Review of Claire McAneny, “Reaping Rewards,” Luna Station Quarterly 50 (2022): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Domestic abuse.
If only getting a problematic man out of your life was as easy as going to the local fortune teller…
Review of Amelia Brunskill, “The Hunter’s Child,” Luna Station Quarterly 50 (2022): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a weird, almost grotesque, little fairy tale. It has all the characteristic roles — the Queen, the King, the Hunter — it has monsters beyond the castle walls, secrets, and little girls who can talk to birds. But entwined with these are ugly threads that you don’t expect to find in a fairy tale — alcoholism, abuse. If there is any happy ending at all, it is the little girl discovering that the monsters outside are not nearly as evil as ones inside.
Review of E. Fox, “The Price of Pearls,” Luna Station Quarterly 50 (2022): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a vibrant story of love, betrayal, jealousy, seals and puffins and sea otters. Full of beauty, this was a good reminder that no woman should ever be the possession of a man.
Review of Savannah Wade, “Magpie Girls,” Luna Station Quarterly 50 (2022): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
One part fairy tale, one part tarot reading, and one part coming out story, this was a haunting little tale, of two magpie girls Jo and Lily, thieving beautiful trinkets, forgotten things, the chance at a life of their own, not dictated by any man…
Review of Carol Scheina, “One More Fairy Tale” Cossmass Infinities 9 (2022): 20-24 — Read or purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story is both one final fairy tale that a mother tells her child, of bargains made for wishes fulfilled, and a pretty classic SF story, of genetically engineered soldiers and trans-world travel. I like it when authors play with genres like this, and Scheina’s touching story does so successfully.
Review of Matt Tighe, “A Tomorrow With You In It” Cossmass Infinities 9 (2022): 9-12 — Read or purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Death of a child.
A quiet, sad, reflective piece, economic with words and yet nevertheless extremely effective in wringing out all the emotions. A great way to kick off this issue.
Review of M.J. Garland, “Chokeleaf,” Luna Station Quarterly 50 (2022): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Depression and suicidal ideation.
Chokeleaf — or Ficus effusio, to give it its Latin name — is an invasive species, and the Trailblazers are there to do their part in eradicating it. The Trailblazers themselves are a motley group of do-gooders, college drop outs, and know-it-alls, the only thing united them is a desire to help rid the park of this plant, which is threatening not only the local wildlife, but the human visitors as well. Through the eight weeks they spend at the park, we learn about Steph, and her past, the people she’s left behind and the life she would like to get back do. Despite the fantasy elements, there is something that feels very real about this story.
Review of Tisha Marie Reichle-Aguilera, “Seven Strands,” Luna Station Quarterly 50 (2022): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
When Cristian’s aunt tells him that something has happened and his mother needs him, he is in agony of worry until he can make the trek back home, bringing his girlfriend Norma along with. But Norma isn’t there just to support Cristian; she has her own designs afoot!
Though short, and perhaps a bit underdeveloped, this story is filled with all the little bits of verisimilitude that make me as a reader feel like I am in capable hands.
Review of Jennifer Lee Rossman, “Maiasaura Deifaeria,” Luna Station Quarterly 50 (2022): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Even dinosaurs deserve to have a fairy godmother (or so Rossman easily makes the reader believe); but what happens to the fairy godmother when all her species go extinct? Well, after sixty-five million years of grieving, she finds someone else to godmother.
With a lot of extremely dubious and humorous fantasy and just enough real history throne in to make me jump over to wikipedia, this is a story that feels like it shouldn’t have worked; and yet I’m not convinced it didn’t.
Review of Elizabeth Guilt, “Other Lives,” Luna Station Quarterly 50 (2022): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Oh, I loved this story.
Have you ever wondered how your life might have gone, if only one thing, one moment in your past had changed? Well, Rob, Emily, and their friend (the narrator) all find this out one trip the May Day Fair when they visit the seer who can see other lives. It’s fun and sad and poignant and wonderful, and the perfect premise for a quick bite of a story.
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