Review of Lesley Hart Gunn, “Track 19,” Luna Station Quarterly 66 (June 2026): 83-87 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This piece felt more like a sermon than a story — a self-help piece chiding me and telling me all the ways I’m doing life wrong. Packed with metaphors, that are sometimes pushed a bit too far, it left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.
Review of Elijah J. Mears, “Saul & Noah’s Hot Bouleutophagy Summer,” Adventitious no. 4 (Aug 2026): 117-134 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
In case you’re like me and weren’t 100% sure what bouleutophagy, I’m not spoiling anything about this extremely hilarious — while simultaneously almost too real for comfort — story by glossing it as “eat the rich”. The word may not yet show up in my go-to dictionary, Wiktionary, but I certainly hope it will be there in years to come! (I also did a double-take, and enjoyed, seeing the city I lived in for the first 10 years of my life get name-checked — its one of those that usually only people who’ve been there know of it!)
Review of R.S.A. Garcia, “This Is an Emergency Broadcast”, Clarkesworld Issue 238, July (2026): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
Oh my. What a story. This one will surely be collecting some nominations, I think!
I have been reading this very slowly amidst a busy few weeks, and it was so so worth it.
Even when I only got to read a few minutes at a time, it was immediately arresting. So many moments in this story that evoked many different kinds of reactions and feelings in me.
At the end of the story, when I tell you I got literal chills and scrolled all the way back up to check something again (you’ll know what I mean if you read the story).. this one was a pure pleasure to read.
Do yourself a favour and read it.
Review of Jonathan Huston, “The Alien You Love,” Flash Fiction Online 153 (August 2026): 18-21 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
The beauty of this love story was almost enough to get me past my deep-seated dislike of the 2nd person POV.
Review of S.L. Harris, “Meatball,” Flash Fiction Online 153 (August 2026): 6-9 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
When the emotional support hamster’s emotions are more in need of support than the one its supposed to be supporting, you know the story isn’t going to end up well. I do love it when a story surprises me!
Review of Marie Brennan, “All Under Heaven,” Adventitious no. 2 (Apr 2026): 9-26 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
I loved the way this piece of historical fiction went back and forth between omniscient viewpoint, telling the truth that everyone knows, and an unreliable narrator, questioning the truth that everyone knows. It was a very effective technique that made me wonder just what was fact, and what was fiction — a question any historian knows we can never really know the answer to.
Review of Sarah Grace Tuttle, “A Place to Grow,” Adventitious no. 1 (Feb/Mar 2026): 121. — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Short and sweet and strangely hopeful, this story was a perfect little dose of a pick-me-up!
Review of Ryan Cole, “Macaroni Art in the Age of Filtration”, Clarkesworld Issue 235, April (2026): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
It is difficult to breathe. In this story set in the indeterminate future.
But also in many places around the world even today.
Reading this story about gritty air and noxious gases and particulate matter will likely make you want to take deep breaths of gratitude.
More than once I was sharply reminded of this setting already being a reality for many. Many things in our world today reflect dystopian stories in various ways.. but the power of love and humanity is always what makes these stories so impactful.
Humans can do many curious, difficult, strong things – all for a sliver of hope.
Review of Stacie Turner, “Recording of Professor Elizabeth Boucher’s Opening Lecture on Death Ages Novels, University of Presque Isle, March 32, 2667,” Adventitious no. 1 (Feb/Mar 2026): 10-18 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: References to rape.
This is the story of every archivist’s worst nightmare: Late 20th/early 21st C literature and culture lost for ever because we thought electronic storage was stable and accessible. It’s also the story of at least one archivist’s best dream: That centuries from now, what our ancestors will remember of our society is fanfiction. I adored this story, and want to attend all of Dr. Boucher’s lectures.
Review of Sasha Brown, “Citizens!” Flash Fiction Online 152 (May 2026): 28-31 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
There was something both very real and very surreal about this story. I really enjoyed it!
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