Trophy Wives

by Nina Kiriki Hoffman

A Nebula Award-winning short story.

Alanna and Ylva have a bond that lets them see through each other's eyes and speak with each other's mouths. They are in the rescue business, and they have a new client.

Genres: Fantasy

28 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Nina Kiriki Hoffman’s first solo novel, The Thread That Binds the Bones (1993), won the Bram Stoker Award for first novel; her second novel, The Silent Strength of Stones (1995) was a finalist for the Nebula and World Fantasy Awards. A Red Heart of Memories (1999, part of her “Matt Black” series), nominated for a World Fantasy Award, was followed by sequel Past the Size of Dreaming in 2001. Much of her work to date is short fiction, including “Matt Black” novella “Unmasking” (1992), nominated for a World Fantasy Award; and “Matt Black” novelette “Home for Christmas” (1995), nominated for the Nebula, World Fantasy, and Sturgeon awards. In addition to writing, Hoffman has taught, worked part-time at a B. Dalton bookstore, and done production work on The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. An accomplished fiddle player, she has played regularly at various granges near her home in Eugene, Oregon.

Reviews

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Nebula Award this won was well deserved. As others have noted, NKH has managed to squeeze a ton of world/galaxy building into her short story, while also providing us with rich characters about whom I know *I* would like to know more!

It also makes me wish I wrote music, so I could compose the pieces that would go with it.

Intricate relationships. Interesting aliens. And compassion.

[Martha andrade · Rating 2 out of 5]

Muy ganador del premio Nebula y lo que quieran, pero la verdad es que no me encantó. Sí, tiene buenas cosas que se les podría sacar provecho, sobre todo a nivel de construcción de mundo, pero la verdad la historia fue bastante simple para mi, no es mala, simplemente fue un OK.

[Linda]

Two women who share a telepathic bond and a runaway

Story is set in an interstellar society where a runaway girl meets a woman unlike anyone else. Every story by this author impresses me more with her ability to create worlds like no other.

[kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A whole galaxy of life built up for your senses in only a few pages: a cross between The Handmaid's Tale and the Firefly TV series.

[Ann Hodnett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Melodic

Love everything about this book. Only ever read her stories in f&st before but intend to read more after this.

[Generic AF · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short story from which can emerge whole new universe.

[saradevil · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read her a few years ago and the amount of depth she packs into short tales is absolutely astounding. This story was no exception. A wonderfully crafted tale.

[Iain R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful story, believable, beautifully crafted

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

RE-read 8/19/2015