Short Reviews: James Patrick Kelly

"10^16 to 1" [permanent link]. An unusual title for an unusual time-travel story. A kid discovers what appears to be a time-traveller with a mission. Unlike other kids, this one reads science-fiction and knows just how to help. But should he help the time-traveller in this case for his mission is to change time but will it be for the better? A thoughtful story with no easy resolution to the ending.
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"Breakaway, Backdown" [permanent link]. An interesting story told in the form of a conversation but only one side of the conversation is heard. The story tells of a person who very much wants to go and live in space but finally decides not to. The disturbing reason for it will be found at the end of this very one sided but fascinating tale.
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"Monsters" [permanent link]. An interesting story that starts off looking like a contemporary story about a potential killer who believes a killing monster is inside him. But things take a radical change as the killer suddenly sees a potential savior.
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"Ninety Percent of Everything" [permanent link]. An interesting story (co-authored by James Patrick Kelly, John Kessel and Jonathan Lethem that pays homage to the saying that "Ninety percent of everything is rubbish." In this story, an alien species known as 'shit dogs' have landed on various locations on Earth and are eating they way into it, occasionally 'excreting' fabulous crystals in exteremely smelly 'dung heaps'. A wealthy man and his team attempt to access the crystals. But will the attempt cause repurcussions among the aliens; or are they even paying attention to the correct alien items?
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"The Prisoner of Chillon" [permanent link]. A tale that of the future that involves a reporter who takes part in a daring raid with a high-tech thief of the future to get a scoop for her news agency. Little does she know that what the thief stole, a kind of artificial intelligence called WILDLIFE, would make governments out to get them, forcing them to take shelter in a castle with a crippled man. What is it that was stolen and how will it affect the world as well as her relationship with the man?
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"The Pyramid of Amirah" [permanent link]. A story that looks at the workings of a strange religion. One girl is choosen in her hometown to become a 'pyramid girl' which involves being entombed inside a period for an unknown amount of time. As time passes and as her supplies run out, she begins to wonder just what is needed to meet the needs of her religion.
Found in Mar 2002 Fantasy & Science Fiction

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