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tani's review
3.0
Review for "Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse" by Rae Carson. A woman gives birth in the midst of the zombie apocalypse. There are some interesting details about the zombies and what draws them in this one, but it still felt relatively generic. The characters don't get enough space to be fully fleshed, although the ending was certainly nice. A fun little tidbit, but just slightly lacking in impact. 3.5 stars.
bethtabler's review
5.0
I read many stories, sad stories, happy stories, fluffy ones, and occasionally violent stories. But in all of my reading, I rarely get a chance to read a mom story. Moms are usually portrayed as one of three different ways: soccer mom, women who are nothing but a mom, and an older mom or grandma-like figure. Fantasy is full of cliches, and being a mom myself, I don't see myself in any of these characters. It is as if literature is afraid to portray a mom as a badass or a warrior. Women can't be warriors and moms. They cancel each other out, right? Just because we had kids, we don't lose the badassery while passing the afterbirth. And frankly, life is a lot more exciting and complex than a trope.
But then I read Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse, and finally. FINALLY, we have some great badass moms having babies and kicking some ass. Thank you, Rae Carson, for giving the world this story and me, mainly because I needed to be reminded that I am also a badass mom on occasion.
First, let me set a bit of a scene. Giving birth is a dirty business. It is primal; it is the most primal feeling many women feel only seconded to protecting their child from danger. Moma bear is not just a cute saying; most moms would rip the throat out of anyone who would come at their kid and lick their lips. Now imagine trying to do all this, being pregnant, your body is split in two with excruciating pains that feel like they are tearing at the very fabric of who you are, and zombies are outside scratching at the door. I know zombies get a bad rep; they are everywhere in horror. But they are representative in this story. The mom Brit is being pulled apart by two massive forces, childbirth and the flight reaction of getting the hell out of there. Zombies are scary, and we want none of that.
"I know how tough my baby is. Remember when you came out to your Baptist preacher dad while holding the hand of the most beautiful Black woman in the world?"
"Yes."
"This is not harder than that."
"No."
"Remember when you fucked that trader silly, faking the big O night after night until you were good and sure he'd given us a baby?"
"Yeah."
"This is not harder than that."
"Not even close."
"You got this."
"I think my water broke."
Now imagine that you have to run for it. Fluid leaking down your leg, contractions are squeezing your body until you can hardly breathe. You mostly waddle now that you are nine months pregnant, carrying a watermelon in your pelvis. But you have to be quiet; sound travels. If you make a sound, they will come. And most of all, you need to get to the safe birth room so that you can lock yourself in. In Brit and Marisol's case, it is a metal freight car. Zombies love the smell of birth, it drives them crazy, and they will swarm outside and get in given a chance. Also, Brit has no medicine and the most rudimentary help. She is lying on the floor of a metal shipping container stuffing rags between her legs to stifle the smell of birth. If that is not badass, I don't know what is.
"We barely got here in time," I say.
"We knew they'd find us."
We are silent a long moment. Another bang, then a slick whisper of a sound as something slides along the wall. I hardly dare to breathe.
"The container will hold," Mari says.
"I know."
"They'll mass while you push that baby out, and for a day or two after. But we'll keep quiet, and the birthing scent will fade, and they'll eventually give up."
"I know."
"We'll go back to the enclave with a brand new baby for everyone to love on."
"I know."
"They'll be so glad we did this."
"The container will hold. The container will hold," Brit and Marisol chant to themselves. It will hold. It has to hold. An innocent is being born into this world, and he needs to live long enough so that they can name him.
Please hold.
Oh shit.
Oh shit.
It isn't going to hold.
Rae Carson has created a hell of a short story here. I almost gave up trying to summarize and talk about my feelings about it with, "God, this is good. Please read." Instead, I'll start with God; this is good. Please read. But read it because Rae Carson took tropes of womanhood and mothers, twisted them, and smacked them with a hammer. There are no weak women in this world of zombies and blood. It is loving; Brit and Marisol are truly loving partners. It is full of community strength. It is primal. It is exciting, and most important of all, it is badass because you will need badass moms to lead the world out of a zombie apocalypse one child at a time.
But then I read Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse, and finally. FINALLY, we have some great badass moms having babies and kicking some ass. Thank you, Rae Carson, for giving the world this story and me, mainly because I needed to be reminded that I am also a badass mom on occasion.
First, let me set a bit of a scene. Giving birth is a dirty business. It is primal; it is the most primal feeling many women feel only seconded to protecting their child from danger. Moma bear is not just a cute saying; most moms would rip the throat out of anyone who would come at their kid and lick their lips. Now imagine trying to do all this, being pregnant, your body is split in two with excruciating pains that feel like they are tearing at the very fabric of who you are, and zombies are outside scratching at the door. I know zombies get a bad rep; they are everywhere in horror. But they are representative in this story. The mom Brit is being pulled apart by two massive forces, childbirth and the flight reaction of getting the hell out of there. Zombies are scary, and we want none of that.
"I know how tough my baby is. Remember when you came out to your Baptist preacher dad while holding the hand of the most beautiful Black woman in the world?"
"Yes."
"This is not harder than that."
"No."
"Remember when you fucked that trader silly, faking the big O night after night until you were good and sure he'd given us a baby?"
"Yeah."
"This is not harder than that."
"Not even close."
"You got this."
"I think my water broke."
Now imagine that you have to run for it. Fluid leaking down your leg, contractions are squeezing your body until you can hardly breathe. You mostly waddle now that you are nine months pregnant, carrying a watermelon in your pelvis. But you have to be quiet; sound travels. If you make a sound, they will come. And most of all, you need to get to the safe birth room so that you can lock yourself in. In Brit and Marisol's case, it is a metal freight car. Zombies love the smell of birth, it drives them crazy, and they will swarm outside and get in given a chance. Also, Brit has no medicine and the most rudimentary help. She is lying on the floor of a metal shipping container stuffing rags between her legs to stifle the smell of birth. If that is not badass, I don't know what is.
"We barely got here in time," I say.
"We knew they'd find us."
We are silent a long moment. Another bang, then a slick whisper of a sound as something slides along the wall. I hardly dare to breathe.
"The container will hold," Mari says.
"I know."
"They'll mass while you push that baby out, and for a day or two after. But we'll keep quiet, and the birthing scent will fade, and they'll eventually give up."
"I know."
"We'll go back to the enclave with a brand new baby for everyone to love on."
"I know."
"They'll be so glad we did this."
"The container will hold. The container will hold," Brit and Marisol chant to themselves. It will hold. It has to hold. An innocent is being born into this world, and he needs to live long enough so that they can name him.
Please hold.
Oh shit.
Oh shit.
It isn't going to hold.
Rae Carson has created a hell of a short story here. I almost gave up trying to summarize and talk about my feelings about it with, "God, this is good. Please read." Instead, I'll start with God; this is good. Please read. But read it because Rae Carson took tropes of womanhood and mothers, twisted them, and smacked them with a hammer. There are no weak women in this world of zombies and blood. It is loving; Brit and Marisol are truly loving partners. It is full of community strength. It is primal. It is exciting, and most important of all, it is badass because you will need badass moms to lead the world out of a zombie apocalypse one child at a time.
kandicez's review
5.0
This was a beautifully written story. Dystopias are my favorite landscapes, and vague dystopias even more so. Clark drops us into the setting with no world building, which is preferable to me in a short story. I don't need to know why something is happening or how the characters got where they are, but if a writer is good enough, and Clark clearly is, I won't care about any of that, but I will care about what's happening now, and who it is happening to.
I definitely cared, even in these few short pages.
I definitely cared, even in these few short pages.
wanderlustlover's review
4.0
** Finished is April, finally went back to check if it had a Goodreads entry. Review forthcoming.
lizinthelibrary's review
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
This is my first time reading an issue of Uncanny Magazine and I really loved it. I will be seeking out some more of them. I think there was one or two authors I will also seek out.
bookaneer's review
3.0
Rating for two stories only:
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson.
Exciting! But that's what you get when going into labor while zombies are banging outside your door. Lots of cool female-comradeship moments.
My Country is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou.
The premise was interesting at first, I was genuinely intrigued with the opening. But then it just falters and I stopped caring even before halfway.
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson.
Exciting! But that's what you get when going into labor while zombies are banging outside your door. Lots of cool female-comradeship moments.
My Country is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou.
The premise was interesting at first, I was genuinely intrigued with the opening. But then it just falters and I stopped caring even before halfway.
nataliya_x's review
4.0
This review is for three (!) award-nominated stories: “Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse” (Hugo and Nebula), “My Country is a Ghost” (Nebula) and “Where You Linger” (Nebula). The rating is for “Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse” — by far my favorite of the three.
————
————
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson - 4/5
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Badass moms in the zombie apocalypse. Giving birth is hard, especially when besieged by bloodthirsty horde of zombies. Featuring placental consumption that actually makes survival sense - a sentence I never thought I’d say.
“Eyes up, knives ready.”
4 stars.
—————
—————
My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou - 2/5
When you emigrate to another country, you are made to leave your ghosts behind at the border. Literally. The new country doesn’t want to be burdened with immigrants’ ghosts and pasts.
Interesting beginning that quickly fizzles out into a heavy metaphor/melancholic message lesson. I could not bring myself to care, sadly.
2 stars.
————
————
Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam - 1.5/5
Huh? A woman recounts all the men and women she had sex with, then gets to revisit her memories of them in some kind of science-fictional experience, accompanied by one of her past selves, and has more sex with them, and then some sort of lesson is learned.
Yeah, I was bored and baffled. It’s a trainwreck in slow motion, and I so don’t care.
1.5 stars.
——————
My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2021: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3701332299
————
————
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson - 4/5
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Badass moms in the zombie apocalypse. Giving birth is hard, especially when besieged by bloodthirsty horde of zombies. Featuring placental consumption that actually makes survival sense - a sentence I never thought I’d say.
“Eyes up, knives ready.”
4 stars.
—————
—————
My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou - 2/5
When you emigrate to another country, you are made to leave your ghosts behind at the border. Literally. The new country doesn’t want to be burdened with immigrants’ ghosts and pasts.
“Foreign ghosts were considered unnecessary. The only things they had to offer were stories and memories.”
Interesting beginning that quickly fizzles out into a heavy metaphor/melancholic message lesson. I could not bring myself to care, sadly.
2 stars.
————
————
Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam - 1.5/5
Huh? A woman recounts all the men and women she had sex with, then gets to revisit her memories of them in some kind of science-fictional experience, accompanied by one of her past selves, and has more sex with them, and then some sort of lesson is learned.
Yeah, I was bored and baffled. It’s a trainwreck in slow motion, and I so don’t care.
1.5 stars.
——————
My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2021: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3701332299
villyidol's review
Review (so far) for three of the stories in this issue of Uncanny Magazine, which, astonishingly, contains three stories that were nominated for this year’s Nebula Awards (one of those stories also being a Hugo finalist).
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (horror / read January 25, 2021)
Well, the title almost says it all. This is about two women that are trying to get their baby during a zombie apocalypse. You must be kind of a badass to do that – and they are.
There’s tension and atmosphere and love and women doing badass things to protect themselves and their baby.
I think this would have worked great as part of some longer story. In its current format some of its more emotional moments fall flat because you don’t have enough time to get attached to the characters. Still, it was not bad at all.
3.5 stars
2020 Nebula and 2021 Hugo finalist for Best Short Story.
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/badass-moms-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/
I listened to it as part of the Uncanny Magazine Podcast #32A. The story starts at 10:51 and is roughly 36 minutes long. It was competently narrated by Erika Ensign.
My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (fantasy / read May 30, 2021)
When Niovi is immigrating to an unnamed country she must leave the ghost of her mother behind at the border. Her mom’s ghost being a metaphor for memories and the connection to the place we call home. Niovi is trying to find a way to not be a ghostless person anymore, she’s trying to find a new home.
Honestly, this story had lost me already before the halfway point. It just didn’t make me care about the main character. And seeing that this is a quiet and introspective story, well, that became a problem.
1.5 stars
Nebula 2020 finalist for Best Short Story.
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/my-country-is-a-ghost/
And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands by Sharon Hsu (fantasy / read January 27, 2021)
A portal fantasy told from the perspective of a tree-being.
As the constant wars the humans are fighting begin to spill over into the forest world, Dryad who’s being acquainted with the kings and queens of England for several generations already needs to push back against her rulers (and friends).
Well, I understood the words but struggled a bit to grasp the whatness of this story and particularly the whyness of a couple of things that are happening towards the end.
Maybe some things could have been fleshed out a little better, or maybe it’s just me.
1.5 stars
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/and-all-the-trees-of-the-forest-shall-clap-their-hands/
I once again listened to the Uncanny Magazine Podcast. This story can be found under #32B. It starts at 10:44 and is roughly 21 minutes long. The narration by Joy Piedmont was okay.
Best Novel
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• [b:The City We Became|42074525|The City We Became (Great Cities #1)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585327950l/42074525._SY75_.jpg|54760675] by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
• [b:Mexican Gothic|53152636|Mexican Gothic|Silvia Moreno-Garcia|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607462569l/53152636._SY75_.jpg|73647361] by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey)
• [b:The Midnight Bargain|49151031|The Midnight Bargain|C.L. Polk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587158919l/49151031._SY75_.jpg|74297088] by C.L. Polk (Erewhon)
• [b:Black Sun|50892360|Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601212809l/50892360._SY75_.jpg|61321587] by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
• Network Effect by Martha Wells (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novella
• [b:Tower of Mud and Straw|55236234|Tower of Mud and Straw|Yaroslav Barsukov|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1599295493l/55236234._SX50_.jpg|86121622] by Yaroslav Barsukov (Metaphorosis)
• [b:Finna|44081573|Finna (LitenVerse #1)|Nino Cipri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563304090l/44081573._SY75_.jpg|68548236] by Nino Cipri (Tordotcom Publishing)
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (Tordotcom Publishing)
• [b:Ife-Iyoku, Tale of Imadeyunuagbon|57370124|Ife-Iyoku, Tale of Imadeyunuagbon|Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|89792116] by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki (Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora, Aurelia Leo)
• [b:The Four Profound Weaves|51600161|The Four Profound Weaves|R.B. Lemberg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575992755l/51600161._SY75_.jpg|73397963] by R.B. Lemberg (Tachyon)
• [b:Riot Baby|43719523|Riot Baby|Tochi Onyebuchi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556633991l/43719523._SY75_.jpg|68038597] by Tochi Onyebuchi (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novelette
• [b:Stepsister|56671617|Stepsister|Leah Cypess|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|88573911] by Leah Cypess (F&SF 5-6/20)
• [b:The Pill|53052208|Big Girl|Meg Elison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575492744l/53052208._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73371095] by Meg Elison (Big Girl, PM Press)
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 5-6/20)
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com 6/17/20)
• Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Shadow Prisons by Caroline M. Yoachim (serialized in the Dystopia Triptych series as The Shadow Prison Experiment, Shadow Prisons of the Mind and The Shadow Prisoner’s Dilemma, Broad Reach Publishing + Adamant Press)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Advanced Word Problems in Portal Math by Aimee Picchi (Daily Science Fiction 1/3/20)
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• The Eight-Thousanders by Jason Sanford (Asimov’s 9-10/20) (Asimov’s 9-10/20)
• My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
The Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction
• [b:Raybearer|50158128|Raybearer (Raybearer, #1)|Jordan Ifueko|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567330635l/50158128._SX50_SY75_.jpg|70180082] by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet)
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• [b:A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|54369251|A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|T. Kingfisher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593743861l/54369251._SX50_.jpg|84842875] by T. Kingfisher (Argyll)
• [b:A Game of Fox and Squirrels|44280976|A Game of Fox & Squirrels|Jenn Reese|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567292584l/44280976._SY75_.jpg|68794492] by Jenn Reese (Holt)
• [b:Star Daughter|52781202|Star Daughter|Shveta Thakrar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1596350537l/52781202._SY75_.jpg|66825697] by Shveta Thakrar (HarperTeen)
Best Novel
• [b:Black Sun|50892360|Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601212809l/50892360._SY75_.jpg|61321587] by Rebecca Roanhorse
• [b:The City We Became|42074525|The City We Became (Great Cities #1)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585327950l/42074525._SY75_.jpg|54760675] by N.K. Jemisin
• [b:Harrow the Ninth|39325105|Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #2)|Tamsyn Muir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602323622l/39325105._SY75_.jpg|60943273] by Tamsyn Muir
• Network Effect by Martha Wells
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• [b:The Relentless Moon|52381417|The Relentless Moon (Lady Astronaut Universe, #3)|Mary Robinette Kowal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574326388l/52381417._SY75_.jpg|65396089] by Mary Robinette Kowal
Best Novella
• [b:Come Tumbling Down|44804083|Come Tumbling Down (Wayward Children, #5)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556543251l/44804083._SY75_.jpg|60132774] by Seanan McGuire
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• [b:Finna|44081573|Finna (LitenVerse #1)|Nino Cipri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563304090l/44081573._SY75_.jpg|68548236] by Nino Cipri
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
• [b:Riot Baby|43719523|Riot Baby|Tochi Onyebuchi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556633991l/43719523._SY75_.jpg|68038597] by Tochi Onyebuchi
• [b:Upright Women Wanted|45320365|Upright Women Wanted|Sarah Gailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556718522l/45320365._SY75_.jpg|62411007] by Sarah Gailey
Best Novelette
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 34: May/June 2020|53340305|Uncanny Magazine Issue 34 May/June 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588778181l/53340305._SY75_.jpg|81991633])
• [b:I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter|56389293|Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160 (January 2020)|Neil Clarke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|87868218] by Isabel Fall (Clarkesworld, January 2020)
• The Inaccessibility of Heaven by Aliette de Bodard ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 35: July/August 2020|54425955|Uncanny Magazine Issue 35 July/August 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594094718l/54425955._SY75_.jpg|84933097])
• Monster by Naomi Kritzer ([b:Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160|51267546|Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160 (January 2020)|Neil Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581723430l/51267546._SY75_.jpg|87868218])
• The Pill by Meg Elison (from [b:Big Girl|53052208|Big Girl|Meg Elison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575492744l/53052208._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73371095])
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 32: January/February 2020|50493730|Uncanny Magazine Issue 32 January/February 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579080364l/50493730._SY75_.jpg|75468797])
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• Little Free Library by Naomi Kritzer (Tor. com)
• The Mermaid Astronaut by Yoon Ha Lee (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, February 2020)
• Metal Like Blood in the Dark by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine, September/October 2020)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
Best Series
• The Daevabad Trilogy by [a:S.A. Chakraborty|16002992|S.A. Chakraborty|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1495447627p2/16002992.jpg]
• The Interdependency by [a:John Scalzi|4763|John Scalzi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1562613145p2/4763.jpg]
• The Lady Astronaut Universe by [a:Mary Robinette Kowal|2868678|Mary Robinette Kowal|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1602692419p2/2868678.jpg]
• The Murderbot Diaries by [a:Martha Wells|87305|Martha Wells|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397566224p2/87305.jpg]
• October Daye by [a:Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]
• The Poppy War by [a:R.F. Kuang|16820001|R.F. Kuang|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1563395354p2/16820001.jpg]
Best Graphic Story or Comic
• [b:Die, Vol. 2: Split the Party|49426262|Die, Vol. 2 Split the Party|Kieron Gillen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575345987l/49426262._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72153103], written by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, letters by Clayton Cowles
• [b:Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1: Dog Days Are Over|49984842|Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1 Dog Days Are Over|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580942524l/49984842._SY75_.jpg|72585311], written by Seanan McGuire, art by Takeshi Miyazawa and Rosi Kämpe
• Invisible Kingdom, Vol. 2: Edge of Everything, written by G. Willow Wilson, art by Christian Ward
• [b:Monstress, Vol. 5: Warchild|52637764|Monstress, Vol. 5 Warchild|Marjorie M. Liu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600742631l/52637764._SY75_.jpg|78402003], written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda
• Once & Future, Vol. 1: The King is Undead, written by Kieron Gillen, iIllustrated by Dan Mora, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, lettered by Ed Dukeshire
• Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, written by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (horror / read January 25, 2021)
Well, the title almost says it all. This is about two women that are trying to get their baby during a zombie apocalypse. You must be kind of a badass to do that – and they are.
There’s tension and atmosphere and love and women doing badass things to protect themselves and their baby.
Eyes up, knives ready.
I think this would have worked great as part of some longer story. In its current format some of its more emotional moments fall flat because you don’t have enough time to get attached to the characters. Still, it was not bad at all.
3.5 stars
2020 Nebula and 2021 Hugo finalist for Best Short Story.
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/badass-moms-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/
I listened to it as part of the Uncanny Magazine Podcast #32A. The story starts at 10:51 and is roughly 36 minutes long. It was competently narrated by Erika Ensign.
My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (fantasy / read May 30, 2021)
When Niovi is immigrating to an unnamed country she must leave the ghost of her mother behind at the border. Her mom’s ghost being a metaphor for memories and the connection to the place we call home. Niovi is trying to find a way to not be a ghostless person anymore, she’s trying to find a new home.
Honestly, this story had lost me already before the halfway point. It just didn’t make me care about the main character. And seeing that this is a quiet and introspective story, well, that became a problem.
1.5 stars
Nebula 2020 finalist for Best Short Story.
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/my-country-is-a-ghost/
And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands by Sharon Hsu (fantasy / read January 27, 2021)
A portal fantasy told from the perspective of a tree-being.
As the constant wars the humans are fighting begin to spill over into the forest world, Dryad who’s being acquainted with the kings and queens of England for several generations already needs to push back against her rulers (and friends).
Well, I understood the words but struggled a bit to grasp the whatness of this story and particularly the whyness of a couple of things that are happening towards the end.
Maybe some things could have been fleshed out a little better, or maybe it’s just me.
1.5 stars
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/and-all-the-trees-of-the-forest-shall-clap-their-hands/
I once again listened to the Uncanny Magazine Podcast. This story can be found under #32B. It starts at 10:44 and is roughly 21 minutes long. The narration by Joy Piedmont was okay.
_________________
2020 Nebula Award Finalists
Best Novel
• [b:Piranesi|50202953|Piranesi|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609095173l/50202953._SY75_.jpg|73586702] by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury)
• [b:The City We Became|42074525|The City We Became (Great Cities #1)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585327950l/42074525._SY75_.jpg|54760675] by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
• [b:Mexican Gothic|53152636|Mexican Gothic|Silvia Moreno-Garcia|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607462569l/53152636._SY75_.jpg|73647361] by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey)
• [b:The Midnight Bargain|49151031|The Midnight Bargain|C.L. Polk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587158919l/49151031._SY75_.jpg|74297088] by C.L. Polk (Erewhon)
• [b:Black Sun|50892360|Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601212809l/50892360._SY75_.jpg|61321587] by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
• Network Effect by Martha Wells (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novella
• [b:Tower of Mud and Straw|55236234|Tower of Mud and Straw|Yaroslav Barsukov|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1599295493l/55236234._SX50_.jpg|86121622] by Yaroslav Barsukov (Metaphorosis)
• [b:Finna|44081573|Finna (LitenVerse #1)|Nino Cipri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563304090l/44081573._SY75_.jpg|68548236] by Nino Cipri (Tordotcom Publishing)
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (Tordotcom Publishing)
• [b:Ife-Iyoku, Tale of Imadeyunuagbon|57370124|Ife-Iyoku, Tale of Imadeyunuagbon|Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|89792116] by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki (Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora, Aurelia Leo)
• [b:The Four Profound Weaves|51600161|The Four Profound Weaves|R.B. Lemberg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575992755l/51600161._SY75_.jpg|73397963] by R.B. Lemberg (Tachyon)
• [b:Riot Baby|43719523|Riot Baby|Tochi Onyebuchi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556633991l/43719523._SY75_.jpg|68038597] by Tochi Onyebuchi (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novelette
• [b:Stepsister|56671617|Stepsister|Leah Cypess|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|88573911] by Leah Cypess (F&SF 5-6/20)
• [b:The Pill|53052208|Big Girl|Meg Elison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575492744l/53052208._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73371095] by Meg Elison (Big Girl, PM Press)
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 5-6/20)
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com 6/17/20)
• Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Shadow Prisons by Caroline M. Yoachim (serialized in the Dystopia Triptych series as The Shadow Prison Experiment, Shadow Prisons of the Mind and The Shadow Prisoner’s Dilemma, Broad Reach Publishing + Adamant Press)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Advanced Word Problems in Portal Math by Aimee Picchi (Daily Science Fiction 1/3/20)
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• The Eight-Thousanders by Jason Sanford (Asimov’s 9-10/20) (Asimov’s 9-10/20)
• My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
The Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction
• [b:Raybearer|50158128|Raybearer (Raybearer, #1)|Jordan Ifueko|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567330635l/50158128._SX50_SY75_.jpg|70180082] by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet)
• [b:Elatsoe|49089632|Elatsoe|Darcie Little Badger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581002562l/49089632._SX50_.jpg|71388826] by Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido)
• [b:A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|54369251|A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|T. Kingfisher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593743861l/54369251._SX50_.jpg|84842875] by T. Kingfisher (Argyll)
• [b:A Game of Fox and Squirrels|44280976|A Game of Fox & Squirrels|Jenn Reese|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567292584l/44280976._SY75_.jpg|68794492] by Jenn Reese (Holt)
• [b:Star Daughter|52781202|Star Daughter|Shveta Thakrar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1596350537l/52781202._SY75_.jpg|66825697] by Shveta Thakrar (HarperTeen)
________________
2021 Hugo Award Finalists
Best Novel
• [b:Black Sun|50892360|Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601212809l/50892360._SY75_.jpg|61321587] by Rebecca Roanhorse
• [b:The City We Became|42074525|The City We Became (Great Cities #1)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585327950l/42074525._SY75_.jpg|54760675] by N.K. Jemisin
• [b:Harrow the Ninth|39325105|Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #2)|Tamsyn Muir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602323622l/39325105._SY75_.jpg|60943273] by Tamsyn Muir
• Network Effect by Martha Wells
• [b:Piranesi|50202953|Piranesi|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609095173l/50202953._SY75_.jpg|73586702] by Susanna Clarke
• [b:The Relentless Moon|52381417|The Relentless Moon (Lady Astronaut Universe, #3)|Mary Robinette Kowal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574326388l/52381417._SY75_.jpg|65396089] by Mary Robinette Kowal
Best Novella
• [b:Come Tumbling Down|44804083|Come Tumbling Down (Wayward Children, #5)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556543251l/44804083._SY75_.jpg|60132774] by Seanan McGuire
• [b:The Empress of Salt and Fortune|51190882|The Empress of Salt and Fortune (The Singing Hills Cycle, #1)|Nghi Vo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565188992l/51190882._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71836130] by Nghi Vo
• [b:Finna|44081573|Finna (LitenVerse #1)|Nino Cipri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563304090l/44081573._SY75_.jpg|68548236] by Nino Cipri
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
• [b:Riot Baby|43719523|Riot Baby|Tochi Onyebuchi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556633991l/43719523._SY75_.jpg|68038597] by Tochi Onyebuchi
• [b:Upright Women Wanted|45320365|Upright Women Wanted|Sarah Gailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556718522l/45320365._SY75_.jpg|62411007] by Sarah Gailey
Best Novelette
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 34: May/June 2020|53340305|Uncanny Magazine Issue 34 May/June 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588778181l/53340305._SY75_.jpg|81991633])
• [b:I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter|56389293|Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160 (January 2020)|Neil Clarke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|87868218] by Isabel Fall (Clarkesworld, January 2020)
• The Inaccessibility of Heaven by Aliette de Bodard ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 35: July/August 2020|54425955|Uncanny Magazine Issue 35 July/August 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594094718l/54425955._SY75_.jpg|84933097])
• Monster by Naomi Kritzer ([b:Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160|51267546|Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160 (January 2020)|Neil Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581723430l/51267546._SY75_.jpg|87868218])
• The Pill by Meg Elison (from [b:Big Girl|53052208|Big Girl|Meg Elison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575492744l/53052208._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73371095])
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 32: January/February 2020|50493730|Uncanny Magazine Issue 32 January/February 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579080364l/50493730._SY75_.jpg|75468797])
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• Little Free Library by Naomi Kritzer (Tor. com)
• The Mermaid Astronaut by Yoon Ha Lee (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, February 2020)
• Metal Like Blood in the Dark by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine, September/October 2020)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
Best Series
• The Daevabad Trilogy by [a:S.A. Chakraborty|16002992|S.A. Chakraborty|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1495447627p2/16002992.jpg]
• The Interdependency by [a:John Scalzi|4763|John Scalzi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1562613145p2/4763.jpg]
• The Lady Astronaut Universe by [a:Mary Robinette Kowal|2868678|Mary Robinette Kowal|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1602692419p2/2868678.jpg]
• The Murderbot Diaries by [a:Martha Wells|87305|Martha Wells|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397566224p2/87305.jpg]
• October Daye by [a:Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]
• The Poppy War by [a:R.F. Kuang|16820001|R.F. Kuang|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1563395354p2/16820001.jpg]
Best Graphic Story or Comic
• [b:Die, Vol. 2: Split the Party|49426262|Die, Vol. 2 Split the Party|Kieron Gillen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575345987l/49426262._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72153103], written by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, letters by Clayton Cowles
• [b:Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1: Dog Days Are Over|49984842|Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1 Dog Days Are Over|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580942524l/49984842._SY75_.jpg|72585311], written by Seanan McGuire, art by Takeshi Miyazawa and Rosi Kämpe
• Invisible Kingdom, Vol. 2: Edge of Everything, written by G. Willow Wilson, art by Christian Ward
• [b:Monstress, Vol. 5: Warchild|52637764|Monstress, Vol. 5 Warchild|Marjorie M. Liu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600742631l/52637764._SY75_.jpg|78402003], written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda
• Once & Future, Vol. 1: The King is Undead, written by Kieron Gillen, iIllustrated by Dan Mora, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, lettered by Ed Dukeshire
• Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, written by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings