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Reviews
The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2019 by John Joseph Adams, Carmen Maria Machado
gettyhesse's review
4.0
I took so long to work through this collection that I don't even remember how I felt about all the early stories. What I can say is that "Hard Mary" by Sofia Samatar was probably my favorite. There was I think only one story I actively disliked, a few others that I had mixed feelings about. I was expecting this collection to be my favorite in the series thus far-I adore Carmen Maria Machado's work and trust her literary taste. I'm not sure if this collection just isn't as good as some previous years' (was 2018 a meh year for genre short stories?) or if my own taste has become more demanding.
To be clear, this is still an excellent collection overall, with some truly exemplary stories. It just wasn't as good as I remembered, say, 2016 being.
To be clear, this is still an excellent collection overall, with some truly exemplary stories. It just wasn't as good as I remembered, say, 2016 being.
verumsolum's review
3.0
What a difference a year makes. And in this case, I wonder how much is me and how much is this year's edition of this book.
Last year, the 2018 edition was one of the things that propelled me back into reading SFF (which is not something I'd done much if any reading in as an adult). This year? I was underwhelmed. There were a couple of gems, but it felt like more where I was thinking "how many more pages are there in this story?" I think part of that comes down to it being a best-of anthology. And given that choice, it makes it difficult for the book to have a rhythm. Some of the stories felt too long to me; others I wished were longer. And I found it awkward to know how much time to expect to need when I picked up the book to read a story.
So, I'll probably still buy next year's, but… I'll try to remember to hold on to my expectations.
Last year, the 2018 edition was one of the things that propelled me back into reading SFF (which is not something I'd done much if any reading in as an adult). This year? I was underwhelmed. There were a couple of gems, but it felt like more where I was thinking "how many more pages are there in this story?" I think part of that comes down to it being a best-of anthology. And given that choice, it makes it difficult for the book to have a rhythm. Some of the stories felt too long to me; others I wished were longer. And I found it awkward to know how much time to expect to need when I picked up the book to read a story.
So, I'll probably still buy next year's, but… I'll try to remember to hold on to my expectations.
ceilisbookshelf's review
DNF because I wasn’t in the mood for short stories anymore, but there were some really great ones in here. Variations on a Theme from Turandot was a particular standout.
sargeantwoof's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
pearseanderson's review
5.0
A fucking STRONG antho for what SFF looks like and reads like in 2019. Radical, violent feminism, Eldritch forces mixed into everyday lives, and the slow misreadings of beautiful things by the modern world emerged as themes. Carman Maria Machado emerged as a great guest editor and selector of fairy tales, which is unsurprising. Some of the fantasy stories selected had paces I wasn't vibing with: "Dead Air', "Pitcher Plant", "Hard Mary", for example. But having stories like that is expected. What this antho had in addition was aaaaawesome pieces.
"Godmeat" by Martin Cahill? Bright, brilliant aesthetic and details.
"The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington" by P. Djèlí Clark? Fantastic use of historical language and details with summary instead of scene.
"The Kite Maker" by Brenda Peynado? Great alien worldbuilding and story concept to explore soft power and xenophobia.
"Through the Flash" by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenhyah? Incredibly bold and difficult story to write that did not feel cheap or disgusting.
"Nine Last Days" on Planet Earth by Daryl Gregory? Gay and heartwarming piece about invasive species that I smiled throughout.
"Poor Unfortunate Fools" by Silvia Park? One of the best stories I've read this year.
One of the best, no doubt in my mind. Stellar.
Thank you editors! I liked this.
Connection: Carman Maria Machado was an instructor at the Iowa Young Writer's Workshop when I attended.
"Godmeat" by Martin Cahill? Bright, brilliant aesthetic and details.
"The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington" by P. Djèlí Clark? Fantastic use of historical language and details with summary instead of scene.
"The Kite Maker" by Brenda Peynado? Great alien worldbuilding and story concept to explore soft power and xenophobia.
"Through the Flash" by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenhyah? Incredibly bold and difficult story to write that did not feel cheap or disgusting.
"Nine Last Days" on Planet Earth by Daryl Gregory? Gay and heartwarming piece about invasive species that I smiled throughout.
"Poor Unfortunate Fools" by Silvia Park? One of the best stories I've read this year.
One of the best, no doubt in my mind. Stellar.
Thank you editors! I liked this.
Connection: Carman Maria Machado was an instructor at the Iowa Young Writer's Workshop when I attended.
afalse's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
thebisexualbooknerd's review
4.0
I liked the 2018 edition better, but the stories in this volume are excellent as well. While nothing in here was bad, there were a few that stood out more than others. Below are my mini reviews of the ones that make the book worth reading:
-What Everyone Knows by Seanan McGuire
I have it from reliable sources that Seanan McGuire is amazing, but despite my faith in my friend's
recommendations, this is my first encounter with their work. That is going to have to change. This story is a clever diversion from typical monster tropes and meditation on the nature of love and parenthood.
-Poor Unfortunate Fools by Sylvia Park
I normally have a difficult time with stories written in footnotes, but this one is so unique I couldn't help but love it. Park's take on merpeople lore is hyper realistic and strange. I wanted to know so much more about this universe.
-Six Hangings in the Land of Unkillable Women
A little hard to follow sometimes, but +10 points for the title. Also the concept is too cool to not mention, even if it gets a tad convoluted.
-Through the Flash by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Again, difficult to follow, but I loved the random bursts of extreme violence. In that regard it reads more like a slasher fic.
-Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Memphis Minnie Sing the Stumps Down Good by LaShawn M. Wanak
This was the anthology of amazing titles with quality stories to match. I so loved everything about this concept. The characters felt alive and had voices that leapt off the pages.
-The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by P. Djeli Clark
This story is alone is worth the price of the book. The prose is astonishingly gorgeous, fraught, and emotional. It's definitely one that I want to revisit in the future, as well as locate anything else this author has written.
-Dead Lovers on Each Blade, Hung by Usman Malik
I honestly didn't love this story as much as the others. It was good, just not one of my favorites. However, once again, I needed to mention the title, because it is my favorite in this whole anthology.
-Nine Last Days on Planet Earth by Daryl Gregory
Mo the alien plant is awesome. Sure, I could talk about the nuanced discussions of life, aging, and family dynamics in the context of being queer, which are also present, but mostly, Mo the alien plant is awesome.
-Dead Air by Nino Cipri
Much like Poor Unfortunate Fools, I have a difficult time with stories written in the style of an interview. But Dead Air is downright creepy, a true testament to supernatural horror. Plus, starting an audio diary/interview series with all my sexual partners in the name of art sounds like something I would at least entertain the thought of doing, even if I didn't actually go through with it.
-On the Day You Spend Forever with Your Dog by Adam R. Shannon
I recently lost my childhood dog to old age. Reading this story in the wake of his death made me wish this was a nonfiction anthology, so I could replicate the plot. I, too, want to invent time travel so I could relive the years I spent with my old man pupper.
-What Everyone Knows by Seanan McGuire
I have it from reliable sources that Seanan McGuire is amazing, but despite my faith in my friend's
recommendations, this is my first encounter with their work. That is going to have to change. This story is a clever diversion from typical monster tropes and meditation on the nature of love and parenthood.
-Poor Unfortunate Fools by Sylvia Park
I normally have a difficult time with stories written in footnotes, but this one is so unique I couldn't help but love it. Park's take on merpeople lore is hyper realistic and strange. I wanted to know so much more about this universe.
-Six Hangings in the Land of Unkillable Women
A little hard to follow sometimes, but +10 points for the title. Also the concept is too cool to not mention, even if it gets a tad convoluted.
-Through the Flash by Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
Again, difficult to follow, but I loved the random bursts of extreme violence. In that regard it reads more like a slasher fic.
-Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Memphis Minnie Sing the Stumps Down Good by LaShawn M. Wanak
This was the anthology of amazing titles with quality stories to match. I so loved everything about this concept. The characters felt alive and had voices that leapt off the pages.
-The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by P. Djeli Clark
This story is alone is worth the price of the book. The prose is astonishingly gorgeous, fraught, and emotional. It's definitely one that I want to revisit in the future, as well as locate anything else this author has written.
-Dead Lovers on Each Blade, Hung by Usman Malik
I honestly didn't love this story as much as the others. It was good, just not one of my favorites. However, once again, I needed to mention the title, because it is my favorite in this whole anthology.
-Nine Last Days on Planet Earth by Daryl Gregory
Mo the alien plant is awesome. Sure, I could talk about the nuanced discussions of life, aging, and family dynamics in the context of being queer, which are also present, but mostly, Mo the alien plant is awesome.
-Dead Air by Nino Cipri
Much like Poor Unfortunate Fools, I have a difficult time with stories written in the style of an interview. But Dead Air is downright creepy, a true testament to supernatural horror. Plus, starting an audio diary/interview series with all my sexual partners in the name of art sounds like something I would at least entertain the thought of doing, even if I didn't actually go through with it.
-On the Day You Spend Forever with Your Dog by Adam R. Shannon
I recently lost my childhood dog to old age. Reading this story in the wake of his death made me wish this was a nonfiction anthology, so I could replicate the plot. I, too, want to invent time travel so I could relive the years I spent with my old man pupper.
dzana's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
oddwater's review
5.0
My favorite stories were “Poor Unfortunate Fools,” “When Robot and Crow Saved East St. Louis,” and “Nine Last Days on Planet Earth.”
Honorable mention to “On the Day You Spend Forever with your Dog” for making me bawl my eyes out.
Honorable mention to “On the Day You Spend Forever with your Dog” for making me bawl my eyes out.
brookeworm18's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
Pitcher Plant: 4*
the choice to use 2nd person was, I thought, unnecessary; but the content of the story was nonetheless excellent.
What Everyone Knows: 4*
the only narrative on motherhood I’ve ever enjoyed (who wouldn’t want to save their gigantic, carnivorous, acid-spitting sea-monster baby from the outside world??)
The Storyteller’s Replacement: 4*
Jemisin is consistently one of the best SFF writers in the game. this story has the feel and pacing of a traditional fairy tale with a dark, delicious undercurrent of manipulation.
Poor Unfortunate Fools: 3*
Interesting take on mermaid mythology but somewhat slow and a bit on the nose with the criticism of human entitlement in the animal kingdom.
Six Hangings in the Land of Unkillable Women: 3.5*
a good story that didn’t live up to its great title.
Hard Mary: 3*
Variations on a Theme from Turandot: 4.5*
exceptionally creative adaptation from stage to page, and compelling for even someone who has no idea what Turandot is.
Through the Flash: 4*
Sister Rosetta Tharpe and Memphis Minnie Sing the Stumps Down Good: 4*
While relatively short, this story masterfully strikes the balance of moralizing without coming across as excessively arch. A story about singing and plants, but also a meditation on oppression and generational trauma.
The Kite Maker: 3*
Intriguing premise, but something about the story just didn’t do it for me. The slightly out of place semi-consensual-sex-scene and superficial commentary on the violence of humans were a little much.
The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington: 4*
This is the historical fiction we want and deserve. Marvelously inventive while remaining grounded where it matters.
When Robot and Crow Saved East St. Louis: 4*
Delightful friendship between a drone and a bird. The only pandemic story I can see myself enjoying for a long time.
Dead Lovers on Each Blade, Hung: 3*
A a snake goddess, a truly visceral murder, and a gorgeous eponymous poem.
STET: 3*
Good for what it is but a bit short to make a real impact on me
What Gentle Women Dare: 3.5*
A concept I’ve seen before but executed with surprising wit and dark humor
Nine Last Days on Planet Earth: 4*
Futuristic but nostalgic reflections on our inability to combat climate change due to the sheer scale of time in which it occurs
Dead Air: 3.5*
Creepy and atmospheric, plays with form in a new way, but little to offer in the way of plot novelty.
Skinned: 3.5*
Godmeat: 5*
Wish Cahill had more work because this was an immersive and disturbing world he built in only 20 pages
On the Day You Spend Forever with Your Dog: 5*
Obviously I cried, I’m a sucker for a dog story