Reviews

An Explorer's Cartography of Already Settled Lands by Fran Wilde

shellbellbell's review

5.0

Short story, read for free on Tor.com: https://www.tor.com/2020/04/22/an-explorers-cartography-of-already-settled-lands-fran-wilde/

Loved the idea that anything can be a map. The author's prose creates beautiful metaphors that were heartfelt.

Representation notes: Main character is from a culture without a gender binary.

kabaum's review

adventurous reflective

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

5.0

This was the vibe for me. I’m always looking for short stories feel like this and it was everything I wanted it to be. 

alkaiadyne's review

I feel like this is one I'd need to come back to to fully appreciate. As there are so many layers to the text that I don't think I was in the right frame of mind to be immersed by what was happening.

library_rift's review

reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

Started off interesting then it took a turn and became a thing about humanity in a different way and the prose suddenly had second person POV and that really didn't do for me. 

ofbooksandtrees's review

2.5

 Read January 2023
I'm intrigued, but can't say I understand what I just read..
(Read as part of "Some of the best from Tor.com 2020 edition" but prefer to log & rate the stories separate.) 

selenajournal's review

2.0

A Map of Braids

Beyond the shadowed woods lies a city where each morning, men and women braid their lovers’ hair, and their lovers do the same for them. The braids spell out hopes and dreams, whispered plans, unforgivable betrayals—a map of one soul trying to relate to another. The bearers of these maps cannot see their paths and twists, but they know the tugs and pulls of their making. They attempt to live according to the wishes of those who braided their hair, until that moment when they unbraid the tresses and fall asleep.

ayereads's review

3.0

Did I understand anything? No.
Was the writing still beautiful? Yes.

whitecat5000's review

2.0

A little too different for me to enjoy. It's a sci-fi novella, but with too weird of a plot. It took me over half of the story to understand what was going on, and at the end I was still a little confused.

staticbeetle's review

2.0

An incredibly weird story with no tangible hook. I enjoyed the imagery but there is little plot, and what plot there is it is confusing.

I will say that it was a bit evocative.

froggy_the_frog's review

emotional mysterious slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A

3.5