Anybody in the Writers of the Future circle knows what today is. It’s the last day of the third quarter–and the last day to send in entries to one of the best science-fiction and fantasy contests for new writers in the world.
Again.
I don’t actually know how many entries I’ve written by now? I’ve slowly risen in the ranks from “please no” to “honorable mention” to “silver honorable mention,” always vying to be in the top round of finalists–and yes, I confess, fantasizing about the Golden Pen Award.
But award or no award–I’ve gotten a lot better thanks to WOTF. Seriously, would I have ever written my Twizzler-eating, rooftopping, good-hearted science fantasy protagonist without the deadline? Or figured out what it is that I really want to write?
I owe them more than even I realize. Even without making it to finalist.
But on the other hand, it’s about seven years since I started this. Who knows? Maybe this will be my lucky number.
(cue sounds of Fate laughing incredulously in the background and bookmarkedone continuing to type and studiously ignoring it)
So! You want to know about the story, right? Or at least how it is that I’ve submitted my story ten hours before the actual deadline? Who even am I? Not smacking the keys at the very last moment? Letting go of it in the middle of the afternoon instead of seconds before midnight? Who is this, and what has the vile impostor done with your beloved bookmarkedone?
Beloved. Heh.
Okay, to be fair, this story has been written since the middle of May. I wrote four all-new short stories for my senior creative writing portfolio-something-something class so I could graduate uni, so all it needed was a last proofread and erasing my name from any cover pages.
I also feel like pointing out this was four roughly 5-6,000 word stories in sixteen weeks, drafted and revised, or one story a month. If you ignore the fact that my WOTF stories are usually 2-3x longer (whether or not they should be)…I did the work of a year in four months.
Which is great, because now I have my WOTF entries ready to go and can focus on other projects–but it’s also why I’ve been kind of zonked and have written Little of Any Great Significance for the last month.
As for the story itself…I can’t tell you.
I’m sorry.
But WOTF is supposed to be judged blind, and since some former contestants follow the blog (and I’ve reviewed the anthology three years running, so administration is Very Aware of me as well)…I can’t really tell you about my favorite parts of the plot without risking being busted for it.
So–now you get to wait for the results with me, after which I can tell you all the little backstage details.
…in about three months.
I said I’m sorry!
But if turning it in with ten hours to spare is any indication…I do feel pretty good about this one. Hopeful, I guess. I could use a good break.
Other news!
BookmarkedOne has gotten a redesign!
Don’t tell me you didn’t notice.
It’s actually the second redesign for the site, so by now I’m pretty used to the Dread Rearranging of All Content. Resizing, redoing the menus, deleting things that suddenly are in way the wrong place, wondering where the follow button went–
It’s a pain. I know very little about design and even less about coding, so this was…not something I was looking forward to. But I gritted my teeth and did it yesterday, and yes, stayed up until 4:00 a.m. tweaking until everything was to my satisfaction, but now it’s done.
And gang, I’m so happy about it. It’s sleeker, it’s still Dark Mode, I finally figured out how to get the blog feed to show just an excerpt instead of the entire monster post you’re scrolling forever, please, I got rid of the grainy photos that were all different sizes–it looks like I’m running a real blog here. No more teenage reader in the kitchen vibes! Only ageless Fey in the garrett style here!
Also serif fonts have no right to make me as satisfied as they do. It feels like I’m inside a book again and I am very, very happy about that.
And shoutout to the visitor from Greece who decided to pop in while I was in the middle of site construction? First off, I’m terribly sorry that you probably debated your sanity as photos disappeared and I moved That One Block slightly to the right five times and added a “that” to a paragraph but made no other alterations and wasn’t something there before that isn’t there now?
But seriously. How do you guys know? How do you pinpoint the exact moment I’m making changes? What primal instinct strikes between midnight and four o’clock in the morning of must read bookmarkedone? What sort of readers have I created?
And I know you’re there because I clicked over to my stats for something and saw thirty hits?
In retrospect, I’m wondering if WordPress is counting the times I check my own pages to make sure they’re working properly…but I know I wasn’t the only one there because I saw the link referrals from The Beauty of a Story.
I’m glad to have the visitors…but it’s also the mood of me stuffing pillows over messy piles of junk and saying “Oh, wow, hi, so great to see you, come in, have a seat, I just wasn’t expecting company.”
Anyway.
It’s fabulous now, so chill here at gremlin hours anytime you like.
Until next time,
The very best luck to all the Writers and Illustrators of the Future entrants out there, and a wry thank-you to my lovely readers. Here’s to what comes.
Spoilers–I’m not a big Frank Herbert fan. So I sort of grumbled a little, settling into this one.
And the story of a boy living in an abusive household? That’s–delicate.
“The Daddy Box” is the story of an ordinary kid discovering an alien box, but what’s inside is far more complex than most people would dream.
And after reading the story, I’m still not 100% clear on why it’s called a Daddy Box in the first place?
To understand what happened to Henry Alexander when his son, Billy, came home with the ferosslk, you’re going to be asked to make several mind-stretching mental adjustments. These mental gymnastics are certain to leave your mind permanently changed.
You’ve been warned.
I can’t lie. It’s a pretty great opening.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 5439-5442). Galaxy Press, Inc.
Why do we call it a “Daddy Box” when “ferosslk” is so much cooler and more fitting?
Whatever.
To be fair, it has its brilliant moments. It has its way of drawing you in, wondering what this thing is, this box that looks like it could be made of jade. The protagonist has the Harry Potter/Percy Jackson vibe of a boy who just needs a good break for a change, so you start rooting for him and hating the villain without much difficulty. And it (sort of) has a happy ending, so–?
It feels like part of something bigger, some bigger world, bigger story, but at the same time, belongs only to itself. That’s all there is. But inside your mind, the story of that box is going to keep unfolding.
Not half bad. Not quite my personal cup of tea, but not bad.
Interlude: “Teamwork: Getting the Best out of Two Writers” by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
It’s a nonfiction essay with some sound advice on writing with others. Cool? Cool. I learned my lesson in Part I. Back to the brand-new stories before I make another ridiculously long post.
Like skipping this will really stop me.
(maniacal laughter)
“The Island on the Lake” by John Coming
TW: 1 instance strong language, themes of suicide, the cost of knowing the future
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
I came away from this one feeling like I missed some greater meaning that despite my closest reading, swept straight over my head and went whistling through the branches of the pine trees.
Or maybe it’s just what it is and I’m overly suspicious. Hard to say.
“The Island on the Lake” reads like a fairytale, fitting the old story structure that’s so familiar it’s like a comfortable worn sweater with a hole in the left elbow–go three times to your health, but a fourth to your peril, beware all types of magic for there’s always a cost, behold the forces of the world personified, ageless and knowing but lacking the innocent happy freedoms of mortal man–but it kept nagging me, why? What’s really going on here? What am I missing?
There’s some beautiful description in this one. So much that sometimes I was thinking how did you get away with this someone would have yelled at me to stop talking about the trees hours ago?
But I think it’s the little notes, the colors, that make this story beautiful.
…the days stretched on like taffy.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Location 5907). Galaxy Press, Inc.
Oranges like fading fire, and reds like dark apples.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Location 6203). Galaxy Press, Inc.
See what I mean? Gorgeous.
But it probably also didn’t help my opinion of the piece that I don’t like stories that end where you can’t feel satisfied, where you keep wondering for days with a tight feeling in your gut, hoping everyone is going to be okay.
Yeah…this is one of those.
The illustration is beautiful. I’ve–known a lot of forests in my life, and that one, that one felt…right. I’ve never been to one quite like that, but in a strange way it reminds me of the ones I know. The vines, the electric splashes of purple, the huge elephant ear leaves, the trees so much taller than the minuscule people, the lake that doesn’t throw back any clear reflection–it’s just beautiful. I probably missed the mark on this story, because I know given the chance, I’d most likely row out to that island just to meet those trees.
“The Phantom Carnival” by M. Elizabeth Ticknor
TW: some scary imagery, violent/thematic content, kidnapping, forced memory loss.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
“What makes you so sure you could?”
“Because I’m me.” Danny’s face splits in an ear-to-ear grin…
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 6524-6526). Galaxy Press, Inc.
So I wasn’t “in love” with the stories immediately prior. It happens. I settled in to this one on a rainy afternoon, tired, not really paying attention–
And promptly was grabbed, snatched, dragged, and otherwise forcefully brought into this world of story until my eyes were bugging out a little and I was flipping pages, thinking am I really reading this oh this is gorgeous what on earth oh oh YES and other (clears throat) incoherent little fangirl thoughts.
I mean…just taking a glance at my notebook scribblings…
…yeah, I’ve got nothing to say for myself.
No lie. This was amazing.
I was so excited I got on Twitter and yelled at everyone about it, spoiling my review a little…anyway.
Brace yourself for a Depression-era, rail-riding, trouser-wearing, monster-stabbing protagonist named Alice in the historical fiction/fantasy/horror/carnival short story you had no idea you needed.
You need this. You do.
It reminds me so much of stories I devoured during endless summers as a kid, watching other girls take on the world, no matter how impossible the challenge seemed. It’s spunky and voicey and unique and so well-researched on both fantastic and historical levels (screams)–I never considered a Depression-era fantasy, but now it makes so much sense I’m envious of Ticknor’s brilliance. Of course there was a secret magic world in the ’30s. Of course there was a creepy carnival and Fay kids riding the rails. Oh, naturally.
I want to go to that carnival. I know, I know, I know. But just to visit. It’s so weird and wonderful there. Just sneak in. Nobody would notice a thing.
And can we talk about the platonic friendships? I am always here for platonic friendships.
I only trusted him with my secret because he trusted me with his.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 6689-6690). Galaxy Press, Inc.
This isn’t even a review anymore. It’s just me gushing over this thing.
It’s good. Read it. Now.
“The Last Dying Season” by Brittany Rainsdon
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
TW: xenaphobia, genocide, something like possession/mind control, suspense and danger, forced memory loss
So the first thing I thought about this one was “Fuzzy socks and Narnia…this bio seems familiar…Brittany, Brittany–didn’t we read something by her before? Wasn’t she the one,” (cue frantic rustling through my ARC copy of Vol. 37 until I find “Half-Breed,” the gorgeous Dryad story from last year and much internal screaming that Rainsdon is back yes yes yes yes yes!).
Yeah. I was excited. But also–there was some trepidation. What if she couldn’t live up to her last story? What if this wasn’t as good?
No sense in holding my breath. I turned the page.
Flowers and vines were their technological hardware, storing entire libraries of data in a single seed, leaf, or flower’s DNA.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 6965-6966). Galaxy Press, Inc.
Guys. She did it. It’s good.
If her first story was urban fantasy, then this one is standard colonialist sci-fi. You know the stuff. Earth died, so humanity moved to another planet and trashed it in 20 seconds flat. You’ve read that plot before, if you’ve read any of the old stuff.
But here’s the thing. It’s Rainsdon.
…without conscience, courage becomes cruelty.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Location 7385). Galaxy Press, Inc.
(muffled sounds of bookmarkedone screaming it’s Rainsdon! from the rooftop and my neighbors mowing their lawns in fear)
So please. Allow me to be the first to introduce you to Edrei Muller, skilled geneticist and botanist on the planet Kalefe, and more importantly, a mother, in a world on the brink of collapse.
Like, you know I’ll fight for my found family dynamics, my platonic friendships, but a mother/daughter relationship? It changes the entire story. Rainsdon writes it with such tenderness, such free admission of flaws, of struggles, of love–
ARGH.
Read. Now. Go.
Interlude: “The Third Artist” by Diane Dillon
Okay, I know I said I’d skip the essays this time, but you should know that this one is a good read. I’m not a member of the visual arts community, and yet I found myself carried away by the way Dillon writes. For one reason because not only is it advice,
…it’s also a love story.
It’s the story of two artists who fell in love with each other and each other’s work and somehow figured out a way to embrace their creative passions together without scratching each other’s eyes out.
Leo and I were born in 1933, eleven days apart, 3,000 miles apart on opposite coasts, and from different worlds.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 7541-7542). Galaxy Press, Inc.
Frankly, it’s riveting. Nothing stops them. Their successful career. How many other creatives can say they managed that?
“A Word of Power” by David Farland
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
So this is a special one because it’s Farland’s last contribution to WOTF before passing away.
Yeah.
I think it would satisfy him to know that he managed to finish editing the last anthology with his name associated with it, that he had the honor of writing the story to go with the cover illustration.
It’s not every day you get a story with mammoths and robots. I mean, have you looked at the cover art?
An it’s flash fiction! Which if you don’t write SF/F is really, really hard. This genre takes a lot of explaining, so if you just throw someone in the deep end for a few thousand words, usually the best you get is gibberish and a headache.
For what it’s worth, Farland pulls it off. And he makes his characters leap off the page from the start.
But…it’s flash. You don’t get a complete ending tied up with a bow in flash. You get the opening, the beginning, something being brought to life, the first time a bird springs from the nest and beats its wings against the sky, and then–
The end. That’s all there is.
There’s just too much we don’t know. It’s scary.
But maybe that’s the point. Anytime we do anything, take any risk, it can feel like standing on the edge of the cliff. Maybe Farland’s story is there to remind us what it feels like to hope, to take the leap, to believe that there’s something good out there if we just reach for it.
And maybe he just left it open at the end so we could draw our own conclusions and fill in the blanks more eloquently and personally than he could.
Some good writing techniques really include “just be lazy.” It’s ridiculous that it works.
“The Greater Good” by Em Dupre
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
TW: affairs, abusive relationships, murder, flippant remarks about sexuality, some violently graphic imagery, suspense, forced memory loss
Presenting an intergalactic murder mystery with a sci-fi confessional and an ageless man who really just wants to have a nice dinner in peace–
I feel like I did that wrong.
I’m not wrong, though.
How do you keep peace between a team of colonists alone in space for years when they’re going to feel cooped up and start stepping on each other’s toes, ruining their marriages, and killing each other since they have all the maturity of middle-aged teenagers?
Memory erasure. Only logical option. Clearly.
And so we get Counselor Adrian Parrish, who remembers everything and has the energy of an exhausted teacher on a school trip.
Poor man.
It’s a little difficult to stomach some points, since Adrian knows all the gruesome gossip about literally every character in the story, and in such a close POV, we the readers get to hear every last morsel of it–
Right. Anybody else feeling sympathy for Adrian’s grey hairs?
But aside from that…it’s really quite fascinating. It’s all so delicate when you look at it, so close to falling apart socially, and then there’s the murder mystery…
Just know what you’re in for. And good luck.
“For the Federation” by J. A. Becker
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
TW: mild language, body horror, concubinage, genetic breeding, sterilization, violence (high body count), xenophobia, interplanetary colonization
YES IT’S TIME FOR THIS ONE!
All caps. Not professional. Right. Sorry.
Okay, so it’s pretty much a smack-in-the-face opening. And then with Craig and Beth start fighting–I wasn’t sure this was going to really suit me.
I was so happily wrong.
Presenting:
Beth, the genetically-modified assassin thug who could probably have an anvil dropped on her leg and wouldn’t bat an eye,
Craig, her misguided but caring spouse and the politician she’s charged with protecting,
and Sam, the son Beth would do anything for.
I am a gun, and he’s just pointed and pulled the trigger.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 8595-8596). Galaxy Press, Inc..
In the action scenes, Beth is a machine. She’s incredible. I–yes. We salute the lady tank. And in the more tender, emotional moments? She’s there.
It’s not smooth sailing. It’s messy and chaotic and painful, and they’ve got their own share of hurt and betrayal and back stabbing and I love it.
It is so hard to see an enemy an inch from my face and I can’t kill it. It breaks me.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 8535-8536). Galaxy Press, Inc.
(muffled bookmarkedone screaming)
If last year was the Year of the Granny, I’m voting this one as Good Moms. And this is another trend that I am more than ready to see become a trope because it’s going to be a long time before I get tired of complex, conflicted, beautiful characters like this.
My complaint?
The ending.
I really would like just a little hint more. I just–need to know after all that, after everything they went through, that everybody is going to be okay.
I always do complain about the endings, don’t I?
“Psychic Poker” by Lazarus Black
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
TW: strong language, some unfavorable/callous comments toward religious faith
So time for something a lot less serious than the legal standing of time travel or watching an assassin try her hardest to be a good mom.
Let’s see what happens when clairvoyants try to play cards against each other!
Yeah, there’s no more serious message here. It gets scary for the characters, but that’s it, that’s the plot.
To be fair, it’s pretty voicey, and it’s interesting to see how Black’s particular version of psychic powers work–what do you see? What do you miss?
And the protagonist, while being the Hawaiian-shirt wearing callous and selfish type, isn’t without his own merit.
Can’t hurt my kiddo if I’m just stupid lazy. I hope.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Location 8966). Galaxy Press, Inc.
The psychics are all different too, all with their own stories and backgrounds–which, of course, since the protagonist is psychic, the reader gets to know in rich detail.
Really, I should probably appreciate the clever bits of writing more than I do.
So why don’t I?
Well, besides Mr. Young getting under my skin a little, there’s a twist.
Frankly, I think I’m irritated by the twist because it feels like cheating and I really should have seen it coming.
You can be too clever, sometimes.
And that’s the end!
What did I think? Well, there were a lot of stories I loved this time. A few I didn’t, but that’s how anthologies go. I’m still delighted I got to be part of the advanced reader team and I hope I have the chance again next year.
My rating?
Bookmarkedone Rating:
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Thanks for reading, and again a huge thank-you to GalaxyPress for making this possible and for all the lovely writers who put so much effort into these stories. It’s quite easy for me to read a story and snub my nose at it, but it takes much more time to make something good.
It’s finally here! A huge thank-you to the lovely folks at GalaxyPress and Writers of the Future for including me in the advanced reader group for the third year running.
I might be a little excited about this. But since I’ve gushed over how much I love the WOTF anthology and contest plenty enough before, let’s plunge right into the review.
Like previous years, I’ll be doing “mini-reviews” of each short story in the anthology, and splitting the review into two posts so it isn’t so ridiculously long that not even the most desperate reader has the stamina to get through it. And finally:
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions, grumblings, rants, and fangirl gushing are my own.
Let’s go!
L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future Vol. 38 (edited by David Farland)
Genre: Adult science fiction, fantasy, and horror (anthology)
Bookmarkedone rating: (included in Part II)
“Agatha’s Monster” by Azure Arther
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
TW: parent hitting a child, some suspense/drama, trauma over a loved one’s violent death, which is pretty gory
I’ve sort of been rooting for all the monsters since reading Frankenstein…and maybe before that. So as soon as Arther’s yellow-eyed, clawed, cat-eating cuddly little Martin popped onto the page, I settled in.
There’s a lot to keep track of in this one–Agatha herself, all the members of her family, the weird hybrid magical world that includes gigantic monsters and knife fighting, medieval-style tunics and leggings, but also something like TV broadcasts, your standard public school, and travel by car. It can be a little confusing if you’re not paying attention. But on the other hand, it’s definitely unique.
And Arther does a really good job of hinting at her backstory without teasing the reader, keeping you guessing until the climax when everything suddenly falls into place. It’s a potent mixture of coming-of-age, learning who you want to be and where you belong, and learning to deal with grief in your own way.
I guess my only hesitation with this one is that I don’t understand Agatha’s family dynamic. I could be reading into this, but…I don’t like her mom.
There. I said it. Maybe it’s fine, but when Agatha was fighting back against her internal emotional struggle and her mom just slapped her–I shut down. I started reinterpreting everything else (why was Agatha the one doing all the breakfast prep by herself? What’s the relationship really like here?), wondering if this was actually as unhealthy as I thought it was.
That’s not really addressed in the story. She gets her happy ending, and everything goes on. As if the family dynamic is fluff, instead of a bunch of sharp-edged, grieving characters lashing out at each other.
So…yeah. Monster hunting trauma? Great! POC representation? Terrific! Unhealthy family dynamic? Um, no. Not up for that here, sorry.
“The Magical Book of Accidental Destruction: A Book Wizard’s Guide” by Z. T. Bright
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
TW: subtle commentary on gender/gender roles/sexuality, some rude humor, alcohol use
There’s so much to love about this story. The notes of Arabic-inspired fantasy. The found family dynamic. The speculative element on the nature of internet algorithms dropped into not a sci-fi like you would expect, but a high fantasy. The fact that the protagonist is a book wizard!
I know I should be focusing on the magical elements, but frankly, I’m obsessed with how the characters interact, how sharp-edged and broken they all are in their own different ways, sometimes hurting one another, and sometimes being everything they need.
It’s really nice to have a found family/sibling dynamic once in a while instead of the Hollywood standard romance. And I think this is the kind of tension/resolution that I was hoping for in “Agatha’s Monster.” The messy, painful process of learning when to hang on and when to let go. We know nobody’s perfect, but that doesn’t mean you ignore the imperfections. It doesn’t mean that you don’t try every day to learn, to be better, to love in return.
I don’t want to spoil the story, so I’ll just leave a couple of my favorite quotes to give you an idea of what you’re in for:
I spent the night crying and breaking things and drinking strong beverages. Not necessarily in that order.
I have a note scribbled in my Kindle copy here that just says “mood.”
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Location 1303). Galaxy Press, Inc.
Though I wasn’t sure I was wrong, I had an apology to make.
Can we say “character development?”
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 1305-1306). Galaxy Press, Inc.
And of course I’d be totally remiss if I didn’t talk about Ari Zaritsky’s accompanying illustration. In case you aren’t familiar with the WOTF anthology, every story is paired with a full-color image created by one of the winning illustrators from the competition. And Zaritsky’s is pretty gorgeous.
It’s not just the colors, the rich dark browns against the golden desert sand and blue sky. It’s the way he draws BW, the protagonist, that really caught my attention.
We don’t get a lot of description of her in the story. Just that she has her head shaved and wears a monk’s robe. She’s tough, or tries to be, but Zaritsky’s version of her–
She’s beautiful. Her eyes are an arresting blue, like the desert sky behind her, full lips a dark burgundy shade that hints at lipstick. She has an eyebrow piercing and earrings and a tattoo on her face. The expressions of the other two characters are easy to read, but hers–it’s as if she’s waiting for you to make some choice before she decides if she’s going to be derisive or angry or simply sad. She’s beautiful and feminine and mysterious. Zaritsky painted this tough character so tenderly, as if he really knows her, as if he knows how hard she fights to be strong.
It’s time to move on before I spend the whole post talking about this story.
“The Squid is My Brother” by Mike Jack Stoumbos
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
TW: tentacles, symbiotes, innuendo
Okay, I’m just going to say it. I loved, loved, loved this story.
“The Squid is My Brother” is the story of an ordinary girl trying to fit into a new school–except she’s a “third-generation Neptune,” a foreign exchange student from space with a tentacled symbiote attached to her back. But it’s not a Venom type symbiote. Michaela calls it her “Brother,” and it’s just that–a friend so close that it’s part of her, a protector and confidant.
It’s so sweet and so weird. It’s perfect.
And the writing style! It’s this gorgeous combination of blank, blunt prose like you’d find in a telegram message and Michaela’s young, sometimes stinging voice as she fights back against a hostile new environment.
Examples?
Had to apologize again for telling them, “Concussion builds character.”
That’s my girl.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Location 1457). Galaxy Press, Inc.
And no, as I try to explain to caretakers, can’t see through my spine; spine doesn’t have eyes.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 1488-1489). Galaxy Press, Inc.
I worry I will fail lunch…there is no teacher for lunch…The other students sit in groups, and I can’t tell the rules for who sits where and why.
Again, mood.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 1577-1579). Galaxy Press, Inc.
This is the school story to end all school stories. Stoumbos has done it, everyone else go home!
Why? Because the bullying isn’t “why are they picking on our awesome middle grade hero everyone loves” but “she’s different, and different is scary.” It’s something plausible and painful, something real, instead of a plot device.
And the illustration of Michaela quietly drawing while her Brother’s pink tentacles frame her curly black hair? I think I love it just as much as the illustration of BW from the previous story.
It’s beautiful. I could read a whole novel of this. Scratch that, I’d devour a novel of this. Stoumbos, if you’re reading, can I have a novel, please?
It balances the overwhelmingly ordinary with the extremely weird so well. It’s creepy and sweet and it’s about being brave when you’re scared, about being who you are and holding your head up until everyone else accepts you.
It’s good, okay? It’s good.
“Gallows” by Desmond Astaire
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
TW: mild language, infrequent strong language, alcohol use, themes of loss and trauma
On to the next!
My customers will call me Gallows, and I am a discerning bartender. Everyone’s got a story to hide, and I enjoy stealing it out of them.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 1829-1830). Galaxy Press, Inc.
If you like time travel and intrigue, “Gallows” might be just the thing. It ponders the classic questions of time travel–can we change the past? Is the future predetermined–while our protagonist slowly goes from a respectable corporate compliance officer contentedly living a boring life to a more and more murdery headhunter.
It’s kind of great.
Especially since Gallows is the “I don’t think I can die,” reckless type and his partner is in the background doing a facepalm.
I honestly wish Burkey had gotten more time in the story. Not only is it cool that his partner in crime is a woman and there’s a simple friendship instead of an awkward romance, Burkey is just awesome. She’s cool in the controlled, restrained way of side characters that make you back up a step because you know they could be really scary.
They’re a great combo.
Every once in a while, the little voice in my head tells me something is a critically dangerous idea. But I’ve come to learn that I am smarter than that voice, and I ignore it.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 2126-2128). Galaxy Press, Inc.
And more than that, the story pokes at the political side of things. What happens when governments get involved with time travel? What kind of power does that have in a military/reconnaissance context? Or as Astaire puts it, what does it mean “to address tomorrow’s threat before it arrives?”
Interlude: “Boos and Taboos” by L. Ron Hubbard
Since this is a previously published essay on the writing craft, I’m going to skip the review and leave you with a few quotes. Even cutting this post in half, I’m getting carried away and I need more room to gab about fiction!
Writers were originally minstrels, of course, and the minstrels used to wander about sleeping in haystacks and begging their wine, getting paid only in gifts. We have become elevated to respectability as far as the world is concerned, but we still live that cup-to-lip existence of our long-dead brethren, and our lives, whether we strummed a lyre or a typewriter, are pretty identical.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 2322-2325). Galaxy Press, Inc.
(awkwardly shuffles out of frame with violin). Well, some of us have “become elevated.” I still get called a bard on a regular basis. And I like it.
Dear me, can’t we have some really interesting females in pulp?
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Location 2359). Galaxy Press, Inc.
(sounds of bookmarkedone screaming and cheering for revolution)
Okay, you get the idea. Moving on.
“The Professor Was a Thief” by L. Ron Hubbard
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
TW: mild language, alcohol and tobacco use
So I might be a little harder on this one because the other Hubbard stories I’ve read (“Borrowed Glory,” Vol. 36, “The Dangerous Dimension,” Vol. 37) were out-of-this-world gorgeous. “The Professor Was a Thief” was good, but…not that good. At least not for me.
To be fair, it’s charming. It’s the story of Pop, an aging newspaperman about to be replaced and forced to retire, just when the biggest story of his life falls into his lap. It’s simple and straightforward and good-hearted, with the kind of feel-good ending that wouldn’t be out of place in a lot of musicals. But along the way, Hubbard uses his gift for escalating the conflict, just a little at a time, spinning out the yarn so you keep turning the pages. You can’t help but root for Pop, even if you have a pretty good hunch about how things are going to go. Sometimes you just need a story where the good guys win, especially after a grim tale like “Gallows.”
“Lilt of a Lark” by Michael Panter
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
TW: mind control, references to a “witch,” hangings, some violence, infrequent strong language, innuendo
“Are you a legend, bird boy?”
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 3650-3651). Galaxy Press, Inc.
So anybody who’s been reading this blog for very long and knows about my musician background can guess how eager I was to read this one from the moment Malkoriahmavrovianmolossus the Lark rode into view, strumming his cannotina.
I love the little poetic turns in the prose, the expressions, the alliteration, the rhythm and music of it all. I know that’s a personal weakness, but seriously, how can anyone not appreciate a good song verse tossed into a short story?
Narrow wynds and buildings huddling tight as whispering thieves….kissed by snowdrifts
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 3735-3736). Galaxy Press, Inc.
“Not all lies are like music, remember.”
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 3905-3906). Galaxy Press, Inc.
Delectable, right?
And then I turned the page to the illustration and realized my mistake.
It’s a picture of Malk in his motley, strumming his three-stringed instrument.
It’s basically a glorified ukulele. I’ve been tricked into rooting for ukulele-man.
I don’t know if that translates to non-orchestral-musician people, but that’s–that’s a pretty good prank to play on me. There’s a totally different vibe for ukulele players and orchestral musicians in terms of our disciplines (and sometimes personality?). Like comparing Malk to Kvothe the Bloodless, really. A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Macbeth. And as I kept reading, it became increasingly clear how much of a loveable idiot Malk really is. There are times that the association with a stereotypical D&D bard who rolled the dice very poorly was impossible to ignore.
And then there’s the idea that a monarch who has just forcibly taken control of a kingdom wouldn’t even, I don’t know, carry a short knife for personal protection? Are we serious? You were so clever until now!
Anyway.
It’s still well-written for all that, the little details fitting together. The sort of story you probably need to read twice to feel satisfied that you’ve caught all the twists and turns. And even if Malk is a bit of an idiot, when he gets down to the actual enchanting with music–well, I can’t complain. It’s just the way I’d have it.
Even if it would have been nice to meet some of the other mythic bards in this world. Who knows. Maybe Panter will write about a Raven next.
“The Mystical Farrago” by N. V. Haskell
⭐⭐
Rating: 2 out of 5.
TW: partial nudity, enslavement, freak shows, abuse, implied rape, discussion of gender roles/identity, sexism, some gory details
This one…was not my favorite. I wanted to like it, at the beginning. Haskell’s a Renaissance faire kid like me and she reads Anne McCaffrey. It opens with a spooky circus. The protagonist stands in a cyclone of raven feathers in the illustration, coat and lace-up boots undeniably steampunky. Surely this would be a perfect fit for me, right?
Afraid not.
The story centers around the “crysallix,” a very tall half-bird woman. Cool, right? Well, apparently she’s a very tall half-bird woman that no man can come within six yards of without feeling the apparently overwhelming and uncontrollable desire to possess her due to the scent that an unmarried Farrago naturally exudes.
No.
I have so many problems with this I don’t even know where to start. We’re expected to believe that there’s a race of creatures that mankind has no choice but to rape because of their scent? Is that what you’re really telling me?
We’ve seen this kind of story before, going all the way back to some versions of siren songs, the persistent hot Faerie Queen trope, or even for a more modern example, the Veela in the Harry Potter series.
It’s dumb. I mean, come on. In our modern era, where we have so much knowledge, so much history behind us to learn from the mistakes of others, you’re telling me that we’re still repeating this lie about a seductively beautiful woman creature that robs a man of all reason and self-control?
It’s creepy and gross and it sends a horrible message to the reader because every single character just accepts it as “the way things are.” At least in some of the old stories, there was a way out through sheer force of will.
It’s especially weird, because I think Haskell intended this as a feminist story.
If they had seen the creature as equal to human, those who had abused her would have felt the slice of the guillotine. But because her kind did not speak a language easily understood, they were treated as less than. And the only voice she had in this world was when decent people saw wrong and strived to right it, but that did not happen often enough.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 4617-4619). Galaxy Press, Inc.
She said we were always in danger among men.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 4696-4697). Galaxy Press, Inc.
Always? Always, now? So you’re the type of writer who doesn’t believe a man and a woman can simply be friends? Isn’t that what you’re saying, between the lines?
Argh. The longer I look at this, the more I second-guess myself, turning it over, trying to prove to myself that I’m wrong about it, but never able to find any hint of it.
And it’s really a shame, because some of the little worldbuilding details like the cultural dress, feather stubble on the face, and the disguised beak are fascinating. It should have been a good story. It should have been.
But it was days after reading it, and I realized I was still angry. Not just angry, infuriated. In some ways, I still am. I think it’s going to fester with me for a long time.
“Tsuu, Tsuu, Kasva Suuremasse” by Rebecca E. Treasure
⭐⭐
Rating: 2 out of 5.
TW: multiple violent character deaths, prostitution, themes of war, grief, and loss
So while I was already in such a chipper mood from the preceding story, this one starts with a funeral. I took some time before plunging into it, but I’m not sure it was enough.
Cons?
It’s winter.
It’s war.
Everyone is freezing, starving, and dying.
It’s really depressing.
Pros?
We’ve got another granny protagonist! You may not remember, but I dubbed 2021 “The Year of the Granny” in SF/F because of all the sweet elderly protagonists that kept popping up. I’m remembering in particular the fight with the crochet hook by Barbara Lund’s protagonist in “Sixers” in last year’s anthology. There’s something immensely satisfying in seeing these ladies go on adventures, proving that it doesn’t matter what age you are. You can still bring wreck and ruin to the world. Or, you know, save it, if the mood strikes you.
The primary relationship is grandmother/grandson
It’s steeped in Russian history and folklore.
But even with that, it’s kind of hard for me to really like the story. Granted, that might be more of a me problem than anything else, but I just don’t have the stamina to watch Emily crunch through mile after mile of snow, not even daring to hope they’re going to survive.
It’s not exactly a feel-good one. At least Emily tries her best. That’s more than a lot of us can say.
Interlude: “The Single Most Important Piece of Advice” by Frank Herbert
Normally I’d skip the interlude, but I know you’re curious what the Single Most Important is, according to the author of Dune, esteemed writer, etc., etc. And since he tells you in the first paragraph, I don’t feel like quoting it is really spoiling anything.
…concentrate on story…A good story makes interesting things happen to a character with whom the reader can identify.
Galaxy Press, Publisher. Writers of the Future Vol 38 Advance Reading Copy (Kindle Locations 5373-5375). Galaxy Press, Inc.
Now just do that, right? Like it’s easy.
Ah, writing.
That’s Part I!
Only 3,500 words or so later and now you understand why I split this. You’re welcome, darling. I know, I know.
But in all seriousness, thank you for reading all the way to the end, and please check out the second half of this ginormous review next week. There’s more great stories coming!
And if I’ve wooed you with my witty descriptions of the anthology and you’re desperate to read it yourself, guess what! My ARC review this year is so late that you can! The eBook edition of Vol. 38 is out now, and the paperback releases on June 28. I don’t get reimbursed for any sales, but hey, it’s worth it just to have more people enjoy “The Squid is My Brother” and “The Phantom Carnival.”
Oops. Did I say “The Phantom Carnival?” Just pretend you didn’t hear that.
Stay tuned for Part II and until next time, happy reading!
So as promised, here is the second half of my Writers of the Future Vol. 37 review. If you missed the first post, you can read it here. Or just go out of order and read this post and then that one. Sometimes it’s a backwards day.
Right. I don’t have anything else important to say, so on to the good stuff!
The Phoenixes’ War by Jody Lynn Nye
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
So if you’ve been paying attention to the WOTF contests, you know this story is special even among the anthology pieces because it’s inspired by the cover art and is a companion to Jody Lynn Nye’s story from Vol. 36–which I didn’t have a lot of nice things to say about.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the idea of phoenixes and I’d been dying to read a Nye story because my local library didn’t have Mythology 101 (the shock and horror of the injustice still smarts, I know), but “The Phoenix’s Peace” just wasn’t my thing.
Unfortunately, I’m not much more impressed by this second installment than I was by the first. It doesn’t use the same tropes that annoyed me the first time, but it just seems–kind of pointless. The plot seems like it’s going to be violent and painful (I mean, “Phoenix’s War,” hello), but at heart it’s just a royal boy trying to pass a chivalrous test to impress the girl he’s engaged to with cult magic fluffed on top. Everything that happens could have easily been avoided. And when that’s the case…well, it’s a hard sell to get me to pay any attention to anything else.
On the other hand, I might have been transferring my grumpiness from the previous story onto this one. Only way to find out is to read it yourself.
Soul Paper by Trent Walters
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Content Warnings: the stereotypical abusive asylum, electroshock therapy,themes of death, loss, and racism.
The illustration for this one is beautiful. As for the story about a grandfather and granddaughter, and music as its own kind of magic?
If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you know I had to be on board with that.
It’s a sad story. Sad and kind of beautiful. And colorful. It’s nice to have a young protagonist once in a while, in between all these serious adults doing science and worrying about magical things. She’s ordinary. And she’s spunky. Honestly, she reminds me a little of my mom, the way she’d tell stories about herself when she was young, having fun, getting into trouble. In the best way.
An example?
The stories often lacked women. I pointed out that either the boys had to self-replicate or they needed women. So the stories started to get more women, but a few featured self-replicating boy armies.
L. Ron Hubbard. Writers of the Future Vol 37 ARC Copy (Kindle Locations 5655-5657). Kindle Edition.
See? Spunky. It’s pretty hard for me to dislike this girl.
But one of my favorite lines, one that’s probably going to be rattling around in my brain for a while as I get the violin out of the case and into my hands?
Silly old song, right? But why do you know it? Why do people try to steal its bars for their own songs? It’s got a piece of someone’s soul fluttering there. If you don’t feel it, you haven’t heard it played with the right feeling or you haven’t got soul yet.
L. Ron Hubbard. Writers of the Future Vol 37 ARC Copy (Kindle Locations 5778-5780). Kindle Edition.
I’m not sure I can argue with that.
The Skin of My Mother by Erik Lynd
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Content Warnings:body horror/some disturbing imagery, plotting murder, some strong language.
A word of caution. Outside of the annual WOTF anthologies, I don’t read much horror. The inside of my mind is scary enough.
So I’m probably not the ideal reader for this one. Don’t get me wrong, it was interesting. The opening descriptions are great, the little details of sounds, smells, drawing you in as if you’re there, sitting in the car with Elise. And at the risk of misquoting Chekhov, when you start with a gun like that, your audience is going to pay a little more attention.
On the other hand…
I kind of…knew what was going to happen.
Not like I could guess every plot point. That would be ridiculous. But just as I’m moseying along through the story, before the characters are fully introduced, I’m like “Oh, that’s her mom. Clearly that’s her mom. No, you’re not going to pull this off, honey. You can try. Yup, the gun comes out now…okay, that’s a little weird, oh, that’s a little gross, okay, makes sense, moving on.”
In other words, not too many surprises. And since I don’t read the genre, I kind of expected there would be.
The ending’s dark. And creepy. If I liked that kind of thing, I’d say it’s good. But I don’t, so I’ll say it’s descriptive and unfortunately memorable.
(Cue sounds of bookmarkedone regretting editing this part of the post at 1:30 a.m.)
Death of a Time Traveler by Sara Fox
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
Content Warnings: themes of death, grieving, depression, losing a loved one.
What happens when a time traveler dies? Is time an endless loop? How do you love someone that’s there sometimes and gone others, who is always changing while you stay the same?
Okay, time travel is both tricky to write and endlessly fascinating. Fox masters both. And while I’m not a big fan of a story that takes place mostly around a hospital bed (too hopeless. Too sad. Too much disinfectant.), the idea of being “temporally challenged,” that there’s a side to time travel you can’t control, that isn’t all sunshine and roses, it’s really good. And I love the idea that being “temporally challenged” runs in families, but it doesn’t matter if you’re related by blood.
And of course there’s the lure that time travel offers in any story. That maybe there’s the hope that we can change our future, if nothing is set in stone, even the past.
The Battle of Donasai by Elaine Midcoh
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Content Warnings: mild language, themes of battle, genocide, and PTSD–no graphic scenes.
This one is a little more idea-oriented than action-oriented–the author has a clear idea of what they’re trying to get across, and it’s more a discussion of topics than pulp fiction. I didn’t feel my heart race, but I did feel myself leaning in, thinking hard.
My attention was caught as soon as we are introduced to Linae, this tired, “please let me rest” character with the moniker of Destructo and a villainous reputation to match it.
I love going behind what the surface reputation is, looking at characters that have legends built up around them, just to see what that person thinks of it all. The truth is that we all aren’t what people think we are. The contrast between the two versions mesmerizes me.
And beyond that, it’s great to watch Linae and the other characters deal with their weaknesses and strengths, watch them suffer as soldiers and see them take hold of their own choices. Sometimes fighting is the answer. And sometimes it isn’t. And watching someone learn to tell the difference, to puzzle their way out, it’s a sight to behold.
Interlude: The Rewards of Imagination by Craig Elliott
Skipping over the nonfiction again because it can’t compare to the lure of fiction. I’ll just leave you with one quote from this one to give you an idea of the kind of advice you’re getting.
I was once told that a dragon I painted didn’t look like a dragon, and I needed to repaint it. Think about that for a second. Nobody has ever seen a dragon, so how can one idea of a dragon ever be incorrect?
L. Ron Hubbard. Writers of the Future Vol 37 ARC Copy (Kindle Locations 6982-6985). Kindle Edition.
The Museum of Modern Warfare by Kristine Kathryn Rusch
You know, in one of my first creative writing classes, we were warned off writing characters with psychological scars from war unless we had personal experiences to draw on because they are so hard to write respectfully and convincingly.
That being said, “The Battle of Donasai” and “The Museum of Modern Warfare” both pass any test I could make for them. You feel for the characters in these stories. You know they’ve gone through a lot.
The protagonist in “The Museum of Modern Warfare” is witty and ironic and deals with her pain the only ways she knows how–and sometimes that means ignoring it. No matter who we are or what we’ve gone through, I think we can all relate to this story. We’ve all got somewhere we never want to go back to. We all have someone we’ve lost, a hero, a friend.
So even though it’s a lot of sand in the opening descriptions (and a reminder of why I have trouble with harsh alien geography), and a lot of pain, that idea of looking back so you can finally move forward is worth hanging on to.
A Demon Hunter’s Guide to Passover Seder by Ryan Cole
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Content Warnings: heavy flirtation, monsters/demons, religious imagery.
It’s not often that I get to read a fantasy story with a Jewish background. And it’s well-researched. If Cole isn’t Jewish, he’s taken the time to read about the Passover Seder, the traditions that are part of the holiday…and a lot of more folklore-related demonic stories.
At heart, it’s a simple story about family with monsters chucked in (because hey, if you can’t solve your problems, try fighting a giant demon monster together and see if that helps you work things out. Can’t hurt!), simple and sweet. It’s about a little brother trying to hold his family, their traditions, sacred.
I guess I just hesitate over this one for the same reason I hesitate over any story that uses religion as a plot device (Paradise Lost, Good Omens, I’m looking at you). It’s because I’m always afraid some idiot is going to read it and think that’s what people in that religion believe. And when something is that personal, that sacred…
Again, that’s just my personal reservation. If you enjoy it, great, enjoy it. Just don’t confuse religion with fiction, for all our sakes.
Hemingway by Emma Washburn
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3 out of 5.
This one was just lovely. And the colors in the illustration are so bright and charming. It feels like a fairytale. And everyone, even hardened adult sci-fi writers, needs fairytales.
I wonder if it’s because the author is so young, still in high school, that this story captures something a lot of mature writers have lost. There’s a dreamlike quality to it, a kind of carefree beauty that you get when you are only telling the stories that go wherever they want to, only telling them to yourself. No pressure about plot or in media res or action, just a beautiful, floaty fairytale.
And seriously now. Classic books, a cup of tea, and a house on the ocean? What more could anyone possibly ask for?
On the other hand…
The ending is very sad. And I’m a little concerned because there’s a fine line between accepting death at the end of a full life and tones of suicide in writing. The latter is something I never support in any writing, so I desperately hope I’m misinterpreting. In fact, let’s just pretend I didn’t say anything and that I’m imagining nonsense. The rest of it is too sweet.
Okay, hold on to your hats, tea, and wayward pets, because this is my favorite story from the second half of the book. I was looking forward to this one as soon as I read Rainsdon’s bio. It’s hard to believe a person who likes Narnia and fuzzy socks is anything but likeable.
I was not disappointed.
This story is gorgeous. And it’s the kind of story I needed to hear, that I think a lot of us need to hear. It’s hopeful and unique and beautiful. It’s one of those puzzles that you try and try to figure out, a situation where there seems to be only two options, both of them full of misery and failure, and that isn’t all there is. You aren’t trapped. You don’t have to be alone.
It’s beautiful.
And trees. I have a major weakness for dryads. Rainsdon’s are exceptional urban fantasy creations. I never would have thought of writing them this way, and that’s what makes her story so delightful.
And that’s Writers of the Future Vol. 37! Thank you for reading and one more round of congratulations to the new writers who wrote and typed and dreamed against all odds and won their hard-earned place in the anthology.
So after a long break and a lot of sleep (which I really, really needed), it is my immense pleasure to be on the advanced reading team for Writers of the Future Vol. 37, and to review one of the best new science-fiction and fantasy anthologies in the world.
Not to brag or anything.
I’m just kind of excited.
And the good news about my advanced review turning into a late-December very not-advanced review is that the book is already out. So you can read my gushing review and then run off and buy your very own shiny new copy!
But to clarify:
A Disclaimer: I received a complementary ARC of WOTF Vol. 37. I do not receive any compensation for sales of said volume and all thoughts and opinions herein are my own (because we all know trying to convince me to say something I don’t want to about a book is even more foolish than forcing a rhinoceros into a smoothie shop).
And just so you know what you’re getting into:
Like last year, I’m reviewing each story in the anthology separately, because they are all so unique and different that just hitting the highlights of the volume or even leaving a single one out would create an impossible choice. And for the record? The anthology is really good this year. I usually pick one or two stories that are my favorites, but right from the start I kept thinking “Ooh, I like that one too!” And each one was better than the last, one after the other, like I was drinking tea and listening to the most science-fiction-y Scheherazade that anyone has ever met.
Not to get ahead of myself.
Finally, the review is in two parts because it’s a wonderfully fat little book and I can’t gab about all the things I like without creating a mega-long post that literally three people on the internet would have the patience to read.
Okay.
Brew your tea and settle into your blanket forts my friends, because this book is well worth the wait.
When I say each story is better than the last, I should also say that the first one is jaw-dropping in its own right.
I mean, what more could we ask for than a sassy AI kitten who disapproves of Catwoman?
We’ve seen evil AI and friendly AI (Roombas, I’m looking at you), but an AI cat? Just typing that makes me happier than I know how to express.
But even beyond the inventiveness of the idea, Campbell explores this frankly gorgeous concept–does it matter if it’s my programming making me feel the way I do if I still feel it? Does being synthetic or artificial make emotions fake or unimportant?
Yeah, that’s going to haunt me for a while.
In the very best way.
Sixers by Barbara Lund
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Content Warning: alcohol use, themes of war, some violence.
So after reading “How to Train Your Demon” by Lisa Lacey Liscoumb in The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (which you should also totally check out), I’m dubbing this the Year of the Granny in the SF/F world, and anybody who wants to fight me can go home. Because having more fantasy stories feature sweet grandmotherly ladies as protagonists is about the most unpredictable and wonderful genre trend I can think of.
The protagonist of “Sixers” fights a man with a crochet hook. I love her. A lot.
It’s just so refreshing to watch her struggle with pain and being tired and have that unique, motherly perspective while also getting the job done, whether it’s looking after someone else or getting down to murder.
The rest of the characters are equally diverse and wonderful, and Lund’s version of magic creates as many problems as it fixes.
They get into so much trouble and they get banged up and take time to rest and I can’t, just go read it, okay?
The Enfield Report by Christopher Bowthorpe
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Content Warnings:some disturbing scenes of torture, a character is drugged.
This third one was frankly gorgeous in a way I was neither prepared for nor able to comprehend. It’s more the standard sci-fi that we all expect–otherworldly exploration, alien races coming into contact with the (sometimes inhumane) human population, scientific research–but at the same time, it isn’t.
The colors. I can’t get over the colors. Most of the story takes place inside a sterile lab, but the way Bowthorpe describes it–the oranges, yellows, greens–you don’t notice the bite of disinfectant in your nose or how white and unfriendly everything feels. When you’re there, it feels like home.
And the plot!
I should have seen stuff coming. But I didn’t. Not until it fit so perfectly into place. And the characters, the conclusion, the way they fail and fail and fail and try to get up again–
(screams)
Look, if you don’t have the anthology in your online book-shopping basket by now, what are you doing?
The Widow’s Might by Elizabeth Chatsworth
⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Content Warnings:violence, including bombings; crossdressing
The nature of anthologies is usually that you can’t love every story. Unfortunately, “The Widow’s Might” isn’t at the top of my list.
I wanted to like it. Women banding together to save the most charming little tea shop through the power of pockets in their dresses? What could possibly go wrong?
Well. It’s…problematic.
My first pet peeve is the dead pet trope. I get it, our pets mean a lot to us. Believe me when I say I know.
But is a dead pet really the best springboard for killing people?
And although it’s nice once in a while to see a corruption arc instead of a redemption arc, the moral of this story ties my gut in knots. Replacing one gang with another isn’t a great plan, even if the new one seems to have a moral high ground.
In some situations, that just means they have a psychological superiority that allows them to do any dangerous, cruel thing they want.
Am I overthinking this?
Probably.
Am I wrong?
No. I am not.
Interlude: Magic Out of a Hat by L. Ron Hubbard and On “Magic Out of a Hat” by Orson Scott Card
“Magic Out of a Hat” is a really interesting look at how to write a short story, as presented by the founder of the contest. But since it’s technically writing advice and thus nonfiction, I’ll skip over it here and let you draw your own conclusions.
On to more stories!
The Dangerous Dimension by L. Ron Hubbard
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
I am always pleasantly surprised when I read a Hubbard story. I guess it’s because I heard of him first through his…kookier reputation.
He is, however, a fine writer.
“The Dangerous Dimension” was a stabbing gasp of fresh air after I spent two weeks critiquing nonfiction essays.
Ha. It’s a gasp of fresh air any day.
The urgency of that story, the idea that given ultimate power, even the most educated, the most brilliant person will do exactly the opposite of a good thing, will fall flat on his face, will be utterly ruined–
It’s probably quite accurate, although I say so begrudgingly. Wishing, as always, it were otherwise.
I say this a lot, but the story is gorgeous. It feels like a Halloween story C.S. Lewis’ Professor Kirke would tell his fellows to laugh at their shaken expressions. So many tweedy little professors somehow being the most adventurous of us all. My brain was still echoing with it a long time afterward, the shock of its awe throbbing in my skull.
And although I may bring the curse of Equation C down upon my head–
I cannot entirely dismiss the possibility of the negative dimension.
How to Steal the Plot Armor by Luke Wildman
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Content Warnings: some mild language, innuendo.
Luke Wildman might win the best bio this year. I mean, who doesn’t want to read a story written by “a figment of your imagination?”
The story itself is from your typical Once and Future King-style wizard’s perspective…which means it’s not typical at all.
It’s also quite funny.
There were a few unladylike snorts of laughter coming from my corner of the book hoard. The wizard is just so done with everything, and frankly, I don’t blame him, not one bit.
Sometimes I think we all want the noisy world to leave us alone with our books and our tea (or stronger beverage…)
It’s really, really delightful. And not in a silly, jokey, are-you-kidding me type of way. Although on the surface, it’s very fairytale-like with touches of D&D, the plot is honed brilliantly so everything comes full circle and nothing is quite what it seems. Tropes are turned on their head. And there’s a serious, dark note underneath all the humor about what it means to be a hero.
In other words, it’s fabulous. I would very much like a novel of this wizard’s adventures, Mr. Wildman, if you are listening, please.
Please?
This illustration might be my favorite too–I love all the magical objects just hanging inside the frame, the soft colors of the wizard’s blue robe, the “please get out of my house” vibes, everything.
The Redemption of Brother Adalum by K. D. Julicher
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Content Warnings: violence, battle sequences
I think this story is the answer to the question posed by “The Widow’s Might.” Julicher knows what happens when there is unlimited power, even with the best intentions. “The Redemption of Brother Adalum” is crushingly sad, but at the same time–it’s a relief. It’s a relief to see that the struggle is there, the struggle even within yourself, knowing you can’t be the measuring rod of goodness to the world, that you have failed and will fail again, and that’s okay.
Maybe I’m reading too closely again. But isn’t that what these types of stories are for?
And could we please give the author a round of applause for using a monastery setting and not making it exceptionally cultish or including the “evil Abbess” trope?
Also bear spirits. Did we mention bear spirits? Like a best friend? Except with a psychic connection? And a bear?
The Argentum by Anj Dockrey
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
Content Warnings: mild flirting, themes of death, some peril.
This is kind of like Ursula K. LeGuin’s “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas” in the sense that after reading it, you don’t want to do anything except stare into space.
All those colors, the shapes, the smells of that world. One of the main reasons I have trouble with interplanetary sci-fi is that I don’t like the idea of living in a place that’s hostile to human life–I like feeling safe to breathe. “The Argentum” is the first story about a planet humans were clearly never meant to inhabit that I would buy a ticket to visit right away. There’s all the pain and struggle and grime and death that infects such stories. But that world–it is one of the most beautiful places. The food, the sunsets, the rocks and minerals, the characters–
And can we please award this one the prize for cutest sci-fi fluff romance of the year?
Even though the author seems to say that hope is a coping mechanism and faith is an evolutionary advance to keep us from despair and destroying our mental selves?
I doubt that’s the way she really meant to phrase the sentiment, so I’m not sure if it’s fair to complain about that. There are also lot of characters, which are a little difficult to keep track of, but my real complaint is the ending.
It ends.
That’s it. I was really kind of angry after I finished reading this one, but then I realized most of what I was angry about was that I don’t feel like the ending is the end of the story. I want to know what happens next.
Kind of desperately.
(Anj, if you’re reading…Please?)
That’s about the halfway point for the anthology. There are still great things in the second half (including Brittany Rainsdon’s “Half Breed!”), so be sure to stay tuned for the second installment.
In the meantime, may you always have a bookmark when you need it, a cuddly dragon, and very happy reading.
BookmarkedOne 