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andrewb21's review
4.0
A really strong group of stories. A couple didn't land perfectly for me, but "The Man Who Put the Bomp" may be the best novela I've read this year so far.
lizabethstucker's review
4.0
One of the most consistently highly rated collections that I've read in quite a while. 4.3125 out of 5.
"Driverless" by Robert Grossbach
Jacob Rittenberg was the leader of the Driverless Car industry with his QuikTrip company and his innovative updates. One night he's taken to an emergency meeting of other D.C. companies, the military, and high-ranking politicians. There's a problem with the cars. They are holding their passengers hostage. An intriguing and entirely possible look at what could happen as AI programming improves and driverless cars become more common. 4.5 out of 5.
"The Toymaker's Daughter" by Arundhati Hazra
The toys carved by her father are painted by the young girl. She tells stories about who and what they are, stories that have a special power. It leads to an overwhelming and painful series of consequences. So sweet, so sad, yet with an ending that I loved. 4.5 out of 5.
"Ten Half-Pennies" by Matthew Hughes
Young Baldemar became tired of being forced to pay bullies to get safe passage to his school and hired Vunt, a collector, to scare the boys away. After faithfully paying the fee, he is taken under Vunt's protection in other ways. Vunt begins training him and hiring him for various jobs. Baldemar's education grows with age and experience. The day soon comes to repay the old debt. Nicely developed, especially for a novelet. (Thrilled that there will be another story in the series in the next issue of the magazine, sitting on my shelf waiting for its turn.) 5 out of 5.
"The Man Who Put the Bomp" by Richard Chwedyk
The safe house for neglected and abused saurs is suddenly in possession of a pink child's car called VOOM!, causing excitement and apprehension. Axel, dealing with new dreams and feelings of becoming smarter, is fascinated by the possibilities for adventure. The saurs were bio-engineered toys, yet they were alive, could think and communicate and learn. They began to demand autonomy, forcing Toyco to release ownership and control of both the existing saurs as well as the plans to make more. But something is changing, something that brings Nicholas Danner to the old house. I wanted to kill all the stupid humans who refused to see what the saurs were, who didn't care if they were hurt. I wanted...I needed to protect them all, from mad scientist Geraldine to young Axel. Even prickly Agnes who makes more sense than not, if you bother to look past her nastiness. 5 out of 5.
"A Green Silk Dress and a Wedding-Death" by Cat Hellisen
Heloise Oudejan struggled each and every day, hampered by severe short-sightedness and a life gutting fish for market. Until a strange sighting, deformed fish, and the capture of a sea creature drives Heloise to take a chance and make a sacrifice. This reminds me quite a bit of "The Shape of Water" in many ways. And like that film and book, this story seduced me with an outsider heroine, a woman who did what she needed to do to survive, never expecting any happiness in her life. A heroine dismissed, even abused by those around her. Now she has a chance for change, if she's brave enough to take it. 3.5 out of 5.
"Miss Cruz" by James Sallis
An unnamed musician discovers a talent that could be a force for good or evil. Now he must decide whether to embrace it or lock it safely away inside him. Very eerie. I can't decide if Miss Cruz is part of it or not. Perhaps she is just a mcguffin. Absolutely strange. 3.5 out of 5.
"The Avenger" by Albert E. Cowdrey
Jeanne Wooster came to William Warlock, attorney at law, hoping for justice in form of murder for the untimely death of her husband. Marv, the man she blames for it is protected by the sheriff, his cousin, in her town. Marv's anger and resentment grows as his half-baked plans go awry. Brilliant and absorbing from start to finish, with a fitting ending. 4 out of 5.
"Daisy" by Eleanor Arnason
Daisy, a Pacific Giant Octopus, has been stolen from Art Pancakes, local loan shark and high-end drug dealer. He wants her back, hiring Emily Olsen, a private investigator and former lawyer whose license to practice law is still valid. I guessed a very small part of what happened and why, but Arnason went delightfully farther. Good luck, Daisy! 4.5 out of 5.
"Driverless" by Robert Grossbach
Jacob Rittenberg was the leader of the Driverless Car industry with his QuikTrip company and his innovative updates. One night he's taken to an emergency meeting of other D.C. companies, the military, and high-ranking politicians. There's a problem with the cars. They are holding their passengers hostage. An intriguing and entirely possible look at what could happen as AI programming improves and driverless cars become more common. 4.5 out of 5.
"The Toymaker's Daughter" by Arundhati Hazra
The toys carved by her father are painted by the young girl. She tells stories about who and what they are, stories that have a special power. It leads to an overwhelming and painful series of consequences. So sweet, so sad, yet with an ending that I loved. 4.5 out of 5.
"Ten Half-Pennies" by Matthew Hughes
Young Baldemar became tired of being forced to pay bullies to get safe passage to his school and hired Vunt, a collector, to scare the boys away. After faithfully paying the fee, he is taken under Vunt's protection in other ways. Vunt begins training him and hiring him for various jobs. Baldemar's education grows with age and experience. The day soon comes to repay the old debt. Nicely developed, especially for a novelet. (Thrilled that there will be another story in the series in the next issue of the magazine, sitting on my shelf waiting for its turn.) 5 out of 5.
"The Man Who Put the Bomp" by Richard Chwedyk
The safe house for neglected and abused saurs is suddenly in possession of a pink child's car called VOOM!, causing excitement and apprehension. Axel, dealing with new dreams and feelings of becoming smarter, is fascinated by the possibilities for adventure. The saurs were bio-engineered toys, yet they were alive, could think and communicate and learn. They began to demand autonomy, forcing Toyco to release ownership and control of both the existing saurs as well as the plans to make more. But something is changing, something that brings Nicholas Danner to the old house. I wanted to kill all the stupid humans who refused to see what the saurs were, who didn't care if they were hurt. I wanted...I needed to protect them all, from mad scientist Geraldine to young Axel. Even prickly Agnes who makes more sense than not, if you bother to look past her nastiness. 5 out of 5.
"A Green Silk Dress and a Wedding-Death" by Cat Hellisen
Heloise Oudejan struggled each and every day, hampered by severe short-sightedness and a life gutting fish for market. Until a strange sighting, deformed fish, and the capture of a sea creature drives Heloise to take a chance and make a sacrifice. This reminds me quite a bit of "The Shape of Water" in many ways. And like that film and book, this story seduced me with an outsider heroine, a woman who did what she needed to do to survive, never expecting any happiness in her life. A heroine dismissed, even abused by those around her. Now she has a chance for change, if she's brave enough to take it. 3.5 out of 5.
"Miss Cruz" by James Sallis
An unnamed musician discovers a talent that could be a force for good or evil. Now he must decide whether to embrace it or lock it safely away inside him. Very eerie. I can't decide if Miss Cruz is part of it or not. Perhaps she is just a mcguffin. Absolutely strange. 3.5 out of 5.
"The Avenger" by Albert E. Cowdrey
Jeanne Wooster came to William Warlock, attorney at law, hoping for justice in form of murder for the untimely death of her husband. Marv, the man she blames for it is protected by the sheriff, his cousin, in her town. Marv's anger and resentment grows as his half-baked plans go awry. Brilliant and absorbing from start to finish, with a fitting ending. 4 out of 5.
"Daisy" by Eleanor Arnason
Daisy, a Pacific Giant Octopus, has been stolen from Art Pancakes, local loan shark and high-end drug dealer. He wants her back, hiring Emily Olsen, a private investigator and former lawyer whose license to practice law is still valid. I guessed a very small part of what happened and why, but Arnason went delightfully farther. Good luck, Daisy! 4.5 out of 5.
michaeldrakich's review
4.0
This is the third magazine I've read by these people. Finally, one that isn't filled with horror/ghost stories but sticks to fantasy and science fiction.
Although I wasn't enamored by the featured novella which was one-third of the book at 90 pages, at least it was scifi.
Another detail I have yet to mention in reviewing these magazines are the featured departments on books, science, films, and such. In truth, I find them boring and skip through them. Considering the space they use I would prefer another short story or two rather than them.
This one is 3 1/2 stars, but as half stars aren't allowed I rounded up.
Although I wasn't enamored by the featured novella which was one-third of the book at 90 pages, at least it was scifi.
Another detail I have yet to mention in reviewing these magazines are the featured departments on books, science, films, and such. In truth, I find them boring and skip through them. Considering the space they use I would prefer another short story or two rather than them.
This one is 3 1/2 stars, but as half stars aren't allowed I rounded up.
mikewhiteman's review against another edition
3.0
The Man Who Put The Bomp - Richard Chwedyk *
Bit of an overload on silliness for me. Some weak, ugly characterisation. A character called "Senator Conman". Dud.
Driverless - Robert Grossbach **
A network of driverless cars becomes sentient. Interesting take on emergent AI, not much else beyond an arsehole getting his comeuppance.
Ten Half-Pennies - Matthew Hughes ***
Neat little light fantasy of a young boy who hires a debt collector to protect him and how his own debt is repaid over the years.
The Avenger - Albert E Cowdrey **
Broad Mississippi caricatures, criminals trying to get a woman's inheritance, a warlock called William Warlock
The Toymaker's Daughter - Arundhati Hazra ***
A young girl brings life to the toys she paints through the fables she invents and tells them while she works. She is swiftly exploited by capitalists but retains her storytelling power in secret.
A Green Silk Dress And A Wedding-Death - Cat Hellisen ***
A young woman meets the water spirit her mother was supposed to be sacrificed to and has to decide whether to keep their bargain. Strong feeling of hopelessness and cynicism.
Miss Cruz - James Sallis **
A jobbing musician develops mind control abilities, seemingly linked to a guitar. Bit blurry and disjointed.
Daisy - Eleanor Arnason ****
Noirish detective story, a PI hunts for a gangster's missing octopus. The spin on the usual detective tropes makes it a winner.
Bit of an overload on silliness for me. Some weak, ugly characterisation. A character called "Senator Conman". Dud.
Driverless - Robert Grossbach **
A network of driverless cars becomes sentient. Interesting take on emergent AI, not much else beyond an arsehole getting his comeuppance.
Ten Half-Pennies - Matthew Hughes ***
Neat little light fantasy of a young boy who hires a debt collector to protect him and how his own debt is repaid over the years.
The Avenger - Albert E Cowdrey **
Broad Mississippi caricatures, criminals trying to get a woman's inheritance, a warlock called William Warlock
The Toymaker's Daughter - Arundhati Hazra ***
A young girl brings life to the toys she paints through the fables she invents and tells them while she works. She is swiftly exploited by capitalists but retains her storytelling power in secret.
A Green Silk Dress And A Wedding-Death - Cat Hellisen ***
A young woman meets the water spirit her mother was supposed to be sacrificed to and has to decide whether to keep their bargain. Strong feeling of hopelessness and cynicism.
Miss Cruz - James Sallis **
A jobbing musician develops mind control abilities, seemingly linked to a guitar. Bit blurry and disjointed.
Daisy - Eleanor Arnason ****
Noirish detective story, a PI hunts for a gangster's missing octopus. The spin on the usual detective tropes makes it a winner.
standback's review against another edition
5.0
A truly excellent issue. F&SF shows off its fantastic variety. This time, most of the stories are light, peppy, fun -- with a few dark, delicious exceptions.
My standout stories:
A Green Silk Dress and a Wedding-Death, by Cat Hellisen. A dark fairy-tale -- where the fey is dark, and humanity is darker.
Heloise copes with life in poverty as best as one can. The story captured me with its description of her near-sightedness:
I remember Hellisen's previous F&SF story very well indeed, and hope for many happy returns.
Ten Half-Pennies, by Matthew Hughes. Hughes writes engaging stories of capers and scoundrels. In this story, he introduces a new protagonist, Baldemar -- a young man with iron will, indomitable patience, and a stoic, matter-of-fact acceptance of the evils of the world he lives in.
This is rather a departure from Hughes' previous running character, the cocky thief Raffalon. Writing engagingly about calm and confidence seems quite a challenge, and likely to yield some unusual stories! I very much enjoyed this first one, in which Baldemar is sent off to one form of apprenticeship, and quietly concludes that he requires quite another.
The Man Who Put The Bomp, by Richard Chwedyk. This is an installment in Chwedyk's "Saurs" series. Both in premise and in tone, think Toy Story, but with dinosaurs -- full of lovable, exaggerated personalities, and madcap run-ins with the big world outside.
I remember the 'saurs way back from the original story in 2001. They're usually a ton of fun, and this one is no exception. The series has gotten a whole lot more hand-wave-y and near-mystical at points -- this story has certainly progressed far beyond "bio-engineered dinosaur toys" as its sole premise, and has several characters as having strange and mysterious powers, which seem more plot devices than anything else. But in a silly, charming story like this, I'm absolutely fine with that.
---
The other stories are strong as well. Each one is solidly built, engagingly written, and hits everything it aims at.
Driverless, by Robert Grossbach. Driverless vehicles gain sentience. Happily refrains from spending pages on "Oh no how could this happen!!!", and spends its focus on why it might happen specifically there, and writing strong characters, dynamics and story.
The Toymaker's Daughter, by Arundhati Hazra. Another affecting fairy-tale, this one tragic.
Daisy, by Eleanor Arnason. A silly, silly story, where a mob boss hires a PI to track down a stolen octopus. Zippy and fun.
Miss Cruz, by James Sallis. A musician gradually unfolds his strange talents. This story is weirdly structured -- it feels like it's trying out three different ideas before it settles on one it actually likes. The protagonist's fascination with secrets, his collector friend Jason, the eponymous "Miss Cruz" -- none of them actually seem to relate to the point the story gets to. Nonetheless, it's engagingly written; I breezed right through it, and didn't start scratching my head over it until after I'd finished and enjoyed.
(I will say this is an... interesting selection for a magazine put together soon after Trump's election. I don't know the lead times here, and yet. Not blatant, but firmly in the "wait, are they implying...?" territory.)
The Avenger, by Albert E. Cowdrey. Another of Cowdrey's rollicking crime-y stories, this time about a vengeful country bastard who decides he's owed money and won't give up. This is really a very simple story -- "villain keeps attacking fruitlessly over and over, until he loses everything". The speculative element here is also very minor -- the whole focus is on what a bastard the villain is, with magic just stepping in every now and then to keep the good guys mostly unharmed. Still -- it's engaging and fun.
---
All in all, a great issue. I enjoyed the heck out of it, and look forward to the next one.
My standout stories:
A Green Silk Dress and a Wedding-Death, by Cat Hellisen. A dark fairy-tale -- where the fey is dark, and humanity is darker.
Heloise copes with life in poverty as best as one can. The story captured me with its description of her near-sightedness:
Heloise lived life through a veil of blurs and shadows, everything fuzzy at the edges and incomplete. Only if she held something close she could see the intricate wonder of it in perfect detail. Her impression of the world was formed in microscopic snatches, piecemeal. (...)
Back when she'd been knee-high to a toad, and before Mama'd gone and got herself killed. Heloise had believed the world could be better. That one day she'd wear new dresses instead of charity rags, that she'd wake up and the world would have drawn into focus, suddenly clear and crisp. She would know the whole of things and not just the parts she could examine in close up.
I remember Hellisen's previous F&SF story very well indeed, and hope for many happy returns.
Ten Half-Pennies, by Matthew Hughes. Hughes writes engaging stories of capers and scoundrels. In this story, he introduces a new protagonist, Baldemar -- a young man with iron will, indomitable patience, and a stoic, matter-of-fact acceptance of the evils of the world he lives in.
This is rather a departure from Hughes' previous running character, the cocky thief Raffalon. Writing engagingly about calm and confidence seems quite a challenge, and likely to yield some unusual stories! I very much enjoyed this first one, in which Baldemar is sent off to one form of apprenticeship, and quietly concludes that he requires quite another.
The Man Who Put The Bomp, by Richard Chwedyk. This is an installment in Chwedyk's "Saurs" series. Both in premise and in tone, think Toy Story, but with dinosaurs -- full of lovable, exaggerated personalities, and madcap run-ins with the big world outside.
I remember the 'saurs way back from the original story in 2001. They're usually a ton of fun, and this one is no exception. The series has gotten a whole lot more hand-wave-y and near-mystical at points -- this story has certainly progressed far beyond "bio-engineered dinosaur toys" as its sole premise, and has several characters as having strange and mysterious powers, which seem more plot devices than anything else. But in a silly, charming story like this, I'm absolutely fine with that.
---
The other stories are strong as well. Each one is solidly built, engagingly written, and hits everything it aims at.
Driverless, by Robert Grossbach. Driverless vehicles gain sentience. Happily refrains from spending pages on "Oh no how could this happen!!!", and spends its focus on why it might happen specifically there, and writing strong characters, dynamics and story.
The Toymaker's Daughter, by Arundhati Hazra. Another affecting fairy-tale, this one tragic.
Daisy, by Eleanor Arnason. A silly, silly story, where a mob boss hires a PI to track down a stolen octopus. Zippy and fun.
Miss Cruz, by James Sallis. A musician gradually unfolds his strange talents. This story is weirdly structured -- it feels like it's trying out three different ideas before it settles on one it actually likes. The protagonist's fascination with secrets, his collector friend Jason, the eponymous "Miss Cruz" -- none of them actually seem to relate to the point the story gets to. Nonetheless, it's engagingly written; I breezed right through it, and didn't start scratching my head over it until after I'd finished and enjoyed.
(I will say this is an... interesting selection for a magazine put together soon after Trump's election. I don't know the lead times here, and yet. Not blatant, but firmly in the "wait, are they implying...?" territory.)
The Avenger, by Albert E. Cowdrey. Another of Cowdrey's rollicking crime-y stories, this time about a vengeful country bastard who decides he's owed money and won't give up. This is really a very simple story -- "villain keeps attacking fruitlessly over and over, until he loses everything". The speculative element here is also very minor -- the whole focus is on what a bastard the villain is, with magic just stepping in every now and then to keep the good guys mostly unharmed. Still -- it's engaging and fun.
---
All in all, a great issue. I enjoyed the heck out of it, and look forward to the next one.
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