Review of Lettie Prell, “Please Click,” Flash Fiction Online 127 (April 2024): 11-13 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story was a thoughtful take on human-robot symbiosis, mostly hopeful, rather than depressing. It also had an element of humor that particularly tickled me; pretty sure anyone who has spent enough time on the internet will know what part I meant once they get to it (I’d rather not spoil in the review, as it’s intrinsic to the story!).
Review of Samantha Murray, “The Stars that Fall,” Small Wonders no. 11 (May 2024): 35-37 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Death of a child.
This was a weird combination of science, astrology, and fantasy, and for all it’s mishmash, I really, really liked it.
(First published in Flash Fiction Online 2017).
Review of Holly Schofield, “What You Sow,” Small Wonders no. 11 (May 2024): 14-16 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
I liked the conceit of the story — growing flowers and other plants from your head instead of hair — as there’s a lot of imaginative scope in it. (I spent quite a bit of time, while reading, idly wondering what flowers I’d grow.) And I loved the way an entire lifetime was traced in a scant few pages.
I just wish (personal opinion here!) that it weren’t told in second person.
(First publishing in Navigating Ruins 2022).
Review of Eris Young, “Up From Out of Clay,” Small Wonders no. 11 (May 2024): 24-27 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
I’m not quite sure what I make of this story. It’s about a girl and a golem, about a master and his apprentice, and I feel like there is more to it than this, but two readings through didn’t quite reveal what that more is.
Perhaps other readers will resonate more with the story than I did.
(First published in Gwylion 3, 2021).
Review of Albert Chu, “Eloïse,” Small Wonders no. 11 (May 2024): 17-20 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story starts off about dueling and ends with a transformation. In four pages we go from anxiety and unhappiness to freedom and joy, not a bad arc for such a short duration!
Review of Colleen Anderson, “Swan’s Song,” Small Wonders no. 11 (May 2024): 32-33 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
“What is love?” this poem’s opening line asks us, and if there’s an answer in the lines that following, it’s what love isn’t. While not quite as gruesome as the original fairy tale that serves as this poem’s inspiration, the undertones of violence and pain remain.
Review of Sierra Branham, “Unbending My Bones,” Small Wonders no. 11 (May 2024): 28-30 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story wears its allegory with unabashed pride: You can tell every step of the way that it is an allegory, and what it’s an allegory for, but the power of it never descends into browbeating the reader. Deftly done, this story will resonate with anyone who has ever gotten trapped inside insidious organized religion.
Review of Tehnuka, “Kannaki Contemplates the Fire in Her Breast,” Small Wonders no. 11 (May 2024): 21-22 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Sumptuous narrative poetry stuffed with religious history and gorgeous imagery — really lovely!
Review of Angel Leal, “Music of the Seraphim,” Small Wonders no. 11 (May 2024): 11-13 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This is now the third poem by Leal that I’ve reviewed at SFFReviews — and let me tell you, I have loved every single one. I hope they’ve got a poetry collection in the works, because I’d love to read (or publish!) it.
Review of Mar Vincent, “Celestial Bodies,” Small Wonders no. 11 (May 2024): 7-9 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
For all the stars and astronomical arrangements that show up in this story, I’ve placed it firmly in the “fantasy” category, even though it’s hard to articulate what this story is about. But it is a lovely little glittery thing, worth reading for its sweet ending.
SFF Reviews