Review of Fumio Takano, Sharni Wilson (trans.), “The Secret,” khōréō 4, no. 4 (2025) — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Roughly a hundred years into the future, the division between the haves and the have-nots has become even further entrenched; this story is the story of two “have-nots” on opposite sides of a century who have each ended up making a living for themselves in an unexpected way. What connects them is the Mistress, who holds an unexpected secret.
Review of Christos Callow Jr., “The Trauma Tourist,” khōréō 4, no. 4 (2025) — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Suicide, torture simulation, cultural appropriation.
The capitalist idea of turning trauma into a source of income isn’t one that feels very far-fetched at all, though I confess to wondering a bit about the psyche of the people who would actively choose to consume such a product. But that’s precisely why it makes such a great idea for a story!
Review of Jacob Baugher, “Recitations,” Flash Fiction Online 142 (July 2025): 8-11 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Sometimes all an author has to do to win me over is provide me with one great phrase. As soon as I read “as if thoughts and prayers were an actual sacrifice” (p. 9), I knew that Baugher could do practically nothing to ruin his story for me. But even without this masterful piece of wordcraft, I’d’ve still enjoyed this beautifully imagined story.
Review of Zeke Jarvis, “Skinfluencer,” Flash Fiction Online 141 (June 2025): 27-29 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Body modification / possible body horror.
Sometimes speculative fiction is incredibly realistic: This story certainly couldn’t happen today, but reading it I feel like this could easily happen in 5-10 years’ time.
(First published in Backchannels 2023.)
Review of Marissa Lingen, “A Shaky Bridge”, Clarkesworld Issue 227, August (2025): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
A bright yet emotional story, from the point of view of a daughter trying to find what’s best for her family. It’s a story about where we’re going with capitalism; it’s also a story about a family growing together.
A quick, surprisingly poignant read.
Review of Jennifer Lesh Fleck, “This Island Toward Which I Row and Row, Yet Cannot Reach Alone,” Flash Fiction Online 141 (June 2025): 8-12 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
I love it when a title is almost an entire story in itself.
I love it even more when the story that goes with the title is not at all what I thought it would be, and yet the title is exactly right for the story.
Review of Vrinda Baliga, “Fatherhood,” Luna Station Quarterly 62 (June 2025): 227-240 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Pregnancy after infertility; pregnancy complications (positive outcome); eugenics.
Dr. Mishra’s entry into fatherhood isn’t at all what he hoped it would be: First, unexpected complications result in an emergency c-section for his wife; then, there’s a surprise inspection at work. Unfortunately, the research that his lab conducts and the child who will hopefully soon be coming into the world are intimately connected, and not necessarily in a good way! This is a story of administrative paperwork and interfering relations, of science fiction becoming fact, and of a whole new form of fatherhood. Even though I could see pretty close from the start where the end was going to be, this was still an enjoyable read.
Review of Susan Webster, “Our Last Celebration,” Luna Station Quarterly 62 (June 2025): 215-225 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Euthanasia.
There was something about this story that didn’t sit right with me, that felt a bit “off”. I couldn’t help but read about the celebration and wonder: How rich did one have to be, in this post-apocalyptic setting, to get to have a last celebration? (Rachel drives a BMW, so: rich enough, at least!) What about all the others — the young cadet who guards the gate, the two women whose responsibility it is to ensure the celebration is a success? What will happen to them? Do they ever have the chance to escape for a celebration, or are they fated to only serve the ones who are rich enough?
Review of Madalena Daleziou, “Asra’s Magnificent Emporium,” Luna Station Quarterly 62 (June 2025): 291-301 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
I always enjoy fantasy stories (which this definitely is: cursed objects! divination! witches!) that are nevertheless set in SF settings (Europa!) — there’s something about the cross-genre blending that tickles me. This was an enjoyable tale, no deep thoughts, no big moral, just some slices of Asra’s life and a peak into her very magnificent indeed emporium.
Review of Sally Sultzman, “This Storm Won’t Miss,” Luna Station Quarterly 62 (June 2025): 107-111 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Oh, my god, this was an absolute tear-jerker. Be prepared to need to grab your beloved pets and hold them close after reading this.
SFF Reviews