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A review by pushingdessy
The Little Homo Sapiens Scientist by S.L. Huang
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
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This novella was a really interesting sci-fi reimagining of "The Little Mermaid". It's so creative that you forget it's meant to be a retelling, even if you go in knowing this!
Told in the first person by Dr. Cadence Mbella (BIPOC queer rep!), scientist and scholar specialized in the sentient deep-sea creatures known as the atargati - or mermaids, as everyone but her calls them. What little is known about their culture and society is thanks to Cadence, who has a particular skill that allows her to communicate with them.
But when the atargati become military interests and one of the creatures is captured, Cadence is asked to bond with them - and she decides to risk everything to release them.
With nothing left to lose, Cadence can't stop thinking about the atargati. What if she could be the first human to know everything about them? And... what is she willing to give up in order to get that?
I'll let you find that out.
Obviously, as a short story, you're supposed to take everything at face value and not expect much in terms of worldbuilding or character/relationship work. But I still thought that the worldbuilding was developed enough, and the character's motivations were also compelling enough.
The story also touched on topics such as gender and sexuality, and ethics in science and anthropology, in a way that I thought really worked.
This novella was a really interesting sci-fi reimagining of "The Little Mermaid". It's so creative that you forget it's meant to be a retelling, even if you go in knowing this!
Told in the first person by Dr. Cadence Mbella (BIPOC queer rep!), scientist and scholar specialized in the sentient deep-sea creatures known as the atargati - or mermaids, as everyone but her calls them. What little is known about their culture and society is thanks to Cadence, who has a particular skill that allows her to communicate with them.
But when the atargati become military interests and one of the creatures is captured, Cadence is asked to bond with them - and she decides to risk everything to release them.
With nothing left to lose, Cadence can't stop thinking about the atargati. What if she could be the first human to know everything about them? And... what is she willing to give up in order to get that?
I'll let you find that out.
Obviously, as a short story, you're supposed to take everything at face value and not expect much in terms of worldbuilding or character/relationship work. But I still thought that the worldbuilding was developed enough, and the character's motivations were also compelling enough.
The story also touched on topics such as gender and sexuality, and ethics in science and anthropology, in a way that I thought really worked.