The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, January 2005

Alex Irvine. "The Lorelei". A nice piece of writing about the fin-de-siecle New York art scene, in which an aspiring young artist travels to the city, and falls under the muse of an older artist, himself under the spell of another muse.

John G. McDaid. "Keyboard Practice : consisting of an Aria with diverse Variations for the Harpsichord with two manuals". A story which features a near future reality show scenario in which classical musicians are pitted against each other, under the eyes of a harsh taskmistress, and a departed genius, whose spirit hangs heavy over the proceedings.

Arthur Porges. "Born Bad". A single page story about a young boy who is a little devil.

Bruce Sterling. "The Blemmye's Stratagem". A very strange fantasy set in the The Holy Land and drawing on some mediaeval mythology. The Blemmye is a 'man' from the land of Prester John, who is notable for having no head - his face is on his chest. But the Blemmye loves one far stranger than he. The Abbess Hildegard and her lover Sinan aid this ruler of their land, and are on hand when he falls, saving his beloved (crablike) from the clutches of impish devils.

Esther M. Friesner. "Last Man Standing".
In which, at the funeral of Lord Gilgamesh, we follow the (mis)adventures of a wisecracking young man scheduled to have a sacrificial role in the funeral proceedings.