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A review by mikewhiteman
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 134 by Mike Buckley, Neil Clarke, Mark Cole, D.A. Xiaolin Spires, Suzanne Walker, Daryl Gregory, Sue Burke, Rachel S. Cordasco, James Patrick Kelly, Allen M. Steele, Nicoletta Vallorani, Chris Urie
3.0
Prasetyo Plastics - DA Xiaolin Spires **
Interesting idea - a plastics singularity, as it merges with living organisms like plankton and begins to evolve - but not much story hung on it; really just someone living through it and seeing it develop.
Retrieval - Suzanne Walker **
Ghostbusters in space, sans the comedy, as a member of this Retrievers Guild tracks down the vengeful spirit of their father. Not enough meat on the bones for either the familial relationship or the subjugated life under the Protectorate to hit home.
Dead Heroes - Mike Buckley ****
Some nice weird touches, with the Living Forest and its head-shaped fruit, mixed with the soldiers merging with their mech weaponry. Along with the claustrophobia and sense of loss with the forgotten memories, a really strong story, with more to it than the initial military hero-worship hints at.
Who Won The Battle Of Arsia Mons? - Sue Burke **
An oral history of Robot Wars on Mars, with some little twists and turns. The journalistic structure felt inconsistent and didn't succeed for me. The most interesting possibilities were left unexplored for reaction quotes from the characters involved.
The Catalog Of Virgins - Nicoletta Vallorani, trans. Rachel S Cordasco ***
A take on Bluebeard, with clones and mass rape. The language here is dreamy and vague, keeping the familiar experience interesting.
Second Person, Present Tense - Daryl Gregory ****
This was really nicely written, as a young woman recovers from a drug overdose which has left her without any of her original personality or memories. The interactions between her and her parents (or the parents of the girl who overdosed) and her therapists are hard-hitting and emotional, and there is real catharsis and forgiveness at the end.
Martian Blood - Allen M Steele *
This was apparently originally collected in a "golden age SF" Mars-themed anthology, which hopefully explains why it is written in the style it is, but really not interested in "primitive savages" "chucking spears" at a doctor trying to find out if they are actually human, regardless.
Interesting idea - a plastics singularity, as it merges with living organisms like plankton and begins to evolve - but not much story hung on it; really just someone living through it and seeing it develop.
Retrieval - Suzanne Walker **
Ghostbusters in space, sans the comedy, as a member of this Retrievers Guild tracks down the vengeful spirit of their father. Not enough meat on the bones for either the familial relationship or the subjugated life under the Protectorate to hit home.
Dead Heroes - Mike Buckley ****
Some nice weird touches, with the Living Forest and its head-shaped fruit, mixed with the soldiers merging with their mech weaponry. Along with the claustrophobia and sense of loss with the forgotten memories, a really strong story, with more to it than the initial military hero-worship hints at.
Who Won The Battle Of Arsia Mons? - Sue Burke **
An oral history of Robot Wars on Mars, with some little twists and turns. The journalistic structure felt inconsistent and didn't succeed for me. The most interesting possibilities were left unexplored for reaction quotes from the characters involved.
The Catalog Of Virgins - Nicoletta Vallorani, trans. Rachel S Cordasco ***
A take on Bluebeard, with clones and mass rape. The language here is dreamy and vague, keeping the familiar experience interesting.
Second Person, Present Tense - Daryl Gregory ****
This was really nicely written, as a young woman recovers from a drug overdose which has left her without any of her original personality or memories. The interactions between her and her parents (or the parents of the girl who overdosed) and her therapists are hard-hitting and emotional, and there is real catharsis and forgiveness at the end.
Martian Blood - Allen M Steele *
This was apparently originally collected in a "golden age SF" Mars-themed anthology, which hopefully explains why it is written in the style it is, but really not interested in "primitive savages" "chucking spears" at a doctor trying to find out if they are actually human, regardless.