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oleksandr's review
3.0
This is the February 2022 issue of SF/Fantasy magazine Clarkesworld, #185. this is the second issue I’ve read cover to cover, the first I reviewed here. I liked fiction in this issue much more than the last.
The issue contains 7 fiction pieces, 2 interviews, and an editorial. Here is the breakdown:
The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse short story by Isabel J. Kim a weird story set in South Korea. Kim Jinah works at the Munjeong Road bathhouse scraping other women’s skin. This scrapping те only clears skin, but allows to take of scales. The scales are invisible to anyone but the massager and they are the calcification of choices, so by removing them people get more possibilities. Jinah is a single mother with a young (preschool) daughter an her life is hard. She gets a proposal hard to refuse, but she isn’t sure that taking off own scales will be worth it. 3*
The Plasticity of Youth short story by Marissa Lingen Jess is pregnant and had a scheduled visit to her doctor, but her car has a destroyed tire. She sees as a raven rips and eats shreds of the tire. Fast forward a few months, she gave birth to a daughter but once catches the baby that tries to eat moss hat invaded plastics. They run to a doctor, but seems that not only ravens evolved. In the 1940s-50s there were quite a few SF stories about the next evolutionary step and this is a nice homage while being actual as well. 3*
You're Not the Only One short story by Octavia Cade the author of quite strong novella [b:The Stone Wētā|52359662|The Stone Wētā|Octavia Cade|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584150511l/52359662._SY75_.jpg|76404188] mostly writes cli-fi. In this grim near future story, a protagonist-narrator is pregnant even despite she knows that her daughter will be alive for mere hours after birth – but she won’t be in pain and her organs will be transplanted to other kids, who need them. Her friend Marcus was meant to be going to the moon but carbon budgeting put space programs to a halt. The idea is strong, but maybe too strong. 3.5*
Informed Consent Logs from the Soul Swap Clinic short story by Sarah Pauling a log of conversations of a stuttering technician with two patients coded Blue and Red and a Sponsor. The Sponsor is a rich husband who wants his trophy wife [Blue] to get into a body of a formerly famous actress [Red], even if the procedure is dangerous. 2.5*
The Old Moon short story by John McNeil the most SF piece in the issue. A protagonist-narrator robot/AI TwoAlpha serves a sentient plant named Viburn on a space station. It seems that people are no more and sentient robots created religion and adhere to it, much to Viburn’s dislike, for it is a teacher and is sure that there is only matter and energy but no supernatural. There are no humans, but there are banks and loans that force robots to lives of servitude. 4*
The Direction of Clocks novelette by Jess Levine Cameron volunteered on a mission to go alone in a one-person ship flying near the speed of light beyond explored space. She had personal reasons to leave everyone on Earth (a failed love affair), but as she stops on a way station (3 years passed for her and over nine decades on Earth) to learn that all further flights outward are banned and she can only return to Earth (and her misery, even if her girlfriend is long dead). I disliked the story not only because the main character is pushy and thinks everyone owes her, but mainly because we don’t get any info on why and what for she had been sent on a mission, only her problems… 1*
Babirusa novella by Arula Ratnakar a weird dream-like SF story, with several plot lines [1] a woman and a girl, named Charm and Down (I guess referencing quarks) in a strange room with six walls and painting that can change and even turn to portals. [2] a teen boy Kabir receives a message from his older sister Roop, who committed a crime and now should use Babirusa, a neuropharmacology program named after an extinct animal that had growing a tusk that would, if not constantly ground down, eventually curl back and puncture its own skull and brain, killing itself. The Babirusa program, installed in person’s brain can change the weights that certain memories, instincts, personality traits, et cetera have for the biological consciousness by adjusting the likelihood of their occurrence, so potentially it can “cure” criminals by changing their behavior. A very interesting concept but the story was a bit heavy for me. 3*
COVID-19 and the Mental Health Crisis essay by Douglas F. Dluzen a non-fic about the growing mental issues caused by the pandemics and lack of mental health care health professionals in the USA.
Community and Story: A Conversation with Zoraida Córdova interview of Zoraida Córdova the interviewee recently edited the first SFF anthology of Afro-Latinx authors [b:Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms & Space|57693456|Reclaim the Stars 17 Tales Across Realms & Space|Zoraida Córdova|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1622211270l/57693456._SY75_.jpg|79591694]
Staying Loose: A Conversation with Max Gladstone interview of Max Gladstone the author of acclaimed Craft Sequence series started with [b:Three Parts Dead|13539191|Three Parts Dead (Craft Sequence, #1)|Max Gladstone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1333049511l/13539191._SY75_.jpg|19101555] in 2012 has his new book out, [b:Last Exit|57693437|Last Exit|Max Gladstone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646025918l/57693437._SY75_.jpg|90371640]. Adding to my TBR
Editor's Desk: 2021 Reader's Poll Finalists essay by Neil Clarke a list of 2021 finalists.
The issue contains 7 fiction pieces, 2 interviews, and an editorial. Here is the breakdown:
The Massage Lady at Munjeong Road Bathhouse short story by Isabel J. Kim a weird story set in South Korea. Kim Jinah works at the Munjeong Road bathhouse scraping other women’s skin. This scrapping те only clears skin, but allows to take of scales. The scales are invisible to anyone but the massager and they are the calcification of choices, so by removing them people get more possibilities. Jinah is a single mother with a young (preschool) daughter an her life is hard. She gets a proposal hard to refuse, but she isn’t sure that taking off own scales will be worth it. 3*
The Plasticity of Youth short story by Marissa Lingen Jess is pregnant and had a scheduled visit to her doctor, but her car has a destroyed tire. She sees as a raven rips and eats shreds of the tire. Fast forward a few months, she gave birth to a daughter but once catches the baby that tries to eat moss hat invaded plastics. They run to a doctor, but seems that not only ravens evolved. In the 1940s-50s there were quite a few SF stories about the next evolutionary step and this is a nice homage while being actual as well. 3*
You're Not the Only One short story by Octavia Cade the author of quite strong novella [b:The Stone Wētā|52359662|The Stone Wētā|Octavia Cade|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1584150511l/52359662._SY75_.jpg|76404188] mostly writes cli-fi. In this grim near future story, a protagonist-narrator is pregnant even despite she knows that her daughter will be alive for mere hours after birth – but she won’t be in pain and her organs will be transplanted to other kids, who need them. Her friend Marcus was meant to be going to the moon but carbon budgeting put space programs to a halt. The idea is strong, but maybe too strong. 3.5*
Informed Consent Logs from the Soul Swap Clinic short story by Sarah Pauling a log of conversations of a stuttering technician with two patients coded Blue and Red and a Sponsor. The Sponsor is a rich husband who wants his trophy wife [Blue] to get into a body of a formerly famous actress [Red], even if the procedure is dangerous. 2.5*
The Old Moon short story by John McNeil the most SF piece in the issue. A protagonist-narrator robot/AI TwoAlpha serves a sentient plant named Viburn on a space station. It seems that people are no more and sentient robots created religion and adhere to it, much to Viburn’s dislike, for it is a teacher and is sure that there is only matter and energy but no supernatural. There are no humans, but there are banks and loans that force robots to lives of servitude. 4*
The Direction of Clocks novelette by Jess Levine Cameron volunteered on a mission to go alone in a one-person ship flying near the speed of light beyond explored space. She had personal reasons to leave everyone on Earth (a failed love affair), but as she stops on a way station (3 years passed for her and over nine decades on Earth) to learn that all further flights outward are banned and she can only return to Earth (and her misery, even if her girlfriend is long dead). I disliked the story not only because the main character is pushy and thinks everyone owes her, but mainly because we don’t get any info on why and what for she had been sent on a mission, only her problems… 1*
Babirusa novella by Arula Ratnakar a weird dream-like SF story, with several plot lines [1] a woman and a girl, named Charm and Down (I guess referencing quarks) in a strange room with six walls and painting that can change and even turn to portals. [2] a teen boy Kabir receives a message from his older sister Roop, who committed a crime and now should use Babirusa, a neuropharmacology program named after an extinct animal that had growing a tusk that would, if not constantly ground down, eventually curl back and puncture its own skull and brain, killing itself. The Babirusa program, installed in person’s brain can change the weights that certain memories, instincts, personality traits, et cetera have for the biological consciousness by adjusting the likelihood of their occurrence, so potentially it can “cure” criminals by changing their behavior. A very interesting concept but the story was a bit heavy for me. 3*
COVID-19 and the Mental Health Crisis essay by Douglas F. Dluzen a non-fic about the growing mental issues caused by the pandemics and lack of mental health care health professionals in the USA.
Community and Story: A Conversation with Zoraida Córdova interview of Zoraida Córdova the interviewee recently edited the first SFF anthology of Afro-Latinx authors [b:Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms & Space|57693456|Reclaim the Stars 17 Tales Across Realms & Space|Zoraida Córdova|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1622211270l/57693456._SY75_.jpg|79591694]
Staying Loose: A Conversation with Max Gladstone interview of Max Gladstone the author of acclaimed Craft Sequence series started with [b:Three Parts Dead|13539191|Three Parts Dead (Craft Sequence, #1)|Max Gladstone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1333049511l/13539191._SY75_.jpg|19101555] in 2012 has his new book out, [b:Last Exit|57693437|Last Exit|Max Gladstone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1646025918l/57693437._SY75_.jpg|90371640]. Adding to my TBR
Editor's Desk: 2021 Reader's Poll Finalists essay by Neil Clarke a list of 2021 finalists.
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