Review of Ernest O. Ògúnyẹmí, “The Road,” Fantasy Magazine 84 (October 2022): 25 — Read here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This is a poem of longing and loss, with a hint of hope at the end.
REVIEW: “The Blinding Light of Resurrection” by Rajeev Prasad
Review of Rajeev Prasad, “The Blinding Light of Resurrection”, Clarkesworld Issue 212, May (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
Kept me hooked! An emotionally resonant story where I was genuinely invested in the characters and what happened to them. When someone is driven by obsession, rationality goes out the window, and that’s always a recipe for disaster.
This novelette provides a really, really good perspective on obsession and the cost of following through on it. Deftly written in a way that you can understand the protagonist’s motivations while also understanding how they’ve gone off track.
Again, I cannot overstate the emotional resonance in this one. Lovely writing.
REVIEW: “The Texture of Memory, of Light” by Samara Auman
Review of Samara Auman, “The Texture of Memory, of Light”, Clarkesworld Issue 212, May (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
Much like the previous story in this issue, this is a poignant one that deals with memories of a late mother. There’s a great emphasis on working through conflicting feelings, while being caught up in tightly constructed and intricately layered human systems.
The protagonist has much to work through, coming out on the other side with greater understanding and healing. The character development was fantastic, and I loved seeing all the changes – and the decisions that grew from there.
Great background and secondary characters, too. I especially liked the world building and would definitely read more stories set here.
REVIEW: “The Brotherhood of Montague St. Video” by Thomas Ha
Review of Thomas Ha, “The Brotherhood of Montague St. Video”, Clarkesworld Issue 212, May (2024): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
Set in a not too distant dystopian future, this story follows an unnamed protagonist who finds a dead book. A real one, with no pixelated layer on the pages, no swiping to increase the brightness. Just paper.
That’s rare in this world, and the book itself is so different from the kinds of books generally available. Present day books have their endings sanitized, plot lines changed, and audience acceptance maximized by following tropes and guidelines. That’s why this one stands out, attracts attention.
I always love to see stories of people finding their inner strength and purpose. Plus, the character arc and world building in this story is a treat. Definitely recommend.
REVIEW: “Everything Is Idaho” by Eliza Sullivan
Review of Eliza Sullivan, “Everything Is Idaho,” Luna Station Quarterly 58 (2024): 213-234 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
It’s an apocalyptic story, but one that feels very “samey”. We don’t know any details about the apocalypse, such as what caused it; we just know the aftermath, and it feels as if it could be any apocalypse. Maybe this makes the story universal, allowing the reader to fill in the gaps and adapt it how they wish; or maybe it just makes it underdeveloped and vaguely defined.
So if this is a vague and ill-defined post-apocalyptic story, why read this one, as opposed to any other one? I’d say, read it for the brothers’ relationship that is central to the story — that part was good. And also unbearably sad.
REVIEW: “The Chicken’s Just Fine” by J. Autumn Needles
Review of J. Autumn Needles, “The Chicken’s Just Fine,” Flash Fiction Online 128 (May 2024): 11-13 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
What a strange little story. The FFO editors classified this as science fiction, but the only SF element I could find is the setting — one oblique reference to the characters having “brought those ideas from another world” (p. 11). The speculative elements are loosely defined enough that one could interpret them as either science or magic, a pleasing ambiguity which definitely helps the story along.
REVIEW: “The Portmeirion Road” by Fiona Moore
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: “Fishy” by Alice Towey
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: “Timothy: An Oral History” by Michael Swanwick
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: “Cedar Glen” by Alicia Adams
Review of Alicia Adams, “Cedar Glen,” Luna Station Quarterly 57 (2024): 222-239 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story had an eerie, slightly surreal quality to it — you can tell from the start that something is wrong even if you can’t tell what. It sort of feels like the two characters are the only people in the world who missed the memo about Covid lockdown.
We never get any answers, just a growing sense of doom. It was gripping, and really sad.
SFF Reviews 