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aubreyw08's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
booklover160's review
4.0
Trying to get back into reading is hard.
'Cadence' by Charlotte Nicole Davis
4 stars
Deals with grief and gender identities and what makes you 'you'. Well written but I wish it was ever so slightly longer.
'On the Tip of My Tongue' by William Alexander
5 stars
I am a sucker for stories in 2nd person. I love that it brought such an ambiguity to the genders of both the narrator and the person they are dictating the story to. I loved the creativity of the title and how its so integral to the plot. I was fully sucked into this story like the coffee sucked into space.
'Melanitis' by Junauda Petrus-Nasah
4 stars
As a white woman, I feel I can't accurately rate/have an opinion on this story. However, I found the theory of it awesome. In a world where you can get a "disease" to turn black, how would white men react to suddenly being black? I thought it was spot on. These FANs would lobby for rights, not for Black people, but for their own; white men with melanin. I will say the story felt a bit preachy at times; rightfully so, but then the issues with our main character took a backseat. Their gender and hair identity questions didn't seem like the focus. Overall, it was a fantastic premise that I would love to read an actual novel about, but as a short story, didn't seem to fit.
'Extremophiles' by A.R. Capetta
5 stars
Maybe its because it combined two of my favorite things (space and oceans) but I really liked this one! The letters were a cute device and while a lot of the sciencey speak made my eyes glaze over, I still felt like I "got" it. I love (again) the genderless way of speaking. It makes me feel cozy. I honestly could read books upon books of bored teens in space.
'The Memory of Soil' by Wendy Xu
3 stars
A comic! I was super excited but... I don't think I understood it. It's short and alludes to the beginning of an interesting friendship, but ends before I felt like I even got attached to either of the characters. We still don't really know why Astrid is there or what's keeping her in a funk. We don't know why the robot was there. Felt like a prologue to a story that will never happen.
'Walk 153' by K. Ancrum
5 stars
My favorite story of them so far. We follow a young man who is working his way through college as a walker; someone who straps a camera to themselves and walks around for homebound people to watch. On one particular walk, his client hacks into his headset and speaks to him. Thus striking up an interesting friendship. It was beautiful and heartbreaking seeing their instant connection. I was truly along for the ride. Wonderful.
'The Weight of a Name' by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson
3 stars
Other than the mention of space travel, I don't see how this was sci-fi. Not that it was bad. It was well written and interesting and I was on the edge of my seat to the end to see if they made the deadline. It was interesting to learn about this group of people; those who live in the arctic. However, still confused on how this is sci-fi.
'Twin Strangers' by Elizabeth Bear
2 stars
Another one that didn't seem very sci-fi, just high school drama. They don't explain what the 'dops' are very well, but I assume its like an AI clone of yourself, a doppelganger. Our main character's betrays him by ratting out his best friend for cheating. Liam also struggles with an eating disorder that's never discussed. I did not feel for Liam nor did I care for the drama at all.
'The Cage' by E.C. Myers
4 stars
I like the idea of parallel universes because in one of them, maybe I'm a publish author. Anyway, this follows the transcripts and recordings of two misfit kids as they attempt to jump universes. One of them disappears and the other attempts to follow suit. This is all in the frame of a true crime podcast reporting about the first missing kid. Interesting premise that fairly delivers. I really liked the end where they discuss that each person's CHIP is individual and the two recovered missing kids have two different CHIPS... proving the parallel universe theory correct despite the skepticism the podcast host has. Really enjoyed.
'Smile River' by A.S. King
3.5 stars
Scary how I could see this being our future. This is a story that spans many generations. Rose 2051 is the daughter of a man who invented permanent smiles for women; then removal of their feelings as well. Next is Rose 2100 who feels way too much but can't. And Rose 2150 who is going to save them all by changing the algorithm. It ends before she can achieve her goal, but I think she'll make it happen. The title comes from the river nearby where a lot of women throw themselves in when they can't take their smiling, emotionless existence anymore. Brutal, emotional, but well put together at least.
Average rating: 3.85 stars rounded up to 4
I enjoyed this anthology enough. I really like HARD sci-fi, like in space and stuff, so some of the more mild sci-fi wasn't a huge hit with me. Overall, worth the read!
'Cadence' by Charlotte Nicole Davis
4 stars
Deals with grief and gender identities and what makes you 'you'. Well written but I wish it was ever so slightly longer.
'On the Tip of My Tongue' by William Alexander
5 stars
I am a sucker for stories in 2nd person. I love that it brought such an ambiguity to the genders of both the narrator and the person they are dictating the story to. I loved the creativity of the title and how its so integral to the plot. I was fully sucked into this story like the coffee sucked into space.
'Melanitis' by Junauda Petrus-Nasah
4 stars
As a white woman, I feel I can't accurately rate/have an opinion on this story. However, I found the theory of it awesome. In a world where you can get a "disease" to turn black, how would white men react to suddenly being black? I thought it was spot on. These FANs would lobby for rights, not for Black people, but for their own; white men with melanin. I will say the story felt a bit preachy at times; rightfully so, but then the issues with our main character took a backseat. Their gender and hair identity questions didn't seem like the focus. Overall, it was a fantastic premise that I would love to read an actual novel about, but as a short story, didn't seem to fit.
'Extremophiles' by A.R. Capetta
5 stars
Maybe its because it combined two of my favorite things (space and oceans) but I really liked this one! The letters were a cute device and while a lot of the sciencey speak made my eyes glaze over, I still felt like I "got" it. I love (again) the genderless way of speaking. It makes me feel cozy. I honestly could read books upon books of bored teens in space.
'The Memory of Soil' by Wendy Xu
3 stars
A comic! I was super excited but... I don't think I understood it. It's short and alludes to the beginning of an interesting friendship, but ends before I felt like I even got attached to either of the characters. We still don't really know why Astrid is there or what's keeping her in a funk. We don't know why the robot was there. Felt like a prologue to a story that will never happen.
'Walk 153' by K. Ancrum
5 stars
My favorite story of them so far. We follow a young man who is working his way through college as a walker; someone who straps a camera to themselves and walks around for homebound people to watch. On one particular walk, his client hacks into his headset and speaks to him. Thus striking up an interesting friendship. It was beautiful and heartbreaking seeing their instant connection. I was truly along for the ride. Wonderful.
'The Weight of a Name' by Nasugraq Rainey Hopson
3 stars
Other than the mention of space travel, I don't see how this was sci-fi. Not that it was bad. It was well written and interesting and I was on the edge of my seat to the end to see if they made the deadline. It was interesting to learn about this group of people; those who live in the arctic. However, still confused on how this is sci-fi.
'Twin Strangers' by Elizabeth Bear
2 stars
Another one that didn't seem very sci-fi, just high school drama. They don't explain what the 'dops' are very well, but I assume its like an AI clone of yourself, a doppelganger. Our main character's betrays him by ratting out his best friend for cheating. Liam also struggles with an eating disorder that's never discussed. I did not feel for Liam nor did I care for the drama at all.
'The Cage' by E.C. Myers
4 stars
I like the idea of parallel universes because in one of them, maybe I'm a publish author. Anyway, this follows the transcripts and recordings of two misfit kids as they attempt to jump universes. One of them disappears and the other attempts to follow suit. This is all in the frame of a true crime podcast reporting about the first missing kid. Interesting premise that fairly delivers. I really liked the end where they discuss that each person's CHIP is individual and the two recovered missing kids have two different CHIPS... proving the parallel universe theory correct despite the skepticism the podcast host has. Really enjoyed.
'Smile River' by A.S. King
3.5 stars
Scary how I could see this being our future. This is a story that spans many generations. Rose 2051 is the daughter of a man who invented permanent smiles for women; then removal of their feelings as well. Next is Rose 2100 who feels way too much but can't. And Rose 2150 who is going to save them all by changing the algorithm. It ends before she can achieve her goal, but I think she'll make it happen. The title comes from the river nearby where a lot of women throw themselves in when they can't take their smiling, emotionless existence anymore. Brutal, emotional, but well put together at least.
Average rating: 3.85 stars rounded up to 4
I enjoyed this anthology enough. I really like HARD sci-fi, like in space and stuff, so some of the more mild sci-fi wasn't a huge hit with me. Overall, worth the read!
tvweird's review
3.0
Saving the story-by-story review for later—Tasting Light is a refreshing collection of queer YA sci-fi that focuses on building identities and connections in atypical ways.
Most of the stories tackle this in unique ways, and most of those manage both an intriguing opening and a compelling ending. However, for at least 4 of the stories, one (or both) of the writing or ideas being written fall short—some stories have prose weak enough to question whether they'd been seen by an editor at all, and others can't seem to find their footing conceptually, introducing one concept as a seemingly clear focus, then promptly ignoring their own groundwork and losing themselves.
Quality drops of especially toward the end, which is unfortunate; it's never a good sign when the best way to read an anthology is to stop halfway through.
Regardless, there are some real nuggets of quality in here. Definitely recommend to the enjoyer of low(ish) stakes YA, or queer romance with a speculative twist.
Most of the stories tackle this in unique ways, and most of those manage both an intriguing opening and a compelling ending. However, for at least 4 of the stories, one (or both) of the writing or ideas being written fall short—some stories have prose weak enough to question whether they'd been seen by an editor at all, and others can't seem to find their footing conceptually, introducing one concept as a seemingly clear focus, then promptly ignoring their own groundwork and losing themselves.
Quality drops of especially toward the end, which is unfortunate; it's never a good sign when the best way to read an anthology is to stop halfway through.
Regardless, there are some real nuggets of quality in here. Definitely recommend to the enjoyer of low(ish) stakes YA, or queer romance with a speculative twist.
jwgnd's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.5
library_brandy's review
4.25
Collection of sci-fi stories, most very good and giving lots of food for thought.
thepermageek's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
An amazing collection of stories that seem to always be walking the tightrope of being techno-utopian & techno-skeptical. For fans of Charles soule & Sarah pinsker.
readingwithadi's review
adventurous
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
bearwithmartha's review
4.0
Enticing, short stories, each of which you want to be its own book but is also perfect in its brevity. My brain feels deliciously stretched after finishing this.