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alamerysl's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
dr_matthew_lloyd's review
4.0
I enjoyed this edition of Clarkesworld and I am considering renewing my subscription (I cancelled largely on the basis that I don't have time to read a whole magazine a month). I particularly enjoyed [a:Nicola Griffith|90780|Nicola Griffith|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1336097341p2/90780.jpg]'s "It Takes Two", one of the reprints, which has rejuvenated my interest in reading her fiction (it's been two years or so since I read [b:Ammonite|18171006|Ammonite|Nicola Griffith|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1373321169s/18171006.jpg|1876209]!).
Of the other fiction, I found "The Last Surviving Gondola Widow" to be about as interesting as Steampunk fiction ever is; both it and "The Osteomancer's Son" relied on their magic systems to provide plot twists, which I always find boring. "Indelible" by Gwendolyn Clare was good, but somewhat immemorable - I would look for other work by Clare again, though. "The Three Resurrections of Jessica Churchill" really should have come with a warning as it was brutal, but it had a substantial effect on me so I suppose that was good? Finally, "Meshed" was a solid SF premice carried through to its conclusion - one can care or not about the fortunes of young athletes, but this story does highlight their commodification pretty well.
The non-fiction was fairly mediocre fair, although I did find some of the interview with Tang Fei pretty interesting. I think I would seek out some more of her fiction in the future, too.
Of the other fiction, I found "The Last Surviving Gondola Widow" to be about as interesting as Steampunk fiction ever is; both it and "The Osteomancer's Son" relied on their magic systems to provide plot twists, which I always find boring. "Indelible" by Gwendolyn Clare was good, but somewhat immemorable - I would look for other work by Clare again, though. "The Three Resurrections of Jessica Churchill" really should have come with a warning as it was brutal, but it had a substantial effect on me so I suppose that was good? Finally, "Meshed" was a solid SF premice carried through to its conclusion - one can care or not about the fortunes of young athletes, but this story does highlight their commodification pretty well.
The non-fiction was fairly mediocre fair, although I did find some of the interview with Tang Fei pretty interesting. I think I would seek out some more of her fiction in the future, too.
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