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Uncanny Magazine #62
Uncanny Magazine Issue 62: January/February 2025
The January/February 2025 issue of Hugo Award-winning Uncanny Magazine.
Featuring new fiction by Scott Lynch, J.R. Dawson, Tia Tashiro, Tade Thompson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Rati Mehrotra, and AnaMaria Curtis. Essays by Nicholas Whyte, Ai Jiang, A.T. Greenblatt, and Suzanne Walker, poetry by Kaliee Pedersen, Mari Ness, Shankar Narayan, and E. N. Díaz, interviews with Scott Lynch and Rati Mehotra by Caroline M. Yoachim, a cover by Maxine Vee, and an editorial by Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas.
Uncanny Magazine is a bimonthly science fiction and fantasy magazine first published in November 2014. Edited by 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 Hugo award winners for best semiprozine, and 2018 Hugo award winners for Best Editor, Short Form, Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas, Betsy Aoki, and Monte Lin, each issue of Uncanny includes new stories, poetry, articles, and interviews.
Featuring new fiction by Scott Lynch, J.R. Dawson, Tia Tashiro, Tade Thompson, Mary Robinette Kowal, Rati Mehrotra, and AnaMaria Curtis. Essays by Nicholas Whyte, Ai Jiang, A.T. Greenblatt, and Suzanne Walker, poetry by Kaliee Pedersen, Mari Ness, Shankar Narayan, and E. N. Díaz, interviews with Scott Lynch and Rati Mehotra by Caroline M. Yoachim, a cover by Maxine Vee, and an editorial by Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas.
Uncanny Magazine is a bimonthly science fiction and fantasy magazine first published in November 2014. Edited by 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023 Hugo award winners for best semiprozine, and 2018 Hugo award winners for Best Editor, Short Form, Lynne M. Thomas and Michael Damian Thomas, Betsy Aoki, and Monte Lin, each issue of Uncanny includes new stories, poetry, articles, and interviews.
181 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2025
9 people are currently reading
15 people want to read
About the author
Scott Lynch
61 books27k followersI was born in St. Paul, Minnesota on April 2, 1978, the first of three brothers. I've lived in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area my entire life; currently, just across the border in Wisconsin, about half an hour east of the Twin Cities.
The Lies of Locke Lamora, my first novel, was bought by Simon Spanton at Orion Books in August, 2004. Prior to that I had just about every job you usually see in this sort of author bio-- dishwasher, busboy, waiter, web designer, office manager, prep cook, and freelance writer. I trained in basic firefighting at Anoka Technical College in 2005, and became a volunteer firefighter in June of that year.
In 2007 The Lies of Locke Lamora was a World Fantasy Award finalist.
In 2008 I received the Sydney J. Bounds Best Newcomer Award from the British Fantasy Society.
In 2010, I lost a marriage but gained a cat, a charming ball of ego and fuzz known as Muse (Musicus Maximus Butthead Rex I).
My partner, the lovely and critically acclaimed SF/F writer Elizabeth Bear, lives in Massachusetts.
The Lies of Locke Lamora, my first novel, was bought by Simon Spanton at Orion Books in August, 2004. Prior to that I had just about every job you usually see in this sort of author bio-- dishwasher, busboy, waiter, web designer, office manager, prep cook, and freelance writer. I trained in basic firefighting at Anoka Technical College in 2005, and became a volunteer firefighter in June of that year.
In 2007 The Lies of Locke Lamora was a World Fantasy Award finalist.
In 2008 I received the Sydney J. Bounds Best Newcomer Award from the British Fantasy Society.
In 2010, I lost a marriage but gained a cat, a charming ball of ego and fuzz known as Muse (Musicus Maximus Butthead Rex I).
My partner, the lovely and critically acclaimed SF/F writer Elizabeth Bear, lives in Massachusetts.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
February 6, 2025
Pretty solid issue overall. My favorite story was "Six People to Revise You" by JR Dawson.
September 29, 2025
Overall this was an amusing issue. There were more stories in it that I like than the ones I didn't, though it was still hit or miss. The essays and poems were fun and quick reads as well, but I didn't write detailed notes on them.
FICTION
For Whom the Hair Grows by Tia Tashiro
I loved this story! I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling, and this was one of the best I've read in recent years. It takes the Rapunzel story and gives it a twist I've never seen before, and it was lovely.
Six People to Revise You by J.R. Dawson
Neat but also a bit bleak look at a near future where you can change yourself to be happier based on what your friends and coworkers (and a... we'll say non-friend) say you need to improve. I didn't expect the ending, but it was perfect. This one was more of a character story than a SF story, but it was a really good character study.
Your Personalized Guide to the Museum of the Lost and Found by AnaMaria Curtis
This is a really neat way to tell a story of loss and the quest for forgiveness. I love a good redemption story, but I’ve never read one quite like this before. I enjoyed it.
Kaiju Agonistes by Scott Lynch
This started as a fun story about a kaiju that, like Godzilla, developed in part to due the USA's atomic bomb usage in WWII. However... it's a novelette and it just felt way too long. The concept was really neat, and the kaiju's background was something I wanted to explore more, but the length seemed mostly padded out by politicians talking about bombing the creature and lots of posturing. Accurate, sure, but too long.
Men with Tails by Rati Mehrotra
I kind-of understand this story as a feminist power / duplicity of men story, but I think there also might be much more here that I don't understand. I don't share a cultural heritage with the author, and it feels like there's a different mythology being referenced than the ones I'm used to. I enjoyed the story, but it felt like my enjoyment & understanding was all surface-level. It seemed there was more depth to this story than I could access.
With Her Serpent Locks by Mary Robinette Kowal
I did not expect the turn this one took! It was fun to see a characters from Greek mythology reimagined in a different way.
The Flaming Embusen by Tade Thompson
I want a full novel (or at least a novella) set in this world. It is fascinating worldbuilding, and this short story, while neat, was not long enough to satisfy my interest in the world.
----------
The poems from this issue are listed here for reference. I'm not going to add my thoughts on these pieces, though, just the short stories.
POETRY
Care for Lightning by Mari Ness
Nymph by Kailee Pedersen
Love Letter in Cobra Pose by Shankar Narayan
Cassandra by E. N. Díaz
FICTION
For Whom the Hair Grows by Tia Tashiro
I loved this story! I'm a sucker for a good fairy tale retelling, and this was one of the best I've read in recent years. It takes the Rapunzel story and gives it a twist I've never seen before, and it was lovely.
Six People to Revise You by J.R. Dawson
Neat but also a bit bleak look at a near future where you can change yourself to be happier based on what your friends and coworkers (and a... we'll say non-friend) say you need to improve. I didn't expect the ending, but it was perfect. This one was more of a character story than a SF story, but it was a really good character study.
Your Personalized Guide to the Museum of the Lost and Found by AnaMaria Curtis
This is a really neat way to tell a story of loss and the quest for forgiveness. I love a good redemption story, but I’ve never read one quite like this before. I enjoyed it.
Kaiju Agonistes by Scott Lynch
This started as a fun story about a kaiju that, like Godzilla, developed in part to due the USA's atomic bomb usage in WWII. However... it's a novelette and it just felt way too long. The concept was really neat, and the kaiju's background was something I wanted to explore more, but the length seemed mostly padded out by politicians talking about bombing the creature and lots of posturing. Accurate, sure, but too long.
Men with Tails by Rati Mehrotra
I kind-of understand this story as a feminist power / duplicity of men story, but I think there also might be much more here that I don't understand. I don't share a cultural heritage with the author, and it feels like there's a different mythology being referenced than the ones I'm used to. I enjoyed the story, but it felt like my enjoyment & understanding was all surface-level. It seemed there was more depth to this story than I could access.
With Her Serpent Locks by Mary Robinette Kowal
I did not expect the turn this one took! It was fun to see a characters from Greek mythology reimagined in a different way.
The Flaming Embusen by Tade Thompson
I want a full novel (or at least a novella) set in this world. It is fascinating worldbuilding, and this short story, while neat, was not long enough to satisfy my interest in the world.
----------
The poems from this issue are listed here for reference. I'm not going to add my thoughts on these pieces, though, just the short stories.
POETRY
Care for Lightning by Mari Ness
Nymph by Kailee Pedersen
Love Letter in Cobra Pose by Shankar Narayan
Cassandra by E. N. Díaz
Read
February 6, 2025Favorite story: Kaiju Agonistes
Also loved: Six People to Revise You
Also loved: Six People to Revise You
March 23, 2025
Goodreads keeps collapsing multiple short stories into the magazine they first appear in. So I'll just merge the various reviews together here.
• This review is for The Flaming Embusen by Tade Thompson
I had not read anything by this author, so I did not know what to expect.... I was in for a treat. The story is deep and exquisite, a very interesting reflection on personhood, ethics, and AGI... and implicitly on "race" and slavery. If it was for the ending that I found a little disappointing and confusing, it would be a solid 5 stars. I definitely want to read more by this author. (★★★★)
• This review is for Six People to Revise You by J.R. Dawson
I never read anything by this author before, but... I as blow away. It's by far one of the best short stories I read in years. It is not only extremely well-written, but it is also prefund. The story is set in a future where people can get "revisions" and change themselves. In order to do so, they need to collect notes from 6 people... I won't say more to avoid any spoiler... you should really read this one! It looks like the author has a high rated book out... I'll definitely read that soon. (★★★★★)
Overall:
• This review is for The Flaming Embusen by Tade Thompson
I had not read anything by this author, so I did not know what to expect.... I was in for a treat. The story is deep and exquisite, a very interesting reflection on personhood, ethics, and AGI... and implicitly on "race" and slavery. If it was for the ending that I found a little disappointing and confusing, it would be a solid 5 stars. I definitely want to read more by this author. (★★★★)
• This review is for Six People to Revise You by J.R. Dawson
I never read anything by this author before, but... I as blow away. It's by far one of the best short stories I read in years. It is not only extremely well-written, but it is also prefund. The story is set in a future where people can get "revisions" and change themselves. In order to do so, they need to collect notes from 6 people... I won't say more to avoid any spoiler... you should really read this one! It looks like the author has a high rated book out... I'll definitely read that soon. (★★★★★)
Overall:
February 4, 2025
Read Kaiju Agonistes.
February 10, 2025
Fantastic issue! My favorites were Kaiju Agonistes and Six People to Revise You, but all of these stories, poems, articles were solid and worth reading.
August 22, 2025
Six People to revise you 5 stars
Kaiju Agonistas 4 stars
Kaiju Agonistas 4 stars
read-short-stories
January 18, 2026Two short stories I liked a lot (For Whom the Hair Grows, With Her Serpent Locks), the rest was fine
September 27, 2025
For Whom the Hair Grows by Tia Tashiro:
It's Rapunzel retelling and very good one at that. Love, the unbreakable curse, realistic aging princess. Love it! 5 ⭐
Six People to Revise You by J.R. Dawson
1 ⭐
Your Personalized Guide to the Museum of the Lost and Found by AnaMaria Curtis
Not lost and found, I think, but mostly regret. Good one still. 4 ⭐
Kaiju Agonistes by Scott Lynch
maybe it's intended this way but it's hilarious that a sea monster question OUR tendency to be destructive. maybe humans are the monsters after all. 4 ⭐
Men with Tails by Rati Mehrotra
Extreme denial that cause hallucinations, but wrapped with neatly concealed monster-thing. 3 ⭐
With Her Serpent Locks by Mary Robinette Kowal
A literal serpent locks, as in Medusa's hair (only this time it's Euryale's). 3 ⭐
The Flaming Embusen by Tade Thompson
the old dilemma: should we recognize AI as sentient or as a mere tool. 2 ⭐
It's Rapunzel retelling and very good one at that. Love, the unbreakable curse, realistic aging princess. Love it! 5 ⭐
Six People to Revise You by J.R. Dawson
1 ⭐
Your Personalized Guide to the Museum of the Lost and Found by AnaMaria Curtis
Not lost and found, I think, but mostly regret. Good one still. 4 ⭐
Kaiju Agonistes by Scott Lynch
maybe it's intended this way but it's hilarious that a sea monster question OUR tendency to be destructive. maybe humans are the monsters after all. 4 ⭐
Men with Tails by Rati Mehrotra
Extreme denial that cause hallucinations, but wrapped with neatly concealed monster-thing. 3 ⭐
With Her Serpent Locks by Mary Robinette Kowal
A literal serpent locks, as in Medusa's hair (only this time it's Euryale's). 3 ⭐
The Flaming Embusen by Tade Thompson
the old dilemma: should we recognize AI as sentient or as a mere tool. 2 ⭐
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews