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“Radharc”, The Cultural Observer review, 2006
The first story, The Way of the Maps, by Costi Gurgu, it’s also the reader’s introduction into Radharc’s mysteries. Under the pretext of a journalistic investigation meant to find the Petre Bucur’s maps of Radharc, the three journalists make several trips in Radharc, following the standard procedure, entering through Petrator, where St. Peter admits the worthy. Being about the search for Petre Bucur (mysteriously dissapeared) and his maps, the story is a policier, treated in the relaxed-friendly-humor kind, a la Raymond Chandler.
Costi Gurgu’s Bucuresti is one of the waters, the wide avenues turned to rivers, there also being a sea at the end of Lipscani. Spy fishes float through air, the Royal Court is repainted, thriving with life, the place where are the gates of passage from one world to the another—all this written with a great care for detail. A very, very good story; a new world, functional, real characters, their realionships, adventures. Beautiful writing. Perfect to open the anthology.
The Cultural Observer, Radharc by Michael Haulica, 2006
“Radharc”, The Family Magazine review, 2006
The first in the book, Costi Gurgu, has to map this virtual world. And he does it in The Way of the Maps, a thrilling story about the discovery of Radharc. Fane and Emil are good friends and they produce reportages together. Sometimes, Cristian joins them. All three receive an invitation to meet Tudor Gradinaru, a man who sells them a “sensational” tip. He offers them the way to get the “Radharc’s maps”. This ensues a well handled policier adventure, with turns and twists, and amazing demonstrations of imagination. All in an expert manner that won’t let you put the book down.
The Family Magazine, The Guard Room by Mircea Pricajan, 2006
“The Glass Plague”, The Cultural Observer review, 2005
The story collection The Glass Plague is a matur debut, as are most of those authors who publish their first book after years of selling to magazines. The Glass Plague reveals a writer who masters the language and the narrative techniques, a writer who doesn’t write for the sake of the SF idea, but to debate its consequences, the effects it has on people as persons and as social elements, as well as the effects it has on the society as a whole.
The Cultural Observer, The Glass Plague Review by Michael Haulica, 2005
“The Glass Plague”, The Romanian Anticipation review, 2003
Beyond his courage of choosing difficult, hard to write themes, Costi Gurgu has a subtle humor, expressed at the edge of the authorial seriousness. The discreet manifestations of his humour make for a pleasant experience even with some of his strongly conflictual takes on these already difficult themes. He succeeds in placing his ideas in a light that amuses and in equal measures determines us to meditate.
The Romanian Anticipation by Mircea Oprita, Viitorul Romanesc Publishing, 2003