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These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart
A Publishers Weekly Spring 2024 Top-10 SF Fantasy and Horror
In a queer, noir technothriller of fractured identity and corporate intrigue, a trans woman faces her fear of losing her community as her past chases after her. This bold, thought-provoking debut science-fiction novella from a Lambda Award finalist is an exciting and unpredictable look at the fluid nature of our former and present selves.
With a complex and enjoyably flawed trans protagonist and a portrayal of queer life that goes deeper than casual representation, this marks Wasserstein as a voice to watch out for in LGBTQ science fiction.” —Publishers Weekly
In mid-21st-century Kansas City, Dora hasn’t been back to her old commune in years. But when Dora’s ex-girlfriend Kay is killed, and everyone at the commune is a potential suspect, Dora knows she’s the only person who can solve the murder.
As Dora is dragged back into her old community and begins her investigations, she discovers that Kay’s death is only one of several terrible incidents. A strange new drug is circulating. People are disappearing. And Dora is being attacked by assailants from her pre-transition past.
Meanwhile, It seems like a war between two nefarious corporations is looming, and Dora’s old neighborhood is their battleground. Now she must uncover a twisted conspiracy, all while navigating a deeply meaningful new relationship.
In a queer, noir technothriller of fractured identity and corporate intrigue, a trans woman faces her fear of losing her community as her past chases after her. This bold, thought-provoking debut science-fiction novella from a Lambda Award finalist is an exciting and unpredictable look at the fluid nature of our former and present selves.
With a complex and enjoyably flawed trans protagonist and a portrayal of queer life that goes deeper than casual representation, this marks Wasserstein as a voice to watch out for in LGBTQ science fiction.” —Publishers Weekly
In mid-21st-century Kansas City, Dora hasn’t been back to her old commune in years. But when Dora’s ex-girlfriend Kay is killed, and everyone at the commune is a potential suspect, Dora knows she’s the only person who can solve the murder.
As Dora is dragged back into her old community and begins her investigations, she discovers that Kay’s death is only one of several terrible incidents. A strange new drug is circulating. People are disappearing. And Dora is being attacked by assailants from her pre-transition past.
Meanwhile, It seems like a war between two nefarious corporations is looming, and Dora’s old neighborhood is their battleground. Now she must uncover a twisted conspiracy, all while navigating a deeply meaningful new relationship.
110 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 12, 2024
38 people are currently reading
2929 people want to read
About the author
Izzy Wasserstein
35 books61 followersIzzy Wasserstein was born and raised in Kansas. She teaches writing and literature, writes poetry and fiction, and shares a house with a variety of animal companions and the writer Nora E. Derrington. She likes to slowly run long distances.
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July 10, 2024Source of book: NG
Relevant disclaimers: None
Please note:This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
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I kind of don't know how to talk about this book because, um, the author already extensively analysed her own work in an afterword that I probably shouldn't have read. But, like, it was there so I assumed it was important. I mean, in some respects I do kind of admire Wasserstein for being able to talk so academically and coherently about her own work (because I can barely stammer two words together about mine) but, at the same time, it's hard to know what you're supposed to do as a reader when the author seems to have already filled both roles. And please don't take this as me trying to dictate what other authors should or should not do--for all I know, Wasserstein was told by her publisher to fill some page count because novellas are difficult to place so she felt awkwardly compelled to write an essay about herself--and it's not that I'm not interested in what authors have to say about their work but maybe not *in* the work itself? I don't know. I think if I'd read this as part of an interview or a blog post (not that we have blogs any more) I'd have been really appreciative. It's just finishing a book and then being told directly by the author what it's about, what it means, and what you're supposed to think about it is ... well ... it's a lot. Also I don't think it's the author's job to explain what cisgender is.
To me, the fact she has to, is sort of illustrative of where either the publisher or maybe the author were with this story. Taking a moment in a longish afterword about literalised metaphors, trans identity, and why . it assumes a dynamic between author and reader where the author is presumed inherently obscure and other relative to the reader, and I honestly feel that does disservice to both author and reader. It suggests almost a lack of faith maybe, from someone involved in the production of this book, and that makes me sad. Like it was taken as read, somewhere down the line, that TFGTFH wouldn't, or couldn't, find its own audience--I'm not even talking here about an an audience solely comprised of trans folk, but an audience who would be open to meeting the book (and the author) where they were instead of needing the book to be made safe and explicable to them. I guess where I'm going with this is that I feel books should be allowed to speak to the people they're for more than they should be forced to accommodate the people they're not; and this is probably just me but I feel if you're reading a book about a transfemme PI solving a murder in a technoir Dystopia you can probably also Google the word 'cisgender' if you need to.
Anyway, I've already spent two paragraphs on the afterword and said nothing about the story itself. Which is complicated because I actually loved the book. I just wish I'd been allowed to do so on my own terms. These Fragile Graces This Fugitive Heart is set in a post-climate change Kansas where society has almost wholly broken down. Much of the city is abandoned, the government has given up, law enforcement is equally not about it, the gap between the wealth and poor has widened impossibly, oh and corporations run everything because it's that kind of Dystopia. Which is to say, plausible. Our heroine, Dora, is a PI, very much in the trad noir sense. She's competent, cynical, and thoroughly closed down, although that emotional distance is increasingly challenged as she finds herself investigating what happened to her ex-girlfriend, who died of an assumed drug overdose in the anarchist commune where she and Dora used to live together.
What follows is brisk and gripping--a whistlestop tour, if you will, through a damaged world and Dora's damaged psyche. The author references her own wariness around literalising metaphors in the afterword, but--for what it's worth--I felt it really worked here. TFGTFH functions both as a decent technoir mystery and as a means to explore and reflect upon its flawed, fascinating protagonist. Especially when, y'know, clones of her start trying to kill her. I'm trying to tread lightly around spoilers (at least for now) because there's a lot of potential depth contained within the relatively sparse page count, and a thematic richness to the exploration of identity and trans identity particularly that is well-worth experiencing on its own terms.
I also really loved the atmosphere and the sense of place ("On that side of the highway, the only light came from up the hill and reflected off the low clouds, so buildings and people became gray ghosts in the night") and the strong noir vibes I was getting from the narrative voice, which is as jaded and spare as any Hammett protagonist, telling you just as much as you need to know, but barely. I think there's even a sardonic nod to Neuromancer tucked in here:
In some ways, however, the strengths of the book are also maybe its weakness. Or maybe I'm the weakness, because I always seem to end up saying this about most of the shorter works I read. But, as ever, I really feel this story could have benefited from sticking around a bit longer. It's got an intriguing cast, from the various members of Dora's old commune, to her clones (well, one clone in particular), to "Smith" the corporate agent she's briefly obliged to work with, and it would have been nice to get to know these characters better. Dora's past with the commune is one of the emotional centres of the story and, while we do learn what ultimately went wrong there, I would have liked to feel those conflicted emotions too, not just understand them as part of Dora. Although I do also recognise that deep access to the protagonist's emotional interior is fairly antithetical to Hammett's style of noir.
Dora's memory implant is another element of the story that felt, to me, under-used. Essentially she has an implant that allows her perfect recall for good and ill, and I was so primed to get some full on Blade Runner / Thane from Mass Effect type stuff here, except I just didn't. It just seemed like such a missed opportunity - like a PI with perfect recall, please, give me more of this. And even assuming the author was using the mystery primarily as a means to explore, and reflect upon, character the whole memory implant thing could still have been used to give the reader greater access to Dora's past with the commune.
I know I talk about this a lot and then to fail to follow up with it, but I really do want to work with the text in front of me, not lament some version of it that exists only in my head. So I guess what I'm driving at when I'm drawing attention to all the ways, from my perspective, TFGTFH could have been expanded upon, I'm not necessarily trying to claim that it *should* have been, only that it *could* have been. Not because there's anything wrong with the story as it stands--while it's a little compressed at times, it reaches a genuinely satisfying conclusion--but because there was such a lot here that held my interest and made me want more. I wanted more of Dora's past, I wanted more of the wider cast, I wanted more of the world, I wanted more of Dora herself and more of Dora doing, like, PI shit because I'm into that.
Basically, TFGTFH is a sharp, complicated, endlessly interesting aperitif of a novella. It's a fantastic tease for the author's skill, vision and ambition. But, and from a certain point of view this is almost a positive, or, indeed, perhaps the whole point, it left me kinda hungry.
In short: yes, liked it a lot, strongly recommend. If you like Dystopias, damaged women, Hammett, & philosophical questions about identity this is for you.
I'm now going to spoil a major plot point so eject now if that's a problem for you.
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As mentioned in the review, part of the plot involves Dora being pursued by clones of herself. One of these clones--who later comes to call themself Theo--she manages to befriend. Now, Theo was a super interesting part of the book to me, just as an individual character in their own right, as a reflection of Dora, and as a way to ask questions about the nature of identity and trans identity especially, since all of Dora's clones present initially as a non-transitioned version of her. There's reasons for this I won't go into (too much spoiler) and, as you can tell by the pronouns I'm using here, by the end of the book Theo has chosen to use they/them pronouns. I was absolutely entranced by Theo's journey into selfhood -- given Dora's trauma and damage, she's not the most emotionally forthcoming character, so having Theo retain their kindness and hopefulness when everything else fucked is incredibly moving and incredibly painful at the same time (since could those qualities also have existed in Dora had she not lived the life she has).
But, anyway, as part of this arc, Theo at one point sleeps with Dora. Now, the TFGTFH does not shy away from questions around this - but, personally, while I did not see it coming (so to speak) I also think the book makes a strong case that Theo does consent to it and is capable of consenting to it. And, you know, I'm a romance reader so I'm always going to see sex as, to some degree, doing emosh and metaphorical shit. In this case, Dora's relationship with Theo (weird as it may be to some people) allows to her to reach some kind of peace with her own identity and her own choices. Essentially she can *give* Theo the agency she had to fight for, the freedom she could only obtain through loss. That's quite a gift to be able to share with a version of yourself.
That's my take anyway. Your mileage may very well vary and it feels kind of right to me this is a mileage-varying kind of subject. Except this brings me back to the dreaded afterword, where the author kind of goes out of her way to defend the scene as a necessary creative and ethical choice. And that ended up sort of making me feel more uncertain then the actual clone-fucking itself. Like, the text should always be answerable to itself--and, for me, it was. But I also think it's okay if, for you, it wasn't.
Relevant disclaimers: None
Please note:This review may not be reproduced or quoted, in whole or in part, without explicit consent from the author.
And remember: I am not here to judge your drag, I mean your book. Books are art and art is subjective. These are just my personal thoughts. They are not meant to be taken as broader commentary on the general quality of the work. Believe me, I have not enjoyed many an excellent book, and my individual lack of enjoyment has not made any of those books less excellent or (more relevantly) less successful.
---
I kind of don't know how to talk about this book because, um, the author already extensively analysed her own work in an afterword that I probably shouldn't have read. But, like, it was there so I assumed it was important. I mean, in some respects I do kind of admire Wasserstein for being able to talk so academically and coherently about her own work (because I can barely stammer two words together about mine) but, at the same time, it's hard to know what you're supposed to do as a reader when the author seems to have already filled both roles. And please don't take this as me trying to dictate what other authors should or should not do--for all I know, Wasserstein was told by her publisher to fill some page count because novellas are difficult to place so she felt awkwardly compelled to write an essay about herself--and it's not that I'm not interested in what authors have to say about their work but maybe not *in* the work itself? I don't know. I think if I'd read this as part of an interview or a blog post (not that we have blogs any more) I'd have been really appreciative. It's just finishing a book and then being told directly by the author what it's about, what it means, and what you're supposed to think about it is ... well ... it's a lot. Also I don't think it's the author's job to explain what cisgender is.
To me, the fact she has to, is sort of illustrative of where either the publisher or maybe the author were with this story. Taking a moment in a longish afterword about literalised metaphors, trans identity, and why . it assumes a dynamic between author and reader where the author is presumed inherently obscure and other relative to the reader, and I honestly feel that does disservice to both author and reader. It suggests almost a lack of faith maybe, from someone involved in the production of this book, and that makes me sad. Like it was taken as read, somewhere down the line, that TFGTFH wouldn't, or couldn't, find its own audience--I'm not even talking here about an an audience solely comprised of trans folk, but an audience who would be open to meeting the book (and the author) where they were instead of needing the book to be made safe and explicable to them. I guess where I'm going with this is that I feel books should be allowed to speak to the people they're for more than they should be forced to accommodate the people they're not; and this is probably just me but I feel if you're reading a book about a transfemme PI solving a murder in a technoir Dystopia you can probably also Google the word 'cisgender' if you need to.
Anyway, I've already spent two paragraphs on the afterword and said nothing about the story itself. Which is complicated because I actually loved the book. I just wish I'd been allowed to do so on my own terms. These Fragile Graces This Fugitive Heart is set in a post-climate change Kansas where society has almost wholly broken down. Much of the city is abandoned, the government has given up, law enforcement is equally not about it, the gap between the wealth and poor has widened impossibly, oh and corporations run everything because it's that kind of Dystopia. Which is to say, plausible. Our heroine, Dora, is a PI, very much in the trad noir sense. She's competent, cynical, and thoroughly closed down, although that emotional distance is increasingly challenged as she finds herself investigating what happened to her ex-girlfriend, who died of an assumed drug overdose in the anarchist commune where she and Dora used to live together.
What follows is brisk and gripping--a whistlestop tour, if you will, through a damaged world and Dora's damaged psyche. The author references her own wariness around literalising metaphors in the afterword, but--for what it's worth--I felt it really worked here. TFGTFH functions both as a decent technoir mystery and as a means to explore and reflect upon its flawed, fascinating protagonist. Especially when, y'know, clones of her start trying to kill her. I'm trying to tread lightly around spoilers (at least for now) because there's a lot of potential depth contained within the relatively sparse page count, and a thematic richness to the exploration of identity and trans identity particularly that is well-worth experiencing on its own terms.
I also really loved the atmosphere and the sense of place ("On that side of the highway, the only light came from up the hill and reflected off the low clouds, so buildings and people became gray ghosts in the night") and the strong noir vibes I was getting from the narrative voice, which is as jaded and spare as any Hammett protagonist, telling you just as much as you need to know, but barely. I think there's even a sardonic nod to Neuromancer tucked in here:
The sky was the color of corrupted memory.
In some ways, however, the strengths of the book are also maybe its weakness. Or maybe I'm the weakness, because I always seem to end up saying this about most of the shorter works I read. But, as ever, I really feel this story could have benefited from sticking around a bit longer. It's got an intriguing cast, from the various members of Dora's old commune, to her clones (well, one clone in particular), to "Smith" the corporate agent she's briefly obliged to work with, and it would have been nice to get to know these characters better. Dora's past with the commune is one of the emotional centres of the story and, while we do learn what ultimately went wrong there, I would have liked to feel those conflicted emotions too, not just understand them as part of Dora. Although I do also recognise that deep access to the protagonist's emotional interior is fairly antithetical to Hammett's style of noir.
Dora's memory implant is another element of the story that felt, to me, under-used. Essentially she has an implant that allows her perfect recall for good and ill, and I was so primed to get some full on Blade Runner / Thane from Mass Effect type stuff here, except I just didn't. It just seemed like such a missed opportunity - like a PI with perfect recall, please, give me more of this. And even assuming the author was using the mystery primarily as a means to explore, and reflect upon, character the whole memory implant thing could still have been used to give the reader greater access to Dora's past with the commune.
I know I talk about this a lot and then to fail to follow up with it, but I really do want to work with the text in front of me, not lament some version of it that exists only in my head. So I guess what I'm driving at when I'm drawing attention to all the ways, from my perspective, TFGTFH could have been expanded upon, I'm not necessarily trying to claim that it *should* have been, only that it *could* have been. Not because there's anything wrong with the story as it stands--while it's a little compressed at times, it reaches a genuinely satisfying conclusion--but because there was such a lot here that held my interest and made me want more. I wanted more of Dora's past, I wanted more of the wider cast, I wanted more of the world, I wanted more of Dora herself and more of Dora doing, like, PI shit because I'm into that.
Basically, TFGTFH is a sharp, complicated, endlessly interesting aperitif of a novella. It's a fantastic tease for the author's skill, vision and ambition. But, and from a certain point of view this is almost a positive, or, indeed, perhaps the whole point, it left me kinda hungry.
In short: yes, liked it a lot, strongly recommend. If you like Dystopias, damaged women, Hammett, & philosophical questions about identity this is for you.
I'm now going to spoil a major plot point so eject now if that's a problem for you.
-
-
-
-
As mentioned in the review, part of the plot involves Dora being pursued by clones of herself. One of these clones--who later comes to call themself Theo--she manages to befriend. Now, Theo was a super interesting part of the book to me, just as an individual character in their own right, as a reflection of Dora, and as a way to ask questions about the nature of identity and trans identity especially, since all of Dora's clones present initially as a non-transitioned version of her. There's reasons for this I won't go into (too much spoiler) and, as you can tell by the pronouns I'm using here, by the end of the book Theo has chosen to use they/them pronouns. I was absolutely entranced by Theo's journey into selfhood -- given Dora's trauma and damage, she's not the most emotionally forthcoming character, so having Theo retain their kindness and hopefulness when everything else fucked is incredibly moving and incredibly painful at the same time (since could those qualities also have existed in Dora had she not lived the life she has).
But, anyway, as part of this arc, Theo at one point sleeps with Dora. Now, the TFGTFH does not shy away from questions around this - but, personally, while I did not see it coming (so to speak) I also think the book makes a strong case that Theo does consent to it and is capable of consenting to it. And, you know, I'm a romance reader so I'm always going to see sex as, to some degree, doing emosh and metaphorical shit. In this case, Dora's relationship with Theo (weird as it may be to some people) allows to her to reach some kind of peace with her own identity and her own choices. Essentially she can *give* Theo the agency she had to fight for, the freedom she could only obtain through loss. That's quite a gift to be able to share with a version of yourself.
That's my take anyway. Your mileage may very well vary and it feels kind of right to me this is a mileage-varying kind of subject. Except this brings me back to the dreaded afterword, where the author kind of goes out of her way to defend the scene as a necessary creative and ethical choice. And that ended up sort of making me feel more uncertain then the actual clone-fucking itself. Like, the text should always be answerable to itself--and, for me, it was. But I also think it's okay if, for you, it wasn't.
April 8, 2024
Very interesting story taking place in a post-apocalyptic USA (Kansas City specifically), with an interesting take on society, how trans people would survive, heck, how anyone not super rich would survive. It’s actually a murder mystery that sort of falls into the MC’s lap. The characters are all very interesting and distinct. For such a short book, a quick read this one is very interesting.
There are some things I wish Wasserstein had fleshed out just a bit, but only until she mentioned inner lives of the characters that we hadn’t really been privy to much.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Izzy Wasserstein for providing this ARC
There are some things I wish Wasserstein had fleshed out just a bit, but only until she mentioned inner lives of the characters that we hadn’t really been privy to much.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Izzy Wasserstein for providing this ARC
March 1, 2024
These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart is a sci-fi novella set in a dystopian future with a murder mystery plot and a trans protagonist. Dora is living alone after leaving the anarchist commune she belonged to and breaking up with her girlfriend. But when her ex is discovered dead and possibly murdered, she is determined to find out the truth, and whether corporate intrigue might be behind it.
This was an interesting novella, but the dystopian/noir vibes of the world and Dora's characterization were a little much for me at times. There's also a thing that happens towards the end that was...very weird. And given the author's note at the end, she knows it's weird and might rub some readers the wrong way but sort of had reasons for it. I wasn't in love with the choice even if I kind of see what she was trying to do in terms of exploring self-determination and personhood given the note she wrote. An interesting novella regardless that explores power, hierarchy, and lack thereof. Note that there is trasphobia and deadnaming, not portrayed as positive. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
This was an interesting novella, but the dystopian/noir vibes of the world and Dora's characterization were a little much for me at times. There's also a thing that happens towards the end that was...very weird. And given the author's note at the end, she knows it's weird and might rub some readers the wrong way but sort of had reasons for it. I wasn't in love with the choice even if I kind of see what she was trying to do in terms of exploring self-determination and personhood given the note she wrote. An interesting novella regardless that explores power, hierarchy, and lack thereof. Note that there is trasphobia and deadnaming, not portrayed as positive. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher, all opinions are my own.
January 15, 2024
I rarely read dystopian fiction—it generally feels enough like non-fiction to make the reading experience rather uncomfortable and often downright heart-breaking. I am, however, quite glad that I found These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart. It is dystopian, but it's also a mystery (a genre I love to read) with a cast that covers pretty much the entire gender spectrum.
The novel is set in Kansas City several decades into the future. Class rifts have widened. The haves have even more. The have-nots scrabble along in the best ways they can using methods ranging from larceny to anarchist collective living. Dora (Theodora, once Theodore) used to be a part of a particular collective, but left it burning bridges behind her. Dora finds out that her ex, one of the founders of the collective, has been killed and then finds herself being attacked by a series of assassins who just happen to be clones of her pre-transition self.
This is mind-bending stuff. The technologies of the time are far enough from, yet close enough to, our own to feel both familiar and completely foreign. The hunt for the truth requires moving across a number of dangerous cultural landscapes and making risky decisions about who to trust.
If you enjoy mysteries or sci-fi that move beyond the usual cis-dominated cast, you'll love These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart. If you enjoy both, you're in for a real treat—with whipped cream and a cherry on top.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher; the opinions are my own.
The novel is set in Kansas City several decades into the future. Class rifts have widened. The haves have even more. The have-nots scrabble along in the best ways they can using methods ranging from larceny to anarchist collective living. Dora (Theodora, once Theodore) used to be a part of a particular collective, but left it burning bridges behind her. Dora finds out that her ex, one of the founders of the collective, has been killed and then finds herself being attacked by a series of assassins who just happen to be clones of her pre-transition self.
This is mind-bending stuff. The technologies of the time are far enough from, yet close enough to, our own to feel both familiar and completely foreign. The hunt for the truth requires moving across a number of dangerous cultural landscapes and making risky decisions about who to trust.
If you enjoy mysteries or sci-fi that move beyond the usual cis-dominated cast, you'll love These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart. If you enjoy both, you're in for a real treat—with whipped cream and a cherry on top.
I received a free electronic review copy of this title from the publisher; the opinions are my own.
October 27, 2024
Hmm…I think this was written by a 15 year old? Joking but maybe not? I’m not going to look into it. Either way, it was pretty bad with some really messy writing and maybe a lack of editor to be like “none of this even makes sense so fix it?” but maybe not? It also just changed vibes and plot lines so many times that I just couldn’t stay on task. But realistically the intimate scene was iconic and that’s really the only reason I’m giving it an extra star.
Do not recommend.
Do not recommend.
November 5, 2023
I love a good dystopian noir! This was a lot of fun - very atmospheric, very interesting. There were a few plot choices I didn’t totally buy - actually I think this would have worked better as a full novel. As a novella there wasn’t quite enough room for red herrings!
Overall, I enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to whatever this author writes next.
Overall, I enjoyed this and I’m looking forward to whatever this author writes next.
Read
December 17, 2023This futuristic sci-fi novella explores the themes of transness, community, and self-determination.
rtc?
rtc?
March 19, 2024
Set in a near-future US where society is collapsing. The main character is a transgender woman who's investigating the murder of her ex and who keeps getting attacked by clones of her pre-transition self.
This is an absolutely brilliant novella with some really compelling characters dealing with both historical trauma and real life people out to get them. There's a lengthy afterword talking about metaphor and where it gets messy when you include science fiction and actual characters, and that's well worth a read, as it goes in-depth into the thematic elements of the story.
Highly recommended.
This is an absolutely brilliant novella with some really compelling characters dealing with both historical trauma and real life people out to get them. There's a lengthy afterword talking about metaphor and where it gets messy when you include science fiction and actual characters, and that's well worth a read, as it goes in-depth into the thematic elements of the story.
Highly recommended.
February 22, 2024
I picked up this book intending to just read a little bit to get a feel for it, but instead found myself devouring the whole thing in one sitting. For a fairly quick read, there's a lot of interesting things going on. I did find the early set-up a bit clunky, especially placing Dora to investigate "whodunit", but as the story moved beyond a simple mystery, it quickly found its groove and won me over. (I admit to having a bias in favor of science fiction over detective stories, though.) The world that Wasserstein has created is frightening because it feels very realistic, but there were enough bright spots in the story that it didn't feel totally bleak. I thought the ideas that were explored in the story were interesting and thought-provoking, and I also really appreciated the author's afterward giving some insight into how she arrived at those ideas and her approach to the story.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an eARC.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an eARC.
October 24, 2024
Although the concept is interesting (trans person having to face down demons/past self in a literal and metaphorical sense, this one just fell flat for me. None of the characters were insteresting, the dialogue felt too much like a cheesy action movie (and not really in a good way. The writing style is extremely stilted, in a way that just annoyed me the more I read on. There is also a bit of a questionable "romance" scene toward the end that just kind of came out of nowhere. Found myself falling asleep reading more than once as well. So, while I appreciate the idea, the execution was really off for me.
May 4, 2024
Izzy Wasserstein's debut novella, These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart is what I would call a great start. It's a book I wanted more from, but there is something here worth expanding upon.
The cover and title really caught my eye, both are great. The description sealed the deal- cyberpunk with an anarchist commune. The thing is that I believe this book had to be novel length to build the technothriller world the author wanted to create. Wasserstein's previous work is with short fiction, so it makes sense that she'd stick to a method she's familiar with. But, more time seemed to be spent on the political attributes which felt more real to me.
Whenever I see a debut novel with a trans author and trans characters, I admit that I really want it to be good in a more personal way than other texts. I wanna give other trans folks praise, but I also don't write fake reviews. Luckily this book was at least giving me something to work with even if it wasn't perfect.
As other reviews have stated, Wasserstein makes the same error that many new writers do in not implementing the "show don't tell" aspect of good fiction writing. This is not the worst example I've seen, but I did frequently feel a rollercoaster of being immersed in the story then pulled back out by the telling aspect. I think, for instance, we could have understood the workings of the commune and corporations by what they were doing and how it felt to experience it rather than being told what they are and what they do and why like a pamphlet some of the time.
There are lots of common cyberpunk noir themes that were executed ok enough to be enjoyable. But, they could have been expanded upon and meshed better with the world. I liked the juxtaposition of the commune life against the world of corporate rule though, it felt genuine.
I liked the way being trans was used as a plot point in ways I won't expand too much upon to avoid spoilers. She might have gone a little too heavy on pre transition references (I heard more about the pre-t main character more than the present.) There is an interesting nature/nurture thing going on that also allows for choice rather than biological determinism (as should be our right) which I like. I like the idea of being faced with what others wanted us to be and learning to love all versions.
I really did not like the sexual relationship that developed. If the book were not so mired in radical politics even in the ways character flaws were portrayed, it could have fit into high tech low life cyberpunk. Instead, the book portrayed something that was an inappropriate power dynamic at best as gee golly good and I felt a bit sick reading it.
I found the afterword, written from the actual authors pov, to be somewhat off putting for this reason. It takes the tell over show thing to an even higher level by further analyzing her own story in language that is pretty academic when read right after the book. It then goes on to explain why said sexual relationship had to happen. I think the book would have been much better if a caring, platonic only relationship replaced it. Our culture always teaches us valid relationships have to be sexual.
I really do think this book has a good foundation though. The closing paragraphs before the afterword were very affecting. I really felt the last few melancholic sentences on a very intimate level. I wish it had ended there. I think this would be a great outline for a comic book or video game that has other media to help with world building. I think with some more time and practice that this author could put out a novel that really captures the world she has devised in her imagination.
In the end, this book is short and imperfect, but interesting enough to give a chance especially given its length. I would definitely read the authors next book if it is written with things she learned from writing this one in mind and more time is spent with world building and show over tell.
This was also posted to my storygraph and blog.
The cover and title really caught my eye, both are great. The description sealed the deal- cyberpunk with an anarchist commune. The thing is that I believe this book had to be novel length to build the technothriller world the author wanted to create. Wasserstein's previous work is with short fiction, so it makes sense that she'd stick to a method she's familiar with. But, more time seemed to be spent on the political attributes which felt more real to me.
Whenever I see a debut novel with a trans author and trans characters, I admit that I really want it to be good in a more personal way than other texts. I wanna give other trans folks praise, but I also don't write fake reviews. Luckily this book was at least giving me something to work with even if it wasn't perfect.
As other reviews have stated, Wasserstein makes the same error that many new writers do in not implementing the "show don't tell" aspect of good fiction writing. This is not the worst example I've seen, but I did frequently feel a rollercoaster of being immersed in the story then pulled back out by the telling aspect. I think, for instance, we could have understood the workings of the commune and corporations by what they were doing and how it felt to experience it rather than being told what they are and what they do and why like a pamphlet some of the time.
There are lots of common cyberpunk noir themes that were executed ok enough to be enjoyable. But, they could have been expanded upon and meshed better with the world. I liked the juxtaposition of the commune life against the world of corporate rule though, it felt genuine.
I liked the way being trans was used as a plot point in ways I won't expand too much upon to avoid spoilers. She might have gone a little too heavy on pre transition references (I heard more about the pre-t main character more than the present.) There is an interesting nature/nurture thing going on that also allows for choice rather than biological determinism (as should be our right) which I like. I like the idea of being faced with what others wanted us to be and learning to love all versions.
I really did not like the sexual relationship that developed. If the book were not so mired in radical politics even in the ways character flaws were portrayed, it could have fit into high tech low life cyberpunk. Instead, the book portrayed something that was an inappropriate power dynamic at best as gee golly good and I felt a bit sick reading it.
I found the afterword, written from the actual authors pov, to be somewhat off putting for this reason. It takes the tell over show thing to an even higher level by further analyzing her own story in language that is pretty academic when read right after the book. It then goes on to explain why said sexual relationship had to happen. I think the book would have been much better if a caring, platonic only relationship replaced it. Our culture always teaches us valid relationships have to be sexual.
I really do think this book has a good foundation though. The closing paragraphs before the afterword were very affecting. I really felt the last few melancholic sentences on a very intimate level. I wish it had ended there. I think this would be a great outline for a comic book or video game that has other media to help with world building. I think with some more time and practice that this author could put out a novel that really captures the world she has devised in her imagination.
In the end, this book is short and imperfect, but interesting enough to give a chance especially given its length. I would definitely read the authors next book if it is written with things she learned from writing this one in mind and more time is spent with world building and show over tell.
This was also posted to my storygraph and blog.
January 3, 2025
A fast-paced, queer, cyberpunk novella. I really enjoyed the setting (clearly inspired by Gibson's Sprawl trilogy), and I found the discussion of the interplay between really interesting. A great way to begin my 2025 reading journey!
March 19, 2024
Sometimes we get stuck in a loop, too stubborn for our own good. Sometimes we have good reason to be stubborn. I was thinking a lot about trauma as I read These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart, by Izzy Wasserstein. This is a novella that knows exactly what it’s about and does exactly what it’s meant to do. Although it didn’t end up wowing me, I still thoroughly enjoyed its premise and execution. I received an eARC in exchange for a review.
If Dora knows one thing, it’s op sec. She left a commune over a disagreement about security: as anarchists, they wanted their commune to be as open as possible, whereas Dora believed more stringent checks and balances were required to keep out people who might have nefarious, ulterior motives. When she is called back to the commune to investigate the murder of her ex-girlfriend, Kay, Dora’s worst fears seem to have been proved well-founded. Her investigation will take her into neighbourhoods even more destitute than the one where the commune crouches and pit her against enemies who wear her face from before her transition.
Much of my criticism of These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart might be waved away by simply saying, “It’s a novella, Kara.” The other characters are paper thin. The villain is predictable, and his overarching motives are shrouded in convenient shorthands. The setting is something ripped straight out of Verhoven, Robocop tinted for modern storytelling. These criticisms levelled at a novel-length work might stick. Applied to a novella, however, they actually become strengths. Because this is not really a mystery.
No, this is a story about identity. The brilliance of this story lies in how Dora deals with one of her clones, whose life she spares.
Here come the spoilers.
Dora deals with her rescued clone’s emergence into individuality quite gracefully. I appreciate how much she respects Theo’s agency, to the point that she carefully avoids using pronouns until Theo, at the very end, settles on they/them. This is a potent reminder of the fluidity of gender: Theo might be genetically identical to Dora, but their experiences and memories are distinct. I suppose that should mitigate my discomfort over the idea of Theo and Dora having sex … still.
I appreciate that Wasserstein acknowledges in the afterword that this development is hella weird, that she simply couldn’t find a way to tell the story without it happening because Theo insisted. The consent thing isn’t as much an issue for me—I understand Theo’s perspective there—but … yeah … hmm. As an asexual and sex-averse person, I’ve never much thought about sex with a partner—would partnered sex with myself be … better? Even if that self is me through a funhouse mirror, as Dora describes her pre-transition clones? See, this ese are the important questions science fiction is here to ask!
Gonzo sexuality subplots aside, Dora and Theo’s nascent friendship is the heart of this story. The way that Theo goes from enemy to lover to friend is very endearing. Set against a backdrop of post-apocalyptic, capitalist purgatory, these connections become all the more significant. Dora, now that she has left the commune, is very alone and lonely. Although her being alone hasn’t changed by the end of the story, I think her loneliness has started to unravel. She starts to see that in order to protect, one has to have something worth protecting.
These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart is as cute as a semi-noir, grim dystopian science-fiction novella can be. Wasserstein effectively pulls from established tropes, particularly around cloning, to tell a story of choosing found family over blood and staying true to one’s ideals while still learning to bend and grow. It’s worth an afternoon of your time.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
If Dora knows one thing, it’s op sec. She left a commune over a disagreement about security: as anarchists, they wanted their commune to be as open as possible, whereas Dora believed more stringent checks and balances were required to keep out people who might have nefarious, ulterior motives. When she is called back to the commune to investigate the murder of her ex-girlfriend, Kay, Dora’s worst fears seem to have been proved well-founded. Her investigation will take her into neighbourhoods even more destitute than the one where the commune crouches and pit her against enemies who wear her face from before her transition.
Much of my criticism of These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart might be waved away by simply saying, “It’s a novella, Kara.” The other characters are paper thin. The villain is predictable, and his overarching motives are shrouded in convenient shorthands. The setting is something ripped straight out of Verhoven, Robocop tinted for modern storytelling. These criticisms levelled at a novel-length work might stick. Applied to a novella, however, they actually become strengths. Because this is not really a mystery.
No, this is a story about identity. The brilliance of this story lies in how Dora deals with one of her clones, whose life she spares.
Here come the spoilers.
Dora deals with her rescued clone’s emergence into individuality quite gracefully. I appreciate how much she respects Theo’s agency, to the point that she carefully avoids using pronouns until Theo, at the very end, settles on they/them. This is a potent reminder of the fluidity of gender: Theo might be genetically identical to Dora, but their experiences and memories are distinct. I suppose that should mitigate my discomfort over the idea of Theo and Dora having sex … still.
I appreciate that Wasserstein acknowledges in the afterword that this development is hella weird, that she simply couldn’t find a way to tell the story without it happening because Theo insisted. The consent thing isn’t as much an issue for me—I understand Theo’s perspective there—but … yeah … hmm. As an asexual and sex-averse person, I’ve never much thought about sex with a partner—would partnered sex with myself be … better? Even if that self is me through a funhouse mirror, as Dora describes her pre-transition clones? See, this ese are the important questions science fiction is here to ask!
Gonzo sexuality subplots aside, Dora and Theo’s nascent friendship is the heart of this story. The way that Theo goes from enemy to lover to friend is very endearing. Set against a backdrop of post-apocalyptic, capitalist purgatory, these connections become all the more significant. Dora, now that she has left the commune, is very alone and lonely. Although her being alone hasn’t changed by the end of the story, I think her loneliness has started to unravel. She starts to see that in order to protect, one has to have something worth protecting.
These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart is as cute as a semi-noir, grim dystopian science-fiction novella can be. Wasserstein effectively pulls from established tropes, particularly around cloning, to tell a story of choosing found family over blood and staying true to one’s ideals while still learning to bend and grow. It’s worth an afternoon of your time.
Originally posted on Kara.Reviews.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
February 24, 2024These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart takes place in the dark pockets of a futuristic city. Society is divided into the coperates, the rich and the poor. Those with mental health concerns, addiction, anything and everything that is frowned upon or not the majority have been cornered into certain areas of the city. The neighbourhoods have long broken down and people find solace and safety in small communes. Dora used to be part of one such commune but a terrible accident involving her friend led her to leave. These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart is her return to the commune on hearing about the death of her ex, Kay.
Dora’s character is well fleshed out. Her voice is captivating. Sometimes with scifi that feels very different from my reality, I struggle to stay in the story. That was not the case with this book and that’s because of Dora. Dora is compassionate, empathetic, caring but also flawed, traumatised and struggling to stick to her morals. Her father wanted her to be the son she was born as and it took her years to run away and disassociate from him. The childhood trauma still follows her though. During the course of the story, Dora meets a clone of hers. It is illegal to clone people who are alive and Kay’s recent demise, leads Dora to believe that something sinister is going on. She has been on her own long enough and trusts very few contacts. When another of her clones decides to help her out, she is taken aback but does not refuse the help.
There is a lot packed in this short book. The desolate state of the world, the conflicts between safety and protection, the balance between trusting people and giving them a chance… the commune and Dora’s connection with it is an important aspect that drives her search for answers. There is corporate espionage and mistrust behind the scenes but the puppeteer is hidden well.
In the midst of all this, through succinct writing, Izzy Wasserstein beautifully explores what a clone of a trans woman may be like, the choices they could make, the people they could become, and in an extreme citation, how they might come to be, and a relationship that may spark between them. I adore the title of this novella. These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart to me captures how small actions can captivate the heart. How meeting someone and spending time with them can hold a heart hostage. I love the concept and how it is depicted in this book.
I enjoyed the afterword of this book where Izzy shares the questions she wanted to explore in the science fiction context, the gap she noticed in the stories with clones, and how the story evolved beyond her initial imagination. I loved her insights. She created the world of this book with great care and meticulousness.
Many thanks to Tachyon Publications for a review copy of this book.
This review was first posted to my blog here. Read the author interview there too. :)
Have you read this book or plan to?
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
Dora’s character is well fleshed out. Her voice is captivating. Sometimes with scifi that feels very different from my reality, I struggle to stay in the story. That was not the case with this book and that’s because of Dora. Dora is compassionate, empathetic, caring but also flawed, traumatised and struggling to stick to her morals. Her father wanted her to be the son she was born as and it took her years to run away and disassociate from him. The childhood trauma still follows her though. During the course of the story, Dora meets a clone of hers. It is illegal to clone people who are alive and Kay’s recent demise, leads Dora to believe that something sinister is going on. She has been on her own long enough and trusts very few contacts. When another of her clones decides to help her out, she is taken aback but does not refuse the help.
There is a lot packed in this short book. The desolate state of the world, the conflicts between safety and protection, the balance between trusting people and giving them a chance… the commune and Dora’s connection with it is an important aspect that drives her search for answers. There is corporate espionage and mistrust behind the scenes but the puppeteer is hidden well.
In the midst of all this, through succinct writing, Izzy Wasserstein beautifully explores what a clone of a trans woman may be like, the choices they could make, the people they could become, and in an extreme citation, how they might come to be, and a relationship that may spark between them. I adore the title of this novella. These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart to me captures how small actions can captivate the heart. How meeting someone and spending time with them can hold a heart hostage. I love the concept and how it is depicted in this book.
I enjoyed the afterword of this book where Izzy shares the questions she wanted to explore in the science fiction context, the gap she noticed in the stories with clones, and how the story evolved beyond her initial imagination. I loved her insights. She created the world of this book with great care and meticulousness.
Many thanks to Tachyon Publications for a review copy of this book.
This review was first posted to my blog here. Read the author interview there too. :)
Have you read this book or plan to?
- Kriti, Armed with A Book | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram
January 8, 2025
This was my first book in the genre of technothriller and it was mind blowing. It’s definitely something I’ll look into reading again.
This book was well-written with its sci-fi story where people can get “enhancements” . I found that element extremely interesting and thought it was quite clever. I think my only complaint with this book would be that I wish there was more in depth explanation about the enhancements, how one gets them, and what exactly they do.
Between searching for her ex girlfriend’s killer and trying to come to terms with her death and how they ended, this book will send you on a whirlwind of emotions. From shock to sadness to rage.
Our MC Dora scours the commune and city for answers and clues as to who murdered her ex girlfriend and why. To see the story unfold felt like a movie playing inside my head.
To see the hear her father treats her after coming out as trans, to the blatant disregard for her as a woman, it’s utterly heartbreaking and enraging.
From clones to enhancements to a search through the city, this technothriller/sci-fi novel is one that I can say will stay with me for a while!
This book was well-written with its sci-fi story where people can get “enhancements” . I found that element extremely interesting and thought it was quite clever. I think my only complaint with this book would be that I wish there was more in depth explanation about the enhancements, how one gets them, and what exactly they do.
Between searching for her ex girlfriend’s killer and trying to come to terms with her death and how they ended, this book will send you on a whirlwind of emotions. From shock to sadness to rage.
Our MC Dora scours the commune and city for answers and clues as to who murdered her ex girlfriend and why. To see the story unfold felt like a movie playing inside my head.
To see the hear her father treats her after coming out as trans, to the blatant disregard for her as a woman, it’s utterly heartbreaking and enraging.
From clones to enhancements to a search through the city, this technothriller/sci-fi novel is one that I can say will stay with me for a while!
April 18, 2024
A novella set in a post-apocalypse Kansas City in which a private security agent returns to the community she left due to the death of a former lover and discovers that they were murdered. I really liked the discussion of the practicalities of a functioning anarchist commune. The author is trans and the book does a lot with trans identity, including with a scene that I think works, but that A LOT of people are going to hate.
November 9, 2024
this was the start of like a month long reading slump and i’ve probably never read the word commune so much
February 14, 2025
My GOD, I love Dora. The ending breaks my heart in all the good ways.
March 12, 2024
This novella speaks my language: queer, noir, cyberthriller. This combination of genre keywords is like magic for my mind and soul. I’m always up for the latter two (see Harkaway’s Titanium Noir!), but add in queer and I’m soaring.
This is an engrossing and intriguing novella about a trans woman who sets out to investigate the murder of her former lover who was still living at the anarchist commune that she herself left in a fit of grief and pique some time ago. It explores themes of identity, memory, grief, belonging, nihilism, control, security, friendship, ethics versus morals, creating and maintaining safe spaces, and self-discovery.
I think reading the afterword for this novella is very important. I don’t always read the afterword in a book, but sometimes it’s nice to read where an author’s head was at when you have questions about why they might have written something a certain way (even if you have your own theories, which is fine). When some authors write, characters take on minds of their own and start to make choices the author didn’t think they’d make when they started writing. Reading the afterword for this book helped me understand where Wasserstein was coming from in her writing, even with my own theories floating inside my head.
This was a great read and I highly recommend it. Since this is a trans sci-fi and does involve trauma and some hate speech I suggest you look up CW/TWs online if you need them.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: LGBTQ Fiction/Mystery/Noir/Novella/OwnVoices/Science Fiction
This is an engrossing and intriguing novella about a trans woman who sets out to investigate the murder of her former lover who was still living at the anarchist commune that she herself left in a fit of grief and pique some time ago. It explores themes of identity, memory, grief, belonging, nihilism, control, security, friendship, ethics versus morals, creating and maintaining safe spaces, and self-discovery.
I think reading the afterword for this novella is very important. I don’t always read the afterword in a book, but sometimes it’s nice to read where an author’s head was at when you have questions about why they might have written something a certain way (even if you have your own theories, which is fine). When some authors write, characters take on minds of their own and start to make choices the author didn’t think they’d make when they started writing. Reading the afterword for this book helped me understand where Wasserstein was coming from in her writing, even with my own theories floating inside my head.
This was a great read and I highly recommend it. Since this is a trans sci-fi and does involve trauma and some hate speech I suggest you look up CW/TWs online if you need them.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. Thank you.
File Under: LGBTQ Fiction/Mystery/Noir/Novella/OwnVoices/Science Fiction
March 4, 2024
TL;DR: Some weird choices were made here, but I didn't dislike my time. I would definitely read more from the author.
These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart is a tightly packed murder mystery novella about a woman solving the murder of her ex within the anarchist commune she used to call home. It’s been years since Dora left the commune but a friend brings her back to view the body of her former lover. She quickly notices it’s more the sight of a murder than the sight of an overdose (as it’s stagged to look) and she takes off to figure out what happened.
The story is dark, and noir in vibes and style. Dora is a exactly what you’d expect in that. She’s weirdly capable, supposedly an expert in security systems though we’re told this more than shown it. Additionally she’s hunted by clones as she proceeds in her investigation and that leads her to fighting, and well which seems to fight the type. She wouldn’t be someone I’d enjoy having tea with but she kept the story moving and at times showed real introspection and interesting thoughts.
The biggest issue I had with the book, and you’ll find it if you search enough reviews, is the romantic choice in the story. It was… bold. Uncomfortable and definitely not one I support, but bold. Besides that it was a bit on the predictable side and I wish we’d had a bit more nuance than what we got. It was very clear with it’s statements and used very standard story features to say those things.
It’ll definitely work for some but not if you’re opposed to the super noir and dark stories. If you’re interested give it a shot!
3 out of 5 Shady Big Corporations
These Fragile Graces, This Fugitive Heart is a tightly packed murder mystery novella about a woman solving the murder of her ex within the anarchist commune she used to call home. It’s been years since Dora left the commune but a friend brings her back to view the body of her former lover. She quickly notices it’s more the sight of a murder than the sight of an overdose (as it’s stagged to look) and she takes off to figure out what happened.
The story is dark, and noir in vibes and style. Dora is a exactly what you’d expect in that. She’s weirdly capable, supposedly an expert in security systems though we’re told this more than shown it. Additionally she’s hunted by clones as she proceeds in her investigation and that leads her to fighting, and well which seems to fight the type. She wouldn’t be someone I’d enjoy having tea with but she kept the story moving and at times showed real introspection and interesting thoughts.
The biggest issue I had with the book, and you’ll find it if you search enough reviews, is the romantic choice in the story. It was… bold. Uncomfortable and definitely not one I support, but bold. Besides that it was a bit on the predictable side and I wish we’d had a bit more nuance than what we got. It was very clear with it’s statements and used very standard story features to say those things.
It’ll definitely work for some but not if you’re opposed to the super noir and dark stories. If you’re interested give it a shot!
3 out of 5 Shady Big Corporations
December 29, 2024
1.5 stars for the story, 0.5 stars for the selfcest
the plot had a lot of promise but the way it was presented seemed so rushed and cliche (especially in the dialogues) but i read it, so that accounts for something
the plot had a lot of promise but the way it was presented seemed so rushed and cliche (especially in the dialogues) but i read it, so that accounts for something
December 29, 2024
As Wasserstein's debut novela, I could not be more pleased. The pacing, the twists, and the examination of the self vs the self in context leave me wanting more from her. I am so excited to see her writing career grow and I will be rereading this book anxiously in anticipation for whatever is next!
March 8, 2024
To see a full review check it out here.
How is Wassertstein this incredible?
How is Wassertstein this incredible?
February 25, 2025
Messy, kind, loving, angry. These are the words to describe this story and its protagonist, Dora. Ultimately lovely. -1 for some clarity issues in the writing. Awesome first novella!
April 29, 2024
Beautiful book and perfect length. Loved the characters and the questions the story brought up.
June 12, 2024
This was ok, but really it just made me want to watch Orphan Black again. I don’t understand why the font was so large.
March 8, 2024
My favorite thing about this book was the hopeful sense of community despite the Dystopian Horrors, while also making space for the kinds of in-group bickering that can result from too many idealistic people in one space.
August 4, 2024
This was a great post apocalyptic cyber murder mystery novella. Another gem from my local indie bookstore.
February 26, 2024
Very interesting cyberpunk thriller novella made even better by its afterword on the exploration of transness and clones in the story
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews