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rick_k's review against another edition
4.0
I think what is most impressive about The Finite Canvas is the robust world-building which Brit Mandelo was able to accomplish within the constraints of short form fiction. This is a story of a three day encounter between two women who are confronted by their own mortality. The mercenary threatened by violence and the doctor by illness. These aren't shadowy specters. They each vividly understand their reality. The title refers to a ritual scarification that is done to record a tribute to the victim on the body of the murderer. Within this act and the story that accompanies it, we learn all we need to know about the world, politics, environment and culture. We never get to the how and why the world is the way it is, but it doesn't matter. Those are not the questions which concern our characters. The restraint of writing keeps us focused on emotional truth of these women as they weigh duty against the cost of a life at the margins of society.
arkron's review
5.0
A female assassin atones for her murders by letting a medicine carve her arm (cf the great illustration by Rick Berry) while telling her story. This is the frame story for [b:The Decameron|51799|The Decameron|Giovanni Boccaccio|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1362720861s/51799.jpg|1320474]-like redemption/love/family story. Two strong female characters, an intense mystery set in a dystopian world with a bit of action, and a perfect ending make up this novelette. I don't understand why this one didn't win the Nebula instead of [b:Close Encounters|17404833|Close Encounters|Andy Duncan|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-673c574e721a5d4c3fd6e25b74d42bf2.png|24242303]. It isn't for the faint of heart and I'm pretty sure it will stick with me a while.
heypretty52's review
5.0
Mandelo's short work sent chills through me- a brutal yet loving homage to the intricacies of broken humans and their broken relationships in a world ravaged by those very same humans. Perfect.
keu482's review
4.0
Another Tor.com short story.
My god this is bleak.But it's kind of haunting and beautiful too.
My god this is bleak.But it's kind of haunting and beautiful too.
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