Scan barcode
snazel's review against another edition
Beautifully written but I did not enjoy it.
hwesta's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
mollyfischfriedman's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this - it's powerfully written, and I liked the development of Nyma. A lot of it didn't feel fully explained, though.
wanderlustlover's review against another edition
5.0
Hugo 2020 Nominations (Best Short Story);
I was incredibly moved by this story from the first gasp of finally understanding what it was doing. The story is playing so deeply into the game of innocence and violence, morals and choices, and telling it through the point-of-view of a ten-year-old (and growing) child makes for a poignant, heartbreaking choice.
This is a story about what war does to adults, how it makes them desperate, no matter their position or vocation. This story is about the fleeting beauty of life, and how the threat of death makes it even more precious in every second, never knowing if you'll be alive the next year to see something you loved again. It's about anonymity, and poetry, and a world soaked in blood placed within the chest of a child with unwaveringly dedicated faith.
This such an important story and I'm still working my way around how to explain it without giving it away. There's such importance in the line that basically breaks down this whole short story in a summary:
It's not about right and wrong, she said to him. It's about making it hard.
I was incredibly moved by this story from the first gasp of finally understanding what it was doing. The story is playing so deeply into the game of innocence and violence, morals and choices, and telling it through the point-of-view of a ten-year-old (and growing) child makes for a poignant, heartbreaking choice.
This is a story about what war does to adults, how it makes them desperate, no matter their position or vocation. This story is about the fleeting beauty of life, and how the threat of death makes it even more precious in every second, never knowing if you'll be alive the next year to see something you loved again. It's about anonymity, and poetry, and a world soaked in blood placed within the chest of a child with unwaveringly dedicated faith.
This such an important story and I'm still working my way around how to explain it without giving it away. There's such importance in the line that basically breaks down this whole short story in a summary:
It's not about right and wrong, she said to him. It's about making it hard.
nataliagruber's review
emotional
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
ishouldreadthat's review against another edition
5.0
Read for the 2020 Hugos.
This is my favourite of the nominated short stories! A clever and impactful short story about the consequences of war. Packs a serious punch for such a small word count, and I think this one will stick with me for a long time.
This is my favourite of the nominated short stories! A clever and impactful short story about the consequences of war. Packs a serious punch for such a small word count, and I think this one will stick with me for a long time.
silvae's review against another edition
4.0
A short story based on a known conundrum - would a head of state act more reasonably (and choose less deadly operations) if the key to mass destruction were hidden away within a person the politician would then have to kill? While I enjoyed the exploration of the topic (particularly the look at how adults in power will weaponize innocence), it didn’t wow me or take any too unexpected directions. I think this would be a great text to have broader philosophical discussions around in a class setting, but as a stand-alone I don’t think it prods hard enough at the topic.
zoes_human's review against another edition
5.0
A nation once devastated by a powerful weapon of mass destruction sets in place an unthinkable restriction to prevent themselves from casually inflicting the same on others. Now at war, their leader and a member of the Order must face a horrifying choice.
gjharm's review against another edition
5.0
Would give it six stars if I could. Absolutely blew my mind.
bookaneer's review against another edition
2.0
I am very much in the minority since even though I read this twice, I thought it was just okay, nothing special.