Review of Angus McIntyre, “The Inside of the Outside,” Flash Fiction Online 134 (November 2024): 14-17 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This curious little story took a turn towards horror that I was not expecting. I like a good effective use of a twist!
(First published in Factor Four Magazine October 2022).
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.
Review of Vijayalaxmi Samal, “To Curse With Needle and Thread,” Flash Fiction Online 134 (November 2024): 8-10 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
The stories in this issue of FFO are all bundled together under the header of “rural fantasy”, but don’t be deceived: These are not quiet pastoral stories. Samal’s story opens the issue, and in the very first lines it is visceral, it is angry, it is full of power. It is sharp and blunt when it comes to criticizing colonialism, and the forced conversion that comes with it. A strong and powerful opener!
Review of Christine Lucas, “Final Harvest,” Flash Fiction Online 133 (October 2024): 35-37 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: death of a parent.
This was a strangely delicate indictment of the ways in which parenting can go wrong, with a good dose of world-building in the background that really helped support and carry the story. I really enjoyed this.
Review of Damián Neri, “To Serve the Emperor,” Flash Fiction Online 133 (October 2024): 31-34 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Child harm, flesh eating.
Neri’s story is the sort that rests on the border of gross horror and psychological horror which sits very uncomfortably with me — I like the latter but not so much the former, but here it is the former that makes it the latter. It was entirely compelling and even if I wasn’t entirely happy reading it, I couldn’t look away.
Review of L. M. Guay, “The Clockwork Sisters,” Flash Fiction Online 133 (October 2024): 12-14 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story illustrates how the relationship of sisterhood is always fraught, whether the sisters in question are flesh or clockwork.
Given that this story is in the “weird horror” issue of FFO, I’m assuming that’s what it’s intended to be. It’s definitely weird, but I’m not sure how horror it is. So if you tend to avoid horror, you might still enjoy this one.
Review of Shannon Scott, “Baba Yaga’s Portrait,” Luna Station Quarterly 59 (2024): 125-141 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Aleksandra is the only girl student at Palekh Art School, a position which means she feels awkward and out of place no matter what she does or where she goes. When she stumbles upon Baba Yaga’s house in the countryside and begins drawing, she thinks maybe her art can finally be her passport to a place of stability and peace — until she is discovered by Baba Yaga!
Those who collect Baba Yaga stories will enjoy adding this one to their collection.
Review of Alyssa Beatty, “Call of the Void,” Luna Station Quarterly 59 (2024): 55-70 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
There are so many ways to play with ideas in the intersection of time-travel and determinism, but Beatty’s take felt fresh and new to me.
Review of Jordan Taylor, “What Remains to Wake,” Luna Station Quarterly 59 (2024): 209-226 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was an intriguing story, fully fairy-tale it its tropes and elements, but with a twist of bloody horror — simultaneously properly Grimm while also being wholly new. In the realm of fairy-tale retellings, telling something entirely knew which is still yet a fairy tale is an accomplishment!
Review of Chezza Lee, “The Mid-Autumn Festival,” Luna Station Quarterly 59 (2024): 73-87 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
“Immortality was boring,” this story opens up — a sentiment I can wholly get on board with (I’d rather die tomorrow than live forever), so from the start I’m predisposed to like what’s to come. With strong wuxia/xianxia influences clearly palpable, there was a lot to like in this short, compact story of a mortal who became immortal and then…tired of it. Sometimes, the simple pleasures of mortality are worth more than any amount of immortal bliss.
SFF Reviews