Review of Marie Brennan, “Damnatio Memoriae: A History of the Past That Used to Be,” Fantasy Magazine 94 (August 2023): 37 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
The power of this beautiful, depressing poem lies in the way in which it purports to be a fantasy, and yet reading it, we all know what it is describing is reality.
Review of David Goodman, “Such Is My Idea Of Happiness”, Clarkesworld Issue 205, October (2023): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
A very timely story about wealth and power concentrated in the hands of a few. Actually, there are very few instances where such a story would not be timely!
When you’re too tired, you have no energy to think. Without original thought, you cannot uplift yourself.
This is true for oppressed and exploited people across the globe, across time. This particular story is set in a future London, with the city and the world being so different from what it is today, and heartbreakingly similar in a few terrible ways.
Stepping out of your comfort zone may bring you peace and contentment, but it’s so hard to step out. Even if your current situation is not ideal, it’s still better than an unknown future, right? There is fear and the people with power exploit that fear. It’s an age old game, and the powerful players keep winning.
But sometimes, there’s a revolution. And sometimes, the good guys might just win.
Review of Lavie Tidhar, “The Blaumilch”, Clarkesworld Issue 205, October (2023): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
A lovely story of self discovery and finding joy. Or is it a science fiction story about future generations living on Mars, and how humans adjusted to life there? Or maybe it’s about how things change so much, but still remain the same in so many ways?
This story is about all those things. It is also about a canal and a man who digs it. Whatever perspective you choose to read this story from, it’s going to be enjoyable.
If you let it just unfold in all it’s glory, you’re in for a treat. Such depth and heart in this one.
Review of Ubong Johnson, “Kumbaya,” Fantasy Magazine 94 (August 2023): 35 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Fantasy poetry is a tricky genre, in part because even ordinary poetry is itself often fantastical in nature. I felt that this poem could be read in two ways, one, merely as using metaphorical language to express grief and loss, the other in a more fantasy light; how I read it was definitely influenced by the nature of the venue it was published in. Without that, I’m not sure I’d call it “fantasy,” but I would still call it beautiful.
Review of Joshua Lim, “Voices of Kings,” Fantasy Magazine 94 (August 2023): 8 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a lovely little story circling around the question “Who gets to be king?” Is it the person that someone else has appointed as king? Is it the person everyone agrees is their king? Is it — the relevant question for this story — the one who can sing the most beautiful? In posing and answering these questions, Lim strikes the perfect note of mythology, bringing Malaysian folktales to a wider audience.
Review of Aimee Ogden, “To Persist, However Changed,” Small Wonders no. 3 (September 2023): 27-28 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a very sciencey science fiction, full of botanical terms. It’s tricky to take plants and make them into sympathetic characters, and I struggled a bit with getting past the jargon. But maybe someone more familiar with the vocabulary would enjoy the story more!
Review of Myna Chang, “Let Us Dream,” Small Wonders no. 3 (September 2023): 25 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This beautiful piece straddling the boundaries of prose and poetry is full of sorrow and loss and regret.
Review of Rachael K. Jones, “How My Sister Talked Me Into Necromancy During Quarantine,” Small Wonders no. 3 (September 2023): 22-23 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Everyone has at least one pandemic bad decision in their closet, whether it’s sourdough starter gone green or ordering jellybeans by the kilo from amazon. This is the perfect story for anyone who wants to feel a bit better about their own bad decision, which probably pales in comparison’s to Becca’s decision to let her sister Lila live with her during lockdown. Short, sweet, funny — a great antidote to plague blues.
Review of Devan Barlow, “Shears,” Small Wonders no. 3 (September 2023): 17-18 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was the most hilarious retelling of Sleeping Beauty I’ve ever come across, and I loved it. Top marks, two thumbs up, and a chef’s kiss.
Review of Luc Diamant, “Once In As Many Lifetimes,” Small Wonders no. 3 (September 2023): 14-15 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story was one of those rare gems: A second-person POV which I didn’t dislike! This is in large part due to the fact that it’s also first-person POV, which makes it much easier for me to believe that the “you” is not addressed at me. Instead, what I, as the reader, get from this story is a glimpse into a private conversation (or rather, directed monologue), which is both heart-warming and utterly heart-breaking. I nearly ended up crying on the train at the ending.
SFF Reviews