I don't read science fiction magazines. I find them pretty boring and often times rushed and uninspiring. I just can't bring myself to read a quick short story about a character I don't know and one I will probably not read about again. However, I might have to change my opinion. I am now a big fan of the newest science fiction magazine put out by the hot publishing company, Padwolf. Not only does this company publish great books (Fix in Overtime, Murphy's Law, and Destiny's Door), the publishers have a knack for finding some of the best storytellers around! The best part is, these short stories feature impressive characters and awesome worlds from Padwolf's fantastic library.
Padwolf Presents is a small magazine; not overbearing like others, featuring six stories from the Padwolf Universe. Right from the beginning, readers are lured into strange and intriguing worlds. Pink Elephants, by Patrick Thomas, features Marty and Coyote from the Murphy's Lore series. Coyote, a talking dog, convinced a drunk with a crime filled past that a pack of Pink Elephants are really out to get him. Tricking the man into paying him money for a mouse that will protect him, Coyote tries to alleviate the man's drinking problem and make amends for his past sins by depleting his funds. Coyote adds more insult to injury by mocking the drunk through the whole story until all the man's victims are reimbursed. What Coyote does to this drunken bastard is hilarious and an excellent start to what follows.
The Fix: Rolling on E, by Tony Digerolamo, features the super powered lucky detective, The Fix, as he tries protects his girlfriend and catch a car with the unique ability to transform into other models. This is a great read funny as hell, but a little cynical and somewhat rushed. Thankfully Click Here came along, featuring a tale from the Destiny's Door universe by Judith Tracy. My favorite book from Padwolf got a cool short story as the main characters, a group mystical aliens, encounter Johnny, a young boy whose only wish is that his parents get back together. This is a warm, sensitive story; a very enjoyable read. I hope to see more tales from Destiny's Door.
Finally, A Day on the Wildsidhe by Deborah J. Wunder, Diane Raetz and Patrick Thomas, is a new series put out by Padwolf, introducing a new, exciting and interesting world. In this story, kids from Pennsylvania are transported into a world of magic, dwarves, dragons and pixies. It was a strange read, but a fun one. These worlds co-exist and it makes for an intriguing universe. You can bet we will be reviewing those Wildsidhe Books in these pages (Hint! Hint!)
As much as I love this magazine, I do have a couple complaints. There were two stories that I couldn't get into at all. Born Again, a tale from the world of Evermore by Hunter Lord and Ariel Masters. Born Again was a little too complex resulting in not such a fun read. I was very disappointed. I read Evermore and I loved it, but this story does the universe no justice. I didn't care about the characters and while some points intrigued me, this was one of the unmemorable stories in the collection.
The most forgettable story in Padwolf Presents is from the RPG World Tree. RPG's sometimes do not always translate into great stories and while Victoria Borah Bloom puts forth a great effort in the story, entitled The Right Tool for the Job, the story falls short of interesting. I just could not get into these characters they were not endearing or hateful enough to elicit a response. The story itself served no purpose with little to no real plot other than the fact that a tool spread evil through its wielder. I don't even remember much about it, because I just wanted to get the story over with.
Getting past those two complaints, I must assure readers that this magazine rules and is well worth the read. Overall, I enjoyed this literary experience. Quick glimpses into world I have enjoyed as I wait for full-blown sequels to be released. Something short is better than nothing at all. After reading Padwolf Presents, I guarantee your imagination and thirst for science fiction and fantasy will be satisfied. Check out Padwolf Publishing for further information.
Send your comments and or questions about this article to JMinners@ybfree.com.