Review of Samantha Murray, “The Stars that Fall,” Small Wonders no. 11 (May 2024): 35-37 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Death of a child.
This was a weird combination of science, astrology, and fantasy, and for all it’s mishmash, I really, really liked it.
(First published in Flash Fiction Online 2017).
Review of Fiona Moore, “The Portmeirion Road”, Clarkesworld Issue 212, May (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
This shows such a great approach to a post apocalyptic society, and how people work together to rebuild society in various ways, including via information archives. The contrast is starker still with the “good old days” of healthcare and information accessibility being part of living memory.
Never thought a story would make me feel a pang of emotion for an Ikea style wood chip table, but here we are. For a happy coincidence, this one brings an adorable robot companion too, just like the first story in the issue!
I’m hoping this story is part of a larger universe, because the world building is amazing. I want to read more about their laws, Morag’s life on the farm and brewery, homesteading, the archivists, and how this society develops.
Review of Alice Towey, “Fishy”, Clarkesworld Issue 212, May (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one – what a great story to start this issue! I’ve read this author before, and I loved her work even then. The author works in water resource management, and it makes its way into her fiction beautifully. A few words and phrases are all she needs to describe situations, emotions, and feelings.
Fishy is a good friend, and one who wants you to be happy. I’ve got a weakness for adorable robot companions, and Fishy delivers! This story is layered, emotional and cute, with some a great ethical choice to round it off. Simply fantastic.
Review of Michael Swanwick, “Timothy: An Oral History”, Clarkesworld Issue 205, October (2023): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
A layered piece with a great format; it explores an all-female, utopian society, and what happens when a biological man comes into existence in such a society. An intriguing idea, elevated by the oral history narrative format that was able to incorporate so many different points of view into a short story.
Gender norms and expectations, of course, look different in this society. When a biological male upends the status quo in this utopia, the cracks start to show. An interesting examination of societal norms, and a great way to wrap up this issue.
Review of Jennifer Mace, “Sparsely Populated With Stars,” Flash Fiction Online 126 (March 2024): 14-17 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
It seems at first that this is a told through a series of dreams dreamt by someone in cryostasis, but as the dreams begin to fragment, things become less clear — is it cryostasis? Is it immmortality? Or is it prison? Dreams and reality become entangled and questions multiply. In a flash fic piece, of course there’s not enough time to answer them; but nevertheless, the story when it ends feels complete.
Review of JM Cyrus, “You and Me, Here and There, Now and Then and When,” Luna Station Quarterly 57 (2024): 140-154 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
What a fun little story this was, with undercurrents of time travel and split personal identity, but ultimately, just a comforting little love story.
Review of Emily Yu, “The Angelus Machine,” Luna Station Quarterly 57 (2024): 212-221 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
If you’re looking for a slightly uncomfortable story about love between a human and an AI, this is a story for you.
Review of Remy Welch, “Souls on the Open Plane,” Luna Station Quarterly 57 (2024): 176-195 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story, told through alternating diary entries, introduces us to Lyre, a human scientist on an expedition space ship, and Bob, a Ragak who works in her lab. The entries are distinctive in voice in a way that conveys Bob’s alien-ness very effectively, and there is a rich sense of development. This was a strong debut publication for Welch — I look forward to reading more by her!
Review of Amal Singh, “Rafi”, Clarkesworld Issue 205, October (2023): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
I’ve read this author before, and have always enjoyed his work. Happily, this story is no different. He really does write grief and anguish very well. Whenever music plays a part in an uprising, it always brings me joy. Here, in the thought-policed dystopia of the story, singing itself is as an act of rebellion. A story with depth and great prose, particularly in these aforementioned moments of pain.
And of course, my personal heritage bias means I will always be appreciative of a story set in India or by a writer of Indian origin. It’s so lovely to see people of your culture represented in media.
Review of Esther Alter, “Sojourner,” Luna Station Quarterly 57 (2024): Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Everyone who has ever followed the escapades of the Mars rovers and other extra-terrestrial sojourners via twitter or other newsfeeds will understand the draw that humans have to stories of plucky machines exploring worlds we ourselves will never visit (though maybe our great-grandchildren will).
This is a story of such machines. It’s got rocks. And robot jokes. And, oh my goodness, it made me cry. I loved it.
SFF Reviews