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.
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 Amy Johnson, “The Mummy Gets Adopted,” Small Wonders no. 7 (January 2024): 10-12 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This lovely little poem features a cat, and is therefore an entirely excellent poem which everyone should read.
Review of Morgan Welch, “Hikari,” Small Wonders no. 7 (January 2024): 7-9 — Read online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
Content note: Death of a parent.
It’s not often that I read a story where so little happens and yet by the end of it, I feel satisfied. “Hikari” is one of those stories, so quiet and still and calm that you feel better for having read it.
Review of Lyndsie Manusos, “Wood, Amber, Smoke,” Flash Fiction Online 124 (January 2024): 21-24 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This story started off strong, but in the end I felt it promised more than it delivered. The most intriguing character, the one I wanted to know more about, to know his story, was the one who wasn’t there at all.
Review of Emily Anderson Ula, “Salt,” Flash Fiction Online 124 (January 2024): 16-19 — Purchase here. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
One of my perennial complaints about a lot of SFF stories is that they seem to occupy a world in which religion doesn’t exist (nor does anything that would fill the same role). So when I get a story that is all about googling solutions to demon possession, it scratches an itch that’s always lingering. Consequently, I really enjoyed this story! Even if it was terribly sad.
(First publishing in The Blood Pudding April 2021).
Review of Grace Chan, “Post Hacking for the Uninitiated”, Clarkesworld Issue 205, October (2023): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
Straight into the action with this one! A sharp yet soft tale of things lost or taken away, and what it takes to take the power back. With hints of a much larger space opera world-building going on in the background, I’d love to see more stories set in this universe. The story stands very well on its own, of course. The parts that focus on Orin’s thoughts and memories are particularly poignant.
A bittersweet story that left me wanting more!
Review of Bella Han, “De Profundis, a Space Love Letter”, Clarkesworld Issue 205, October (2023): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
“Dear Yuwen,
This is the last night of your existence.”
When a story starts like this, you can’t help but continue. Can I call it a space opera about stories? I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of this one. As long as feelings exist, there will always remain a very real need for good storytelling. The flood of AI-generated stories aren’t cutting it, as it turns out. A human tries to change that.
An enchantingly grand novelette.
Review of Lisa Papademetriou, “Down To The Root”, Clarkesworld Issue 205, October (2023): Read Online. Reviewed by Myra Naik.
Across time, space, and civilization, feelings remain the same – often simultaneously all consuming and incomprehensible. Sometimes what drives you is simply a determined feeling, and sometimes that simple feeling is the most important thing of all.
A story about space battles and planets with cyclical time. Also a story about relationships, friendship, and a sense of faith and hope.
I also feel like Luriel is the kind of friend everyone should aspire to be. True to her duty and her friend, while traversing the confusing journey of life.
Two things to remember from this story – there are a million ways to die, and taking risks gives you strength.
Review of Brianna R. Whitrock, “End of the Earth,” Assemble Artifacts 2 (2022): 119-155 — Purchase online. Reviewed by Sara L. Uckelman.
This was long but nevertheless worth it. Full of romance and humor and longing and fun, and told in a vivid and bright narration. Enjoyable!
SFF Reviews