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The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Vol. 144, Nos. 3 & 4, March/April 2023
NOVELETTES
“Mr. Catt” by Eleanor Arnason
“The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School” by Peter S. Beagle
SHORT STORIES
“Escape Velocity” by Amanda Dier
“Pantoum on a Generation Ship” by Lauren Bajek
“The Sweet in the Empty” by Tade Thompson
“The Station Master” by Lavie Tidhar
“Spookman” by Jonathan Louis Duckworth
“Piggyback Girl” by M. H. Ayinde
“Mnemonic Longings” by Marlon Ortiz
“Moonlight, Wing-Wake in Fog” by Rick Hollon
“The Madding” by Nuzo Onoh
“The Subway Algorithm is Half-Constructed” by Marie Vibbert
“Solar Boy” by K. C. Ahia
“Ouroboros” by Mathew Lebowitz
“The Five Lazy Sisters” by Kathleen Jennings
“Remembered Salt” by E. Catherine Tobler
POEMS
“One Generation After The Last Flower” by Marisca Pichette
“The Nomad” and “Paradise Lost Redux” by Marge Simpson
“The Reluctant Ambassador” and “Why Our Parents Never Left Earth” by Michael Meyerhofer
“Elegy Over Red Sands” by Robert L. Jones
“Falling into a Black Hole” and “White Hole” by Michael Meyerhofer
“Mr. Catt” by Eleanor Arnason
“The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School” by Peter S. Beagle
SHORT STORIES
“Escape Velocity” by Amanda Dier
“Pantoum on a Generation Ship” by Lauren Bajek
“The Sweet in the Empty” by Tade Thompson
“The Station Master” by Lavie Tidhar
“Spookman” by Jonathan Louis Duckworth
“Piggyback Girl” by M. H. Ayinde
“Mnemonic Longings” by Marlon Ortiz
“Moonlight, Wing-Wake in Fog” by Rick Hollon
“The Madding” by Nuzo Onoh
“The Subway Algorithm is Half-Constructed” by Marie Vibbert
“Solar Boy” by K. C. Ahia
“Ouroboros” by Mathew Lebowitz
“The Five Lazy Sisters” by Kathleen Jennings
“Remembered Salt” by E. Catherine Tobler
POEMS
“One Generation After The Last Flower” by Marisca Pichette
“The Nomad” and “Paradise Lost Redux” by Marge Simpson
“The Reluctant Ambassador” and “Why Our Parents Never Left Earth” by Michael Meyerhofer
“Elegy Over Red Sands” by Robert L. Jones
“Falling into a Black Hole” and “White Hole” by Michael Meyerhofer
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2023
6 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
About the author
Sheree Renée Thomas
78 books241 followersSheree Thomas — also credited as Sheree R. Thomas and Sheree Renée Thomas — is an American writer, book editor and publisher.
Thomas is the editor of the Dark Matter anthology (2000), in which are collected works by some of the best African-American writers in the genres of science fiction, horror and fantasy. Among the many notable authors included are Samuel R. Delany, Octavia E. Butler, Charles R. Saunders, Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due, Jewelle Gomez, Ishmael Reed, Kalamu ya Salaam, Robert Fleming, Nalo Hopkinson, George S. Schuyler and W. E. B. Du Bois. Dark Matter was honored with the 2005 and the 2001 World Fantasy Award and named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Thomas is the publisher of Wanganegresse Press, and has contributed to national publications including the Washington Post "Book World", Black Issues Book Review, QBR, and Hip Mama. Her fiction and poetry have appeared in Ishmael Reed's Konch, Drumvoices Revue, Obsidian III, African Voices, storySouth, and other literary journals, and has received Honorable Mention in the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, 16th and 17th annual collections. A native of Memphis, she lives in New York City.
Thomas is the editor of the Dark Matter anthology (2000), in which are collected works by some of the best African-American writers in the genres of science fiction, horror and fantasy. Among the many notable authors included are Samuel R. Delany, Octavia E. Butler, Charles R. Saunders, Steven Barnes, Tananarive Due, Jewelle Gomez, Ishmael Reed, Kalamu ya Salaam, Robert Fleming, Nalo Hopkinson, George S. Schuyler and W. E. B. Du Bois. Dark Matter was honored with the 2005 and the 2001 World Fantasy Award and named a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.
Thomas is the publisher of Wanganegresse Press, and has contributed to national publications including the Washington Post "Book World", Black Issues Book Review, QBR, and Hip Mama. Her fiction and poetry have appeared in Ishmael Reed's Konch, Drumvoices Revue, Obsidian III, African Voices, storySouth, and other literary journals, and has received Honorable Mention in the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, 16th and 17th annual collections. A native of Memphis, she lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 19, 2024
This is the March/April 2023 issue of The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine, one of three ‘old’ SFFH pro-zines. This issue has no novellas, so the total number of works is greater than usual. Most of the stories are okay, with a few really good ones.
Contents:
Letter from the Editor: Solaris [Editorial (F&SF)] essay by Sheree Renée Thomas about a new star named after Stanislaw Lem’s Solaris, talking more about the US movie adaptation. 2*
The Sweet in the Empty short story by Tade Thompson historical fantasy set in Africa and Arabic peninsula. Jember, an old warrior, who fought enemies both natural and not (e.g. undead), an African version of a knight, and his young son Luke are journeying to rescue his other son. Several years ago he was stolen from the village and sold as a slave to a Beduin warlord. The latter, named Munir, is on his annual search for a magic oasis, which appears once in a year and where blood cannot be spilled. Old style adventure like from the pulps, but with a non-European protagonist. 3.5*
The Station Master [Solar System] short story by Lavie Tidhar there is a transit train station on Mars and Djibril Todd is its master. A day of his life is presented, with meeting interesting passengers, who tell their stories and leave. 3*
Spookman short story by Jonathan Louis Duckworth a post-apoc/alt-history Europe (a town Bruucken is mentioned). Roof Farook is spookman – a speaker with the dead. The dead is this case are poor ghosts that just need to be put to rest. He is hired by local ‘stationary bandit’ to find his son, who ran to the forest. There are a lot of weird stuff, like painted woods that sucked the soul of the painter who imagined them. Roof manages to find the boy, but it turns out the latter doesn’t want to return… 3*
The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School novelette by Peter S. Beagle eighth grade in an ordinary school but with an unusual teacher. Ms. Wickenden, the math teacher is a witch. She hexed the class's best math boy so he was unable to solve a simple problem. The narrator’s sister Lucia stands for the boy and initially nothing happens, but when alone she suddenly can turn into a mouse or back. The narrator has to find a way to disenchant her. The story is simple and with nothing new but it kept me glued to the end. 5*
Piggyback Girl short story by M. H. Ayinde a web celebrity with her team signs a contract with a new social media upstart – the implant she receives makes her all feeling (sight/touch/smell) when she signs in to her account, translated to her fans. Moreover, they can ‘rent’ her body to try stuff and while there are conditions of full access (No leaving the apartment, no self-harm, no nudity, no masturbation, and no toilet visits), of course, someone uses her body in the wrong way. 3*
Mnemonic Longings short story by Marlon Ortiz a derelict ship in the Solar system reboots and wakes its only passenger – soldier Sparrow. It turns out that she is the only one survived human after alien ‘Tenants’ won the war with mankind and this happened centuries ago. Soon it turns out that the Ship has awoken Sparrow not for the first time. 3*
Moonlight, Wing-Wake in Fog short story by Rick Hollon a village of selkies (were-beings) is under attack from men that sailed in longboats. One of the villagers cooperates with invaders… 2.5*
The Madding short story by Nuzo Onoh I guess this is based on African folklore. The protagonist-narrator is a six-year-old boy and a sacrifice of his milk teeth supposedly helped his half-sister (there is polygamy, with two wives) to get married. However, her husband is of “Uba of Ego clan, he of the hundred cows and countless children” and the clan is notorious that all brides die there. Meanwhile, the narrator meets Ego clan’s boy who offers him to show a secret. Soon the sister mysteriously dies and the unwilling protagonist has to solve what’s going on. 3.5*
The Nomad poem by Marge Simon
Paradise Lost Redux poem by Marge Simon
Books to Look For (F&SF, March/April 2023) [Books to Look for] essay by Charles de Lint among other books mentions Mortal Heart which I may try
Musings on Books (F&SF, March/April 2023) [Musing on Books] essay by Michelle West
Television: Again, The Vampire Talks [Television (F&SF)] essay by David J. Skal Interview with the Vampire new TV series
Mr. Catt novelette by Eleanor Arnason Mr Catt is a cat, but he walks on his hind legs, is close to six feet tall, wears a tweed suit and has a lawyer and an accountant. One evening while drinking tea, he decides that he wants a dragon and starts finding ways to get what he wants. The setting is akin to early/mid-20th century London with a gentleman cat. Cozy. 4*
Escape Velocity short story by Amanda Dier Demelza is a space pilot but due to a neurodegenerative disease she is grounded. She agrees for an operation to leave only her brain to command a ship. She falls in love with one of the crew. 2.5*
Pantoum on a Generation Ship short story by Lauren Bajek first person narration of a pregnant woman on a generation ship, where she compares herself to the ship, both bringing new generations. 2.5*
One Generation After the Last Flower poem by Marisca Pichette
The Reluctant Ambassador poem by Michael Meyerhofer
Why Our Parents Never Left Earth poem by Michael Meyerhofer
The Subway Algorithm Is Half-Constructed short story by Marie Vibbert a protagonist-narrator who meets Kato and falls in love with him. They both are AI students: Kato develops an AI program with a bunch of generated authors to write stories, while the protagonist makes group AIs to solve for the optimum subway layouts. The protagonist is unsure of himself, while Kato seems so confident and relaxed. 3.5*
Solar Boy short story by K. C. Ahia Cam Newton is a licensed engineer but can only get a job as a deckhand. She needs a job, so she gets to a new gold-gilded ship. The ship won’t start, so she solves the problem using gold’s conductivity and finds out why it was gilded. 2.5*
Elegy Over Red Sands poem by Robert L. Jones, III
Falling into a Black Hole poem by Michael Meyerhofer
White Holes poem by Michael Meyerhofer
Ouroboros short story by Mathew Lebowitz Jens was a brilliant scientist, who tried to create a VR headset that allows someone’s mind to transport into the past. However, he overdoses on drugs seeking enlightenment. Now, twenty years later, Jens’ assistant Garrett with Garrett’s pregnant wife Angela recreated the headset and Garrett trips to Jens’ last days to find there something unexpected. 3*
The Five Lazy Sisters short story by Kathleen Jennings a fairy tale-like story about the sisters, their grandma has a ferry across the river, which she plans to give to them, but they are lazy, so they go away to find a way to build a bridge instead and take a toll from travelers instead. 3*
Coming Attractions (F&SF, March/April 2023) essay by Sheree Renée Thomas
By the Numbers 7: The Lifespan of a Magazine [By the Numbers] essay by Arley Sorg a great overview of SFF semi-zines, which had good enough stories to be nominated for Hugo/Nebula since 2000, a lot of which are closed now. It starts with “What you hold in your hand [1] is an anomaly; or, perhaps, a miracle. The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction has been around for over seventy years. To put it in terms that most folks can understand: that ain’t normal!” and right now, in 2024 it turns out that The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction turned from bi-monthly to quarterly. 4*
Science: The Science Of Love [Science (F&SF)] essay by Jerry Oltion what the science say about love and what <3 truly means. 3.5*
Remembered Salt short story by E. Catherine Tobler A house on chicken legs after losing its inhabitant, wanders around the world. 3*
Curiosities: The Goose of Hermogenes, by Ithell Colquhoun (1968) [Curiosities (essays)] essay by Carol Cooper a forgotten surrealist fantasy masterpiece. 3*
Contents:
Letter from the Editor: Solaris [Editorial (F&SF)] essay by Sheree Renée Thomas about a new star named after Stanislaw Lem’s Solaris, talking more about the US movie adaptation. 2*
The Sweet in the Empty short story by Tade Thompson historical fantasy set in Africa and Arabic peninsula. Jember, an old warrior, who fought enemies both natural and not (e.g. undead), an African version of a knight, and his young son Luke are journeying to rescue his other son. Several years ago he was stolen from the village and sold as a slave to a Beduin warlord. The latter, named Munir, is on his annual search for a magic oasis, which appears once in a year and where blood cannot be spilled. Old style adventure like from the pulps, but with a non-European protagonist. 3.5*
The Station Master [Solar System] short story by Lavie Tidhar there is a transit train station on Mars and Djibril Todd is its master. A day of his life is presented, with meeting interesting passengers, who tell their stories and leave. 3*
Spookman short story by Jonathan Louis Duckworth a post-apoc/alt-history Europe (a town Bruucken is mentioned). Roof Farook is spookman – a speaker with the dead. The dead is this case are poor ghosts that just need to be put to rest. He is hired by local ‘stationary bandit’ to find his son, who ran to the forest. There are a lot of weird stuff, like painted woods that sucked the soul of the painter who imagined them. Roof manages to find the boy, but it turns out the latter doesn’t want to return… 3*
The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School novelette by Peter S. Beagle eighth grade in an ordinary school but with an unusual teacher. Ms. Wickenden, the math teacher is a witch. She hexed the class's best math boy so he was unable to solve a simple problem. The narrator’s sister Lucia stands for the boy and initially nothing happens, but when alone she suddenly can turn into a mouse or back. The narrator has to find a way to disenchant her. The story is simple and with nothing new but it kept me glued to the end. 5*
Piggyback Girl short story by M. H. Ayinde a web celebrity with her team signs a contract with a new social media upstart – the implant she receives makes her all feeling (sight/touch/smell) when she signs in to her account, translated to her fans. Moreover, they can ‘rent’ her body to try stuff and while there are conditions of full access (No leaving the apartment, no self-harm, no nudity, no masturbation, and no toilet visits), of course, someone uses her body in the wrong way. 3*
Mnemonic Longings short story by Marlon Ortiz a derelict ship in the Solar system reboots and wakes its only passenger – soldier Sparrow. It turns out that she is the only one survived human after alien ‘Tenants’ won the war with mankind and this happened centuries ago. Soon it turns out that the Ship has awoken Sparrow not for the first time. 3*
Moonlight, Wing-Wake in Fog short story by Rick Hollon a village of selkies (were-beings) is under attack from men that sailed in longboats. One of the villagers cooperates with invaders… 2.5*
The Madding short story by Nuzo Onoh I guess this is based on African folklore. The protagonist-narrator is a six-year-old boy and a sacrifice of his milk teeth supposedly helped his half-sister (there is polygamy, with two wives) to get married. However, her husband is of “Uba of Ego clan, he of the hundred cows and countless children” and the clan is notorious that all brides die there. Meanwhile, the narrator meets Ego clan’s boy who offers him to show a secret. Soon the sister mysteriously dies and the unwilling protagonist has to solve what’s going on. 3.5*
The Nomad poem by Marge Simon
Paradise Lost Redux poem by Marge Simon
Books to Look For (F&SF, March/April 2023) [Books to Look for] essay by Charles de Lint among other books mentions Mortal Heart which I may try
Musings on Books (F&SF, March/April 2023) [Musing on Books] essay by Michelle West
Television: Again, The Vampire Talks [Television (F&SF)] essay by David J. Skal Interview with the Vampire new TV series
Mr. Catt novelette by Eleanor Arnason Mr Catt is a cat, but he walks on his hind legs, is close to six feet tall, wears a tweed suit and has a lawyer and an accountant. One evening while drinking tea, he decides that he wants a dragon and starts finding ways to get what he wants. The setting is akin to early/mid-20th century London with a gentleman cat. Cozy. 4*
Escape Velocity short story by Amanda Dier Demelza is a space pilot but due to a neurodegenerative disease she is grounded. She agrees for an operation to leave only her brain to command a ship. She falls in love with one of the crew. 2.5*
Pantoum on a Generation Ship short story by Lauren Bajek first person narration of a pregnant woman on a generation ship, where she compares herself to the ship, both bringing new generations. 2.5*
One Generation After the Last Flower poem by Marisca Pichette
The Reluctant Ambassador poem by Michael Meyerhofer
Why Our Parents Never Left Earth poem by Michael Meyerhofer
The Subway Algorithm Is Half-Constructed short story by Marie Vibbert a protagonist-narrator who meets Kato and falls in love with him. They both are AI students: Kato develops an AI program with a bunch of generated authors to write stories, while the protagonist makes group AIs to solve for the optimum subway layouts. The protagonist is unsure of himself, while Kato seems so confident and relaxed. 3.5*
Solar Boy short story by K. C. Ahia Cam Newton is a licensed engineer but can only get a job as a deckhand. She needs a job, so she gets to a new gold-gilded ship. The ship won’t start, so she solves the problem using gold’s conductivity and finds out why it was gilded. 2.5*
Elegy Over Red Sands poem by Robert L. Jones, III
Falling into a Black Hole poem by Michael Meyerhofer
White Holes poem by Michael Meyerhofer
Ouroboros short story by Mathew Lebowitz Jens was a brilliant scientist, who tried to create a VR headset that allows someone’s mind to transport into the past. However, he overdoses on drugs seeking enlightenment. Now, twenty years later, Jens’ assistant Garrett with Garrett’s pregnant wife Angela recreated the headset and Garrett trips to Jens’ last days to find there something unexpected. 3*
The Five Lazy Sisters short story by Kathleen Jennings a fairy tale-like story about the sisters, their grandma has a ferry across the river, which she plans to give to them, but they are lazy, so they go away to find a way to build a bridge instead and take a toll from travelers instead. 3*
Coming Attractions (F&SF, March/April 2023) essay by Sheree Renée Thomas
By the Numbers 7: The Lifespan of a Magazine [By the Numbers] essay by Arley Sorg a great overview of SFF semi-zines, which had good enough stories to be nominated for Hugo/Nebula since 2000, a lot of which are closed now. It starts with “What you hold in your hand [1] is an anomaly; or, perhaps, a miracle. The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction has been around for over seventy years. To put it in terms that most folks can understand: that ain’t normal!” and right now, in 2024 it turns out that The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction turned from bi-monthly to quarterly. 4*
Science: The Science Of Love [Science (F&SF)] essay by Jerry Oltion what the science say about love and what <3 truly means. 3.5*
Remembered Salt short story by E. Catherine Tobler A house on chicken legs after losing its inhabitant, wanders around the world. 3*
Curiosities: The Goose of Hermogenes, by Ithell Colquhoun (1968) [Curiosities (essays)] essay by Carol Cooper a forgotten surrealist fantasy masterpiece. 3*
April 13, 2023
6 • The Sweet in the Empty • 13 pages by Tade Thompson
OK/Fair. Alora hears that the Munir are taking a caravan into the desert to find the oasis that pops up once a year. What's important is that the Munir took their son as a slave and they need to retrieve him. Good plot/characters but the story didn't flow well for me.
19 • The Station Master • 7 pages by Lavie Tidhar
Fair. Djibril Todd does his job and is content with it.
26 • Spookman • 18 pages by Jonathan Louis Duckworth
Good+. Rood is hired by Vadrongen to find his son who took off towards the Painted Woods. Luuk though privileged doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps of living well from the suffering of others.
44 • The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School • 23 pages by Peter S. Beagle
Very Good. The eighth grade math teacher is a witch. She silenced a noisy student, not evil, but when she humiliated the best student in class Lucia stood up to her. Now Lucia alternates between mouse and human and it's getting worse. Graham has helped her keep it under wraps, but it's getting serious. They have to do something and Lucia apologizing isn't going to be it.
67 • Piggyback Girl • 14 pages by M. H. Ayinde
Very Good. Her agent comes to Amber with a new deal, a social media outfit called Piggyback. It doesn't take Amber long to see this was more intrusive than she could have imagined, but she can stick it out for the six month contract.
81 • Mnemonic Longing • 19 pages by Marlon Ortiz
Very Good/Good. Ship is woken up by a random strike that allows it access to solar energy. It wakes up Sparrow. Now that eons have passed including the war against the Tenants what is their purpose.
100 • Moonlight, Wing-Wake in Fog • 9 pages by Rick Hollon
OK+. Ships of men are coming towards the selkies' island. There are too many to fight. It's time to flee.
109 • The Madding • 16 pages by Nuzo Onoh
Good/OK. Uba of Ego is wealthy and fecund, but all of the brides of his sons suddenly die. At his sister's funeral Dada is approached by a young boy his own age who wants to share a secret.
152 • Mr. Catt • 24 pages by Eleanor Arnason
Very Good. Mr. Catt wants to get a pet dragon. Finds one, has second thoughts when he find it's intelligent, but still wants to free it.
176 • Escape Velocity • 8 pages by Amanda Dier
Very Good. Demelza hid her medical problem as long as she could. She can no longer be captain of the ship. They offer her a job at ground control, but she want to be with the ship and goes for the disembodiment surgery.
184 • Pantoum On a Generation Ship • 5 pages by Lauren Bajek
OK/Good. Pantoum (presumably) likens her pregnancy to that of the mission of the generation ship.
191 • The Subway Algorithm Is Half-Constructed • 11 pages by Marie Vibbert
Good+. A shy grad student working for Dr. Drushel is attracted to Kato, another of his students. They're both working with AIs (to accomplish different tasks).
202 • Solar Boy • 12 pages by K. C. Ahia
Good+. Cam ekes his way onto a solar ship as a deckhand.
214 • Ouroboros • 12 pages by Mathew Lebowitz
Good. Garrett and Angela built up a company and have one more invention from Jens to evaluate. Virtual reality goggles. When Garrett tests them he finds a similar but different reality.
226 • The Five Lazy Sisters • 8 pages by Kathleen Jennings
Good. Sisters don't want to become ferrymen like their grandmother so they set out to make a bridge. To me they didn't seem quite as lazy as the title as the title might indicate.
249 • Remembered Salt • 8 pages by E. Catherine Tobler
OK/Fair. A witch's house flies around looking for its home.
OK/Fair. Alora hears that the Munir are taking a caravan into the desert to find the oasis that pops up once a year. What's important is that the Munir took their son as a slave and they need to retrieve him. Good plot/characters but the story didn't flow well for me.
19 • The Station Master • 7 pages by Lavie Tidhar
Fair. Djibril Todd does his job and is content with it.
26 • Spookman • 18 pages by Jonathan Louis Duckworth
Good+. Rood is hired by Vadrongen to find his son who took off towards the Painted Woods. Luuk though privileged doesn't want to follow in his father's footsteps of living well from the suffering of others.
44 • The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School • 23 pages by Peter S. Beagle
Very Good. The eighth grade math teacher is a witch. She silenced a noisy student, not evil, but when she humiliated the best student in class Lucia stood up to her. Now Lucia alternates between mouse and human and it's getting worse. Graham has helped her keep it under wraps, but it's getting serious. They have to do something and Lucia apologizing isn't going to be it.
67 • Piggyback Girl • 14 pages by M. H. Ayinde
Very Good. Her agent comes to Amber with a new deal, a social media outfit called Piggyback. It doesn't take Amber long to see this was more intrusive than she could have imagined, but she can stick it out for the six month contract.
81 • Mnemonic Longing • 19 pages by Marlon Ortiz
Very Good/Good. Ship is woken up by a random strike that allows it access to solar energy. It wakes up Sparrow. Now that eons have passed including the war against the Tenants what is their purpose.
100 • Moonlight, Wing-Wake in Fog • 9 pages by Rick Hollon
OK+. Ships of men are coming towards the selkies' island. There are too many to fight. It's time to flee.
109 • The Madding • 16 pages by Nuzo Onoh
Good/OK. Uba of Ego is wealthy and fecund, but all of the brides of his sons suddenly die. At his sister's funeral Dada is approached by a young boy his own age who wants to share a secret.
152 • Mr. Catt • 24 pages by Eleanor Arnason
Very Good. Mr. Catt wants to get a pet dragon. Finds one, has second thoughts when he find it's intelligent, but still wants to free it.
176 • Escape Velocity • 8 pages by Amanda Dier
Very Good. Demelza hid her medical problem as long as she could. She can no longer be captain of the ship. They offer her a job at ground control, but she want to be with the ship and goes for the disembodiment surgery.
184 • Pantoum On a Generation Ship • 5 pages by Lauren Bajek
OK/Good. Pantoum (presumably) likens her pregnancy to that of the mission of the generation ship.
191 • The Subway Algorithm Is Half-Constructed • 11 pages by Marie Vibbert
Good+. A shy grad student working for Dr. Drushel is attracted to Kato, another of his students. They're both working with AIs (to accomplish different tasks).
202 • Solar Boy • 12 pages by K. C. Ahia
Good+. Cam ekes his way onto a solar ship as a deckhand.
214 • Ouroboros • 12 pages by Mathew Lebowitz
Good. Garrett and Angela built up a company and have one more invention from Jens to evaluate. Virtual reality goggles. When Garrett tests them he finds a similar but different reality.
226 • The Five Lazy Sisters • 8 pages by Kathleen Jennings
Good. Sisters don't want to become ferrymen like their grandmother so they set out to make a bridge. To me they didn't seem quite as lazy as the title as the title might indicate.
249 • Remembered Salt • 8 pages by E. Catherine Tobler
OK/Fair. A witch's house flies around looking for its home.
May 15, 2023
Mar/ Apr
Stand out stories in order of amount they made me happy.
“Mnemonic Longings” by Marlon Ortiz ( Powerful story, good world-building, emotionally rich)
“The Madding” by Nuzo Onoh (HWA lifetime achievement winner, who I had never read, now I must read more, everything.)
“The Station Master” by Lavie Tidhar (Welcome return to a setting I know, Very old school Simak feel)
“The Subway Algorithm is Half-Constructed” by Marie Vibbert (Neat story and vibe)
“Pantoum on a Generation Ship” by Lauren Bajek (short and jammed with ideas)
Another great issue.
Stand out stories in order of amount they made me happy.
“Mnemonic Longings” by Marlon Ortiz ( Powerful story, good world-building, emotionally rich)
“The Madding” by Nuzo Onoh (HWA lifetime achievement winner, who I had never read, now I must read more, everything.)
“The Station Master” by Lavie Tidhar (Welcome return to a setting I know, Very old school Simak feel)
“The Subway Algorithm is Half-Constructed” by Marie Vibbert (Neat story and vibe)
“Pantoum on a Generation Ship” by Lauren Bajek (short and jammed with ideas)
Another great issue.
February 6, 2024
Overall, I found some great stories in this collection. Though the quality was uneven, a few seemed thrown in without the level of merit that the others had, the best stories were truly exceptional. I especially enjoyed reading "By the Numbers 7: The Lifespan of a Magazine," which detailed the history of fantasy and science fiction magazines. Well-researched and organized—it helped me wrap my brain around the magazine industry. Though there are no absolute conclusions, the insight offered was interesting and refreshingly unbiased. A fine collection of work that I will share with my family.
April 27, 2023
YouTube Review: https://youtu.be/ihvYK4L8VG0
My favorite stories were
Mr Catt by Eleanor Arnason
Piggyback Girl by M.H. Ayinde
The Subway Algorithm is Half Constructed by Maric Vibbert
My favorite stories were
Mr Catt by Eleanor Arnason
Piggyback Girl by M.H. Ayinde
The Subway Algorithm is Half Constructed by Maric Vibbert
April 13, 2023
An average issue with interesting stories by Tade Thompson, Jonathan Louis Duckworth, Nuzo Onoh, Eleanor Arnason, Mathew Lebowitz, Kathleen Jennings and an unusual urban fantasy piece by Peter S. Beagle.
- "The Sweet In The Empty" by Tade Thompson: a fantasy story involving a quest by a father and his son for a fabled oasis. But what they do there would involve freedom, sacrifice and, later, vengeance.
- "The Station Master" by Lavie Tidhar: a short episode in the life of a station master in charge of a small train station on Mars.
- "Spookman" by Jonathan Louis Duckworth: an interesting tale of a man who can see and talk to ghosts, who is given the job of finding the son of a local bullying leader in an unusual forest. In there, he finds plenty of horror, but also a boy who does not want to return home. Resolving the dilemma would take some violence.
- "The Weremouse Of Millicent Bradley Middle School" by Peter S. Beagle: a fascinating tale of a teacher whom the narrator believes is a witch. As it turns out, she is one and casts a curse on the narrator's sister after a confrontation. And now, they have to figure out a way to remove the curse and, possible, get rid of the teacher.
- "Piggyback Girl" by M. H. Ayinde: a story of a future where people will pay to get inside the head of social media influencers and other people, leading to consequences when the access is done illegally.
- "Mnemonic Longings" by Marlon Ortiz: set far in the future, a spaceship wakes up its passenger, a soldier, and together they try to find out what happened to the enemy they were fighting and what should they do if there is no more enemy to fight.
- "Moonlight, Wing-Wake In Fog" by Rick Hollon: a short tale telling an episode of a violent encounter between men and various shapeshifting inhabitants on an island who choose to fight back, rather than hide.
- "The Madding" by Nuzo Onoh: the story starts with a cursed area in a town before going back to tell the story of how it came about from the point of view of a child with unusual hair. As the story progresses, we learn of the tragedy that would come that would be the result of witchcraft of a dark kind.
- "Mr. Catt" by Eleanor Arnason: a light fantasy piece about a wealthy cat named Mr. Catt who decides one day to get a dragon. The search who lead to finding a dragon in a dangerous part of town and make Mr. Catt relook his desire for a dragon as a pet.
- "Escape Velocity" by Amanda Dier: a degenerative disease robs a pilot of a role in a spaceship. A radical solution resolves the problem, but only time will tell if it also robs the pilot of her ability to still make friends with her crew.
- "Pantoum On A Generation Ship" by Lauren Bajek: on a ship travelling through space, a worker prepares for the arrival of another generation.
- "The Subway Algorithm Is Half-Constructed" by Marie Vibbert: a socially awkward graduate student working on an AI for train routing meets another student working on another AI. A misunderstanding leads to a falling out. It would require an explanation by a professor involving another AI to let to a better understanding.
- "Solar Boy" by K. C. Ahia: a deckhand on a solar sailing spaceship comes up with a solution to save the launch of a ship and, perhaps, some people's dreams.
- "Ouroboros" by Mathew Lebowitz: a virtual reality headset, possibly coupled with hallucinogenics, sends a user into an alternate possible virtual reality. Or perhaps it is the real reality and his real life was just a dream.
- "The Five Lazy Sisters" by Kathleen Jennings: a fairy tale about five sisters who don't wish to continue doing what their grandmother does. So they go into the woods to entice a giant to do their work for them.
- "Remembered Salt" by E. Catherine Tobler: a house with chicken legs for in search of her witch, based on her longing for a place with salt.
- "The Sweet In The Empty" by Tade Thompson: a fantasy story involving a quest by a father and his son for a fabled oasis. But what they do there would involve freedom, sacrifice and, later, vengeance.
- "The Station Master" by Lavie Tidhar: a short episode in the life of a station master in charge of a small train station on Mars.
- "Spookman" by Jonathan Louis Duckworth: an interesting tale of a man who can see and talk to ghosts, who is given the job of finding the son of a local bullying leader in an unusual forest. In there, he finds plenty of horror, but also a boy who does not want to return home. Resolving the dilemma would take some violence.
- "The Weremouse Of Millicent Bradley Middle School" by Peter S. Beagle: a fascinating tale of a teacher whom the narrator believes is a witch. As it turns out, she is one and casts a curse on the narrator's sister after a confrontation. And now, they have to figure out a way to remove the curse and, possible, get rid of the teacher.
- "Piggyback Girl" by M. H. Ayinde: a story of a future where people will pay to get inside the head of social media influencers and other people, leading to consequences when the access is done illegally.
- "Mnemonic Longings" by Marlon Ortiz: set far in the future, a spaceship wakes up its passenger, a soldier, and together they try to find out what happened to the enemy they were fighting and what should they do if there is no more enemy to fight.
- "Moonlight, Wing-Wake In Fog" by Rick Hollon: a short tale telling an episode of a violent encounter between men and various shapeshifting inhabitants on an island who choose to fight back, rather than hide.
- "The Madding" by Nuzo Onoh: the story starts with a cursed area in a town before going back to tell the story of how it came about from the point of view of a child with unusual hair. As the story progresses, we learn of the tragedy that would come that would be the result of witchcraft of a dark kind.
- "Mr. Catt" by Eleanor Arnason: a light fantasy piece about a wealthy cat named Mr. Catt who decides one day to get a dragon. The search who lead to finding a dragon in a dangerous part of town and make Mr. Catt relook his desire for a dragon as a pet.
- "Escape Velocity" by Amanda Dier: a degenerative disease robs a pilot of a role in a spaceship. A radical solution resolves the problem, but only time will tell if it also robs the pilot of her ability to still make friends with her crew.
- "Pantoum On A Generation Ship" by Lauren Bajek: on a ship travelling through space, a worker prepares for the arrival of another generation.
- "The Subway Algorithm Is Half-Constructed" by Marie Vibbert: a socially awkward graduate student working on an AI for train routing meets another student working on another AI. A misunderstanding leads to a falling out. It would require an explanation by a professor involving another AI to let to a better understanding.
- "Solar Boy" by K. C. Ahia: a deckhand on a solar sailing spaceship comes up with a solution to save the launch of a ship and, perhaps, some people's dreams.
- "Ouroboros" by Mathew Lebowitz: a virtual reality headset, possibly coupled with hallucinogenics, sends a user into an alternate possible virtual reality. Or perhaps it is the real reality and his real life was just a dream.
- "The Five Lazy Sisters" by Kathleen Jennings: a fairy tale about five sisters who don't wish to continue doing what their grandmother does. So they go into the woods to entice a giant to do their work for them.
- "Remembered Salt" by E. Catherine Tobler: a house with chicken legs for in search of her witch, based on her longing for a place with salt.
August 14, 2023
Above average for a F&SF magazine.
Favs included "The Station Master," "Spookman," and "The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School." I would also like to commend "Piggyback Girl" for being a frightening look into the future.
Favs included "The Station Master," "Spookman," and "The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School." I would also like to commend "Piggyback Girl" for being a frightening look into the future.
April 8, 2023
Another a good issue. Here are my favorite stories:
- The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School by Peter S. Beagle
This story spoke to me from aspects—my own and my kids-- about our experiences in dealing with toxic grade school teachers. Reading it was very cathartic for me.
- Mr. Catt by Eleanor Arnason
Mr. Catt’s sudden urge to obtain a dragon for his comfortable estate leads to trouble, but not in manner you might suspect.
His cool, urbane manner and many friends help him pull through this spot of bother.
Pairs well with the writings of Kenneth Grahame.
- The Sweet in the Empty by Tade Thompson
An enslaved child, a sacred oasis and a father on a mission. Showdown in the desolate desert.
- The Station Master by Lavie Tidhar
What is the sense in coming and going when everything you need is right here? A wistful tale that pairs well with The Martian Chronicles.
- Spookman by Jonathan Louis Duckworth
Psychopomp and Circumstances…this time it is a live child the spookman must find and guide to safety.
- Piggyback Girl by M.H. Ayinde
All you took
I gladly gave
There is nothing left for me to save
All of me
Why not take all of me
- Marks / Simons
A disturbing social media story in the “if this goes on” vein.
- Mnemonic Longings by Marlon Ortiz
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one
- H. Nilsson
A pas de deux between machine and human on the unlit stage of space.
- Moonlight, Wing-Wake in Fog by Rick Hollon
Selkies just want to live alone in peace, but humans are having none of it. An allegory for New College and others?
- The Madding by Nuzo Onoh
Listen to your mama when she tells you to stay out of the noon day sun. Even your charmed hair won’t entirely protect you from evil. A truly horrifying story that I made the mistake of reading late at night.
- Escape Velocity by Amanda Dier
“When you wake up, you’ll be the heart of a starship…Now count back from twenty…”
Your career track may not take it's originally planned path, but as long as you get there it's all good.
- Pantoum on a Generation Ship by Lauren Bajek
Pantun, pantoum, and allegory—a prose poem by and for generational ships of all ages and types.
- The Subway Algorithm Is Half-Constructed by Marie Vibbert
Three AI chatbots walk into a graduate school seminar…
Social anxiety, dating and the most efficient way from here to there.
- Solar Boy by K. C. Ahia
It always pays to be crossed trained. Perseverance and aggressiveness also help.
- The Five Lazy Sisters by Kathleen Jennings
Most times it is easier to just do the job rather than plotting a way to get around it.
But it's not as exciting or fun!
- Remembered Salt by E. Catherine Tobler
The only thing better than coming home is your home coming to you. A Baba Yaga tale from a wayward house’s POV.
- The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School by Peter S. Beagle
This story spoke to me from aspects—my own and my kids-- about our experiences in dealing with toxic grade school teachers. Reading it was very cathartic for me.
- Mr. Catt by Eleanor Arnason
Mr. Catt’s sudden urge to obtain a dragon for his comfortable estate leads to trouble, but not in manner you might suspect.
His cool, urbane manner and many friends help him pull through this spot of bother.
Pairs well with the writings of Kenneth Grahame.
- The Sweet in the Empty by Tade Thompson
An enslaved child, a sacred oasis and a father on a mission. Showdown in the desolate desert.
- The Station Master by Lavie Tidhar
What is the sense in coming and going when everything you need is right here? A wistful tale that pairs well with The Martian Chronicles.
- Spookman by Jonathan Louis Duckworth
Psychopomp and Circumstances…this time it is a live child the spookman must find and guide to safety.
- Piggyback Girl by M.H. Ayinde
All you took
I gladly gave
There is nothing left for me to save
All of me
Why not take all of me
- Marks / Simons
A disturbing social media story in the “if this goes on” vein.
- Mnemonic Longings by Marlon Ortiz
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one
- H. Nilsson
A pas de deux between machine and human on the unlit stage of space.
- Moonlight, Wing-Wake in Fog by Rick Hollon
Selkies just want to live alone in peace, but humans are having none of it. An allegory for New College and others?
- The Madding by Nuzo Onoh
Listen to your mama when she tells you to stay out of the noon day sun. Even your charmed hair won’t entirely protect you from evil. A truly horrifying story that I made the mistake of reading late at night.
- Escape Velocity by Amanda Dier
“When you wake up, you’ll be the heart of a starship…Now count back from twenty…”
Your career track may not take it's originally planned path, but as long as you get there it's all good.
- Pantoum on a Generation Ship by Lauren Bajek
Pantun, pantoum, and allegory—a prose poem by and for generational ships of all ages and types.
- The Subway Algorithm Is Half-Constructed by Marie Vibbert
Three AI chatbots walk into a graduate school seminar…
Social anxiety, dating and the most efficient way from here to there.
- Solar Boy by K. C. Ahia
It always pays to be crossed trained. Perseverance and aggressiveness also help.
- The Five Lazy Sisters by Kathleen Jennings
Most times it is easier to just do the job rather than plotting a way to get around it.
But it's not as exciting or fun!
- Remembered Salt by E. Catherine Tobler
The only thing better than coming home is your home coming to you. A Baba Yaga tale from a wayward house’s POV.
April 23, 2023
It's always nice to read a story by Peter Beagle, and his novelette "The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School" was a fun, fast read. My favorite stories in this issue, however, were "The Sweet and the Empty" by Tade Thompson and "The Station Master" by Lavie Tidhar. Both haunting, both beautiful. The "most disturbing (but in a good way)" award this issue goes to "The Madding" by Nuzo Onoh. Fantastic nightmare fuel. This was an all-round great issue; I was extremely pleased to see how many first-time F&SF authors it had. Makes me excited as a reader and writer!
April 13, 2023
Solid entry. Mr Catt was a fascinating fairy tale in the mold of Puss in Boots, very enjoyable. The Five Lazy Sisters felt like a half-rememberes Grimm tale, exactly my jam. Remembered Salt scratched a very specific itch for stories from the perspective of sentient houses, of which there have been several in F&SF lately.
May 6, 2023
I liked “The Weremouse of Millicent Bradley Middle School” by Peter S. Beagle
November 1, 2023
An above-average issue. My favorite stories were those by Arnason and Beagle.
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