Ithaca, by Brad Aiken and Rick Wilber

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆

(Medical SF) When Wayne inherits the family fortune, he learns millions have been spent to provide dreams to his sister who’s been in a coma 20 years. Before he pulls the plug, he goes to check it out. (6,084 words; Time: 20m)

Recommended By: 👍STomaino+2 (Q&A)

The Secret City, by Rick Wilber

[Asimov's]

★★★☆☆ Average

(Multiverse; Moe Berg) In Moe’s world, the Nazi’s are winning World War II, having already used one nuclear weapon on the remains of the British government in exile. Moe tries to help Enrico Fermi get to America to help build an atom bomb small enough to fit in a plane. (24,117 words; Time: 1h:20m)

Although this is one of several Moe Berg stories, it’s not essential to read the others first.

The Wandering Warriors, by Rick Wilber and Alan Smale

[Asimov's]

★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended

(Time Travel) A 1950s semi-pro baseball team loses their way in Illinois one dark night and find themselves in ancient Rome, where the empress wants them to play—for higher stakes than usual. (33,243 words; Time: 1h:50m)

If you really like baseball this may be a much better story for you

In Dublin, Fair City, by Rick Wilber

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(Alternate History; Moe Berg) It’s 1940. Moe Berg heads to Dublin to do a deal that might help the US get the Japanese out of San Diego before the armistice signed after the Nazis captured England falls apart. (12,969 words; Time: 43m)

Rating: ★★★☆☆ Average

Rambunctious, by Rick Wilber

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(SF) Fourth-grade Emma lives in Florida with her grandparents. Emma doesn't fit in at school, and Grandma doesn't help by saying the family is from outer space and aliens are coming for them soon. (5,498 words)

Rating: 3, Unremarkable

 

Walking to Boston, by Rick Wilber

Asimov's Science Fiction, October/November 2015;  13,244 words
Rating: 3, Good, ordinary, story  Recommended By:  Locus SFRevu:4 SFEP

A man takes his Alzheimer's-afflicted wife to Boston to fulfill a promise he made when they were young.

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

We liked the fact that Harry considers all sorts of reasons why he might be experiencing this weird sort of time-travel--including the possibility that he's the one with Alzheimer's. It's also interesting that the story takes place in 1984, not 2015, which means (among other things) no cell phones and no Wikipedia.

Even though we've seen a little foreshadowing, the thing at the end with the sisters seems abrupt. Harry has certainly sinned in his life, but his punishment seems excessive. Harry isn't a hero (tragic or otherwise) who earns our respect, nor is he a villain whose demise we cheer.