Site of the Week -- Dec. 21, 1998
ike cosmic locomotives run by schizophrenic engineers, the fiction of The Interplanetary Railroad provides a jarring, but fun, ride through a communal science fiction landscape. The site's focus is on group-written stories that include such works as the Time Bandits-meets-Sliders story "Window," the interplanetary intrigue of "Hunter's World," and the nicely twisted "Aliens, Zombies and Clones, Oh My!"
On the known-universe front, there are stories dedicated to Star Trek and The X-Files. Readers and writers can also help build two alien races and discuss their creations--and other science fiction topics--on a bulletin board. Rounding out the site are a Star Wars rant, a science fiction time line, a short quotes section and a links area.
Most of the stories here are at their best when they deal with original settings rather than commercial ones. While fans might enjoy writing the Trek pieces, it's hard for them to capture the "feel" of the series. In the end, The Interplanetary Railroad's stories are fun to read for the same reason Ad Lib's are fun to read: visitors never know what's going to happen next.
-- Kenneth Newquist
Site of the Week -- Dec. 14, 1998
ocus Online is the Web version of Locus magazine, the leading print publication that covers the SF book industry. This site touts itself as providing "news, reviews, resources and perspectives of the science fiction field," and that's exactly what visitors can expect to find here. The information is broken down into a variety of sections and subsections, such as the News area, which includes Main Stories, Data File, Media Refractions and Aether Vibrations. While the labeling is often confusing--sometimes news about SF book awards appears in Main Stories, while other times it runs in Data File--what it amounts to is a hodgepodge of material that should provide at least one thing of interest to every SF literature fan. The site's various areas are updated sporadically, but in any given week there are usually two or three new things to see and read. While this site won't replace the real-world version of Locus anytime soon, most SF fans will find that it's certainly worth a bookmark.
-- Craig E. Engler
Site of the Week -- Dec. 7, 1998
ruising through cyberspace like an immense Borg cube, Trekweb assimilates Star Trek news and reviews and collects them on this immense Web site. While Trekkers may defend their favorite series like clans warring over a sacred truth, Trekweb doesn't play favorites. The Deep Space Nine and Voyager areas are equally comprehensive, including episode guides, interactive polls and news. Unfortunately, the original series, Star Trek: The Next Generation and the various Trek movies aren't covered.
The site is bound together by discussion forums and a Trek news wire, which includes juicy rumors and inside tidbits. The site's bookstore sells books in conjunction with Amazon.com, and there is a sub site at www.st-insurrection.com where gossip about the latest Star Trek movie is posted.
The overall design of Trekweb is user friendly, and visitors are always given no-tech/high-tech options before entering any of the site's major areas. Overall this is a good site that will get better once it posts information under the now inactive links for the older series and movies.
-- Kenneth Newquist
