Short Reviews of Short SFF
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 Fiona Moore, “The Portmeirion Road”, Clarkesworld Issue 212, May (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
This shows such a great approach to a post apocalyptic society, and how people work together to rebuild society in various ways, including via information archives. The contrast is starker still with the “good old days” of healthcare and information accessibility being part of living memory.
Never thought a story would make me feel a pang of emotion for an Ikea style wood chip table, but here we are. For a happy coincidence, this one brings an adorable robot companion too, just like the first story in the issue!
I’m hoping this story is part of a larger universe, because the world building is amazing. I want to read more about their laws, Morag’s life on the farm and brewery, homesteading, the archivists, and how this society develops.
Review of Alice Towey, “Fishy”, Clarkesworld Issue 212, May (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one – what a great story to start this issue! I’ve read this author before, and I loved her work even then. The author works in water resource management, and it makes its way into her fiction beautifully. A few words and phrases are all she needs to describe situations, emotions, and feelings.
Fishy is a good friend, and one who wants you to be happy. I’ve got a weakness for adorable robot companions, and Fishy delivers! This story is layered, emotional and cute, with some a great ethical choice to round it off. Simply fantastic.
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.
Review of Michael Swanwick, “Timothy: An Oral History”, Clarkesworld Issue 205, October (2023): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
A layered piece with a great format; it explores an all-female, utopian society, and what happens when a biological man comes into existence in such a society. An intriguing idea, elevated by the oral history narrative format that was able to incorporate so many different points of view into a short story.
Gender norms and expectations, of course, look different in this society. When a biological male upends the status quo in this utopia, the cracks start to show. An interesting examination of societal norms, and a great way to wrap up this issue.
Review of Samir Sirk Morató, “Limerence,” Flash Fiction Online 126 (March 2024): 22-24 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a surprisingly lovely and evocative story, of two bog bodies separated by a layer of peat. It’s a story of longing and loss and love, with an ambiguous ending where I still can’t decide if I find it sad or hopeful.
Review of Lindz McLeod, “On the Wing,” Flash Fiction Online 126 (March 2024): 18-20 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Infidelity.
It felt a bit like this story was a dare, to see how many bird metaphors and bird images McLeod could fit into one story. There were a lot: all tastefully and effectively used, but leaving me wondering, why all the birds.
(Originally published in Bear Creek Gazette, 2022).
SFF Reviews