Above Ground
Testing
Issue
#10
issn 1488-0024
Table of Contents
Opening Words
Reviews
Submissions
New Works
Closing Words
Opening Words
This is now the tenth issue of
my little zine. While this may not have the greatest number of subscribers,
it is still reaching people around the world. That is the beauty
of the internet isn't it? No matter where you are, you can speak
to an audience. People who wouldn't dream of publishing are huddled
around their monitors producing works of fiction, non-fiction, arts, literature
or general rant. As with everything, time will be the great filter,
separating the treasure from the trash.
Each one of us, I
believe, is producing treasure. When we express our deep dreams and
thought, we are making treasure. So keep writing everyone.
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Reviews
I picked
up at the local library the book "Flyboy Action Figure comes with Gasmask",
by Jim Munroe. I read it because I remember skimming reviews
on it in the local newspapers. To give a capsule summary, a university
student meets and falls in love with a waitress of a local diner.
Instead of being a normal love story, there's one more piece of information.
He can turn into a fly and she can make things disappear.
The book
chronicles the lives as they become two costumed super-heros. Together
the become the 'Superheroes for Social Justice'. He takes on the name "Flyboy"
and she "Ms Pace". They take on the forces of darkness and
oppression. The backdrop of the book is the punk community of Toronto.
You have it all, punk musicians, zinesters, bitter poets, people coming
out of the closet and the like.
I don't
know if I would call this book, science fiction, fantasy or just quirky
fiction. I supposed the latter.
One of
the funnier moments, and if you have to live in southern Ontario to appreciate,
a late night drive, through the streets of Toronto, where Ms. Pace makes
all the newspaper boxes of a particular tabloid disappear.
Did I
like it, overall yes. A bit strange, but if your tastes are for the
strange, then you should pick up the book.
I just got in the mail, "Dragon Soup Quarterly", a magazine of fantasy,
horror and science-fiction. It is the magazine copy of the web page
"Dragon Soup". They accept submissions of poems and short stories
in the above genre. If you are wish more information, follow this
link:
http://www.dragonsoup.com
. The publisher hopes for Dragon Soup to be a professional magazine.
Again, let me encourage you
to follow the lead and read the material, maybe you'll think of submitting
some of your own works of speculative fiction.
I just
saw the movie "the Matrix". One review called it: "cyberpop/eyecandy".
Let me say, the effects are impressive. I told people I was with
that this is classic cyberpunk. It has all the aspects of the genre,
leather clothes, lots of rain, mirrorshades and huge impersonal computers.
I found it enjoyable. If you read William Gibson, Bruce Sterling
and others, you should like this movie. If you want the official
web-site it's: http://www.whatisthematrix.com
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Submissions
A new poet graces our pages. E. Reid, of
Newfoundland has sent 3 works for submission.
Cobalt Sea Glass Love Poem
By the time we found
each other
the moshing
Atlantic had already
made your
jagged edges
soothingly
smoother and invitingly bluer.
I treasure
your penny size self
more than
sapphires
and yet the
notion of you sometimes
scares me
more than drowning.
With each
passing day
I learn to
accept and trust
that when
I grasp you in my hand
you can not
cut my palm
and I will
love you
until the
moon no longer rules the oceans.
June 2, 1998
Valerie sends us one to enjoy.
Carpe Noctum
Dark shadows fall
across your sleeping
facade.
Flickering ocbsurity
forms
ominous shapes in
the night fog.
I watch, loving
you sleep, breathing
softly, dreaming
of running.
This opportunity
to watch, to see
your unconsciousness
is pleasantness,
sweetness
for me.
So I seize
these moments, please
my heart with thoughts
about the night
and how it plays
upon your precious
unconscious
self.
-- Valerie K. Schwader
This next work is not anonymous, but a
result of a collective.
Here
In the night of
this darkness
I sink
down
deep
In the darkness
of this night
I fall
deep
down
In the mist of this
I feel
too
much
yet nothing.
Here in this now
I think of never
I think of forever
all far off concepts
too abstract
to be real.
This game
This life
This death
All part of
ONE
dream, thought,
mind,
heart, soul, you,
me,
Here.
There.
Anywhere.
Pointless rambling
into a vacant desert
filled with souless
mirages
that speak pretty
words and think
pretty thoughts,
all an exhalation
of a dying human
all the gaze left,
that last sight
captured
in the glaze
over death's eyes
reflected in the
corpse
that lies forever
at my feet
mouth agape with
words unsaid
thoughts unthought
redone
undone
Here.
All here.
Inside
Outside
Within
Without.
Here is
where it began,
where it is,
where it will end.
Here.
Charlotte Mair sends to us another of her fabulous poems. Read
and enjoy.
Survive
This heart has pioneered
mountains majestic
....and made wake
in angry seas...in the name of love
When rains came...I
braved their cold onset
...and shielded
my heart with hope...to keep from drowning
...in a taunting,
vacuous, ocean of grey
Yet as ever...
A wildflower always
flourishes in my garden heart
...sowing its essence
through all fiery winds of change
A small spark in
turmoil...does carry my troubles wayward
Always to thrive...and
take courage when life does rearrange
This love of life
is my strength of will
And through change
and chaos...I know my heart of hearts...can still
...conquer loss
....and lead me
onward, to survive!
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New Works
Much of my work has
been inspired by trips through the woods. The snow, the trees, they
speak volumes to me. Be sensitve to the voice of nature- this can
be a powerful inspiration to us.
Hiking
in the Woods
Away
from
coffee
bar posturing
of
slackwater poets
angst
filled artists
bitter
denizens.
Far
from
the
phone
the
fax machine
the
whine of the flourescent
and
the drear of
conversation.
Cleaning
the mind
cleansing
the soul
of
cubicle conspirators
and
office darwinism
No
Plan
no
purpose
no
day-timer demands
just
absorbing
the
essence
of
life
in
its purest form.
Message
of the Forest
Whispers
the wind
the
message of the eons
of
boreal forest witness
the
changing of the seasons.
.....testifying
though
humanity may
stumble
and make its mark
the
forest possesses
a
strength
undimminished.
its
strength
as
deep as its roots
certain
its
survival
shall
overcome
all
actions
by
those who pass through.
Trail stop
Meditation
trail
stop meditation
chapel
in the snow and wood
pausing
for prayer
in
the presence of nature.
observing
absorbing
the
energy of life.
crossing
self
devotion
now complete
time
to move on.
A
few more words, inspired by nature.
The Stars come out
with the setting
sun
the planets and
stars
display their essence.
glowing with the
energy of joy
they call out to
all
who will take the
time
to hear
the magic of their
message
and glory of their
being.
Meditations on Blankness
the author
before the open
book
sits
awaiting for the
coming of
the elusive inspiration
the will transform
the blankness into
a canvas
of words
sitting in prayer
imploring
the hidden muse
to reveal herself
through the igniting
of creativity.
needing the words
to fill this space
sitting
waiting
for the coming
of the message.
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Closing Words
The background picture is that
of Kokopelli, the flute playing trickster of Native tradition.
He is inspiration for this issue. He is
also a fertility figure, bringing life and abundant harvest. In the
writing of poetry, there is that prayer for fertility of language.
We hope for the words which shall fill our pages.
As you can see, I keep experimenting
with HTML. Adding backgrounds, colours and different fonts for effect.
I downloaded the new Netscape Navigator, so I am able to use the "Composer"
program more and more in the preparation. This is not a plug for
that web browser, by the way. I'm content using either Netscape or
IE. I haven't downloaded IE 5.0,
anybody want to send me their opinion????
The
music of the month is Prokofiev's Violin Sonatas #1 & 2.
The violinist is Isaac Stern with Alexander Zakin on the piano. This
is a re-issue from 1953. The two works are contrasts of each other.
The First Sonata was composed during the very dark period for Sergei.
His work was being maligned by the Soviet regime. You can sense the
anguish. The second is altogether cheerful, in comparison.
The disc is available on the "Sony Classical" label. If you are interested
in purchasing check you local record store or go online to:
Cdnow
If anyone would like to review
a cd, book or even a new movie, send it in. I'm always interested
in what others are reading and listening to in their spare time.
top
As always, All works are the property
of the respected authors. ©1999.
This e-zine is published monthly by Paul, from a basement location
in the Great Lakes Region of the North American continent.
Submissions are welcomed.
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