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tinynavajo's review against another edition
4.0
This was good! I truly loved how this drew on not only technology but on religion as well. There was a small twist about middle of the book but it's one that was interesting and kept the story moving forward.
moonpie's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't always thoroughly understand what was happening -- one of the perils of reading a standalone short story set in an imagined world -- but that didn't stop me from enjoying Tam's writing or Thrift's journey.
lelex's review against another edition
5.0
"It could be a princess, suggested my sister Beauty. Wisdom wanted an ancient scholar, and Innocence was holding out for a dog."
Short and sweet and a beautiful, beautiful concept. Another one of those niggling pieces of AI to ship to person-like transformations that I always end up stumbling upon that I love so much.
Short and sweet and a beautiful, beautiful concept. Another one of those niggling pieces of AI to ship to person-like transformations that I always end up stumbling upon that I love so much.
colossal's review
5.0
A thief enters a temple and steals a goddess away. Sounds like an interesting concept for an epic fantasy, right? Except this is a science fiction story.
The thief enters a forgotten temple and is propositioned by a series of goddesses to take them with her when she leaves. Glory, Beauty, Wisdom, Wit and others all promise her gifts if only she'll take them with her. Instead Pak ends up taking Thrift, the smallest goddess.
What the goddess's are, why the thief takes the one she does and what happens next are all part of the delight of this story, so I won't spoil it here. The relationship between Thrift and the thief is beautiful in its development though and the story is both entertaining and satisfying.
Strongly recommended.
The thief enters a forgotten temple and is propositioned by a series of goddesses to take them with her when she leaves. Glory, Beauty, Wisdom, Wit and others all promise her gifts if only she'll take them with her. Instead Pak ends up taking Thrift, the smallest goddess.
What the goddess's are, why the thief takes the one she does and what happens next are all part of the delight of this story, so I won't spoil it here. The relationship between Thrift and the thief is beautiful in its development though and the story is both entertaining and satisfying.
Strongly recommended.
chessakat's review
5.0
Loved this! Wasn’t sure in the beginning, but man it smacked me right in the feels by the end. Definitely keeping an eye on this author!
prationality's review
5.0
This short story was surprisingly filled with a certain sense of wonder and nostalgia. The description is what caught me, as did the beautiful cover, but I think Thrift's voice is what kept me reading.
Throughout the story we learn a lot about what we lose as memories fade and what we gain through experience. Thrift has vague memories of what eating or breathing or smelling is like. Everything feels new even as she knows it's not.
The Thief, or Pak, meanwhile starts to see the world she moves in differently as Thrift's wonder pushes her to do things she takes for granted.
When Thrift's history and origins are explored, as well as that of her Sister Goddesses, I couldn't help but feel a pang. Though only three of the Sisters (Beauty, Glory and Thrift) and their choices are shown, the why of it all is painful. Whether intentional or not, the sacrifice that Tam has the Sisters make reminded me very much of what happened with my Grandma as she grew older and the Alzheimer's became more pronounced.
Indeed the justification one of the Sisters makes for her own actions echoed a conversation I had at one time.
The story presents itself with three options, none of which are perfect fits for the character Thrift becomes by the end. But true to her name and godly gift, Thrift finds a fourth way that takes the best parts of all three choices and builds a better option that fits who she had become.
Throughout the story we learn a lot about what we lose as memories fade and what we gain through experience. Thrift has vague memories of what eating or breathing or smelling is like. Everything feels new even as she knows it's not.
The Thief, or Pak, meanwhile starts to see the world she moves in differently as Thrift's wonder pushes her to do things she takes for granted.
When Thrift's history and origins are explored, as well as that of her Sister Goddesses, I couldn't help but feel a pang. Though only three of the Sisters (Beauty, Glory and Thrift) and their choices are shown, the why of it all is painful. Whether intentional or not, the sacrifice that Tam has the Sisters make reminded me very much of what happened with my Grandma as she grew older and the Alzheimer's became more pronounced.
Indeed the justification one of the Sisters makes for her own actions echoed a conversation I had at one time.
The story presents itself with three options, none of which are perfect fits for the character Thrift becomes by the end. But true to her name and godly gift, Thrift finds a fourth way that takes the best parts of all three choices and builds a better option that fits who she had become.
simonlorden's review
5.0
This was a wonderful sci-fi f/f short story. I can't say much about it without spoiling it, but it had several of my favourite tropes and I loved all the descriptions. Plus, the cover is simply beautiful.
epaulettes's review
4.0
Is it a queer sci-fi romance? Is it a ghost story? Is it an A.I. grows legs narrative? Yes and no to all of the above! But unquestionably, it is a really enjoyable novella that develops its concepts and emotional resonances well in spite of the short word count.
llincathryn's review
4.0
This is a smart and thoughtful story about what it means to be alive, with gorgeously rich worldbuilding – android opera, street markets and foodstuffs are all vividly described. I loved Thrift’s enthusiasm for new experiences, Pak’s impulsiveness and kindness, and the gradual way they grew closer. A very enjoyable read.
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