Firstly let me say I’d read some hype about the cover of Issue 5 long before it was released and once I held it in my hot little hands, I could understand. Fish-Baby was freaky. I try not to look at the previews of cover art for Apex – I like to be shocked when I open that envelope. My vote for best cover of 2006 is Fish-Baby, unless the last issue for 2006 can surpass the ‘oh holy hell what the f*** was that?‘ response. I wait with slightly-held breath for Issue 8, because I hear there’s another baby on the way…mwahahaha. Will it top Fish-Baby?

So, the top stories in the Fish-Baby Issue:
(#5 for those that aren’t in love with the cover art…)
Temple: Junkyard Dogs – Steven Savile
EV 2000 – Amy Grech
Scotch on the Rocks – William F. Nolan
Wall of Delusion – Jerry J. Davis
Sacrifices – Rhonda Eudaly

Choosing the top five of issue five was hard. Unbelievably hard, since I loved the entire issue, and recommend it above most (most) of the seven issues I’ve read thus far. Once I’d chosen my top five, and joined in the opinion poll our beloved Editor has posted, I realized something. We all want the world to end – Rhonda Eudaly’s Sacrifices is by far, way out into the lead. How’s that for surprising, Dave?

So, to begin, let’s start with the opening foray into Temple’s world – Temple: Junkyard Dogs, by Steven Savile. Is it right that I felt entirely vindicated by Temple’s proclamations of being “Nobody”? No, but I could easily slip into Temple’s frame of mind, and perhaps even Temple’s mind during the read. Savile has offered an anti-hero we can love, pity and want to protect, even if we wonder if the character is entirely ‘there’ in his own mind. I love it.

EV 2000 by Amy Grech is the embodiment of a lot of people’s fears; I know, I once had these fears. How can one be sure the phlebotomist is going to shut the machine off during a blood donation? What happens if it doesn’t get shut off? Is it just me, or are all blood drive volunteers mildly robotic? I know I have my vampire likes and loves, but Ms. Grech covers two interesting phobias in one tightly wrapped package.

William F. Nolan provides an interesting, quirky little guy in Scotch on the Rocks. I knew something was up the moment Martin asked for Scotch Whiskey with ice cubes, but I wasn’t entirely sure what. I mean, the character notes he doesn’t drink, and my family always refers to it as Scotch Whiskey. Was the name a tip-off? Who cares – the story is a lovely bit of humor and sci-fi combined and I loved it.

In Wall of Delusion, Jerry J. Davis presents a convicted murderer who is seeking a way to redeem himself. Time travel is the least obvious answer and yet this is the course that the character takes. Rather than deal with the whole “Butterfly Effect” Chaos Theory that is boring people brainless right now, Davis presents the results flat out and leaves it at that. A welcome view to a mildly over-done theme.

And finally, we come to Sacrifices. Ms. Eudaly sure can show us how quickly technology can turn its back on we poor human beings and bring about a destruction more complete than any other. And she can do it within the confines of a Parting-Shot word count limit. Love it!

-Jodi Lee