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mary_soon_lee's review
This issue of F&SF contains eleven stories, ranging from far-future science fiction set on another planet, to contemporary horror, to secondary world fantasy. My favorite story is a toss-up between Amman Sabet's "Tender Loving Plastics," a sweet, sad science fiction tale of a fostered child, and Melanie West's disturbing and powerful fantasy tale about discrimination, "What You Pass For." I also particularly like Pip Coen's dark tale "Inquisitive," and Lisa Mason's "The Bicycle Whisperer."
The issue was weighed down by the deaths of Gardner Dozois, whose story "Unstoppable" appears here, and of Paul Doherty, whose last joint science column with Pat Murphy also appears here. Alas, alas, alas.
The issue was weighed down by the deaths of Gardner Dozois, whose story "Unstoppable" appears here, and of Paul Doherty, whose last joint science column with Pat Murphy also appears here. Alas, alas, alas.
stephen11's review
3.0
Avg: 2.86
Best stories: Tender Loving Plastics, The Bicycle Whisperer, Unstoppable
Best stories: Tender Loving Plastics, The Bicycle Whisperer, Unstoppable
standback's review
3.0
Solid issue, generally enjoyable, although not much stood out to me.
The ones that did stand out:
The Barrens, by Stephanie Feldman, is a delicious, well-written horror story, revolving around the 81.9 FM "The Barrens" Spring Equinox Party:
Intense, full of detail and voice, really wonderfully done.
What You Pass For, by Melanie West, portrays a man with the ability to turn black people white. Short, sharp, and doesn't wear out its welcome. I particularly liked the story's twist, which touches on how conforming to prejudice only makes it stronger.
---
Scattered thoughts on some of the others:
Matthew Hughe's Argent and Sable is a nice return to form, after his previous Baldemar story (which I found overly meandering). It's light fare, but Baldemar is enjoyably unflappable. I especially like the story's conclusion -- after several stories with Baldemar as the favored mortal of one fabled artifact, this story grants him the favor of another, and I see great potential in sober, cautious Baldemar just assembling a whole retinue of these funny, condescending magic items.
Ku'gbo, by Dare Segun Falowo, kind of went over my head. It's a very mystical piece -- signs and portents and mythical creatures rearing their heads; these are not merely elements in the story, they're its heart. I can't say it connected for me, but this seems a layered story, and I'm eager to read up and learn what's behind this one.
Pip Cohen's Inquisitive takes the decidedly odd tack of depicting a struggle for supremacy among the torturers of the Inquisition. I enjoyed the story; protagonist Saffi is supercilious and quite fun to follow, even as her behavior and choices are horrendous. An awful protagonist rising through the Inquisition is one thing; the end of the story, though, presents a literal torturing consequence, and seems set on having us cheer Saffi to victory. I'm not sure what its intentions are, and I'm not sure what I feel about that.
Nina Kiriki Hoffman writes beautifully, and weaves beautiful words around intriguing ideas. The Properties of Shadow was a fairly slight story, but I really enjoyed reading it.
Crash-Site, by Brian Trent, was very, ummm, McGuffin-y. "We're all after the Thing!" (Honestly, I don't even quite remember what the Thing was by this point, but there definitely was one.) Worked as a light read, but I just really couldn't get worked up about Who Gets It First, or various feints and blows in Who's Got Who Cornered Now.
The ones that did stand out:
The Barrens, by Stephanie Feldman, is a delicious, well-written horror story, revolving around the 81.9 FM "The Barrens" Spring Equinox Party:
Night has finally fallen in the Barrens, kids. It's the equinox, and that means the nights are about to become shorter than the days -- but not yet. We've got one more, just one more, so let's celebrate.
I have a bunch of tracks queued up, good ones, too. Party music -- whether you're partying in the townhouse developments or the old farmland, or if you're on your way here, and I hope you are. this is an exclusive get-together, but you're invited. It's going to be great, it always is. If you can find your way.
Intense, full of detail and voice, really wonderfully done.
What You Pass For, by Melanie West, portrays a man with the ability to turn black people white. Short, sharp, and doesn't wear out its welcome. I particularly liked the story's twist, which touches on how conforming to prejudice only makes it stronger.
---
Scattered thoughts on some of the others:
Matthew Hughe's Argent and Sable is a nice return to form, after his previous Baldemar story (which I found overly meandering). It's light fare, but Baldemar is enjoyably unflappable. I especially like the story's conclusion -- after several stories with Baldemar as the favored mortal of one fabled artifact, this story grants him the favor of another, and I see great potential in sober, cautious Baldemar just assembling a whole retinue of these funny, condescending magic items.
Ku'gbo, by Dare Segun Falowo, kind of went over my head. It's a very mystical piece -- signs and portents and mythical creatures rearing their heads; these are not merely elements in the story, they're its heart. I can't say it connected for me, but this seems a layered story, and I'm eager to read up and learn what's behind this one.
Pip Cohen's Inquisitive takes the decidedly odd tack of depicting a struggle for supremacy among the torturers of the Inquisition. I enjoyed the story; protagonist Saffi is supercilious and quite fun to follow, even as her behavior and choices are horrendous. An awful protagonist rising through the Inquisition is one thing; the end of the story, though, presents a literal torturing consequence, and seems set on having us cheer Saffi to victory. I'm not sure what its intentions are, and I'm not sure what I feel about that.
Nina Kiriki Hoffman writes beautifully, and weaves beautiful words around intriguing ideas. The Properties of Shadow was a fairly slight story, but I really enjoyed reading it.
Crash-Site, by Brian Trent, was very, ummm, McGuffin-y. "We're all after the Thing!" (Honestly, I don't even quite remember what the Thing was by this point, but there definitely was one.) Worked as a light read, but I just really couldn't get worked up about Who Gets It First, or various feints and blows in Who's Got Who Cornered Now.
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