Review of Meg Elison, “The Tub,” Flash Fiction Online 133 (October 2024): 27-29 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a tremendously powerful story, a kick in the gut, an honest glimpse at the consequences of motherhood — the sort of story you get to the end of and go “oooof!”
Review of Andrew K Hoe, “Vinegar-Gurgle,” Flash Fiction Online 133 (October 2024): 23-26 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Torture, racism.
Now this was horror: A gruesome glimpse into depravity. I struggled to find anything in any of the characters to approve of or sympathize with. The author’s note at the end of story was therefore quite important for me, to understand its purpose and inclusion in the issue: “The story
‘Vinegar-Gurgle’ was written as a way of dealing with two real-life Asian hate incidents.”
Review of Erin MacNair, “The Trade,” Flash Fiction Online 133 (October 2024): 19-22 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Death of pets, references to infertility, natural disaster.
I found this story more sad than horrific; but there was an eerie quality threading through it that meant I was never quite sure what was going on, just enough for the story to warrant its speculative label.
(First printed in Orca, Winter 2022.)
Review of Wailana Kalama, “Dissection of a Mermaid,” Flash Fiction Online 133 (October 2024): 16-18 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Assault.
This is a step by step how-to guide for what it says in the title. The steps begin detailed and complicated and full of tips and tricks. In the end, the short, sharp staccato sentences are sparse and bare, their structure like a knife driving into your flesh.
It is very, very dark.
Review of L. M. Guay, “The Clockwork Sisters,” Flash Fiction Online 133 (October 2024): 12-14 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story illustrates how the relationship of sisterhood is always fraught, whether the sisters in question are flesh or clockwork.
Given that this story is in the “weird horror” issue of FFO, I’m assuming that’s what it’s intended to be. It’s definitely weird, but I’m not sure how horror it is. So if you tend to avoid horror, you might still enjoy this one.
Review of K. J. Khan, “Our Father”, Clarkesworld Issue 212, May (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
This is deeply engaging, especially so for it being a fairly short story. The story slowly peels back the layers of this story, with deeply emotional moments as well. Such a beautifully paced story that really shows the bittersweet nature of parenthood. Recommend!
Review of Spencer Nitkey, “Within the Dead Whale,” Flash Fiction Online 133 (October 2024): 8-11 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was perfectly, utterly, viscerally strange. I’m not usually a huge fan of horror, but this story captivated me.
Review of Christina Raia, “Little Whispers,” Luna Station Quarterly 59 (2024): 229-248 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
I am unsure what to make of this story. Ava, the main character, is 12, but often felt quite a bit younger than that in her actions, reactions, and internal thoughts. At times it seemed like this was trying to be a horror story; at other times, it felt more like it was trying to subvert the usual horror tropes. The pacing was quite slow, and I ended up feeling like I was often waiting to find out what was going to happen. The unexpected turn at the end was sudden enough to be a bit nauseating. So all in all, I’m left rather uncertain.
Review of Rebecca McKee, “Overlap,” Luna Station Quarterly 59 (2024): 187-207 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story was eerie in its hints of apocalypse; the feeling I got while reading it reminded me, sometimes uncomfortably, of what life during lockdown was like. Perhaps it was the uncertainty about how it all would end, which lasted right up until the final, harrowing end.
Review of Shannon Scott, “Baba Yaga’s Portrait,” Luna Station Quarterly 59 (2024): 125-141 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Aleksandra is the only girl student at Palekh Art School, a position which means she feels awkward and out of place no matter what she does or where she goes. When she stumbles upon Baba Yaga’s house in the countryside and begins drawing, she thinks maybe her art can finally be her passport to a place of stability and peace — until she is discovered by Baba Yaga!
Those who collect Baba Yaga stories will enjoy adding this one to their collection.
SFF Reviews