REVIEW: “Resurrecting Tessa” by Nicole Walsh

Review of Nicole Walsh, “Resurrecting Tessa,” Luna Station Quarterly 58 (2024): 73-83 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

This story of death and resurrection defies clear classification; it’s setting feels like SF, but it is religion, rather than science or magic, that is the driving force. But it was religion distinct enough from any I’m familiar with to make me wish I got more details, more information, during the story itself. As it was, at the end, I wasn’t quite sure what the import of everything was.

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REVIEW: “Monstrous Attractions” by Cindy Phan

Review of Cindy Phan, “Monstrous Attractions,” Luna Station Quarterly 58 (2024): 43-70 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

Content note: Violence against women.

What an odd story.

It sort of felt like a Wild West story, although being set in middle-of-nowhere Canada sort of belied that feeling. I’m also not sure if the story was taking itself seriously, or if I was supposed to read it as humor.

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REVIEW: “Cry to the Moon” by Keira Perkins

Review of Keira Perkins, “Cry to the Moon,” Luna Station Quarterly 58 (2024): 25-40 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

Content note: Animal death.

This story traces one week in the life of an ordinary, isolated woman. From Kate’s struggles with dissociation to her grandmother’s frantic hoarding in her final years, Perkins handles issues of mental health and disability with sensitivity. And despite the grief and sadness that pervades the story, it still manages to end on a happy note.

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REVIEW: “Be Not Afraid of the Angel Beneath the Stairs” by Sara Playfair

Review of Sara Playfair, “Be Not Afraid of the Angel Beneath the Stairs,” Luna Station Quarterly 58 (2024): 127-134 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

It has often struck me that one of the greatest fantasy stories every told is the story of Christian religion: So I was delighted by this excellent story of Playfair’s, which taps into exactly that same feeling. It even made up for the use of my hated second-person POV!

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REVIEW: “In Which Caruth is Correct” by Carolyn Zhao

Review of Carolyn Zhao, “In Which Caruth is Correct”, Clarkesworld Issue 212, May (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.

This story brings us to a world where time loops exist, taking you back to moments of singularity. These moments are often moments of regret, the regret of making the wrong choices. Many step in and don’t return, with the strength of belief that maybe a different decision would make life better.

Our protagonist has many of these time loops show up, and works through it with the help of meds and tempo-therapy. The vivid descriptions just add to the joy of this story, which is already an enjoyable experience because of its concept and world building.

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REVIEW: “Who We Are” by Ana Wesley

Review of Ana Wesley, “Who We Are,” Luna Station Quarterly 57 (2024): 70-100 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

This was a beautifully rich story (almost novelette/novella length, though I’m not sure of exact wordcount) — full of intriguing characters set against a well-constructed backdrop, the sort of story that feels like the prelude to a full-blown trilogy. And honestly, if Wesley is planning one, I’d read it.

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REVIEW: “Midnight Burritos With Zozrozir” by Rachael K. Jones

Review of Rachael K. Jones, “Midnight Burritos With Zozrozir,” Flash Fiction Online 128 (May 2024): 18-20 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

Premise: Woman goes out for burritos with the demon who’s going to destroy her. Verdict: Oh my goodness, this was absolutely adorable and lovely. What a sweet little story! We all need a Zozrozir in our life.

(First published in Daily Science Fiction 2018).

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REVIEW: “Lord Mortedart’s Revenge” by Katie Kotulak

Review of Katie Kotulak, “Lord Mortedart’s Revenge,” Flash Fiction Online 128 (May 2024): 7-10 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

A deity, or a demon (it’s not clear which, though he’s clearly something supernatural), comes to the end of their 100 year imprisonment and returns to earth — only to find that no one knows who they are, and no one cares. It’s a hilarious premise, humoristically and also thoughtfully rendered. This was a good little fun story, full of piercing moments of brief heart-wrenching tugs.

This was Kotulak’s debut publication, and let me tell you: I sincerely hope it isn’t the last!

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REVIEW: “Like Blood For Ink” by Aimee Ogden

Review of Aimee Ogden, “Like Blood for Ink,” Flash Fiction Online 127 (April 2024): 18-20 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

Ogden is a master of a particular type of flash fiction craft: Take an ordinary situation, change one thing to be out of the ordinary, and use the result to say something about our daily lives (in this case, every parents’ worry of passing the worst of themselves on to their children). The more I read her stories, the more I admire her skill.

(First published in Daily Science Fiction, 2021).

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