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gabalodon's review
4.0
Sweet, short, romantic epistolary that leaned heavily on very beautiful imagery. This is the first story I've read in the Birdverse (I'm going through the ones recommended by the author ahead of the Four Profound Weaves), so a lot of my experience was simply sorting out and interpreting the world-building and how this artisan magic works. Aside from that though, I loved how the two writers/artisans come from completely different places (desert vs northern woods) and consequently work from two different aesthetics, and I loved how they ultimately came together. Interested to read more!
kristamccracken's review
4.0
'Creeping Woman' by Christopher Barzak was by far my favourite short fiction story in this issue. I loved this darker more honest and blatant retelling of 'Yellow Wallpaper'. Incredibly creepy and beautiful written.
macthekat's review
3.0
I don't know what to think. I don't know anything about the story, after listening to it, other than it is about the meeting of brains and flesh in the rush of a new red hot relationship.
Merged review:
An interesting fable like story about a grieving street girl wishing for a better life or perhaps just for the pain to go away. More beautiful than touching to me, but I have to admit I might not have been listing as closely as I should.
Merged review:
An interesting fable like story about a grieving street girl wishing for a better life or perhaps just for the pain to go away. More beautiful than touching to me, but I have to admit I might not have been listing as closely as I should.
crunden's review
4.0
'tended, tangled, and veined' by Kayla Whaley was beautifully intense and raw. It's a story in a poem and I love the imagery Whaley uses!
I thoroughly recommend this poem and I can't wait to read the rest of this issue. Some seriously good writing here. Read it for yourself here.
she practiced her girlhood with heat–stricken hair, sheared nails, scrubbed skin.
she baptized herself with fat wrung from beans and battered into butter.
she oiled her joints with poise,
scented her flesh with propriety,
and clothed herself in performance.
she practiced girlhood,
but she never quite perfected it.
I thoroughly recommend this poem and I can't wait to read the rest of this issue. Some seriously good writing here. Read it for yourself here.
mayakittenreads's review
4.0
It was the non fiction that called out to me in this issue, particularly LM Myles' search for her SF/F grandmother & Chris Kluwe's argument that sports fans & SFF fans are the same kind of people.
foomple's review
3.0
3.5 - Rated just for the lovely story Lotus Face and the Fox by Nghi Vo
"When one found food, they all were fed, and they were all hungry alike. Death was nearly the first thing they found that they could not share."
"When one found food, they all were fed, and they were all hungry alike. Death was nearly the first thing they found that they could not share."
kittyg's review
3.0
So this was my first time diving into Uncanny and I am very happy with the first foray. As always with this sort of thing you get a few you like, a few you don't and some middling stories so i am going to just post all of my currently-reading updates and expand upon them if necessary to show what I thought of each story as I went through this.
Fiction
'The Virgin Plated Bass' by Maria Dahvana Headley is a really weird story about a band of lying, cheating mercenaries based off of Jesus and Mary. It's a warped version of Christianity, and it's got a cat who swears a lot. Maybe not my favourite story, but a weird one for sure and definitely thought-provoking even though it wasn't to my personal taste. 2*
'Lotus Face and the Fox' by Nghi Vo was beautifully sad and a story which reminded me a little of Kij Johnson's style. It's about a young fox girl who wants her sister back and so she goes to visit Lotus Face and ask her help...I loved the way this was written, the language was beautiful and wondrous but sad too. It had a sense of loneliness about it which I loved. 3.5*s"
'Creeping Woman' by Christopher Barzak and I have to say it was odd. Not really my kind of odd. Seems to be about a young woman falling into madness... Bit of a weird one... also there's horrible yellow wallpaper which sounds like anyone's nightmare. (I since realised this is a retelling of the Yellow Wallpaper which I haven't read so this maybe would have resonated more with me if I had) 2*s
'The Sincerity Gate' by Brit Mandelo was a sexually-charged story of mystical madness. I liked it but it was weird too. 3*s
'The Desert Glassmaker and the Jeweler of Berevyar' by Rose Lemburg was beautiful, poignant, evocative and lovely. I really liked that one and it's probably the most memorable of this issue for me becuase it was just lovely and sad and happy and wonder-filled all at once. Also I totally want one of their gemstones or glass pieces, they sound marvellous! 4*s
'The Spy Who Never Grew Up' by Sarah Rees Brennan is a modern-day retelling of Peter Pan as a spy. He's still not grown up and he's still kidnapping young girls, but the world has moved on and he has to adjust. I loved it! 4*s
Non-Fiction
'Gatekeepers: The Nerd /Jock False Division' by Chris Kluwe is a short non fiction piece about how complex people are and how grouping people does each a disservice. Nothing I didn't know already, but all good sentiments. 3*s
'Growing Up In Hyperspace' by Max Gladstone is a non fiction essay about Star Wars and the influence it has had on the culture of the West. I recently wrote my dissertation about the effect of the LoTR films so this was very interesting and relevant, although again not overly surprising. 3*s
'Creating A Welcoming Fannish Community' by Isabel Schechter, I would give it a 4*s. Definitely agree with all her points and think this is something that Conventions and Fandoms need to look at, examine, change and work on.
'Quest for and SF/F Grandmother' by L M Myles. Non fiction piece about older female writers in SFF. It introduced a new author I am for sure going to investigate, can't wait! Also made you think about finding female authors to read in SFF. 5*s
Poetry
'Tended, Tangled and Veined' by Kayla Whaley is a poem. I don't read much if any poetry but this felt raw and genuine and I was there with the girl, rosie... really lovely! 4*s
'The Exquisite Banality of Space' by Leslie Anderson is a poem which I didn't really connect with sadly. 1*
'Narrative of the Naga's Heirs' by Bryan Worra was a super short reflection on life. 2* (Also poetry)
Miscellaneous
Interview with Maria Dahvana Headly - 4*s
Interview with Christopher Barzak - 4*s
Both the Interviews are hard to rate, but both made me want to read more by the authors as they sound like superb people :)
Overall a great mix and it's wonderful to see so many interesting Non-fiction and Poetry pieces as I don't often read too much of either of these genres. I will certainly be continuing my Uncanny subscription and I am really looking forward tot he next March Issue which I already own! 3.5*s overall!
Fiction
'The Virgin Plated Bass' by Maria Dahvana Headley is a really weird story about a band of lying, cheating mercenaries based off of Jesus and Mary. It's a warped version of Christianity, and it's got a cat who swears a lot. Maybe not my favourite story, but a weird one for sure and definitely thought-provoking even though it wasn't to my personal taste. 2*
'Lotus Face and the Fox' by Nghi Vo was beautifully sad and a story which reminded me a little of Kij Johnson's style. It's about a young fox girl who wants her sister back and so she goes to visit Lotus Face and ask her help...I loved the way this was written, the language was beautiful and wondrous but sad too. It had a sense of loneliness about it which I loved. 3.5*s"
'Creeping Woman' by Christopher Barzak and I have to say it was odd. Not really my kind of odd. Seems to be about a young woman falling into madness... Bit of a weird one... also there's horrible yellow wallpaper which sounds like anyone's nightmare. (I since realised this is a retelling of the Yellow Wallpaper which I haven't read so this maybe would have resonated more with me if I had) 2*s
'The Sincerity Gate' by Brit Mandelo was a sexually-charged story of mystical madness. I liked it but it was weird too. 3*s
'The Desert Glassmaker and the Jeweler of Berevyar' by Rose Lemburg was beautiful, poignant, evocative and lovely. I really liked that one and it's probably the most memorable of this issue for me becuase it was just lovely and sad and happy and wonder-filled all at once. Also I totally want one of their gemstones or glass pieces, they sound marvellous! 4*s
'The Spy Who Never Grew Up' by Sarah Rees Brennan is a modern-day retelling of Peter Pan as a spy. He's still not grown up and he's still kidnapping young girls, but the world has moved on and he has to adjust. I loved it! 4*s
Non-Fiction
'Gatekeepers: The Nerd /Jock False Division' by Chris Kluwe is a short non fiction piece about how complex people are and how grouping people does each a disservice. Nothing I didn't know already, but all good sentiments. 3*s
'Growing Up In Hyperspace' by Max Gladstone is a non fiction essay about Star Wars and the influence it has had on the culture of the West. I recently wrote my dissertation about the effect of the LoTR films so this was very interesting and relevant, although again not overly surprising. 3*s
'Creating A Welcoming Fannish Community' by Isabel Schechter, I would give it a 4*s. Definitely agree with all her points and think this is something that Conventions and Fandoms need to look at, examine, change and work on.
'Quest for and SF/F Grandmother' by L M Myles. Non fiction piece about older female writers in SFF. It introduced a new author I am for sure going to investigate, can't wait! Also made you think about finding female authors to read in SFF. 5*s
Poetry
'Tended, Tangled and Veined' by Kayla Whaley is a poem. I don't read much if any poetry but this felt raw and genuine and I was there with the girl, rosie... really lovely! 4*s
'The Exquisite Banality of Space' by Leslie Anderson is a poem which I didn't really connect with sadly. 1*
'Narrative of the Naga's Heirs' by Bryan Worra was a super short reflection on life. 2* (Also poetry)
Miscellaneous
Interview with Maria Dahvana Headly - 4*s
Interview with Christopher Barzak - 4*s
Both the Interviews are hard to rate, but both made me want to read more by the authors as they sound like superb people :)
Overall a great mix and it's wonderful to see so many interesting Non-fiction and Poetry pieces as I don't often read too much of either of these genres. I will certainly be continuing my Uncanny subscription and I am really looking forward tot he next March Issue which I already own! 3.5*s overall!
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