Asimov's Science Fiction, September 2004

A couple of good stories (The Third Party and The Pasho, also Brethren) in this collection, otherwise not noteworthy.

• Novella: Elector, by Charles Stross - Confusing story about post-singularity man; people live in virtual reality on Saturn, having been effectively banished from Earth by the Vile Offspring--that is, sentient machines.
• Novelette: The Third Party, by David Moles - Good story about advanced societies meddling in primitive cultures.
• Novelette: The Pasho, by Paolo Bacigalupi - Good story about change. Raphel, a Jai, travels to Keli and studies to become a Pasho. Upon his return, he and his knowledge may not be accepted by his own people.
• Oversite, by Maureen F. McHugh - Chips implanted under the skin allow parents to track the whereabouts of their children.
• Brethren, by Meredith Simmons - Good story. Tourists make a pilgrimage to Earth, meet the inhabitants who stayed behind.
• The Biography of a Bouncing Boy Terror!, by Y.S. Wilce - Dumb fantasy story. Told in an annoying style, sounds sort of like a cross between the Little Match Girl and Jack and the Beanstalk.
• Sleeping Dragons, by Lynette Aspey - OK story. A little boy hatches from a dragon egg.
• The Hat Thing, by Matthew Hughes - Short, amusing but confusing time travel story.

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