The adjectives that come to mind when I start describing the stories in Jamie Lackey’s latest collection — “graceful”, “elegant”, “accomplished”, “economical”, “beautiful” — all trouble me a bit, because they all come straight out of the 19th century’s idealization of Womanhood, but I just can’t help it. They all apply, and to every one of these tales.
Priest of Bones imagines what would happen if the Godfather had gone off to war in an early Renaissance world, only to return home to find the “family businesses” have been taken over by others. He takes this rather badly.
https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/Episode3IntoTheWardrobeHocusPocus1993/Episode3-IntoTheWardrobe-HocusPocus1993.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSIn this third episode of Into the Wardrobe (though the first to most of our listeners), Shaun and Jen discuss the 1993 Disney film, Hocus Pocus, directed by Kenny Ortega. They discuss the film’s pros and cons, from its treatment of people of color and anti-feminist portrayals of witches to how it deals with toxic masculinity and bullying and more. The deeper they dig into the film, the more apparent it becomes that what should be a simple Halloween romp is perhaps a bit more complicated than they originally expected. Finally, the show ends in characteristic ItW fashion: with a conversation about whether Hocus Pocus will connect with young audiences today. Enjoy!
This month I have five stories to recommend, and each story is pure and simple fun. First, I loved “The House on the Moon” by William Alexander, which appears in Uncanny Magazine‘s recent Disabled People Destroy Science Fiction special issue. In this story, Ana, a disabled girl living on the moon, goes on a field trip to a Welsh castle that’s been moved onto the moon. Ana is a delightful, witty narrator who has a lot to say about the politics and constructedness of (dis)ability. Second, I recommend “Jump” by Cadwell Turnbull, which appears in Lightspeed Magazine Issue 100. In “Jump,” a couple accidentally teleports home one day, but they are unable to recreate the experience. Turnbull’s story starts with a fun science fictional “what if” and then explores its repercussions in a fascinating way. Third, do you enjoy Victorian era lost world adventure stories, but want one that deftly avoids the problematic tropes that often underlie those stories? If so, then don’t miss Carrie Vaughn’s “Harry and Marlowe and the Secret of Ahomana,” which also appears in Lightspeed Magazine Issue 100. Next, we have “Nation Building and Baptism” by Octavia Cade, which appears in Capricious Issue 10. It’s a moving tale about rebuilding and welcoming refugees after the catastrophes of climate change. If the news has you feeling down, you really should read this warm and gentle story. Lastly, if you love stories about magical books and bookstores, then you simply must check out “The Secret History of the Clockwork King” by Heather Morris, which also appears in Capricious Issue 10.
https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/SFiTEpisode10IcelandAndGothicFantasy/Sfit-Episode10-IcelandAndGothicFantasy.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSIn this month’s episode, Rachel and Daniel make the most of a relatively-light SFT month, discussing the collections, stories, and reviews that came out in October. They also look ahead to the exciting wonderfulness that is November. The highly-acclaimed Icelandic novel, CoDex 1962, keeps coming up (probably because it’s as great as everyone says it is) and we now have new stories by Yoss and Melanie Fazi to read thanks to World Literature Today. And while Rachel and Daniel wish they could have more time to read all the things, Daniel still needs to invent that time machine Rachel keeps asking for… Remember: with new stories and books coming to our attention each week, make sure to check the SFT website for updates. Enjoy, and keep reading! A bientôt!
Recently, I was approached by Radish to write for them. We talked and now I am a verified Radish author! For my inaugural serial, I will be publishing the Asian-inspired dragon-racing YA fantasy I have been talking about for a while now. It has been languishing in my hard drive, bypassed by agents, and now — hopefully — it will have a new lease of life on Radish. (Hopefully (again) that it will be a physical book at the end of the journey… Publishers? Bueller?)
