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cathepsut's review
The Court Magician, Sarah Pinsker, 7 pages, ★★★★☆
Read this when it was nominated for the Nebula and read it again now, after its Hugo nomination.
The question I see here in this story—what are we willing to sacrifice to gain a nicer life? And knowledge. Knowledge above all. Is the cost worth it? How far are we willing to go?
He craves that moment where the trick behind the thing is revealed to him, where it can be stripped of power and made ordinary.
Can be read for free here: http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-court-magician/
Read this when it was nominated for the Nebula and read it again now, after its Hugo nomination.
The question I see here in this story—what are we willing to sacrifice to gain a nicer life? And knowledge. Knowledge above all. Is the cost worth it? How far are we willing to go?
He craves that moment where the trick behind the thing is revealed to him, where it can be stripped of power and made ordinary.
Spoiler
Also, has the narrator gone so far that only his hearing and voice remained?Can be read for free here: http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fiction/the-court-magician/
wealhtheow's review
2.0
An ordinary hunter is snatched up to be one of the cogs in a city. He's pushed from place to place, forced to live out the role the city demands of him. I didn't like the writing style much, I thought the main character was too devoid of personality, and I hated the "clever" last line. I was intrigued by the city itself, though. Did it achieve sentience and think of the people it forced to be its citizenry as a necessary part of its eco system, or what?
sa_ra's review
3.0
Read ”The Court Magician” by Sarah Pinsker included in this issue
Quietly creepy body horror take on the idea that magic takes it toll, no-frills storytelling.
Quietly creepy body horror take on the idea that magic takes it toll, no-frills storytelling.
littlelovedbooks's review
2.0
This is a nominee for best short story for 2019 Hugo Awards and I had a 5-10 mins to spare so I figured i'd give it a read.
I was bored for the first 30%, intrigued by the next 50% and then let down by the ending. There's no reveal or "ending" really, it just kind of fizzles out. I did enjoy her writing style though
I was bored for the first 30%, intrigued by the next 50% and then let down by the ending. There's no reveal or "ending" really, it just kind of fizzles out. I did enjoy her writing style though
chessakat's review
4.0
Placeholder for the story *The Court Magician* by Sarah Pinsker (Hugo & Nebula nominee 2019, short story).
I really liked this story and am looking forward to reading more from Pinsker!
I really liked this story and am looking forward to reading more from Pinsker!
mikewhiteman's review
5.0
The Streets Of Babel - Adam-Troy Castro ****
Auburn - Joanna Ruocco ****
Golubash, Or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy - Catherynne M Valente ***
The Substance Of My Lives, The Accidents Of Our Births - José Pablo Iriarte ****
The Eyes Of The Flood - Susan Jane Bigelow ***
Divine Madness - Roger Zelazny ***
Someday - James Patrick Kelly ***
The Court Magician - Sarah Pinsker *****
Auburn - Joanna Ruocco ****
Golubash, Or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy - Catherynne M Valente ***
The Substance Of My Lives, The Accidents Of Our Births - José Pablo Iriarte ****
The Eyes Of The Flood - Susan Jane Bigelow ***
Divine Madness - Roger Zelazny ***
Someday - James Patrick Kelly ***
The Court Magician - Sarah Pinsker *****
alexanderp's review
3.0
This was a tragic tale of an orphan, who thought the grass was greener if he could only "make it." Yet, what happens when you take on a power that extracts a terrible cost?
I love Pinsker's style of writing, but I was expecting more "umph" from this one as a whole. The ending just did not click for me.
Merged review:
I only read Pinkser and Iriarte's story from this issue for the Nebulas. I'll come back to read more when I have a chance.
I love Pinsker's style of writing, but I was expecting more "umph" from this one as a whole. The ending just did not click for me.
Merged review:
I only read Pinkser and Iriarte's story from this issue for the Nebulas. I'll come back to read more when I have a chance.
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