A RIP THROUGH TIME:THE DAME, THE DOCTOR, AND THE DEVICE by Chris F. Holm

The good people over at Beat to a Pulp are embarking on an interesting project: Three top writers coming together to produce a classic sci-fi/adventure novella, which will come out in electronic form in January.

Right now the first installment by Chris F. Holm is up at BTAP--and it's the most fun you can have with your clothes on. Anybody who claims reading is boring clearly hasn't read A RIP THROUGH TIME.

Simon Rip is tracking down the villainous Dr. Berlin who's taken off with "the device," which apparently can do some stuff to the space-time continuum, or something, and release all kinds of badness. (Holm actually explains what the device does in perfect clarity, but I have the short-term memory of a fish, so you'll have to go read it for yourself to find out.)

Anyways, Rip goes on a rock 'em-sock 'em ride to other "whenabouts," as Holm terms them, with the hot-and-dangerous Ms. Ludwig, kicking ass and taking names. And this story wins "best scene from a mastodon's perspective" that I've read... except for maybe James Michener.

The next two installments will be by Charles Gramlich and Matthew P. Mayo. Gotta give kudos to BTAP here--this is a really cool, unusual idea--the kind that I hope other zines will try out in the future.