Hub Magazine - Issue 106 - 6TH DEC 2009

Sep 21, 2026

Hub Magazine issue 106 dated 6TH DEC 2009 presents a mix of science fiction, horror, and fantasy content for readers of illustrated and narrative speculative stories. The editorial by Alasdair Stuart centers on a reflection about heaven, framed through a university TV review show memory and a playful “biscuity Valhalla” idea. Fiction in this issue includes “Pandering Dwarves” by Marshall Payne, featuring a sidepocket universe, time-era constraints, and a tense negotiation around a forced “wife-swap” request, with character conflict driving the opening plot.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryComic

FormatPDF

Pages13

Reading Time5 min

AccessFree to download

Editorial

Heaven and the concept of what we want

Fiction

Pandering Dwarves

Reviews and feature

Sword

Paranormal Activity

Heaven Book 1: Heaven

H SCIENCE FICTION HORROR FANTASY PUBLISHER Lee Harris Managing Editor Alasdair Stuart Commissioning Editor Ellen J Allen Mechanic Phil Lunt issue 106 . 6TH DEC 2009 CONTENTS: FICTION: Pandering Dwarves by Marshall Payne REVIEW: SWORD Paranormal Activity FEATURE: Heaven Book 1 : Heaven Hub Magazine is Sponsored by Abaddon Books EDITORIAL: by alasdair stuart If hell is other people, what’s heaven? Back when I was in University, and Channel 4 hadn’t given upon all but two demographics, they ran a show called Vids that, appropriately, reviewed movies. I suspect now it’d be called DeeevDs. I’d watch DeeevDs. Anyway, Vids got something of a cult following which led to one of the final episodes involving the hosts, Nige and Steph, being killed and getting a preview of their afterlives. Steph’s was crammed full of mid-80s hairfarm rock women whilst Nigel’s, well, Nigel’s can only be described in his own words: ‘Biscuits! THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF BISCUITS!’ You can’t argue with the concept of a biscuity Valhalla, or the underlying idea that heaven is whatever we want, whatever we need it to be. It’s this concept that lies at the heart of Mur Lafferty’s superb Heaven podcast series, which we begin looking at in depth this week. We’ve also got a couple of reviews and a superb story by Marshall Payne. Hub. It’s not heaven, but we do have the biscuits on order. See you next week. Alasdair 1 Hub Magazine is Sponsored by Harper Collins FICTION Pandering Dwarves by marshall payne Once upon a time there was a little sidepocket universe consisting only of midgets who had been harvested from the Golden Age of Hollywood. No, that wasn’t entirely true as there was Barney Banks, their oversized manager. He too had been plucked and placed into this microcosm. As had Tom Tum. “So what’s the job?” Tom asked in his high-pitched yet husky voice. Sitting in Banks’ office, his feet barely scraped the floor from his position in his impresario’s tall wooden chair. Barney Banks puffed on his fat cigar before feigning a shrug.“A future couple wants to do a wife-swap thing. I’ll need both you and Little Betty, of course. They specifically requested you two.” Banks was a huge man, even for a giant. The word “giant” meaning anyone above five feet in this sidepocket. Still, he fit the stereotypical image of the old-school impresario to a tee: a rotund, balding man with fat fingers that could effortlessly intimidate with ajab. “What exact year are we talking about?” Tom had to ask. There had been talk. Banks tried to keep the dissemblance on his face, motioned with his cigar as a stall tactic, but finally admitted: “2305,” giving Tom a level gaze. Tom became livid. That was smack-dab in the Red Zone. The years 2301-2309 were the focal point of how Tom’s world had come into existence, when a generation of degenerate time manipulators had used their new technology to act out their desperate fantasies. For the past two years, their participation in Tom’s microcosm had been proscribed, which was why Tom was so red in the face now. He and his castmates thought they had a contract, and now he was pissed. “Well, I for one am not going back! And I’m offended that you’d think I’d even consider taking my precious Little Betty there,” he said, then let out a series of tiny huffs. Banks removed his cigar to counter, but Tom cut him off: “We have a contract. No Red Zone!” Bank’s gave another of his classic shrugs. “I know, Tom. I know. But things have been rough here on my end. Listen, do this one job for me and I’ll stick you back in the twenty-fifth century. Society banquets, or maybe even a neo-church group, letting them know the wrong done you by the Temporal Creation Act of 2295.” But Tom stood firm.“No, we’re not going. Some of the things those people wanna do. . .” He shuddered. All this quickly escalated into an argument where Barney Banks extended his huge index finger, threatening to po

FAQs

What is the central theme of Alasdair Stuart’s editorial?

The editorial explores the idea that heaven is shaped by what people want and need, using a personal memory of watching movie reviews and a contrast between hell and heaven.

What is the fiction story included in this issue?

The issue includes the fiction story “Pandering Dwarves” by Marshall Payne, beginning with a sidepocket universe and a manager arranging a future couple’s requested role-swap job.

What time constraints affect the characters in “Pandering Dwarves”?

The story references the “Red Zone” years 2301-2309 and notes that participation in the microcosm for the past two years has been proscribed, escalating the conflict between Tom and Barney Banks.

Sep 21, 2026

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