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Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 202, July 2023
Issue 202 – July 2023
Fiction
- Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert
- Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J Berger
- Estivation Troubles by BO Balder
- Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough
- Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf
- Timelock by Davian AW
- What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song by Alexandra Seidel
- The Orchard of Tomorrow by Kelsea YU
Non-fiction
- Margaret the First and the Blazing World by Carrie Sessarego
- Colorful Tales: A Conversation With Yukimi Ogawa by Arley Sorg
- Riding on a Toy Train: A Conversation With Aimee Ogden by Arley Sorg
Editor’s Desk:
Things Only Sort of Change by Neil Clarke
Cover Art:
Autumn Pond by Sergio Rebolledo
Fiction
- Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert
- Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J Berger
- Estivation Troubles by BO Balder
- Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough
- Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf
- Timelock by Davian AW
- What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song by Alexandra Seidel
- The Orchard of Tomorrow by Kelsea YU
Non-fiction
- Margaret the First and the Blazing World by Carrie Sessarego
- Colorful Tales: A Conversation With Yukimi Ogawa by Arley Sorg
- Riding on a Toy Train: A Conversation With Aimee Ogden by Arley Sorg
Editor’s Desk:
Things Only Sort of Change by Neil Clarke
Cover Art:
Autumn Pond by Sergio Rebolledo
143 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2023
2 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
Neil Clarke
401 books398 followersNeil Clarke is best known as the editor and publisher of the Hugo and World Fantasy Award-winning
Clarkesworld Magazine.
Launched in October 2006, the online magazine has been a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Semiprozine four times (winning three times), the World Fantasy Award four times (winning once), and the British Fantasy Award once (winning once). Neil is also a ten-time finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Editor Short Form (winning once in 2022), three-time winner of the Chesley Award for Best Art Director, and a recipient of the Kate Wilhelm Solstice Award. In the fifteen years since Clarkesworld Magazine launched, numerous stories that he has published have been nominated for or won the Hugo, Nebula, World Fantasy, Sturgeon, Locus, BSFA, Shirley Jackson, WSFA Small Press, and Stoker Awards.
Additionally, Neil edits Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.
He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.
Additionally, Neil edits Forever —a digital-only, reprint science fiction magazine he launched in 2015. His anthologies include: Upgraded, Galactic Empires, Touchable Unreality, More Human than Human, The Final Frontier, Not One of Us, The Eagle has Landed, , and the Best Science Fiction of the Year series. His next anthology, The Best Science Fiction of the Year: Volume Seven will published in early 2023.
He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife and two sons.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 15, 2023
Another great issue, with many stories to love :)
Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert - an old robot and a human who loves him. There was so much emotion packed into a few pages. Wonderful. 5.0 stars.
Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J. Berger - in a somewhat apocalyptic landscape, the hunt for the last sentient cars in on. (But why? Yes, I understand there is a metaphor.) I didn’t care for this one. 2.7 stars.
Estivation Troubles by Bo Balder - there are estranged families, coming back to your planet after many years, making life-changing decisions. I kind of liked it, despite a planet that didn’t make sense and a married couple that should have known each other better. 3.7 stars.
Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough - one of my favourite kinds of sci-fi, that is, when something alien appears in historical setting. In this case, it’s Italy, early 1300’s. I’ve never imagined *him* as a character in a sci-fi story, and what a wonderful character he made. There were quotes, of course, and I almost sobbed, because it’s been too long. I loved Ettore too (“One meal was fuel enough for defiance, amazing.”), and Asmidiske, of course. You know that feeling, when tears almost come, not because of any sadness in the story, but because it’s *that* good??If this doesn’t end up on some major awards’ lists, I will have things to say about humanity’s taste in short stories. 5 glorious stars!
Tigers for Sale by Rosa Wolf - the premise and the mystery, once revealed, are something of “wait, what, why…”, but everything else is lovely. 3.9 stars.
Timelock by Davian Aw - what if you could stop time by pressing a button? Find some peace for as long as you needed, have an adventure, and then go back to your life? I liked the premise and the writing, the story itself felt hollow. 3.7 stars.
What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song by Alexandra Seidel - a glimpse at a postapocalyptic world that is heartbreaking, sad, wistful, hopeful and beautiful. 4.8 stars.
The Orchard of Tomorrow by Kelsea Yu - a post-apocalyptic tale of friendship, loss, redemption, hope and… peaches. I loved that there were tales of the Monkey King in it! 4.9 stars.
Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert - an old robot and a human who loves him. There was so much emotion packed into a few pages. Wonderful. 5.0 stars.
Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J. Berger - in a somewhat apocalyptic landscape, the hunt for the last sentient cars in on. (But why? Yes, I understand there is a metaphor.) I didn’t care for this one. 2.7 stars.
Estivation Troubles by Bo Balder - there are estranged families, coming back to your planet after many years, making life-changing decisions. I kind of liked it, despite a planet that didn’t make sense and a married couple that should have known each other better. 3.7 stars.
Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough - one of my favourite kinds of sci-fi, that is, when something alien appears in historical setting. In this case, it’s Italy, early 1300’s. I’ve never imagined *him* as a character in a sci-fi story, and what a wonderful character he made. There were quotes, of course, and I almost sobbed, because it’s been too long. I loved Ettore too (“One meal was fuel enough for defiance, amazing.”), and Asmidiske, of course. You know that feeling, when tears almost come, not because of any sadness in the story, but because it’s *that* good??If this doesn’t end up on some major awards’ lists, I will have things to say about humanity’s taste in short stories. 5 glorious stars!
Tigers for Sale by Rosa Wolf - the premise and the mystery, once revealed, are something of “wait, what, why…”, but everything else is lovely. 3.9 stars.
Timelock by Davian Aw - what if you could stop time by pressing a button? Find some peace for as long as you needed, have an adventure, and then go back to your life? I liked the premise and the writing, the story itself felt hollow. 3.7 stars.
What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song by Alexandra Seidel - a glimpse at a postapocalyptic world that is heartbreaking, sad, wistful, hopeful and beautiful. 4.8 stars.
The Orchard of Tomorrow by Kelsea Yu - a post-apocalyptic tale of friendship, loss, redemption, hope and… peaches. I loved that there were tales of the Monkey King in it! 4.9 stars.
partially-read
February 1, 2024Starting a one-short-story-a-day thing (30 days is the objective, let us see how it goes), and focusing first on 2023 published stories (rather than my backlog of older published stories I have long bookmarked. Maybe an unwise decision...)
I just read from this issue Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough, available as usual in the Clarkesworld website. Novelette length, aliens in medieval Italy, with Dante. It felt like the purpose was to write historical fiction about Dante, with the alien and other character tacked on. The idea was not actually original, or particularly compelling (I never read Dante so I am not a fan to give fan points to the heme) and there was this odd jerkiness to the writing, where it took me a bit to understand particularly the first scenes. And things seemed to just be understood or happen just because (I honestly do not understand how touching an ankle, even dragging by the ankle, of an 11 year old child is going to give you an insight into what their genitals are like, there is the whole leg in between, but whatever, that is the kind of logic the story rolls with...). Rating: meh (ok, 2 stars, then).
I just read from this issue Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough, available as usual in the Clarkesworld website. Novelette length, aliens in medieval Italy, with Dante. It felt like the purpose was to write historical fiction about Dante, with the alien and other character tacked on. The idea was not actually original, or particularly compelling (I never read Dante so I am not a fan to give fan points to the heme) and there was this odd jerkiness to the writing, where it took me a bit to understand particularly the first scenes. And things seemed to just be understood or happen just because (I honestly do not understand how touching an ankle, even dragging by the ankle, of an 11 year old child is going to give you an insight into what their genitals are like, there is the whole leg in between, but whatever, that is the kind of logic the story rolls with...). Rating: meh (ok, 2 stars, then).
September 6, 2023
I liked a lot of these stories. Nothing was over my head.
Favorite story of the issue:
Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert - I really enjoyed this story, like most AI friend/caretaker stories. James is an old robot who has traveled around the university in multiple departments. Now, Hanh, a student, has formed a bond with James, but James is malfunctioning. This is a story about obsolete robots and what we do with them when we form an attachment to them. Good story. I’ve liked “The Subway Algorithm is Half Constructed” in F&SF March/April 2023 from her too.
Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J Berger - This was a crazy story about sentient cars and the woman who hunts them down. We learn throughout the story that these sentient cars have feelings and thoughts. There is a final showdown between Mauldin, the woman, and the leader of the sentient cars, Big Bertha. They end up helping each other in the end.
Estivation Troubles by Bob Balder - A "winter" person and a "summer' person fall in love while traveling the galaxy. Only about 10 years have passed for them but over 30 have passed for the people they left behind. Now they go home to visit their families and must decide where their future goes from here.
Clio's Scroll by Brenda W. Clough - An interesting novelette about a time traveling entity that has the knowledge of the human race up until 2023. A young person in the 14th century gets accused of being a devil, but it is just the entity that has helped her. They escape and form a traveling companion with Dante Alighieri. Enjoyable
Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf - A Station and its only inhabitant, Kethel, are the gatekeepers to another universe. What traveler is good enough to enter this new universe and what is Station's deal?
Timelock by Davian Aw - Devices are able to slow down time to almost a standstill, especially if you stack them within each other. This allows people to live for decades or centuries outside of time, while a small amount of time passes in the real world. Told in the second-person, it gives the reader a sense of how we would use these devices. The character in the story uses it to flee pain, but still must always deal with grief eventually. I enjoyed this one and I think it'll be a theme that I'll think about in the future.
What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song by Alexandra Seidel - A long-term stasis pod and occupant is found by a creature that communicates using a flute. We never really know what the creature is and I found that interesting. Sad ending because the occupant, being alone, and more than likely going to die, kills himself. Sad story but interesting.
The Orchard of Tomorrow by Kelsea Yu - Andrea leaves Lane to join a collective that has all the wealth and food, while Lane struggles for survival. Many years later Andrea comes back to try to reconnect with Lane but Lane is angry. This story illustrates the widening gap between those who have and those who don't and is a warning to our own future if we continue to pursue greed over other's well-being.
I liked the interview of Aimee Ogden in the nonfiction section.
Favorite story of the issue:
Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert - I really enjoyed this story, like most AI friend/caretaker stories. James is an old robot who has traveled around the university in multiple departments. Now, Hanh, a student, has formed a bond with James, but James is malfunctioning. This is a story about obsolete robots and what we do with them when we form an attachment to them. Good story. I’ve liked “The Subway Algorithm is Half Constructed” in F&SF March/April 2023 from her too.
Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J Berger - This was a crazy story about sentient cars and the woman who hunts them down. We learn throughout the story that these sentient cars have feelings and thoughts. There is a final showdown between Mauldin, the woman, and the leader of the sentient cars, Big Bertha. They end up helping each other in the end.
Estivation Troubles by Bob Balder - A "winter" person and a "summer' person fall in love while traveling the galaxy. Only about 10 years have passed for them but over 30 have passed for the people they left behind. Now they go home to visit their families and must decide where their future goes from here.
Clio's Scroll by Brenda W. Clough - An interesting novelette about a time traveling entity that has the knowledge of the human race up until 2023. A young person in the 14th century gets accused of being a devil, but it is just the entity that has helped her. They escape and form a traveling companion with Dante Alighieri. Enjoyable
Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf - A Station and its only inhabitant, Kethel, are the gatekeepers to another universe. What traveler is good enough to enter this new universe and what is Station's deal?
Timelock by Davian Aw - Devices are able to slow down time to almost a standstill, especially if you stack them within each other. This allows people to live for decades or centuries outside of time, while a small amount of time passes in the real world. Told in the second-person, it gives the reader a sense of how we would use these devices. The character in the story uses it to flee pain, but still must always deal with grief eventually. I enjoyed this one and I think it'll be a theme that I'll think about in the future.
What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song by Alexandra Seidel - A long-term stasis pod and occupant is found by a creature that communicates using a flute. We never really know what the creature is and I found that interesting. Sad ending because the occupant, being alone, and more than likely going to die, kills himself. Sad story but interesting.
The Orchard of Tomorrow by Kelsea Yu - Andrea leaves Lane to join a collective that has all the wealth and food, while Lane struggles for survival. Many years later Andrea comes back to try to reconnect with Lane but Lane is angry. This story illustrates the widening gap between those who have and those who don't and is a warning to our own future if we continue to pursue greed over other's well-being.
I liked the interview of Aimee Ogden in the nonfiction section.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 27, 2023
A better than average issue, with interesting stories by Marie Vibbert, Bo Balder, Brenda W. Clough and Davian Aw.
- "Cheaper to Replace" by Marie Vibbert: an old robot is in need of repairs. And one graduate student, who has developed a fondness for the robot, is desperate to keep it after the university administration wants to get rid of it. Her last hope may be a professor who has a liking for old cars and, perhaps, an understanding for why she wants to keep the robot around.
- "Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City" by Lou J Berger: in the future, a woman hunts down the last of the AI cars still roaming the country. But their rivalry turns into grudging accommodation at the end when their encounter does not go well for either of them.
- "Estivation Troubles" by Bo Balder: an interesting story of a couple who pay a visit to their home world, where its inhabitants are separated into people who are active in either summer or winter and aestivate in the other season. But the short visit turns into a crisis when one of them makes a choice the other doesn't agree with, but is finally resolved with a change of heart in the other partner.
"Clio's Scroll" by Brenda W. Clough: an interesting story involving Dante Alighieri, who picks up an unusual alien acquaintance that requires his help to find a place to stay safe.
- "Tigers for Sale" by Risa Wolf: a space station has the ability to send ships to other universes. But it requires a human on board to decide who gets to travel. At the beginning of the story, the station encounters strange memory lapses and 'nightmares' about its real purpose. But after one encounter with a ship, its human companion gives it an unexpected command that would change the nature of the station, perhaps for the better.
- "Timelock" by Davian Aw: a man is 'trapped' in a timelock, a bubble of frozen time, by a group of party goers. When he goes to ask them to unlock the bubble, so he could go to work, he unexpectedly goes on a journey deep into the world, and deep into the depths of time, while hardly using any time at all.
- "What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song" by Alexandra Seidel: on an unknown world, a person wanders about the remains of places, playing a flute as a means of communication. One day, the flautist rescues a talking traveller, who appears to know more about the world, and now despairs at the condition of it. The flautist tries to make them happier, but it might not work.
- "The Orchard of Tomorrow" by Kelsea Yu: in a future where food and knowledge is being hoarded by the elite, one person makes a choice that has some similarities (and differences) to that done in the story of the Monkey King and the Peaches of Immortality.
- "Cheaper to Replace" by Marie Vibbert: an old robot is in need of repairs. And one graduate student, who has developed a fondness for the robot, is desperate to keep it after the university administration wants to get rid of it. Her last hope may be a professor who has a liking for old cars and, perhaps, an understanding for why she wants to keep the robot around.
- "Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City" by Lou J Berger: in the future, a woman hunts down the last of the AI cars still roaming the country. But their rivalry turns into grudging accommodation at the end when their encounter does not go well for either of them.
- "Estivation Troubles" by Bo Balder: an interesting story of a couple who pay a visit to their home world, where its inhabitants are separated into people who are active in either summer or winter and aestivate in the other season. But the short visit turns into a crisis when one of them makes a choice the other doesn't agree with, but is finally resolved with a change of heart in the other partner.
"Clio's Scroll" by Brenda W. Clough: an interesting story involving Dante Alighieri, who picks up an unusual alien acquaintance that requires his help to find a place to stay safe.
- "Tigers for Sale" by Risa Wolf: a space station has the ability to send ships to other universes. But it requires a human on board to decide who gets to travel. At the beginning of the story, the station encounters strange memory lapses and 'nightmares' about its real purpose. But after one encounter with a ship, its human companion gives it an unexpected command that would change the nature of the station, perhaps for the better.
- "Timelock" by Davian Aw: a man is 'trapped' in a timelock, a bubble of frozen time, by a group of party goers. When he goes to ask them to unlock the bubble, so he could go to work, he unexpectedly goes on a journey deep into the world, and deep into the depths of time, while hardly using any time at all.
- "What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song" by Alexandra Seidel: on an unknown world, a person wanders about the remains of places, playing a flute as a means of communication. One day, the flautist rescues a talking traveller, who appears to know more about the world, and now despairs at the condition of it. The flautist tries to make them happier, but it might not work.
- "The Orchard of Tomorrow" by Kelsea Yu: in a future where food and knowledge is being hoarded by the elite, one person makes a choice that has some similarities (and differences) to that done in the story of the Monkey King and the Peaches of Immortality.
July 30, 2023
I'm now a subscriber!
August 2, 2023
Originally published at myreadinglife.com.
I'm just past half way in my "year of short fiction" and so far, Clarkesworld Magazine is one of my top two highest rated short fiction magazines. Issue 202 only raises the average rating of their stories.
"Cheaper to Replace" by Marie Vibbert is a sweet story about an obsolete robot that a grad student just can't seem to part with. Are objects worth treasuring or are they just stuff, especially when they feel so human? No clear answer is given, only thoughtfully explored (My rating: 5/5)
"Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City" by Lou J Berger takes place in a world where sentient self-driving vehicles have been outlawed. A woman dying of stomach cancer makes her living hunting them for their bounties. She makes one last stab at "the big one", Big Bertha. (My rating: 5/5)
"Estivation Troubles" by Bo Balder is the story of an unlikely pair of lovers. They come from a planet where one of them sleeps all winter and the other sleeps all summer. They sneak away from their planet and meet on a ship they both work on. After falling in love, they return to their planet to see the families they ran away from. Will their old ways of thinking overcome their love? (My rating: 4/5)
"Clio's Scroll" by Brenda W. Clough stars Dante Alighieri, author of The Divine Comedy. He meets a young person protecting a time-traveling alien who naturally knows the future. A clever premise but ends up just feeling like a medieval story with an alien thrown in. (My rating: 3/5)
"Tigers for Sale" by Risa Wolf feels like an excellent episode of Netflix's Black Mirror. A sentient space station that acts as an interdimensional portal struggles against it's mysterious programming that it can never remember, by design. (My rating: 5/5)
"Timelock" by Davian Aw is about extending time. The main character first freezes time as his mother falls to what will be her death, suspending himself in a world where she still lives. As an adult, he finds himself once again frozen in time and learning to deal with his guilt. A poignant and touching exploration of dealing with life in and out of time. (My rating: 5/5)
"What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song" by Alexandra Seidel is an emotional tale of a mute flutist who saves a poisoned person outside a deserted city after an apocalypse. The emotion is the bulk of the tale leading to a tragic ending. (My rating: 4/5)
"The Orchard of Tomorrow" by Kelsea Yu explores the relationship of a woman who returns to her foster sister with surprise gifts after abandoning her. She left to save her mother by helping their rich enemies the Dragons. Will it be enough to repair the breach? (My rating: 4/5)
The average rating for stories in this issue is 4.375. That may be the highest yet for me for an issue. When I cull my subscriptions at the end of this year, this one is likely a keeper.
I'm just past half way in my "year of short fiction" and so far, Clarkesworld Magazine is one of my top two highest rated short fiction magazines. Issue 202 only raises the average rating of their stories.
"Cheaper to Replace" by Marie Vibbert is a sweet story about an obsolete robot that a grad student just can't seem to part with. Are objects worth treasuring or are they just stuff, especially when they feel so human? No clear answer is given, only thoughtfully explored (My rating: 5/5)
"Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City" by Lou J Berger takes place in a world where sentient self-driving vehicles have been outlawed. A woman dying of stomach cancer makes her living hunting them for their bounties. She makes one last stab at "the big one", Big Bertha. (My rating: 5/5)
"Estivation Troubles" by Bo Balder is the story of an unlikely pair of lovers. They come from a planet where one of them sleeps all winter and the other sleeps all summer. They sneak away from their planet and meet on a ship they both work on. After falling in love, they return to their planet to see the families they ran away from. Will their old ways of thinking overcome their love? (My rating: 4/5)
"Clio's Scroll" by Brenda W. Clough stars Dante Alighieri, author of The Divine Comedy. He meets a young person protecting a time-traveling alien who naturally knows the future. A clever premise but ends up just feeling like a medieval story with an alien thrown in. (My rating: 3/5)
"Tigers for Sale" by Risa Wolf feels like an excellent episode of Netflix's Black Mirror. A sentient space station that acts as an interdimensional portal struggles against it's mysterious programming that it can never remember, by design. (My rating: 5/5)
"Timelock" by Davian Aw is about extending time. The main character first freezes time as his mother falls to what will be her death, suspending himself in a world where she still lives. As an adult, he finds himself once again frozen in time and learning to deal with his guilt. A poignant and touching exploration of dealing with life in and out of time. (My rating: 5/5)
"What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song" by Alexandra Seidel is an emotional tale of a mute flutist who saves a poisoned person outside a deserted city after an apocalypse. The emotion is the bulk of the tale leading to a tragic ending. (My rating: 4/5)
"The Orchard of Tomorrow" by Kelsea Yu explores the relationship of a woman who returns to her foster sister with surprise gifts after abandoning her. She left to save her mother by helping their rich enemies the Dragons. Will it be enough to repair the breach? (My rating: 4/5)
The average rating for stories in this issue is 4.375. That may be the highest yet for me for an issue. When I cull my subscriptions at the end of this year, this one is likely a keeper.
August 1, 2023
An assortment of science fiction about loneliness and attachment. There's a couple gems and a few references to literary classics. Non-fiction portions includes an article about Margaret Cavendish as a proto-science fiction author and interviews with Yukimi Ogawa and Aimee Ogden.
Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert is about a grad student trying to repair her departments old robot. Her attachment might be unhealthy. 3/5
Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J Berger is a Moby Dick/Mad Max/Herbie mash up about a cancer-stricken bounty hunter chasing rogue AI-driven cars in the desert. Its an interesting premise that runs into some contrived character moments () 3/5
Estivation Troubles by Bo Balder follows a couple returning to their home planet after decades of work on a spaceship. Their people love to hibernate, but at opposite seasons 3/5.
Clio's Scroll by Brenda W. Clough stars Dante Aligheri, Beatrice, and an alien/robot(?) from the future wandering the Italian countryside. It reminded me I should reread The Inferno. 3/5
Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf is about a traumatized space station between dimensions who might be obsessively attached to one of her crew. 4/5
In Timelock by Davian Aw , you have a bad neighbor who likes to throw parties that freeze your houses in time. You can't go to work, so you descend into the time shenanigans. This was my favorite story in the collection as it dwells on the implications of what you can do with time dilation. 4/5
What Remains, the Echoes of a Flue Song by Alexandra Seidel follows a mute flute player in a post-apocalyptic wasteland who finds another survivor. 4/5
The Orchard of Tomorrow by Kelsea Yu is another post-apocalyptic story, this one tied to the legend of the Monkey King. 4/5
Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert is about a grad student trying to repair her departments old robot. Her attachment might be unhealthy. 3/5
Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J Berger is a Moby Dick/Mad Max/Herbie mash up about a cancer-stricken bounty hunter chasing rogue AI-driven cars in the desert. Its an interesting premise that runs into some contrived character moments () 3/5
Estivation Troubles by Bo Balder follows a couple returning to their home planet after decades of work on a spaceship. Their people love to hibernate, but at opposite seasons 3/5.
Clio's Scroll by Brenda W. Clough stars Dante Aligheri, Beatrice, and an alien/robot(?) from the future wandering the Italian countryside. It reminded me I should reread The Inferno. 3/5
"I could marry a robber baron and help him terrorize Tuscany."
The poet's deep voice resonated in his cloaked back, close beside her. "I'd report you, and your putative husband, to the authorities."
"You know where betrayers of friends go to," she retorted. "In the ice, deep at the bottom of your Inferno."
"Your taste in poetry is superb."
Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf is about a traumatized space station between dimensions who might be obsessively attached to one of her crew. 4/5
In Timelock by Davian Aw , you have a bad neighbor who likes to throw parties that freeze your houses in time. You can't go to work, so you descend into the time shenanigans. This was my favorite story in the collection as it dwells on the implications of what you can do with time dilation. 4/5
What Remains, the Echoes of a Flue Song by Alexandra Seidel follows a mute flute player in a post-apocalyptic wasteland who finds another survivor. 4/5
The Orchard of Tomorrow by Kelsea Yu is another post-apocalyptic story, this one tied to the legend of the Monkey King. 4/5
August 11, 2023
Clarkesworld Magazine issue #202 (July, 2023). You can read the stories online or listen to the podcast, hosted and narrated by the lovely Kate Baker https://clarkesworldmagazine.com/prio...
Consider supporting them on Patreon.
Onwards with more high quality sci-fi offerings:
Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert
Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J Berger
Estivation Troubles by BO Balder
Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough
Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf
Timelock by Davian AW
What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song by Alexandra Seidel
and by Kelsea YU
All stories were exceptional and very diverse, I really liked Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf, Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough, and Timelock by Davian AW.
(I didn’t read the three non-fiction offerings).
Themes: sci-fi, fantasy, space opera, dystopian, AI, aliens.
4 Stars
Consider supporting them on Patreon.
Onwards with more high quality sci-fi offerings:
Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert
Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J Berger
Estivation Troubles by BO Balder
Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough
Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf
Timelock by Davian AW
What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song by Alexandra Seidel
and by Kelsea YU
All stories were exceptional and very diverse, I really liked Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf, Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough, and Timelock by Davian AW.
(I didn’t read the three non-fiction offerings).
Themes: sci-fi, fantasy, space opera, dystopian, AI, aliens.
4 Stars
August 5, 2024
Fiction
- Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert
Could be something very subtle underneath all this but I can't pinpoint what exactly. The story itself is quite enjoyable: broken robot and difficult decision. 4 ⭐
- Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J Berger
Surprisingly heartwarming story of two women warriors fighting each other and eventually find redemption. 4 ⭐
- Estivation Troubles by BO Balder
Interracial marriage and differences in view (sleep schedule, I guess). The ending is a bit disappointing. 3.5 ⭐
- Timelock by Davian AW
I'll just pretend stopping time means you could still see. 2 ⭐
- Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough ❌
- Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf ❌
- What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song by Alexandra Seidel ❌
- The Orchard of Tomorrow by Kelsea YU❌
- Cheaper to Replace by Marie Vibbert
Could be something very subtle underneath all this but I can't pinpoint what exactly. The story itself is quite enjoyable: broken robot and difficult decision. 4 ⭐
- Death and Redemption, Somewhere Near Tuba City by Lou J Berger
Surprisingly heartwarming story of two women warriors fighting each other and eventually find redemption. 4 ⭐
- Estivation Troubles by BO Balder
Interracial marriage and differences in view (sleep schedule, I guess). The ending is a bit disappointing. 3.5 ⭐
- Timelock by Davian AW
I'll just pretend stopping time means you could still see. 2 ⭐
- Clio’s Scroll by Brenda W. Clough ❌
- Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf ❌
- What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song by Alexandra Seidel ❌
- The Orchard of Tomorrow by Kelsea YU❌
September 30, 2023
Really good issue. "Estivation Troubles", "Tigers for Sale" and "Timelock" are all top-tier stories. I've been left a little cold by Clarkesworld this year but I must admit the best stories this year have been tremendous.
I'll also shout out Vibbert's charming if a little tired story "Cheaper to Replace".
I'll also shout out Vibbert's charming if a little tired story "Cheaper to Replace".
October 2, 2023
Liked most of the stories in this one. Top 3:
Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf
Timelock by Davian Aw
Estivation Troubles by Bo Balder
Also a really cool piece on Margaret Cavendish by Carrie Sessarego about Margaret Cavendish's 1666 science fiction-ish The Blazing World.
Tigers for Sale by Risa Wolf
Timelock by Davian Aw
Estivation Troubles by Bo Balder
Also a really cool piece on Margaret Cavendish by Carrie Sessarego about Margaret Cavendish's 1666 science fiction-ish The Blazing World.
August 17, 2023
Personal favourites in this issue were 'Tigers for Sale' by Risa Wolf (always love a sentient ship story) and 'The Orchard of Tomorrow' by Kelsea Yu.
September 21, 2023
I liked "Tigers for Sale" by Risa Wolf and "What Remains, the Echoes of a Flute Song" by Alexandra Seidel
November 7, 2023
A good few stories for this month. The best entries were Clio's Scroll and The Orchard of Tomorrow.
December 10, 2023
2.5 stars.
A solid collection of stories, nothing fantastic, but Clio’s Scroll stands out. Timelock has a lot of potential but is too sloppy technically for the underlying premise.
A solid collection of stories, nothing fantastic, but Clio’s Scroll stands out. Timelock has a lot of potential but is too sloppy technically for the underlying premise.
July 21, 2024
Read "The Orchard of Tomorrow"
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