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On Spec: The Canadian Magazine Of The Fantastic: vol 15 no. 2 summer 2003 and vol 15 no. 3 fall/winter 2003
01/02/2004 . Source: Paul Skevington 
pub: magazine: Copper Pig Writers Society. Price: $ 5.95 (CAN). ISSN: 0843-475X (#2); 0843-476X (#3). Distributed in Canada by CMPA and the UK by BAR. check out website: www.onspec.ca
On Spec is a robust-looking quarterly magazine, reminiscent in appearance of those old Readers Digests you'll find tucked away in elderly relatives bookcases. At over 112 pages per issue, with very few if any advertisements, you realise as soon as you pick it up that you're probably going to get value for money, at least where quantity is concerned.
Content wise, On Spec is a bit of a mixed bag. It is principally a magazine devoted to the furthering of fantastical writing by Canadian authors but also contains articles and features on various related subjects, including occasional showcases of fantasy artists.
Dipping into the Winter 2003 edition it becomes apparent that On Spec sometimes creates themed magazines, the theme in this case being Shakespeare. This to me was not a good sign. I don't much like re-interpretations and re-imaginings. I had a horrifying vision of English lessons where the student is told to re-write keys scenes from Romeo And Juliet but this time in gangster rap to make it more relevant. 'Yo Tybalt stop dissing my homie!'
Despite these worries, I found much of quality and promise in this issue. 'More Than Salt' is a tale that addresses King Lear's relationship with Cordelia by transferring it onto the shoulders of a young girl from a dysfunctional family and a tramp with a tragic tale.
The classic play weaves its way around the two characters, pulling them in almost involuntarily and it is this fantastical element that saves a tale that is too often mawkish and a little over-baked plot-wise. 'Fox And Otter' proves to be more entertaining.
It features two rather unusual sisters who are to play host to Queen Elizabeth herself. Being unmarried, they are afraid that the Queen will seek to remedy this situation and quickly devise a plan that will hopefully solve this problem. Where magic is involved though things never seem to work out exactly as expected. Well written and captivating to the end this tale rejuvenated my interest in the two little books before me.
As I examined them further though it quickly became apparent to me that the articles were often even more involving than the fiction itself. Particularly welcome in the winter edition were the two sections featuring the work of fantasy artists, which broke up the text with some stunning imagery, the work of Leo and Diane Dillon being a personal favourite.
The article on fiction writing by Michael Bishop was notable as it presented many useful tips of the trade, some new, some old and some that smacked more of personal taste than of a canonistic approach to writing. But what idiot would want to write canonically anyway!
Stories are what we're really interested in though and in this respect I found the spring edition a bit more to my taste. Freed from the constraints of the Bard, things began to get a bit more interesting. All of the stories in this issue spoke of burgeoning talents.
From the quality of this fiction, I would think that if Canada's fantasy scene ever opens up fully we will all be in for a treat. 'Company Man' is one of the highlights from this issue. It delves into the past life of a hippie-come-revolutionary who was once a very different person. He was in fact the company man of the title. This all changed after a confrontation with the true nature of corporations and their relationship to humanity.
'Gone Fishin' is a horrific piece about the terrors of nanobots and what they could mean for life as we know it. Yes, I know its been done before, but this is still a fascinating look at what could be.
Conversely to the winter issue my main problem here was the lack of articles. I found there wasn't much to alleviate the constant flow of invention and when reading a magazine, even a principally fiction orientated magazine, it is sometimes nice to have something jump out at you to liven up the proceedings. I missed the artwork from the winter edition.
Before you ask this doesn't mean I only read books with pictures, all right?!!
On Spec is an admirable avenue for the exploration of the work of new Canadian authors. Generally well written and always well presented it is a magazine that engages and excites in equal amounts.
I hope that other countries will take note and follow the example of the obviously committed folks who put this baby together.
And if you don't like it...blame Canada.
Paul Skevington
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