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mary_soon_lee's review
This issue of F&SF contains three novelettes, all of which I liked, and eight short stories, all but one of which I liked. Of the novelettes, my favorite is Harry Turtledove's "Powerless," which is an alternate history where the main character lives in a totalitarian Communist state in California's San Fernando Valley. It's a very effective story about small, stubborn acts of defiance.
Among the short stories, two stood out for me. Susan Emshwiller's "Suicide Watch" is a deeply disturbing story about paying for the privilege of witnessing suicides first-hand. I consider it a very good story, though not an enjoyable one. I felt voyeuristic even reading it. The other story that I particularly liked is "The Gallian Revolt as Seen from the Sama-Sama Laundrobath," by Brenda Kalt. The title gives a taste of the story's flavor, which offers an atypical perspective on a far-future rebellion. I liked the story's tone and it's laundry-woman protagonist, and will be watching out for more work by Brenda Kalt.
Overall, another fine issue.
Among the short stories, two stood out for me. Susan Emshwiller's "Suicide Watch" is a deeply disturbing story about paying for the privilege of witnessing suicides first-hand. I consider it a very good story, though not an enjoyable one. I felt voyeuristic even reading it. The other story that I particularly liked is "The Gallian Revolt as Seen from the Sama-Sama Laundrobath," by Brenda Kalt. The title gives a taste of the story's flavor, which offers an atypical perspective on a far-future rebellion. I liked the story's tone and it's laundry-woman protagonist, and will be watching out for more work by Brenda Kalt.
Overall, another fine issue.
stephen11's review
4.0
I think this is the 4th issue in my subscription. It was the best so far! Two 5's and two 4's!
A slight spoiler follows?
The science story on blood was quite appropriately placed after the story "Suicide Watch", both story and science article were favorites of mine!
1-5 rating, Author, Title
3 - Brian Trent - The Memorybox Vultures
5 - Cassandra Khaw and Jonathan L. Howard - Shooting Iron
1 - Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam - The Men Who Come From Flowers
4 - Harry Turtledove - Powerless
3 - Brenda Kalt - The Gallian Revolt as Seen from the Sama-Sama Laundrobath
4 - Jeremiah Tolbert - We Mete Justice With Beak and Talon
1 - Yukimi Ogawa - Taste of Opal
5 - Susan Emshwiller - Suicide Watch
3 - Gregor Hartmann - Emissaries From the Skirts of Heaven
3 - Sarina Dorie - Impossible Male Pregnancy: Click to Read Full Story
2 - Geoff Ryman - Blessed
A slight spoiler follows?
The science story on blood was quite appropriately placed after the story "Suicide Watch", both story and science article were favorites of mine!
1-5 rating, Author, Title
3 - Brian Trent - The Memorybox Vultures
5 - Cassandra Khaw and Jonathan L. Howard - Shooting Iron
1 - Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam - The Men Who Come From Flowers
4 - Harry Turtledove - Powerless
3 - Brenda Kalt - The Gallian Revolt as Seen from the Sama-Sama Laundrobath
4 - Jeremiah Tolbert - We Mete Justice With Beak and Talon
1 - Yukimi Ogawa - Taste of Opal
5 - Susan Emshwiller - Suicide Watch
3 - Gregor Hartmann - Emissaries From the Skirts of Heaven
3 - Sarina Dorie - Impossible Male Pregnancy: Click to Read Full Story
2 - Geoff Ryman - Blessed
standback's review
5.0
Wonderfully strong issue; almost every story hits its mark -- and the variety of marks is dazzling.
"Shooting Iron," by Cassandra Khaw and Jonathan L. Howard, is the absolute standout in a very strong issue. A kickass protagonist in a pitch-perfect adventure story, that grabs tropes of East and Westerns and flips them on their head.
"The Memorybox Vultures," by Brian Trent, imagines living on in the cloud after one's death... and consequently, who might try to extinguish such lives. Fast-paced and memorable.
"Taste of Opal," by Yukimi Ogawa, follows a young girl, Kei, whose magical blood is precious commodity -- and an illict one. Gripping, and with excellent characters. At some point, the story pivots oddly from Kei's predicament, towards delving into an intricate system of magic -- but it remains compelling, and beautifully imagined.
"Emissaries From the Skirts of Heaven," by Gregor Hartmann, tells a space-opera story through a series of snapshots, from the hero's childhood to her old age. Vivid and artful.
---
I enjoyed most of the other stories as well. I was somewhat disappointed by the cover story, "Powerless," by Harry Turtledove --where, in an alternate, communist America, one man decides he's had enough of propaganda. The story is horribly simplistic -- the threatened merciless slapdown for resisting tyranny never materializes, and the protagonist feels feted for some random feel-good victories, and that's pretty much as far as the story gets. It's entertaining -- but, at this moment in time, on the topic of resistance in the face of totalitarian regimes, shallowly "entertaining" feels very insufficient. I'm very happy to see stories of resistance -- but I'd like them to be more intelligent, better constructed, with more nuance. And casting communism for this one, at this time, feels like a deeply weird choice.
---
I believe this is the first issue with Jerry Oltion writing the science column. I very much enjoyed the topic chosen for this one. It's science that's near to home indeed, although seldom given much thought: how blood tests work. Welcome aboard, Jerry!
"Shooting Iron," by Cassandra Khaw and Jonathan L. Howard, is the absolute standout in a very strong issue. A kickass protagonist in a pitch-perfect adventure story, that grabs tropes of East and Westerns and flips them on their head.
"The Memorybox Vultures," by Brian Trent, imagines living on in the cloud after one's death... and consequently, who might try to extinguish such lives. Fast-paced and memorable.
"Taste of Opal," by Yukimi Ogawa, follows a young girl, Kei, whose magical blood is precious commodity -- and an illict one. Gripping, and with excellent characters. At some point, the story pivots oddly from Kei's predicament, towards delving into an intricate system of magic -- but it remains compelling, and beautifully imagined.
"Emissaries From the Skirts of Heaven," by Gregor Hartmann, tells a space-opera story through a series of snapshots, from the hero's childhood to her old age. Vivid and artful.
---
I enjoyed most of the other stories as well. I was somewhat disappointed by the cover story, "Powerless," by Harry Turtledove --where, in an alternate, communist America, one man decides he's had enough of propaganda. The story is horribly simplistic -- the threatened merciless slapdown for resisting tyranny never materializes, and the protagonist feels feted for some random feel-good victories, and that's pretty much as far as the story gets. It's entertaining -- but, at this moment in time, on the topic of resistance in the face of totalitarian regimes, shallowly "entertaining" feels very insufficient. I'm very happy to see stories of resistance -- but I'd like them to be more intelligent, better constructed, with more nuance. And casting communism for this one, at this time, feels like a deeply weird choice.
---
I believe this is the first issue with Jerry Oltion writing the science column. I very much enjoyed the topic chosen for this one. It's science that's near to home indeed, although seldom given much thought: how blood tests work. Welcome aboard, Jerry!
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