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richardleis's review
5.0
Another good issue. In Issue Two, a significant portion is devoted to the novella "Folding Beijing" by Hao Jingfang, translated by Ken Liu. I really enjoyed this story and the interview with the author that explained some of the cultural differences in Chinese science fiction. The future city is so vivid, mechanical, and symbolic of a variety of class and other issues. The other stories in the issue were also really well done, and "Love Letters to Things Lost and Gained" was a particular favorite. Very thought-provoking.
The essays focus on topics like diversity in modern geek culture and the frustrating backlash by bigots, and an introduction to and brief history of "nerd rock." The poetry remains opaque to me, but I find much to appreciate in the language. "archival testimony fragments / minersong" is a fascinating interweaving of various narratives and dialogues related to 'living ships."
The essays focus on topics like diversity in modern geek culture and the frustrating backlash by bigots, and an introduction to and brief history of "nerd rock." The poetry remains opaque to me, but I find much to appreciate in the language. "archival testimony fragments / minersong" is a fascinating interweaving of various narratives and dialogues related to 'living ships."
scottishben's review
3.0
This issue takes what I feel is the risky strategy of using about 50% of the space for fiction in the issue on a single story and so we get a novellette translated by Ken Liu by Chinese writer Hao Jingfang. I quite liked but didnt love it not really connecting with the writing style and not sure whether this is down to the writer, the translator or me and my limited knowledge of China. The Q&A with the writer added a little more depth and understanding for me and also highlighted an area of if not disagreement at least clarification on what i didnt like. The writer (as translated) referes to details as "the lifeblood of fiction" where as the sort of expository style extrenious details in the story made it drag a little for me. Still whilst I wouldnt actively seek out the writer again I would give them another try. Also I am glad Uncanny is willing to go to the extra hastle and cost of getting translated fiction and be willing to take the risk to have the story such a large part of the volume. Other risks they take I might love more.
As for the rest of the fiction...
I was excited to see a Richard Bowes story after having read and loved parts of Dust Devil on a Quiet street but the story was very short and did little for me.
"Pockets" was well written, fun, magical realism. I think though that I much prefer this type of story when focusing on the weird/ uncanny aspects of the conceit. Still after the translated story this was my favorite.
I really didnt enjoy The Heat of Us: Notes towards an Oral History - I like the idea of non-traditional story telling but tend not to like the actuality of it and the constant hoping from oral history to oral history not knowing whether a character and voice would re-emerge or not was too much for my memory and distracted me from whatever merit this story might have otherwise had. These are my issues, not the author or stories and others might like it but it was not for me.
As for the non-fiction - it was largely geared around SF and geek cultures and other than the Hines was not my thing. It was great to see a well researched, thought and written article on Cosplay except that it was on Cosplay which I am not remotely interested in.
As for the rest of the fiction...
I was excited to see a Richard Bowes story after having read and loved parts of Dust Devil on a Quiet street but the story was very short and did little for me.
"Pockets" was well written, fun, magical realism. I think though that I much prefer this type of story when focusing on the weird/ uncanny aspects of the conceit. Still after the translated story this was my favorite.
I really didnt enjoy The Heat of Us: Notes towards an Oral History - I like the idea of non-traditional story telling but tend not to like the actuality of it and the constant hoping from oral history to oral history not knowing whether a character and voice would re-emerge or not was too much for my memory and distracted me from whatever merit this story might have otherwise had. These are my issues, not the author or stories and others might like it but it was not for me.
As for the non-fiction - it was largely geared around SF and geek cultures and other than the Hines was not my thing. It was great to see a well researched, thought and written article on Cosplay except that it was on Cosplay which I am not remotely interested in.
thatsciencedad's review
3.0
It's short.
It has a decent premise.
But,
It just felt empty. Maybe something was lost in translation...
mmparker's review
4.0
A lovely quick read that establishes convincing characters and world in record time. Definitely want to read more by Leckie now.
sonofthe's review
4.0
Finally catching up on my missed issues of Uncanny. I'm continually impressed by the quality of the content.
There were plenty of good stories here. The stand-out ones begin at the beginning with Hao Jingfang's Folding Beijing. We get a look into a future version of the city where the division between classes is made physical by its regular radical transformation. Rather than a grand story of class uprising or heroic upheaval, we get a personal story of a father trying to help his daughter. Very good. I was reminded Farmer's [b:Dayworld|16543|Dayworld (Dayworld #1)|Philip José Farmer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1332736958s/16543.jpg|2137713], and, at the beginning, of the Dark City film. The story stands enough on its own to not be derivative, though, especially with the foreign perspective.
Love Letters to Things Lost and Gained by [a:Sunny Moraine|3149946|Sunny Moraine|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1300031533p2/3149946.jpg] also stuck in my mind. The story is of a person coming to grips with a new prosthetic limb. It's told as a letter to the limb, though, literalizing the idea that the limb is a separate thing, alien to the narrators previous existence. This way of looking at things reminded me of what I noticed in my recent read-through of Ted Chiang's [b:Stories of Your Life and Others|223380|Stories of Your Life and Others|Ted Chiang|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356138316s/223380.jpg|216334]: he also takes some ideas as the premise for some of his stories. I've also had the privilege of sitting in on a few of the author's panels at conventions and am always happy to read their stories.
[a:Ann Leckie|3365457|Ann Leckie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1402526383p2/3365457.jpg]'s The Nalender was an interesting from the space opera of hers that I'm familiar with. It's more in the folk tale style and tells of a young woman fleeing an unwanted suitor. The adventure that ensues has everything I hope for from these sorts of stories.
The Politics of Comfort by Jim C. Hines connected with me most of the articles. It addresses the recent and ongoing (at the time of publication and my writing) issue within sff fandom regarding so-called political fiction. Hines talks about whether any writing can refrain from being political, setting up three basic criterion early on and expounding on them in the rest of the article. I highly recommend reading this.
Age of the Geek, Baby by [a:Michi Trota|9799387|Michi Trota|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] also addresses current social issues, though in a slightly more general way. She looks at the history of geekdom and the way women and PoC have related to it from the beginning. Another highly recommended read.
The poems are all interesting, but I'm not quite sure how to talk about them. I have a difficult relationship with poetry, not feeling like I understand it but wanting to, and eager enough to read more. After the Moon Princess Leaves and After the Dance both evoked emotion in me, and archival testimony fragments / minersong had an interesting story and form. Of them all, archival testimony... will probably stick in my head the most, even though I didn't connect with it as much emotionally. I'm looking forward to reading the poetry in further issues of Uncanny. Hopefully I'll be able to find more ways to enjoy the artform.
As always, you can look at my brief notes in the status updates for this read-through if you're interested.
There were plenty of good stories here. The stand-out ones begin at the beginning with Hao Jingfang's Folding Beijing. We get a look into a future version of the city where the division between classes is made physical by its regular radical transformation. Rather than a grand story of class uprising or heroic upheaval, we get a personal story of a father trying to help his daughter. Very good. I was reminded Farmer's [b:Dayworld|16543|Dayworld (Dayworld #1)|Philip José Farmer|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1332736958s/16543.jpg|2137713], and, at the beginning, of the Dark City film. The story stands enough on its own to not be derivative, though, especially with the foreign perspective.
Love Letters to Things Lost and Gained by [a:Sunny Moraine|3149946|Sunny Moraine|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1300031533p2/3149946.jpg] also stuck in my mind. The story is of a person coming to grips with a new prosthetic limb. It's told as a letter to the limb, though, literalizing the idea that the limb is a separate thing, alien to the narrators previous existence. This way of looking at things reminded me of what I noticed in my recent read-through of Ted Chiang's [b:Stories of Your Life and Others|223380|Stories of Your Life and Others|Ted Chiang|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356138316s/223380.jpg|216334]: he also takes some ideas as the premise for some of his stories. I've also had the privilege of sitting in on a few of the author's panels at conventions and am always happy to read their stories.
[a:Ann Leckie|3365457|Ann Leckie|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1402526383p2/3365457.jpg]'s The Nalender was an interesting from the space opera of hers that I'm familiar with. It's more in the folk tale style and tells of a young woman fleeing an unwanted suitor. The adventure that ensues has everything I hope for from these sorts of stories.
The Politics of Comfort by Jim C. Hines connected with me most of the articles. It addresses the recent and ongoing (at the time of publication and my writing) issue within sff fandom regarding so-called political fiction. Hines talks about whether any writing can refrain from being political, setting up three basic criterion early on and expounding on them in the rest of the article. I highly recommend reading this.
Age of the Geek, Baby by [a:Michi Trota|9799387|Michi Trota|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] also addresses current social issues, though in a slightly more general way. She looks at the history of geekdom and the way women and PoC have related to it from the beginning. Another highly recommended read.
The poems are all interesting, but I'm not quite sure how to talk about them. I have a difficult relationship with poetry, not feeling like I understand it but wanting to, and eager enough to read more. After the Moon Princess Leaves and After the Dance both evoked emotion in me, and archival testimony fragments / minersong had an interesting story and form. Of them all, archival testimony... will probably stick in my head the most, even though I didn't connect with it as much emotionally. I'm looking forward to reading the poetry in further issues of Uncanny. Hopefully I'll be able to find more ways to enjoy the artform.
As always, you can look at my brief notes in the status updates for this read-through if you're interested.
ladynigelia's review
5.0
Review written for "Folding Beijing"
Although I have supported Uncanny Magazine for several years, I have not read all of the issues. It wasn't until this won a Hugo for "Best Novelette" that I got around to reading it.
It lives up to the hype! The world is at once believable and cautionary. Educational and emotional. Wonderfully crafted characters, beautifully worded (excellent translation!), and relatable motivations from the narrator.
Definitely check this out!
Although I have supported Uncanny Magazine for several years, I have not read all of the issues. It wasn't until this won a Hugo for "Best Novelette" that I got around to reading it.
It lives up to the hype! The world is at once believable and cautionary. Educational and emotional. Wonderfully crafted characters, beautifully worded (excellent translation!), and relatable motivations from the narrator.
Definitely check this out!
arensb's review
3.0
Interesting premise, but felt as if it ended just as things were about to start happening.