Scan barcode
woahno's review
4.0
I'm using this space for “Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse” by Rae Carson. This is a great story. I was hooked right away, from the opening paragraph in fact. The concept is insane. Having a kid at any time is difficult and intense and nerve wracking but doing it during the zombie apocalypse when the zombies can sense when your labor begins is a entirely different set of problems. I wish a couple of things were done differently but on the whole, this was excellent.
kristamccracken's review
5.0
Favourites in this issue:
-My Country Is A Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (fiction)
-Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (fiction)
-Who Do You Think You Are by Ada Hoffmann (poetry)
-Writing With My Keys Between My Fingers by Meg Elison (essay)
-Street Harassment Is an Access Issue by Katharine Duckett (essay)
-My Country Is A Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (fiction)
-Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (fiction)
-Who Do You Think You Are by Ada Hoffmann (poetry)
-Writing With My Keys Between My Fingers by Meg Elison (essay)
-Street Harassment Is an Access Issue by Katharine Duckett (essay)
marlene8020's review
2.0
Didn’t mind the premise or the violence but the writing seemed very awkward & not believable. Running for your life? Quick break for a pep talk that goes over every ‘strong-woman’ moment in your recent life. We need to be quiet to avoid being eaten, but you’re giving birth so I guess I’ll scream FUCK THE FLESH EATERS in case that helps.
trish204's review
4.0
So I ended up being interested in three titles in this magazine.
Here's my review for Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse:
You get what the title promsies you: the zombie apocalypse happened. A few survivors are trying to stay alive and some even give birth - which makes them a primary target for the flesh-eaters.
Questions are being raised about whether to give up, just fight for yourself or even try to repopulate the planet and the musings weren't too bad.
I liked the rough and gritty feel to this story. Granted, I'm a sucker for zombie apocalypse stories anyway.
What I find myself tiring of are all-female end-of-the-world communities because I can't quite wrap my mind around what's bad about having men there too. But that's just me and. *shrugs*
3 stars
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/badass-moms-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/
Here's my review for You Perfect, Broken Thing:
Race Day. A wall-climbing, puzzle-solving contest. The prize: a shot (or two) of "the cure". In this future world, a disease has infected all humans. Degeneration, cells dying off and more rapidly than due to simple aging. Physical exertion makes it accelerate and kill you faster but that is a calculated risk some take to win the afore-mentioned race and thus a cure.
The people here don't have typical names. Instead, they are called Rowboat and Shell or Honey and Little. It makes it all a bit less personal while also making it MORE personal by emphasizing this world's harsh reality if that makes any sense.
I really liked the intensity of the actual race that had me very invested. In the end, I actually teared up when we got to the "we do what we can" bit.
4 stars
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/you-perfect-broken-thing/
Here's my review for And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands:
The story of a dryad or tree herd (I was reminded of Tolkien's, yes) and how/why he killed a child.
It is not true that a witch ruled our world, unless witch is the word Your Honours use for all beings who are so powerful and so free that they can rule themselves.
A wonderful tale with even more wonderful worldbuilding (I swear I could hear birds sing and smell forest while reading this). The story was that of children ending up in some form of fairyland/wonderland (only gone entirely wrong) and thus told of magic, old power and nature/environmentalism in contrast to humanity's world (England), war and a need for control / dominance. And it told of love and what we allow others to do to us because of it.
Absolutely wonderful and thus deserving 5 stars.
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/and-all-the-trees-of-the-forest-shall-clap-their-hands/
Here's my review for Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse:
You get what the title promsies you: the zombie apocalypse happened. A few survivors are trying to stay alive and some even give birth - which makes them a primary target for the flesh-eaters.
Questions are being raised about whether to give up, just fight for yourself or even try to repopulate the planet and the musings weren't too bad.
I liked the rough and gritty feel to this story. Granted, I'm a sucker for zombie apocalypse stories anyway.
What I find myself tiring of are all-female end-of-the-world communities because I can't quite wrap my mind around what's bad about having men there too. But that's just me and
Spoiler
the baby was a boy so maybe there will be mixed genders in that enclave from now on3 stars
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/badass-moms-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/
Here's my review for You Perfect, Broken Thing:
Race Day. A wall-climbing, puzzle-solving contest. The prize: a shot (or two) of "the cure". In this future world, a disease has infected all humans. Degeneration, cells dying off and more rapidly than due to simple aging. Physical exertion makes it accelerate and kill you faster but that is a calculated risk some take to win the afore-mentioned race and thus a cure.
The people here don't have typical names. Instead, they are called Rowboat and Shell or Honey and Little. It makes it all a bit less personal while also making it MORE personal by emphasizing this world's harsh reality if that makes any sense.
I really liked the intensity of the actual race that had me very invested. In the end, I actually teared up when we got to the "we do what we can" bit.
4 stars
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/you-perfect-broken-thing/
Here's my review for And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands:
The story of a dryad or tree herd (I was reminded of Tolkien's, yes) and how/why he killed a child.
It is not true that a witch ruled our world, unless witch is the word Your Honours use for all beings who are so powerful and so free that they can rule themselves.
A wonderful tale with even more wonderful worldbuilding (I swear I could hear birds sing and smell forest while reading this). The story was that of children ending up in some form of fairyland/wonderland (only gone entirely wrong) and thus told of magic, old power and nature/environmentalism in contrast to humanity's world (England), war and a need for control / dominance. And it told of love and what we allow others to do to us because of it.
Absolutely wonderful and thus deserving 5 stars.
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/and-all-the-trees-of-the-forest-shall-clap-their-hands/
cathepsut's review
A tenjō kudari (“ceiling hanger” yōkai) defends her theft
BY BETSY AOKI | 246 WORDS
„at night I hover above the beams you’ve hammered
between heaven and your spread silk coverlet“
A poem about a yokai, a Japanese spectre/demon and her revenge. I like it.
Can be read here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/a-tenjo-kudari-ceiling-hanger-yokai-defends-her-theft/
————
You Perfect, Broken Thing
BY C.L. Clark | 3930 WORDS
“When I leave the kill floor, my legs are wasted. I shuffle to the women’s locker room. I can’t stand anymore, but I know if I sit, I’ll never get back up. At least, not for another hour.“
Short story. Winning a race to stay alive. And to give life to loved ones. Interesting.
Can be read here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/you-perfect-broken-thing/
BY BETSY AOKI | 246 WORDS
„at night I hover above the beams you’ve hammered
between heaven and your spread silk coverlet“
A poem about a yokai, a Japanese spectre/demon and her revenge. I like it.
Can be read here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/a-tenjo-kudari-ceiling-hanger-yokai-defends-her-theft/
————
You Perfect, Broken Thing
BY C.L. Clark | 3930 WORDS
“When I leave the kill floor, my legs are wasted. I shuffle to the women’s locker room. I can’t stand anymore, but I know if I sit, I’ll never get back up. At least, not for another hour.“
Short story. Winning a race to stay alive. And to give life to loved ones. Interesting.
Can be read here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/you-perfect-broken-thing/
evamaren's review
3.0
A very artistic, well-done story. It's too clingy/nostalgic for me, but I'm sure many others will like it more.
bailym's review
5.0
Placeholder for "Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse," by Rae Carson. 4 stars.
"Where You Linger," by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam. 2 stars.
"You Perfect, Broken Thing," by C.L. Clark. 5 stars.
"Where You Linger," by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam. 2 stars.
"You Perfect, Broken Thing," by C.L. Clark. 5 stars.
8bitlapras's review
3.0
Fiction
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson: 3.5/5
My Country is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou: 2.5/5
You Perfect, Broken Thing by C.L. Clark: 3/5
Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam: 1/5
And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands by Sharon Hsu: 4/5
The Spirit of the Leech by Alex Bledsoe: 3.5/5
Braid of Days and Wake of Nights by E. Lily Yu 3/5
Non-fiction
Writing with My Keys Between My Fingers by Meg Elison: 4/5
Save Me a Seat on the Couch: Spoiler Culture, Inclusion, and Disability by Marissa Lingen: 3/5
Speculative Fictions, Everywhere We Look by Malka Older: 1.5/5
Street Harassment Is an Access Issue by Katharine Duckett: 5/5
Poetry
As usual, I refuse to rate poetry because 1. I don't like most of it and 2. I can't understand most of it, but I really loved Who Do You Think You Are by Ada Hoffmann!
Average rating: 3.1/5, rounded to 3/5
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson: 3.5/5
My Country is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou: 2.5/5
You Perfect, Broken Thing by C.L. Clark: 3/5
Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam: 1/5
And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands by Sharon Hsu: 4/5
The Spirit of the Leech by Alex Bledsoe: 3.5/5
Braid of Days and Wake of Nights by E. Lily Yu 3/5
Non-fiction
Writing with My Keys Between My Fingers by Meg Elison: 4/5
Save Me a Seat on the Couch: Spoiler Culture, Inclusion, and Disability by Marissa Lingen: 3/5
Speculative Fictions, Everywhere We Look by Malka Older: 1.5/5
Street Harassment Is an Access Issue by Katharine Duckett: 5/5
Poetry
As usual, I refuse to rate poetry because 1. I don't like most of it and 2. I can't understand most of it, but I really loved Who Do You Think You Are by Ada Hoffmann!
Average rating: 3.1/5, rounded to 3/5
bookwyrmknits's review
3.5
An enjoyable collection of short fiction and poetry, though of course I enjoyed some of the stories more than others. I may have enjoyed the non-fiction and poetry more than the short stories in this one.
Quick thoughts on what I read:
“Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse” by Rae Carson
This story was nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards, and is why I picked up this volume to read now (rather than later). However, it wasn't my style of story... which should have been obvious from the title. I'm not a fan of zombie stories in general, so this one wasn't likely to win me over.
“My Country Is a Ghost” by Eugenia Triantafyllou
Really neat look at memory and immigration and belonging. Have food on hand when you read this one; it made me hungry.
“You Perfect, Broken Thing” by C.L. Clark
This one wasn't my style of story either: the main action point in the story is a physical competition that read a bit like an even more extreme X Games kind of thing, and I am not a fan of sports so it lost me on that count.
“And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands” by Sharon Hsu
This is a sort-of a Narnia retelling from the POV of a dryad, and it should have been right up my alley. It got darker than I prefer, though, and I kept feeling like there was more to the story beyond the Narnia references that I was missing.
“The Spirit of the Leech” by Alex Bledsoe
This is a fun story, and if the reader can see where it's going, it is believable that the main character would not.
“Braid of Days and Wake of Nights” by E. Lily Yu
I liked the premise and the set-up and the main secondary character (Vivian) of this one. The main character made some odd decisions to my way of thinking, but then again I'm not in her shoes. The descriptions, especially near the end of the story, were wonderful.
“Writing with My Keys Between My Fingers” by Meg Elison
“Street Harassment Is an Access Issue” by Katharine Duckett
The non-fiction I read was thought-provoking and worth a read. I don't normally read the non-fiction in these magazines (simply because I buy them for the fiction) but I'm glad I didn't skip these. Some of the issues I was aware of to start with, but there were new things and nuances that are less obvious.
And the poetry:
“Who Do You Think You Are” by Ada Hoffmann
“Elegy for the Self as Villeneuve’s Belle” by Brandon O’Brien
“The Death of the Gods” by Leah Bobet
“A tenjō kudari (“ceiling hanger” yōkai) defends her theft” by Betsy Aoki
The poems were all enjoyable, and nicely crafted, and I find it really hard to review poetry. If you enjoy poems with a speculative bent, you should check these out.
Quick thoughts on what I read:
“Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse” by Rae Carson
This story was nominated for the Hugo, Nebula, and Locus awards, and is why I picked up this volume to read now (rather than later). However, it wasn't my style of story... which should have been obvious from the title. I'm not a fan of zombie stories in general, so this one wasn't likely to win me over.
“My Country Is a Ghost” by Eugenia Triantafyllou
Really neat look at memory and immigration and belonging. Have food on hand when you read this one; it made me hungry.
“You Perfect, Broken Thing” by C.L. Clark
This one wasn't my style of story either: the main action point in the story is a physical competition that read a bit like an even more extreme X Games kind of thing, and I am not a fan of sports so it lost me on that count.
“And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands” by Sharon Hsu
This is a sort-of a Narnia retelling from the POV of a dryad, and it should have been right up my alley. It got darker than I prefer, though, and I kept feeling like there was more to the story beyond the Narnia references that I was missing.
“The Spirit of the Leech” by Alex Bledsoe
This is a fun story, and if the reader can see where it's going, it is believable that the main character would not.
“Braid of Days and Wake of Nights” by E. Lily Yu
I liked the premise and the set-up and the main secondary character (Vivian) of this one. The main character made some odd decisions to my way of thinking, but then again I'm not in her shoes. The descriptions, especially near the end of the story, were wonderful.
“Writing with My Keys Between My Fingers” by Meg Elison
“Street Harassment Is an Access Issue” by Katharine Duckett
The non-fiction I read was thought-provoking and worth a read. I don't normally read the non-fiction in these magazines (simply because I buy them for the fiction) but I'm glad I didn't skip these. Some of the issues I was aware of to start with, but there were new things and nuances that are less obvious.
And the poetry:
“Who Do You Think You Are” by Ada Hoffmann
“Elegy for the Self as Villeneuve’s Belle” by Brandon O’Brien
“The Death of the Gods” by Leah Bobet
“A tenjō kudari (“ceiling hanger” yōkai) defends her theft” by Betsy Aoki
The poems were all enjoyable, and nicely crafted, and I find it really hard to review poetry. If you enjoy poems with a speculative bent, you should check these out.