Review of Angel Leal, “The Machines Had Accepted Me For So Long,” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 62-64 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was an absolutely gorgeous poem about both masking and transitioning.
REVIEW: “Reboot: Upgrade” by Sebastian Cole
Review of Sebastian Cole, “Reboot: Upgrade,” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 61 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This is a poem of many layers, allowing for many different readings and interpretations, with beautiful lines like:
Some days I am “no preference,”
androgynous as a lamp post.
I really loved it.
REVIEW: “A Robot Would Never Kiss You With Its Tongue” by Bobby Parrott
Review of Bobby Parrott, “A Robot Would Never Kiss You With Its Tongue,” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 58 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This sort of felt like a case of “how many SF terms can I throw into this poem?” People who prefer poetry that is more about words than about story may like this poem; for me, I’m a bit more on the “story” side of things for this to really be my type of thing.
REVIEW: “To Sleep, Perchance” by Doug Lane
Review of Doug Lane, “To Sleep, Perchance,” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 26-32 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
The premise of this story is “what will the legal system look like once it’s been entirely overtaken by cloud-based technologies?” It’s equal parts funny and cautionary, making for a nice enjoyable little story.
REVIEW: “Hunting Snowmen” by Aeryn Rudel
Review of Aeryn Rudel, “Hunting Snowmen,” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 16-18 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Domestic violence.
This was a funny [in the strange rather than humoristic, although there is definitely humor in it] little post-apocalyptic story about zombies who head north and then freeze in the bitter cold. It’s full of vindictive justice, and even though I could see the ending coming from a mile away, it was so satisfying.
REVIEW: “Every Moment Hereafter” by Jordan Hirsch
Review of Jordan Hirsch, “Every Moment Hereafter,” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 65-66 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was an excellent example of a good story-telling poem that is still a poem first and foremost, and not an oddly formatted story. Beautiful.
REVIEW: “Aqua Vitae” by Deborah L. Davitt
Review of Deborah L. Davitt, “Aqua Vitae,” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 76 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
If water is the source of our life, what kind of life would water on another planet be the source of? It’s the sort of question that is apt for turning into poetry, as Davitt does — though maybe those who haven’t studied 20th C analtyic philosophy and the question of whether water is H2O or not will appreciate the poem more than I did!
REVIEW: “Domestic Tranquility” by Brian U. Garrison
Review of Brian U. Garrison, “Domestic Tranquility,” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 75 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This poem was a clever retelling of the fairy tale of the Elves and the Shoemaker, turned into a cutting commentary on modern capitalism.
REVIEW: “Run Run Renegade” by Lisa Timpf
Review of Lisa Timpf, “Run Run Renegade,” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 69 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
I liked the story that this poem told, but I think I would have preferred it as a story, rather than as a poem.
REVIEW: “In the Dose” by Darius Jones
Review of Darius Jones, “In the Dose,” Radon Journal 2 (2022): 67 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This poem was a lovely little commentary on the ways in which one and the same thing can both kill us and give us life.
SFF Reviews 