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caitcoy's review
4.0
A young boy from the streets is raised up to be court magician but it's a classic case of "careful what you wish for."
Other than STET, this the most disturbing of the Hugo nominated short stories for this year. Pinsker really plays with the cost of knowledge and the desire for power and the lengths to which it can lead a person, even if they're not cruel. Really enjoyed this and it might have been a favorite for Hugo if not for STET. It's still pretty high on my list for the Nebula short story nominees.
Other than STET, this the most disturbing of the Hugo nominated short stories for this year. Pinsker really plays with the cost of knowledge and the desire for power and the lengths to which it can lead a person, even if they're not cruel. Really enjoyed this and it might have been a favorite for Hugo if not for STET. It's still pretty high on my list for the Nebula short story nominees.
titusfortner's review
3.0
The costs of needing to know something at any cost...
http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-court-magician/
http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-court-magician/
wanderlustlover's review
3.0
Summer 2019 (Hugo Award Nominee 2019 - Best Short Story);
While I was not overly impressed or in love with this one, I was very much driven to follow the plight of the character we are watching (which is very much not the narrator we're in the point of view of). I've always had a knack for liking to see how different worlds handle magic, and what the cost might be.
I loved the recurring question in the removal. Was it gone just from his sight, or gone from all of space and time? It's a beautiful and chilling thing to drive someone with that power, and conscious, and lack of cruelty, mad.
While I was not overly impressed or in love with this one, I was very much driven to follow the plight of the character we are watching (which is very much not the narrator we're in the point of view of). I've always had a knack for liking to see how different worlds handle magic, and what the cost might be.
I loved the recurring question in the removal. Was it gone just from his sight, or gone from all of space and time? It's a beautiful and chilling thing to drive someone with that power, and conscious, and lack of cruelty, mad.
bookaneer's review
4.0
Reviews for two stories only:
José Pablo Iriarte "The Substance of My Lives, The Accidents of Our Birth"
Simple, but sweet story about reincarnation. I liked the teenaged MC, their voice is really unique.
Sarah Pinsker "The Court Magician"
This is the best story I read from her so far. Magic (always) comes with a price. It's a tragic tale, with the usual good characterization and construction of the imaginary world.
José Pablo Iriarte "The Substance of My Lives, The Accidents of Our Birth"
Simple, but sweet story about reincarnation. I liked the teenaged MC, their voice is really unique.
Sarah Pinsker "The Court Magician"
This is the best story I read from her so far. Magic (always) comes with a price. It's a tragic tale, with the usual good characterization and construction of the imaginary world.
secre's review
4.0
Review: The Court Magician
A clever little short story that really caught me. Dark and refreshing in it's simplicity, I really enjoyed this little gem with its alternate view of magic and the costs involved.
A clever little short story that really caught me. Dark and refreshing in it's simplicity, I really enjoyed this little gem with its alternate view of magic and the costs involved.
villyidol's review
3.0
Golubash, Or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy
by Catherynne M. Valente
The struggles of a little winery that faces an almighty competitor and has to go the extra mile to survive in an uneven playing field and in a world that is ultimately consumed by war.
Set in the far future, on distant worlds, Valente tells her tale of a persistent family of vintners as the narrator presents several wines from the 26nd to 29th century to the reader and recounts their individual stories.
Thematically this 2009 short story, which Valente described as her first foray into science-fiction, was not my cup of tea (or glass of wine?). And a confusing number of names thrown in without a proper preface made it sometimes a little hard to read.
At the same time, it is very clear that Catherynne Valente is a special writer. Her beautiful prose is so fitting for the subject matter and it made me enjoy the story in spite of the difficulties I encountered.
Can be read for free using this link.
Interview with the author about the story: http://www.johnjosephadams.com/federations/author-interviews/catherynne-m-valente-author-of-golubash-or-wine-blood-war-elegy/
The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births
by José Pablo Iriarte
Not sure Lightspeed Magazine chose the right picture for this one, as this is not a horror story. Death does play a role though.
Jamie is a 16 year old transgender who has lived several lives already. They vaguely remember those former lives, which is something that will become an important part of the story.
Jamie has to deal with being bullied by classmates and also with their confusing feelings for their friend Alicia, who herself is a lesbian.
One day Jamie is in trouble with some bullies again and a new resident of their trailer park intervenes. That guy, though, Jamie remembers very well. Because he was convicted for murdering Jamie in one of their former lives.
The plot revolves around how Jamie is dealing with the knowledge of their former lives as memories begin to get clearer and clearer. With Jamie's and Alicia's relationship being the other focal point of the story.
I was missing a little more depth or something more special about the writing to give this a higher rating. But it was a nice story to spend an hour with.
Quick and easy read. Enjoyed it.
Nebula 2018 finalist for Best Novelette.
You can read it for yourself here.
Interview with the author about the story (contains spoilers!): http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/author-spotlight-jose-pablo-iriarte/
The Court Magician
by Sarah Pinsker
The story of a young boy with a hunger to learn magic. Or is it just tricks?
Either way, he's taken to the court where he's supposed to become the Court Magician.
His task is to let the Regent's problems disappear, which he does with the utterance of a single word. There's a price to pay, though. And it's not the Regent who's paying it, but the Court Magician. Every time he lets something disappear that troubles the Regent there's also something disappearing that's important to the Court Magician himself. So why does he keep doing it?
The answer to that question is one of the several morals to be taken away from that story. Some of them I liked and one of them I didn't. But it's really best you find out for yourself.
You can read it here.
Nebula 2018 and Hugo 2019 finalist for Best Short Story.
Interview with the author, who has a strong opinion about the current US presidency. Who doesn't?! But it has something to do with that story as well. Again, I advise to read the interview only after you've read the story.
http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/author-spotlight-sarah-pinsker-4/
So that's three times three stars then. These three stories all offered something different that I liked, but none of them managed to put it all together. I think Sarah Pinsker's story is the one most likely to win any awards.
_________________
Best Novel
• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)
• [b: The Poppy War|35068705|The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)|R.F. Kuang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515691735l/35068705._SY75_.jpg|56364137] by R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager US; Harper Voyager UK)
• [b: Blackfish City|35068768|Blackfish City|Sam J. Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498846831l/35068768._SY75_.jpg|56364196] by Sam J. Miller (Ecco; Orbit UK)
• [b: Spinning Silver|36896898|Spinning Silver|Naomi Novik|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513872748l/36896898._SX50_.jpg|58657620] by Naomi Novik (Del Rey; Macmillan)
• [b: Witchmark|36187110|Witchmark (The Kingston Cycle, #1)|C.L. Polk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505338133l/36187110._SY75_.jpg|57809962] by C.L. Polk (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Trail of Lightning|36373298|Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515788168l/36373298._SY75_.jpg|52833355] by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
Best Novella
• [b: Fire Ant|39359011|Fire Ant (The Navy of Humanity Wasp Squadron Book 1)|Jonathan P. Brazee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521857259l/39359011._SY75_.jpg|61026637] by Jonathan P. Brazee (Semper Fi)
• The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com Publishing)
• The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean)
• [b: Alice Payne Arrives|39332603|Alice Payne Arrives (Alice Payne, #1)|Kate Heartfield|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528836131l/39332603._SY75_.jpg|60961729] by Kate Heartfield (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|36187158|Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|Kelly Robson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506531524l/36187158._SY75_.jpg|57810004] by Kelly Robson (Tor.com Publishing)
• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• [b: The Only Harmless Great Thing|34659272|The Only Harmless Great Thing|Brooke Bolander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518069202l/34659272._SY75_.jpg|55823786] by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|40381419|The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|Tina Connolly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555252289l/40381419._SY75_.jpg|62680201] by Tina Connolly (Tor.com 7/11/18)
• [b: An Agent of Utopia|40606635|An Agent of Utopia|Andy Duncan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529627726l/40606635._SY75_.jpg|63072096] by Andy Duncan (An Agent of Utopia)
• The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births by José Pablo Iriarte (Lightspeed 1/18)
• [b: The Rule of Three|43243212|Future Science Fiction Digest Issue 1|Alex Shvartsman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544913470l/43243212._SY75_.jpg|68602299] by Lawrence M. Schoen (Future Science Fiction Digest 12/18)
• Messenger by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne and R.R. Virdi (Expanding Universe, Volume 4)
Best Short Story
• Interview for the End of the World by Rhett C. Bruno (Bridge Across the Stars)
• The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by Phenderson Djèlí Clark (Fireside 2/18)
• Going Dark by Richard Fox (Backblast Area Clear)
• And Yet by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 3-4/18)
• A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow (Apex 2/6/18)
• The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed 1/18)
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan)
• [b: Aru Shah and the End of Time|36222611|Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet, #1)|Roshani Chokshi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506615949l/36222611._SX50_.jpg|56242795] by Roshani Chokshi (Rick Riordan Presents)
• [b: A Light in the Dark|40642087|A Light in the Dark (Dark Stars, #2)|A.K. DuBoff|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529941117l/40642087._SY75_.jpg|67703731] by A.K. Du Boff (BDL)
• [b: Tess of the Road|35046472|Tess of the Road (Tess of the Road, #1)|Rachel Hartman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503599285l/35046472._SY75_.jpg|53793345] by Rachel Hartman (Random House)
• [b: Dread Nation|30223025|Dread Nation (Dread Nation, #1)|Justina Ireland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497900615l/30223025._SY75_.jpg|50676909] by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• [b: Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword|35343338|Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword (Book 1)|Henry Lien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519050297l/35343338._SY75_.jpg|49856893] by Henry Lien (Henry Holt)
____________________________
Best Novel
• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
• [b: Record of a Spaceborn Few|32802595|Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers #3)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516965190l/32802595._SY75_.jpg|53399142] by Becky Chambers
• [b: Revenant Gun|36373688|Revenant Gun (The Machineries of Empire, #3)|Yoon Ha Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527495995l/36373688._SY75_.jpg|58060922] by Yoon Ha Lee
• Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente
• [b: Spinning Silver|36896898|Spinning Silver|Naomi Novik|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513872748l/36896898._SX50_.jpg|58657620] by Naomi Novik
• [b: Trail of Lightning|36373298|Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515788168l/36373298._SY75_.jpg|52833355] by Rebecca Roanhorse
Best Novella
• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
• [b: Beneath the Sugar Sky|27366528|Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children, #3)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494436031l/27366528._SY75_.jpg|47413798] by Seanan McGuire
• [b: Binti: The Night Masquerade|34386617|The Night Masquerade (Binti, #3)|Nnedi Okorafor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495725402l/34386617._SY75_.jpg|55477512] by Nnedi Okorafor
• The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
• [b: Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|36187158|Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|Kelly Robson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506531524l/36187158._SY75_.jpg|57810004] by Kelly Robson
• The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard
Best Novelette
• If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again by Zen Cho (Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog)
• [b: The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|40381419|The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|Tina Connolly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555252289l/40381419._SY75_.jpg|62680201] by Tina Connolly (Tor.com)
• Nine Last Days on Planet Earth by Daryl Gregory (Tor.com)
• [b: The Only Harmless Great Thing|34659272|The Only Harmless Great Thing|Brooke Bolander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518069202l/34659272._SY75_.jpg|55823786] by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com)
• The Thing About Ghost Stories by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine)
• When We Were Starless by Simone Heller (Clarkesworld Magazine)
Best Short Story
• The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed Magazine)
• The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine)
• The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by P. Djèlí Clark (Fireside Magazine)
• STET by Sarah Gailey (Fireside Magazine)
• The Tale of the Three Beautiful Raptor Sisters, and the Prince Who Was Made of Meat by Brooke Bolander (Uncanny Magazine)
• A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow (Apex Magazine)
Best Series
• The Centenal Cycle by [a: Malka Older|14220734|Malka Ann Older|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1446698915p2/14220734.jpg]
• The Laundry Files by [a: Charles Stross|8794|Charles Stross|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1355510574p2/8794.jpg]
• Machineries of Empire by [a: Yoon Ha Lee|3001246|Yoon Ha Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1383757366p2/3001246.jpg]
• The October Daye Series by [a: Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]
• The Universe of Xuya by [a: Aliette de Bodard|2918731|Aliette de Bodard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261567215p2/2918731.jpg]
• Wayfarers by [a: Becky Chambers|8389735|Becky Chambers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1562580587p2/8389735.jpg]
Best Graphic Story
• [b: Abbott|38748572|Abbott|Saladin Ahmed|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521208924l/38748572._SY75_.jpg|60338450], written by Saladin Ahmed, art by Sami Kivelä, colors by Jason Wordie, letters by Jim Campbell
• [b: Black Panther: Long Live the King|36673422|Black Panther Long Live the King|Nnedi Okorafor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1526771280l/36673422._SY75_.jpg|58459948], written by Nnedi Okorafor and Aaron Covington, art by André Lima Araújo, Mario Del Pennino, and Tana Ford
• [b: Monstress, Volume 3: Haven|37491890|Monstress, Vol. 3 Haven|Marjorie M. Liu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531356957l/37491890._SY75_.jpg|59101846], written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda
• On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
• Paper Girls, Volume 4 [b:], written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Cliff Chiang, colors by Matt Wilson, letters by Jared K. Fletcher
• Saga, Volume 9, written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples
Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan Children’s Books)
• [b: The Belles|23197837|The Belles (The Belles, #1)|Dhonielle Clayton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492784901l/23197837._SY75_.jpg|42742745] by Dhonielle Clayton (Freeform / Gollancz)
• [b: The Cruel Prince|26032825|The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574535986l/26032825._SY75_.jpg|45959123] by Holly Black (Little, Brown / Hot Key Books)
• [b: Dread Nation|30223025|Dread Nation (Dread Nation, #1)|Justina Ireland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497900615l/30223025._SY75_.jpg|50676909] by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• [b: The Invasion|45700034|The Invasion (the Call, Book 2)|Peadar Ó Guilín|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|47440018] by Peadar O’Guilin (David Fickling Books / Scholastic)
• [b: Tess of the Road|35046472|Tess of the Road (Tess of the Road, #1)|Rachel Hartman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503599285l/35046472._SY75_.jpg|53793345] by Rachel Hartman (Random House / Penguin Teen)
by Catherynne M. Valente
The difficulties of transporting wine over interstellar distances are manifold. Wine is, after all, like a child. It can bruise. It can suffer trauma—sometimes the poor creature can recover; sometimes it must be locked up in a cellar until it learns to behave itself. Sometimes it is irredeemable. I ask that you greet the seven glasses before you tonight not as simple fermented grapes, but as the living creatures they are, well-brought up, indulged but not coddled, punished when necessary, shyly seeking your approval with clasped hands and slicked hair. After all, they have come so very far for the chance to be loved.
The struggles of a little winery that faces an almighty competitor and has to go the extra mile to survive in an uneven playing field and in a world that is ultimately consumed by war.
Set in the far future, on distant worlds, Valente tells her tale of a persistent family of vintners as the narrator presents several wines from the 26nd to 29th century to the reader and recounts their individual stories.
Thematically this 2009 short story, which Valente described as her first foray into science-fiction, was not my cup of tea (or glass of wine?). And a confusing number of names thrown in without a proper preface made it sometimes a little hard to read.
At the same time, it is very clear that Catherynne Valente is a special writer. Her beautiful prose is so fitting for the subject matter and it made me enjoy the story in spite of the difficulties I encountered.
Can be read for free using this link.
Interview with the author about the story: http://www.johnjosephadams.com/federations/author-interviews/catherynne-m-valente-author-of-golubash-or-wine-blood-war-elegy/
The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births
by José Pablo Iriarte
Not sure Lightspeed Magazine chose the right picture for this one, as this is not a horror story. Death does play a role though.
Jamie is a 16 year old transgender who has lived several lives already. They vaguely remember those former lives, which is something that will become an important part of the story.
Jamie has to deal with being bullied by classmates and also with their confusing feelings for their friend Alicia, who herself is a lesbian.
One day Jamie is in trouble with some bullies again and a new resident of their trailer park intervenes. That guy, though, Jamie remembers very well. Because he was convicted for murdering Jamie in one of their former lives.
The plot revolves around how Jamie is dealing with the knowledge of their former lives as memories begin to get clearer and clearer. With Jamie's and Alicia's relationship being the other focal point of the story.
I was missing a little more depth or something more special about the writing to give this a higher rating. But it was a nice story to spend an hour with.
Quick and easy read. Enjoyed it.
Nebula 2018 finalist for Best Novelette.
You can read it for yourself here.
Interview with the author about the story (contains spoilers!): http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/author-spotlight-jose-pablo-iriarte/
The Court Magician
by Sarah Pinsker
The story of a young boy with a hunger to learn magic. Or is it just tricks?
Either way, he's taken to the court where he's supposed to become the Court Magician.
His task is to let the Regent's problems disappear, which he does with the utterance of a single word. There's a price to pay, though. And it's not the Regent who's paying it, but the Court Magician. Every time he lets something disappear that troubles the Regent there's also something disappearing that's important to the Court Magician himself. So why does he keep doing it?
The answer to that question is one of the several morals to be taken away from that story. Some of them I liked and one of them I didn't. But it's really best you find out for yourself.
You can read it here.
Nebula 2018 and Hugo 2019 finalist for Best Short Story.
Interview with the author, who has a strong opinion about the current US presidency. Who doesn't?! But it has something to do with that story as well. Again, I advise to read the interview only after you've read the story.
http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/nonfiction/author-spotlight-sarah-pinsker-4/
So that's three times three stars then. These three stories all offered something different that I liked, but none of them managed to put it all together. I think Sarah Pinsker's story is the one most likely to win any awards.
_________________
2018 Nebula Award Finalists
Best Novel
• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)
• [b: The Poppy War|35068705|The Poppy War (The Poppy War, #1)|R.F. Kuang|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515691735l/35068705._SY75_.jpg|56364137] by R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager US; Harper Voyager UK)
• [b: Blackfish City|35068768|Blackfish City|Sam J. Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1498846831l/35068768._SY75_.jpg|56364196] by Sam J. Miller (Ecco; Orbit UK)
• [b: Spinning Silver|36896898|Spinning Silver|Naomi Novik|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513872748l/36896898._SX50_.jpg|58657620] by Naomi Novik (Del Rey; Macmillan)
• [b: Witchmark|36187110|Witchmark (The Kingston Cycle, #1)|C.L. Polk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1505338133l/36187110._SY75_.jpg|57809962] by C.L. Polk (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Trail of Lightning|36373298|Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515788168l/36373298._SY75_.jpg|52833355] by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
Best Novella
• [b: Fire Ant|39359011|Fire Ant (The Navy of Humanity Wasp Squadron Book 1)|Jonathan P. Brazee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521857259l/39359011._SY75_.jpg|61026637] by Jonathan P. Brazee (Semper Fi)
• The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com Publishing)
• The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean)
• [b: Alice Payne Arrives|39332603|Alice Payne Arrives (Alice Payne, #1)|Kate Heartfield|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528836131l/39332603._SY75_.jpg|60961729] by Kate Heartfield (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|36187158|Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|Kelly Robson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506531524l/36187158._SY75_.jpg|57810004] by Kelly Robson (Tor.com Publishing)
• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• [b: The Only Harmless Great Thing|34659272|The Only Harmless Great Thing|Brooke Bolander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518069202l/34659272._SY75_.jpg|55823786] by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com Publishing)
• [b: The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|40381419|The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|Tina Connolly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555252289l/40381419._SY75_.jpg|62680201] by Tina Connolly (Tor.com 7/11/18)
• [b: An Agent of Utopia|40606635|An Agent of Utopia|Andy Duncan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529627726l/40606635._SY75_.jpg|63072096] by Andy Duncan (An Agent of Utopia)
• The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births by José Pablo Iriarte (Lightspeed 1/18)
• [b: The Rule of Three|43243212|Future Science Fiction Digest Issue 1|Alex Shvartsman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1544913470l/43243212._SY75_.jpg|68602299] by Lawrence M. Schoen (Future Science Fiction Digest 12/18)
• Messenger by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne and R.R. Virdi (Expanding Universe, Volume 4)
Best Short Story
• Interview for the End of the World by Rhett C. Bruno (Bridge Across the Stars)
• The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by Phenderson Djèlí Clark (Fireside 2/18)
• Going Dark by Richard Fox (Backblast Area Clear)
• And Yet by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 3-4/18)
• A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow (Apex 2/6/18)
• The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed 1/18)
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan)
• [b: Aru Shah and the End of Time|36222611|Aru Shah and the End of Time (Pandava Quartet, #1)|Roshani Chokshi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506615949l/36222611._SX50_.jpg|56242795] by Roshani Chokshi (Rick Riordan Presents)
• [b: A Light in the Dark|40642087|A Light in the Dark (Dark Stars, #2)|A.K. DuBoff|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1529941117l/40642087._SY75_.jpg|67703731] by A.K. Du Boff (BDL)
• [b: Tess of the Road|35046472|Tess of the Road (Tess of the Road, #1)|Rachel Hartman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503599285l/35046472._SY75_.jpg|53793345] by Rachel Hartman (Random House)
• [b: Dread Nation|30223025|Dread Nation (Dread Nation, #1)|Justina Ireland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497900615l/30223025._SY75_.jpg|50676909] by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• [b: Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword|35343338|Peasprout Chen, Future Legend of Skate and Sword (Book 1)|Henry Lien|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519050297l/35343338._SY75_.jpg|49856893] by Henry Lien (Henry Holt)
____________________________
2019 Hugo Award Finalists
Best Novel
• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
• [b: Record of a Spaceborn Few|32802595|Record of a Spaceborn Few (Wayfarers #3)|Becky Chambers|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1516965190l/32802595._SY75_.jpg|53399142] by Becky Chambers
• [b: Revenant Gun|36373688|Revenant Gun (The Machineries of Empire, #3)|Yoon Ha Lee|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1527495995l/36373688._SY75_.jpg|58060922] by Yoon Ha Lee
• Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente
• [b: Spinning Silver|36896898|Spinning Silver|Naomi Novik|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1513872748l/36896898._SX50_.jpg|58657620] by Naomi Novik
• [b: Trail of Lightning|36373298|Trail of Lightning (The Sixth World, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1515788168l/36373298._SY75_.jpg|52833355] by Rebecca Roanhorse
Best Novella
• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
• [b: Beneath the Sugar Sky|27366528|Beneath the Sugar Sky (Wayward Children, #3)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1494436031l/27366528._SY75_.jpg|47413798] by Seanan McGuire
• [b: Binti: The Night Masquerade|34386617|The Night Masquerade (Binti, #3)|Nnedi Okorafor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1495725402l/34386617._SY75_.jpg|55477512] by Nnedi Okorafor
• The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
• [b: Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|36187158|Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach|Kelly Robson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1506531524l/36187158._SY75_.jpg|57810004] by Kelly Robson
• The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard
Best Novelette
• If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again by Zen Cho (Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog)
• [b: The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|40381419|The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections|Tina Connolly|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1555252289l/40381419._SY75_.jpg|62680201] by Tina Connolly (Tor.com)
• Nine Last Days on Planet Earth by Daryl Gregory (Tor.com)
• [b: The Only Harmless Great Thing|34659272|The Only Harmless Great Thing|Brooke Bolander|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1518069202l/34659272._SY75_.jpg|55823786] by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com)
• The Thing About Ghost Stories by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine)
• When We Were Starless by Simone Heller (Clarkesworld Magazine)
Best Short Story
• The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed Magazine)
• The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine)
• The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by P. Djèlí Clark (Fireside Magazine)
• STET by Sarah Gailey (Fireside Magazine)
• The Tale of the Three Beautiful Raptor Sisters, and the Prince Who Was Made of Meat by Brooke Bolander (Uncanny Magazine)
• A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow (Apex Magazine)
Best Series
• The Centenal Cycle by [a: Malka Older|14220734|Malka Ann Older|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1446698915p2/14220734.jpg]
• The Laundry Files by [a: Charles Stross|8794|Charles Stross|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1355510574p2/8794.jpg]
• Machineries of Empire by [a: Yoon Ha Lee|3001246|Yoon Ha Lee|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1383757366p2/3001246.jpg]
• The October Daye Series by [a: Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]
• The Universe of Xuya by [a: Aliette de Bodard|2918731|Aliette de Bodard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1261567215p2/2918731.jpg]
• Wayfarers by [a: Becky Chambers|8389735|Becky Chambers|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1562580587p2/8389735.jpg]
Best Graphic Story
• [b: Abbott|38748572|Abbott|Saladin Ahmed|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1521208924l/38748572._SY75_.jpg|60338450], written by Saladin Ahmed, art by Sami Kivelä, colors by Jason Wordie, letters by Jim Campbell
• [b: Black Panther: Long Live the King|36673422|Black Panther Long Live the King|Nnedi Okorafor|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1526771280l/36673422._SY75_.jpg|58459948], written by Nnedi Okorafor and Aaron Covington, art by André Lima Araújo, Mario Del Pennino, and Tana Ford
• [b: Monstress, Volume 3: Haven|37491890|Monstress, Vol. 3 Haven|Marjorie M. Liu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531356957l/37491890._SY75_.jpg|59101846], written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda
• On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
• Paper Girls, Volume 4 [b:], written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Cliff Chiang, colors by Matt Wilson, letters by Jared K. Fletcher
• Saga, Volume 9, written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples
Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan Children’s Books)
• [b: The Belles|23197837|The Belles (The Belles, #1)|Dhonielle Clayton|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492784901l/23197837._SY75_.jpg|42742745] by Dhonielle Clayton (Freeform / Gollancz)
• [b: The Cruel Prince|26032825|The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air, #1)|Holly Black|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574535986l/26032825._SY75_.jpg|45959123] by Holly Black (Little, Brown / Hot Key Books)
• [b: Dread Nation|30223025|Dread Nation (Dread Nation, #1)|Justina Ireland|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1497900615l/30223025._SY75_.jpg|50676909] by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• [b: The Invasion|45700034|The Invasion (the Call, Book 2)|Peadar Ó Guilín|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|47440018] by Peadar O’Guilin (David Fickling Books / Scholastic)
• [b: Tess of the Road|35046472|Tess of the Road (Tess of the Road, #1)|Rachel Hartman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1503599285l/35046472._SY75_.jpg|53793345] by Rachel Hartman (Random House / Penguin Teen)
marimbav's review
3.0
Cada vez disfruto más de leer relatos, y de escucharlos! En este numero me ha gustado especialmente :
Someday de James Patrick Kelly
( https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/someday/ )
The Court Magician de Sarah Pinsker
(http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-court-magician/)
Otros relatos que me gustaría destacar son :
Golubash, Or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy de Catherine M Valente (http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/golubash-wine-blood-war-elegy/)
The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births José Pablo Iriarte
(http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/substance-lives-accidents-births/)
Lecturas muy diversas y interesantes.
Someday de James Patrick Kelly
( https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/someday/ )
The Court Magician de Sarah Pinsker
(http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-court-magician/)
Otros relatos que me gustaría destacar son :
Golubash, Or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy de Catherine M Valente (http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/golubash-wine-blood-war-elegy/)
The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births José Pablo Iriarte
(http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/substance-lives-accidents-births/)
Lecturas muy diversas y interesantes.
woahno's review
5.0
A boy learns sleight of hand and illusions and eventually is brought in to learn "real" magic. A slow buildup as the curtain is pulled further and further back. Then he learns how to make the Regents problems disappear but he then loses something each time until his body is striped away. His lust for power, ultimately is what destroys him before he leaves in search for the secret to the trick.
This story was simply awesome. I loved the structure and the narrative voice. There very little dialogue but it is used in such a way that I found it to be most fitting for this story. As I was reading and learning more and more about what the circumstances of the narrator were and what this boy, who becomes a man throughout the story, has gotten himself into I was left in a frenzy of thought. What possesses a person to want a power like this and to keep going as they fade to nothing? What happened to those that left and began to recite their litany? Does he actually find the secret to the trick? Is there a secret?
Anywho, it was great.
This story was simply awesome. I loved the structure and the narrative voice. There very little dialogue but it is used in such a way that I found it to be most fitting for this story. As I was reading and learning more and more about what the circumstances of the narrator were and what this boy, who becomes a man throughout the story, has gotten himself into I was left in a frenzy of thought. What possesses a person to want a power like this and to keep going as they fade to nothing? What happened to those that left and began to recite their litany? Does he actually find the secret to the trick? Is there a secret?
Anywho, it was great.
lindzey's review
3.0
I read this due to its inclusion in the 2019 Hugo packet.
A young boy is entranced by sleight-of-hand magic tricks on the streets. He studies them, becomes good, and is always hungry to learn more. This is noticed, and he is selected to be a court magician, where it turns out the one true piece of magic (as opposed to the tricks he was drawn in by) is fueled by his desire to understand it. This magic is only performed in service of the ruler, and its use comes at terrible cost to the magician.
I found this one well-crafted, but unsatisfying. If you love literary and allegorical fantasy, this might be more your speed!
A young boy is entranced by sleight-of-hand magic tricks on the streets. He studies them, becomes good, and is always hungry to learn more. This is noticed, and he is selected to be a court magician, where it turns out the one true piece of magic (as opposed to the tricks he was drawn in by) is fueled by his desire to understand it. This magic is only performed in service of the ruler, and its use comes at terrible cost to the magician.
I found this one well-crafted, but unsatisfying. If you love literary and allegorical fantasy, this might be more your speed!