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thesffreader's review
4.0
Review originally published on The Curious SFF Reader
The Apologists by Tade Thompson 4.5*
I have been meaning to read some of Thompson’s work since I first heard of him when fis debut-novel, Making Wolf, won a Kitschies award last year and I saw that one of his stories was featured in this issue of Interzone, I was very happy. This story was amazing, I don’t think that I ever come across a tale as brutal and fascinating in a long while. It’s the story about the five remaining humans trying to rebuild Earth after an alien invasion. It’s bloody, terrying but you can’t put it down. Fantastic and highly recommended. I will be reading one of his novels soon.
Extraterrestrial Folk Metal Fusion by Georgina Bruce 1.5*
This story was so unimpressive that it paled in comparision with The Apologists. It was so weird that I had to look a synopsis up online to remember what it was actually about, as it happens, this story is about an alien transmission whose meaning changes on the receivers. I don’t know how I managed to finish this one.
Sideways by Ray Cluley 5*
The Apologists was an excellent story but Sideways was an even better one. It was a mix of an historical fiction and a horror story about a test pilot who, towards the end of his life finally confess how his best friend, a fellow pilot assigned to fly a strange arrow shaped rocket, died. Like Thompson’s story this was fascinating in a dark twisted way. The writing was gorgeous and I will be reading other things by Cluley.
Three Love Letters From An Unrepeatable Garden by Aliya Whiteley 2.5*
Hum, after reading Sideways this one fell flat for me, the premise was quite good but overall, I didn’t really see the point of this story. It follows a gardener that has to take care of a flower that no one is allowed to smell because of how special the smell is.
The End Of Hope Street by Malcolm Devlin 4.5*
This is such a quiet little horror story, it’s a very depressing tale about the houses in Hope Street that slowly became unlivable and how the different inhabitants dealt with the loss. I wouldn’t recommended reading this if you’re feeling a bit down because it is not going to make your day any brighter but it’s still a very good little story.
As always, Interzone managed to surprise me with some amazing stories. I really really enjoy this magazine because I always manage to find fascinating stories and great authors. It’s true that this issue was a bit of a mixed bag but it was so worth it for The Apologists, Sideways and The End of Hope Street that were for me three gems! I will be getting a subscription to this magazine next year!
The Apologists by Tade Thompson 4.5*
I have been meaning to read some of Thompson’s work since I first heard of him when fis debut-novel, Making Wolf, won a Kitschies award last year and I saw that one of his stories was featured in this issue of Interzone, I was very happy. This story was amazing, I don’t think that I ever come across a tale as brutal and fascinating in a long while. It’s the story about the five remaining humans trying to rebuild Earth after an alien invasion. It’s bloody, terrying but you can’t put it down. Fantastic and highly recommended. I will be reading one of his novels soon.
Extraterrestrial Folk Metal Fusion by Georgina Bruce 1.5*
This story was so unimpressive that it paled in comparision with The Apologists. It was so weird that I had to look a synopsis up online to remember what it was actually about, as it happens, this story is about an alien transmission whose meaning changes on the receivers. I don’t know how I managed to finish this one.
Sideways by Ray Cluley 5*
The Apologists was an excellent story but Sideways was an even better one. It was a mix of an historical fiction and a horror story about a test pilot who, towards the end of his life finally confess how his best friend, a fellow pilot assigned to fly a strange arrow shaped rocket, died. Like Thompson’s story this was fascinating in a dark twisted way. The writing was gorgeous and I will be reading other things by Cluley.
Three Love Letters From An Unrepeatable Garden by Aliya Whiteley 2.5*
Hum, after reading Sideways this one fell flat for me, the premise was quite good but overall, I didn’t really see the point of this story. It follows a gardener that has to take care of a flower that no one is allowed to smell because of how special the smell is.
The End Of Hope Street by Malcolm Devlin 4.5*
This is such a quiet little horror story, it’s a very depressing tale about the houses in Hope Street that slowly became unlivable and how the different inhabitants dealt with the loss. I wouldn’t recommended reading this if you’re feeling a bit down because it is not going to make your day any brighter but it’s still a very good little story.
As always, Interzone managed to surprise me with some amazing stories. I really really enjoy this magazine because I always manage to find fascinating stories and great authors. It’s true that this issue was a bit of a mixed bag but it was so worth it for The Apologists, Sideways and The End of Hope Street that were for me three gems! I will be getting a subscription to this magazine next year!
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