Review of Elizabeth Guilt, “Tracks,” Luna Station Quarterly 54 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a rich, sad, vibrant story, both quick and short and full of emotion. I loved how it took a character we’re all at least passing familiar with — the magician’s lady who is sawed in half — and gave us an intimate, private glimpse at her story.
Review of Lis Vilas Boas, “Mother Mangue,” Luna Station Quarterly 54 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Childbirth, references to infertility.
Mother Mangue is “a mother ready to help” when people are in need of help, and “when they don’t need her, she is just the witch.” The help she offers is both to bring babies into the world that are refusing to come; and to prevent others from coming when they are not wanted. Her story, a quiet one of longing and despair, takes shape when she seeks out for herself that which she has only ever given to others.
This is a long story full of many unexpected twists. It kept me curious all the way to the end.
Review of Akmay, “The Doula,” Luna Station Quarterly 54 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Childbirth.
What a creepy, bloody, gory story! If you are squeamish about innards and organs, I’d recommend avoiding.
Review of Alyssa C. Greene, “Silk,” Luna Station Quarterly 54 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Considering the subject of this story was weaving, it feels appropriate to describe it as “intricately woven,” threads being fed to the reader a bit at a time so that we don’t get the whole pattern at once, but have to wait for it to be built, all the while, horror deepening in the background.
Review of Sam Lesek, “The Final Kiss,” Luna Station Quarterly 53 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a short, sweet, sad post-apocalyptic story, of the last man, the last dog, and the last kiss the Angel of Death will ever give.
Review of A. M. Young, “What They Do Not Tell you,” Luna Station Quarterly 53 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: An abusive relationship.
This was a powerful retelling of the story of Pygmalion — or rather, a first telling of Galatea‘s story.
Review of Anna Martino, “A Memory is Like a Talon,” Luna Station Quarterly 53 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Oh, this was a wonderful story — beautiful, visceral, raw, powerful. It’s about a shapeshifter and the one who loves them during WWI, and of their descendants, and it was just gorgeous.
I am now going out to seek out everything else Martino has written, because if they are half as good as this, they will be amazing.
Review of P. L. Watts, “The Twin’s Paradox,” Luna Station Quarterly 53 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was a simple story: One of a pair of identical twins goes on a journey to Alpha Centauri, the other stays at home, and when the former returns they are no longer identical because the latter has aged. A good premise, but there wasn’t much more than that, no twist, no unexpected move, no deeper insight. Just a simple story.
Review of B. B. Garin, “Sophie Baker’s Vanishing Act,” Luna Station Quarterly 53 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story was one part modern ring of Gyges, one part commentary on modern medicine’s inability to understand that women exist, have pain, and need treatment, and one part commentary on the erasure of women.
Review of Chloe Smith, “The Governess,” Luna Station Quarterly 53 (2023): Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
I love it when a sci fi story takes a binary and turns it on its head, in unexpected — and yet totally realistic — ways. This story nailed that. Utterly breathtaking.
SFF Reviews