Short Fiction Review: February 2019
February saw the release of A People’s Future of the United States, an anthology of resistance and hope that’s edited by Victor LaValle and John Joseph Adams and features big names such as Charlie Jane Anders, Hugh Howey, N. K. Jemisin, Sam J. Miller, and Catherynne M. Valente. The anthology is filled with great work, and in particular I want to spotlight “Riverbed” by Omar El Akkad and “Harmony” by Seanan McGuire. I could easily rave about A People’s Future of the United States for the rest of this review, but I also want to spotlight some other great new stories by less well-known authors. In February, Nightmare Magazine published “58 Rules to Ensure Your Husband Loves You Forever” by Rafeeat Aliyu, a creative and disturbing take on zombies that powerfully comments on toxic social norms around marriage. This piece is dark and disturbing, so it won’t be for everyone, but if you like horror, I highly recommend it. I also enjoyed “This Wine-Dark Feeling That Isn’t The Blues” by José Pablo Iriarte, which appears in Escape Pod. It’s a short and surprising story about love, grief, and simulated realities. Lastly, I loved “Ti-Jean’s Last Adventure, as Told to Raccoon” by KT Bryski, which appears in Lightspeed Magazine. It’s a very Canadian story that’s equal parts fun folklore and serious cultural critique.
Book Review: 2018 NEBULA AWARDS SHOWCASE, Edited by Jane Yolen
As usual, I’m behind and am just now getting to write up these thoughts on the 2018 Nebula Awards Showcase, edited by Jane Yolen for Pyr. Until April when the 2019 showcase comes out, it is the latest of annual volumes published since 1966 to reprint the nominated and winning stories for the previous year. Though this past year’s winners might be more in the forefront of your mind, revisiting – or discovering – the stories in the 2018 showcase (published 2016 and 2017) could be even more rewarding. I had read many of the stories at their original appearance, and going back to these again for a second or third time felt in some cases like meeting old friends, and in a few cases felt like appreciating something wondrous that I had somehow missed on that read a couple years back.
2019 Awards Season Eligibility: Our Things, Guest Things, All the Things
It’s that time again! The time when so many of us tell you what we created that is eligible for an SF/F award in 2019. And as always, we’re going to tell you about all the eligible things that this podcast and/or its hosts created AND all the eligible things we covered, including movies, books, comics, and more! So hold on to your butts. This will be a monster post of delightfully awards-eligible beautificities! Here goes:
Book review: The Blood of Four Gods and Other Stories, by Jamie Lackey
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.
Short Fiction Review: September/October 2018
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.
Reading Rangers: Shorts #2 – The 2018 Nommo Award Finalist Short Stories
https://media.blubrry.com/skiffyandfanty/dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/archive.org/download/ReadingRangersShorts22018NommoAwardFinalistShortStories/ReadingRangersShorts2–2018NommoAwardFinalistShortStories.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | DownloadSubscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Android | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | Email | TuneIn | Deezer | RSSHello, Rangers! Time to get back into the saddle after too long a wait to highlight the wonderful short story finalists from the 2018 Nommo Awards! The Nommo Awards are hosted by the African Speculative Fiction Society and “recognise works of speculative fiction by Africans.” They mean “mean science fiction, fantasy, stories of magic and traditional belief, alternative histories, horror and strange stuff that might not fit in anywhere else.” Trish, Brandon, and Elizabeth sit down to discuss each of the short story finalists. Be sure to go read the stories, and then check out this discussion to get the interesting perspectives of our international team of short story fans! (We also highly encourage you to check out the long list of short story nominees for The Nommos). We hope you enjoy the episode!
