s a genuinely creepy and original idea. Also, any friend of R.A. Lafferty’s is etc.
I think the fact that FLURB is attracting a ‘certain type’ of story is a sign of its success. Your hovercraft is full of eels.
September 9th, 2011 at 6:23 pm
I hope someone copies Don Webbs mind to a computer and makes it write short stories like this 24/7
September 10th, 2011 at 9:14 am
Please consider making these awesome stories available for download in mobi or other eBook reader compatible format
September 10th, 2011 at 9:37 pm
Any luck with calibre?
September 11th, 2011 at 7:25 am
Guy with Kindle and Failrate:
I only ask my writers for permission to run their stories online. So I won’t be making downloadable ebook versions in the near futures.
Another issue, besides permission is that editing and producing FLURB uses up just as much energy as I can spare, and I’m not eager to add another step to the process.
If you really want a downloaded version, there’s numerous apps that let you save off a webpage (and each story IS a single webpage) as a local file.
September 12th, 2011 at 6:07 am
I read Don Webb’s story first. I won’t forget that story. It will haunt me the rest of my life. Very effective sci-fi horror. VERY effective!
September 14th, 2011 at 4:29 am
Typo in Bruce Sterling’s story:
Farfalla politely shook Professor Milo’s dainty gloved hand. The she left.
September 23rd, 2011 at 6:43 am
Don Webb’s ‘on the edge’ stories are always fantastic, but this one has outdone itself. What makes it excellent is the likelihood of its occurrence. As human creatures we avoid pain as a matter of survival and given the constant advance of technology the story becomes extremely possible. Thanks Don, for another great story and perhaps for a well-timed warning!
October 16th, 2011 at 5:13 pm
Anna Tambour! Briney and brainy! Caroling Carrollishly! – and also Angela Carterish too… Loved it.
November 23rd, 2011 at 11:59 pm
Anna Tambour worshippers +1 🙂
December 19th, 2011 at 12:48 pm
Big Ripples is cool, I like plot-driven stories.
January 27th, 2012 at 12:22 pm
After reading Eileen Gunn’s, I’ve decisively put cyrogenic preservation in the Discarded Possibilities pile. Think I’ll just take my chances with the more standard, though perhaps equally challenging, Hereafter. But I read the story with great delight.
February 20th, 2012 at 1:40 pm
I very much enjoyed this surprising webzine and will recommend it to friends in need of a unique combo of ideas, laughs, and literary weirdness, with great photos and art that actually enhances the text. Looking forward to Bruce Sterling’s novel related to the story here. Also, I will never think of oysters in the same way. Thanks!
April 27th, 2012 at 9:48 am
Unspeakably delicious and indescribably foul!
Fjaerland is the best story ever! Next to Elves of the Subdimensions.
May 30th, 2012 at 3:33 pm
Really enjoyed Walls Between Worlds. A grand example of skilful, concise exposition.
May 2nd, 2013 at 2:27 pm
I’m absolutely delighted by Anna Tambour’s story. Found it belatedly (directed by Nina Allen’s 101 women to read list) and will now have to search out the rest of her work. Thank you!