Kicking Things Off with a Dolphin Horror Story

Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, August 1981

No need for chronological order around these parts, for now I’m just proceeding according to which magazine on my shelf first catches my fancy.

Asimov’s was the first science fiction magazine I subscribed to and the first I submitted a story to. As such, it taught me a lot about SF and publishing even if I never became published as a science fiction writer. The first story I submitted was “The Space Scream,” about an interplanetary political assassination attempt on a space rollercoaster.

I got a rejection that included a lovely little note of support from editor George H. Scithers, pointing out what was good (my descriptions) along with what needed work (not cramming so much story into so few pages). I still have that story and rejection slip in my files because I am an insane packrat.

This was one of the first few issues I received in the mail, which means it helped get the Space Scream rolling, so it’s a fitting start for Flashback.

Stories

“Sea Changeling,” by Mildred Downey Broxon

At r…