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mikewhiteman's review
3.0
Aunt Dissy's Policy Dream Book - Sheree Renee Thomas **
A muddled, dreamlike quality to this one. Lots of evocative, sensuous writing but never accretes into a coherent whole.
The Selkie Wives - Kendra Fortmeyer ***
A series of short versions of selkie tales, focused on the unsatisfactory nature of the relationship at the core. Tied into the modern day and attitudes/stereotypes well.
Say, She Toy - Chesya Burke ***
Difficult. It's a powerful telling of the old "androids abused to prevent people abusing humans" theme, with a focus on the racial aspects as well as the usually gender-based ideas. The usual questions - is it better for androids to take the abuse than people, are androids themselves people, should they be liberated, can they be liberated if they are programmed to take it? Mostly a solid execution of the idea and the race and slavery implications give it enough to be well worth reading and thinking on.
Cut, Cut, Cut - Walter Mosley ****
Similar to Burke's, this is a well-written take on a well-worn idea (here, bringing on the "next phase of evolution" forcibly), although this is a more substantial story. A little much on the explaining the secret plan at the end but enjoyable overall.
A muddled, dreamlike quality to this one. Lots of evocative, sensuous writing but never accretes into a coherent whole.
The Selkie Wives - Kendra Fortmeyer ***
A series of short versions of selkie tales, focused on the unsatisfactory nature of the relationship at the core. Tied into the modern day and attitudes/stereotypes well.
Say, She Toy - Chesya Burke ***
Difficult. It's a powerful telling of the old "androids abused to prevent people abusing humans" theme, with a focus on the racial aspects as well as the usually gender-based ideas. The usual questions - is it better for androids to take the abuse than people, are androids themselves people, should they be liberated, can they be liberated if they are programmed to take it? Mostly a solid execution of the idea and the race and slavery implications give it enough to be well worth reading and thinking on.
Cut, Cut, Cut - Walter Mosley ****
Similar to Burke's, this is a well-written take on a well-worn idea (here, bringing on the "next phase of evolution" forcibly), although this is a more substantial story. A little much on the explaining the secret plan at the end but enjoyable overall.
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