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zugzug's review against another edition
4.0
My review is for what I picked as my top three of the fictional stories in this month's issue.
Artificial People by Michael Swanwick
A tale that reminds me of a more adult Pinocchio but with the reader and character being forced to have time skip past us. Maybe the doll-like character is a project started and left forgotten for a while then comes back to again and again over the years. Each time gaining knowledge and developing it’s awareness only to see everything has changed around him each time. It was engrossing for me even if it left a bittersweet feeling by the end.
One Time, a Reluctant Traveler by A. T. Greenblatt
A somber tale about honoring the memory of loved ones, a journey up an impossible mountain, and a world seemingly near its end. The reflective tone is not the easiest for me to follow but the ability of the author to give a personality to the robotic guide and the wary narrator is clear. The vision of the world is well executed.
Power to Yield by Bogi Takács
Imagine a book report leading you to follow around a revolutionary political figure, interview him, then make a life altering choice. Now place this in a detailed future with a rich cultural history. By the end this world felt more real than some places in our world. The title hints at some of the things the main character endures after a decision she makes. I did not see it coming entirely and was struck by the level of intensity and resolve of the young woman we see this story through.
Artificial People by Michael Swanwick
A tale that reminds me of a more adult Pinocchio but with the reader and character being forced to have time skip past us. Maybe the doll-like character is a project started and left forgotten for a while then comes back to again and again over the years. Each time gaining knowledge and developing it’s awareness only to see everything has changed around him each time. It was engrossing for me even if it left a bittersweet feeling by the end.
One Time, a Reluctant Traveler by A. T. Greenblatt
A somber tale about honoring the memory of loved ones, a journey up an impossible mountain, and a world seemingly near its end. The reflective tone is not the easiest for me to follow but the ability of the author to give a personality to the robotic guide and the wary narrator is clear. The vision of the world is well executed.
Power to Yield by Bogi Takács
Imagine a book report leading you to follow around a revolutionary political figure, interview him, then make a life altering choice. Now place this in a detailed future with a rich cultural history. By the end this world felt more real than some places in our world. The title hints at some of the things the main character endures after a decision she makes. I did not see it coming entirely and was struck by the level of intensity and resolve of the young woman we see this story through.
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