REVIEW: “Victory and Vanilla” by Hesper Leveret

Review of Hesper Leveret, “Victory and Vanilla,” Luna Station Quarterly 58 (2024): 107-125 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

Ever wanted a combination of Great British Bake-Off and speculative fiction? If so, this is the story for you! It was clearly written by someone intimately familiar with British cooking competition shows (there was even a mention of a buttery biscuit base…), i.e., an author after my own heart.

Sometimes, all you want a story that’s just good fun. That’s exactly what this was.

Sara L. UckelmanLeave a comment

REVIEW: “To the Moon and Back” by Emmie Christie

Review of Emmie Christie, “To the Moon and Back,” Luna Station Quarterly 58 (2024): 85-95 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

On the anniversary of her sister Candy’s transformation into a cloud to swim in the Sky-Sea, Niska sets off to find out what, eventually, happened to her. Is Candy still alive? Will Niska find her? Set against an elegant and unusual metaphysics, this story centers the bond of sisterhood and the lengths one will go for love. The ending may not have happened the way Niska imagined, but it definitely wasn’t a sad ending.

Sara L. UckelmanLeave a comment

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.

Sara L. UckelmanLeave a comment

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.

Sara L. UckelmanLeave a comment

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.

Sara L. UckelmanLeave a comment

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!

Sara L. UckelmanLeave a comment

REVIEW: “37 Seconds to Say Goodbye” by R. J. Howell

Review of R. J. Howell, “37 Seconds to Say Goodbye,” Luna Station Quarterly 58 (2024): 15-22 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.

This is a quick, staccato story, told in short scenes, with short paragraphs, and (mostly) short sentences. All of this serves to underscore the sense of urgency already imparted by the title. While reading the story certainly takes more than 37 seconds, it certainly doesn’t feel like it. All aspects of this story are interlocked with each other just perfectly, to make it both effective and novel. Much fun to read!

Sara L. UckelmanLeave a comment