Review of Malda Marlys, “Bone Birds Fly,” Flash Fiction Online 135 (December 2024): 20-22 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This is a story about living after the end of the world, when everything else is dead and dry and gone, and yet just because we’ve killed the world doesn’t mean that we ourselves aren’t still struggling along in the aftermath. Pretty bleak.
Review of Liz J. Bradley, “A Soft and Silent Glow,” Flash Fiction Online 135 (December 2024): 23-25 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
I love it when I get to read an author’s debut story! Bradley’s dystopian future has more than a hint of magic about it — a lovely contrast carefully blended. There’s nothing especially hopeful or happy about the story, but there is something beautiful about it.
Review of Sara Siddiqui Chansarkar, “The Caged Budgerigars,” Flash Fiction Online 135 (December 2024): 8-10 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Miscarriage, stillbirth, and infertility.
This was a well-put-together story but upon reading it I knew I’d have difficulty reviewing it because it’s not really speculative in any way (FFO has the occasional non-spec story). But I was curious about what the issue’s theme was, to see if understanding how it fit into the theme would reveal something more than what was in the story itself. The theme for this issue is “eco-futures,” and knowing that didn’t actually clue me in any more; this story is very much rooted in the present. So I delved into the editorial to see if I could understand why the editors chose this particular story for this particular theme, and Halsey’s comment piqued my interest: “I went with this portrayal of a woman struggling with her inability to have children because it mirrors the intimacy of another mother’s story within this issue” (p. 6). Guess I’ll have to read that one next!
Review of D.A. Xiaolin Spires, “Luminous Glass, Vibrant Seeds”, Clarkesworld Issue 218, November (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
Yet another beautiful story of hope! Clarkesworld is really spoiling us readers lately, each and every story making me feel a certain type of way. This one is a beautiful combination of food, agriculture, and glassblowing, amongst other things.
Set sometime in the future, where people have gotten more in touch with their roots and nature. Decentralization and independence is the focus for many humans here, allusions to a past occurrence that created a sort of dystopia. But humans are resilient. And humans have also always appreciated beauty, right from cave drawing times. Beauty in the craggiest mountain and smallest seed. Oh, and a little green-thumbed robot feels the same way, too. Just lovely.
Review of Claire Jia-Wen, “Mirror Stages”, Clarkesworld Issue 218, November (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
A haunting story about the intersection of tech and the female body, with a focus on an immersive VR mukbang experience. If that sounds intense, then you’re right – so is the story.
I absolutely loved the depth and feeling and detail in this story. I couldn’t put it down at any point – it draws you in immediately. Something I have to say I’ve noticed about many Clarkesworld stories is the attention to world-building. This one was fantastic – I want to read a novella or even a full length novel set in this world. There are hints of greater background and setting throughout, so I hope this means it’s a world the author continues to write in.
A fascinating tale of tech, greed, how the male gaze can affect so much, and self-preservation, amongst many more themes. A sharp reminder that there are real people on the other side of your screen. People with feelings and hopes and dreams. Real people.
Review of Resa Nelson, “LuvHomeTM”, Clarkesworld Issue 218, November (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
A beautiful story. Just lovely. One of those stories that really go straight to the heart. Where I just want to sit with it for a while, re-read it, savor it.
This story follows Dyna and her LuvHomeTM – it’s supposed to love her. And it does – but not in the way Dyna wants. She wants to stay in bed all day. Her home, which is programmed to love her (she signed the contract when she bought the house!), doesn’t want her to stay in bed all day. And that’s where it all begins.
This is a sweet, poignant story. I want to read more about Dyna and this world! I will be exploring more of this writer’s work for sure.
Review of Aggie Novak, “Little Bird,” Flash Fiction Online 134 (November 2024): 22-25 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Hunger drives Adnela to thievery, and in doing so she encounters a spirit. In the course of this tight, quiet little story, Adnela and Živinica move from enemies to friends, not in any sort of trope-y way, but in the real, believable way of women who are outcast and scorned banding together to support each other.
Review of Gregory Marlow, “An Acre a Year,” Flash Fiction Online 134 (November 2024): 18-20 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This almost could have been a tale out of Grimm; it had all the classic fairy tale elements — a sad and desperate young woman, a magical resolution, a fae-bargain gone wrong — but with an added layer of modernity that deepened and enriched it all. What a pleasant way to spend a Saturday afternoon, reading this story.
Review of Fiona Moore, “The Children of Flame”, Clarkesworld Issue 217, October (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
Set in a post apocalyptic society where modern infrastructure has mostly collapsed, including the concept of billionaires. People are cooperative and have started rebuilding some parts of society, one of them being Morag, our main protagonist. People are part of different groups with different lifestyles, but most are in agreement about being strongly against capitalism.
A lot of elements in this story illustrate so many things that are wrong with the world today – and how much resilience humans have, and always will have. A lovely look at what may happen if capitalism does continue unbridled to the point of implosion.
It’s a great story on its own merit, and works well as a standalone. Happily, it is part of a larger universe, which I hoped it would be when I read the previous story set there. You can read them (four so far) in any order, they’re all at Clarkesworld!
Review of Emmie Christie, “Hazards of Being Related to the Chosen One,” Flash Fiction Online 134 (November 2024): 11-13 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was as surprisingly cheerful (as well was emotionally wrenching) story given its title, and it fit the “rural” theme of the issue perfectly: narrowly-focused without being small-minded.
SFF Reviews