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A review by pearseanderson
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 130 by Neil Clarke
3.0
Really fun nonfiction section: great-as-always article about color in SFF, a good Carrie Vaughn interview, and conversations about engineering, and a cool cover. BUT when I got into the stories, they really sagged. I've recently read Tidhar's Central Station, so i didn't want to reread The Oracle, but I'm glad it was included and expanded from the book form. But the others: ugh. "Forever Bound" lacked a conflict, and although the writing was swell and the organization of a 2054 military was motivation enough to keep reading, it needed a B-plot, or even just a stronger conflict. And then it ended, just as one developed! Zhang Ran's piece was really interesting in the ideas it presented, and I'm happy more Chinese SFF is getting translated, Dudak was good, but then it ended. Robert Reed's piece ended because I ended it, because I didn't like it. Too confusing and it wasn't motivating me to continue. This isn't the first time I've done that on a Reed Clarkesworld's story. Maybe I should just come to terms with the fact that our styles don't mesh. Last Chance had some nice things going for it, but, eh, a long child-slave narrative from the child's underdeveloped perspective didn't hold me, probably because of its length and the fact it was fictional.
The story I have the biggest problem with is Travelers. It read as a twisted version of Passengers, which is a great idea, but it came across in tone as pretentious. It's vision of abuse felt as developed as a Saw film with a voiceover constantly saying "see that? That's evil. Don't do that. Not even in space. I've taught you something about the human condition." Ugh.
Bridgegroom was pretty good! As with all of these, at least a bit unbalanced, but a cool story that made me smile. Unsure why the bridge was a bridge though. Overall, these were well-written pieces of fiction and nonfiction. Pretty sure I saw a typo or two. But the fiction was maddening at times. But that means I'm invested! And that has to count for something.
The story I have the biggest problem with is Travelers. It read as a twisted version of Passengers, which is a great idea, but it came across in tone as pretentious. It's vision of abuse felt as developed as a Saw film with a voiceover constantly saying "see that? That's evil. Don't do that. Not even in space. I've taught you something about the human condition." Ugh.
Bridgegroom was pretty good! As with all of these, at least a bit unbalanced, but a cool story that made me smile. Unsure why the bridge was a bridge though. Overall, these were well-written pieces of fiction and nonfiction. Pretty sure I saw a typo or two. But the fiction was maddening at times. But that means I'm invested! And that has to count for something.