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afreen7's review
4.0
MORE FICTION
Our Love Against Us by DaVaun Sanders - 3.5/5 (interesting concept but a little long-winded and too descriptive. I wish there was more character development for the length of this story)
The 207th Time I Went Back to March 9, 1980 by Beth Cato - 3/5 (I like the sentiment despite its simplicity and short length)
The Prince of Salt and the Ocean’s Bargain by Natalia Theodoridou - 4.5/5
Girl, Cat, Wolf, Moon by Rati Mehrotra - 5/5 (love the appeal of a secret magical night market and with cats to boot)
Towered by Tansy Rayner Roberts- 3.5/5
As One Listens to the Rain by Andrea Chapela, translated by Emma Törzs - 4.5/5
Radcliffe Hall by Miyuki Jane Pinckard - 3/5
I mean this was a whole novella, not a short story. I had some expectations I guess. I liked the gothic setting, but to be honest it was anti-climactic for me. The story was kinda predictable and the only interesting bit would've been the characters but they didn't appeal to me either. The protagonist is a little gullible and unobservant. The side characters were kinda forgettable despite having potential with backstories and the writing needs polishing especially paragraphs like this:
"All I can remember is how George smiled, how she laughed, showing her teeth, and I noticed that she had one front tooth a little crooked that gave her an endearingly asymmetrical look. I can only remember that I realized for the first time, under the dusty electric chandeliers of the dining hall, that her eyes were deep blue, not black, like the night sky, like the depths of the ocean where sailors fear to go.
Also, this is the second time Tomoe realises George's eyes were blue, not black
The Portal Keeper by Lavie Tidhar - 4/5
POETRY
A nice selection this time. My faves were "On the Plantation of Daughters" by Lalini Shanela Ranaraja and "Identity" by Marissa Lingen. "Palingenesia" by Simbo, Olumide Manuel was interesting too.
EDITORIALS
The Fat Body Problem by Meg Elison - 5/5 (another banger of an essay)
ESSAYS
Book Club by Greg Pak - 4.5/5
Breaking Out of Capitalist Realism by Juliet Kemp - 4/5
Too Dystopian for Whom? A Continental Nigerian Writer’s Perspective by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki - 5/5
I would quote this entire essay here if I could its that good. And funnily a little in contrast to the essay before it
“Dystopian fiction is when you take things that happen in real life to marginalized populations and apply them to people with privilege.” The dystopian reality is not new and has been with us for a while. Its fictionalizing continues to date despite those debates regarding its relevance or necessity.
You see, you cannot live. But you must not deny the government the pleasure of killing you. The dystopia is here, has always been. It’s just not evenly distributed.
...claiming that all fictional dystopias are redundant because we NOW live in one is a dangerously high level of presumption and an inaccurate assertion. Because we have always lived in one, there has always been a dystopia somewhere in this world that we were only unaware of. And going by the logic of dystopian storytelling being redundant because we are in one, dystopian storytelling should have been redundant since forever, due to the presence of an existing, dystopic reality at some place and time or the other. But the timeline and positioning of Western privilege does not determine the actual position of the world and what is relevant or irrelevant. To assume that is mere Eurocentric hubris.
Dystopian stories are not monolithic in effect. While they can horrify, they can also provide catharsis, warnings, and myriad other useful reactions that continue to benefit the consumer and society at large, in any time at all
Everything Is on Fire Except My Deadlines by Premee Mohamed - 3.5/5
Our Love Against Us by DaVaun Sanders - 3.5/5 (interesting concept but a little long-winded and too descriptive. I wish there was more character development for the length of this story)
The 207th Time I Went Back to March 9, 1980 by Beth Cato - 3/5 (I like the sentiment despite its simplicity and short length)
The Prince of Salt and the Ocean’s Bargain by Natalia Theodoridou - 4.5/5
Girl, Cat, Wolf, Moon by Rati Mehrotra - 5/5 (love the appeal of a secret magical night market and with cats to boot)
Towered by Tansy Rayner Roberts- 3.5/5
As One Listens to the Rain by Andrea Chapela, translated by Emma Törzs - 4.5/5
Radcliffe Hall by Miyuki Jane Pinckard - 3/5
I mean this was a whole novella, not a short story. I had some expectations I guess. I liked the gothic setting, but to be honest it was anti-climactic for me. The story was kinda predictable and the only interesting bit would've been the characters but they didn't appeal to me either. The protagonist is a little gullible and unobservant. The side characters were kinda forgettable despite having potential with backstories and the writing needs polishing especially paragraphs like this:
"All I can remember is how George smiled, how she laughed, showing her teeth, and I noticed that she had one front tooth a little crooked that gave her an endearingly asymmetrical look. I can only remember that I realized for the first time, under the dusty electric chandeliers of the dining hall, that her eyes were deep blue, not black, like the night sky, like the depths of the ocean where sailors fear to go.
Also, this is the second time Tomoe realises George's eyes were blue, not black
The Portal Keeper by Lavie Tidhar - 4/5
POETRY
A nice selection this time. My faves were "On the Plantation of Daughters" by Lalini Shanela Ranaraja and "Identity" by Marissa Lingen. "Palingenesia" by Simbo, Olumide Manuel was interesting too.
EDITORIALS
The Fat Body Problem by Meg Elison - 5/5 (another banger of an essay)
ESSAYS
Book Club by Greg Pak - 4.5/5
Breaking Out of Capitalist Realism by Juliet Kemp - 4/5
Too Dystopian for Whom? A Continental Nigerian Writer’s Perspective by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki - 5/5
I would quote this entire essay here if I could its that good. And funnily a little in contrast to the essay before it
“Dystopian fiction is when you take things that happen in real life to marginalized populations and apply them to people with privilege.” The dystopian reality is not new and has been with us for a while. Its fictionalizing continues to date despite those debates regarding its relevance or necessity.
You see, you cannot live. But you must not deny the government the pleasure of killing you. The dystopia is here, has always been. It’s just not evenly distributed.
...claiming that all fictional dystopias are redundant because we NOW live in one is a dangerously high level of presumption and an inaccurate assertion. Because we have always lived in one, there has always been a dystopia somewhere in this world that we were only unaware of. And going by the logic of dystopian storytelling being redundant because we are in one, dystopian storytelling should have been redundant since forever, due to the presence of an existing, dystopic reality at some place and time or the other. But the timeline and positioning of Western privilege does not determine the actual position of the world and what is relevant or irrelevant. To assume that is mere Eurocentric hubris.
Dystopian stories are not monolithic in effect. While they can horrify, they can also provide catharsis, warnings, and myriad other useful reactions that continue to benefit the consumer and society at large, in any time at all
Everything Is on Fire Except My Deadlines by Premee Mohamed - 3.5/5
feastofblaze's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
howardgo's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
I still subscribe to and read every issue of Uncanny Magazine. The latest is September/October 2022. Here are my favorite stories and essays.
- Girl, Cat, Wolf, Moon by Rati Mehrotra – a tale of cats, magic, and monsters
- The Portal Keeper by Lavie Tidhar – an exploration of duty and relationships
- As One Listens to the Rain by Andrea Chapela, translated by Emma Törzs – a look at the future and hard choices
- Radcliffe Hall by Miyuki Jane Pinckard – a gothic novella of love and hauntings
- Breaking Out of Capitalist Realism by Juliet Kemp – a provocative and compelling essay
8bitlapras's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
The Prince of Salt and the Ocean's Bargain by Natalia Theodoridou: 4.75/5
Our Love Against Us by DaVaun Sanders: 2/5
Girl, Cat, Wolf, Moon by Rati Mehrota: 4/5
The 207th Time I Went Back to March 9, 1980 by Beth Cato: 4/5
The Portal Keeper by Lavie Tidhar: 4/5
As One Listens to the Rain by Andrea Chapela, translated by Emma Törzs: 4/5
Towered by Tansy Rayner Roberts: 1.5/5
Radcliffe Hall by Miyuki Jane Pinckard: 4.75/5
Average rating: 3.625, rounded up to 3.75
Our Love Against Us by DaVaun Sanders: 2/5
Girl, Cat, Wolf, Moon by Rati Mehrota: 4/5
The 207th Time I Went Back to March 9, 1980 by Beth Cato: 4/5
The Portal Keeper by Lavie Tidhar: 4/5
As One Listens to the Rain by Andrea Chapela, translated by Emma Törzs: 4/5
Towered by Tansy Rayner Roberts: 1.5/5
Radcliffe Hall by Miyuki Jane Pinckard: 4.75/5
Average rating: 3.625, rounded up to 3.75
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