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Alchemy
On International Women’s Day, several of the best writers in SF/F today reveal new stories inspired by the phrase “Nevertheless, she persisted”, raising their voice in response to a phrase originally meant to silence.
The stories were published by Tor.com all throughout the day of March 8th 2017.
The stories were published by Tor.com all throughout the day of March 8th 2017.
32 pages, ebook
First published March 8, 2017
79 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Vaughn
281 books4,545 followersCarrie Vaughn is the author more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories. She's best known for her New York Times bestselling series of novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk radio advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. In 2018, she won the Philip K. Dick Award for Bannerless, a post-apocalyptic murder mystery. She's published over 20 novels and 100 short stories, two of which have been finalists for the Hugo Award. She's a contributor to the Wild Cards series of shared world superhero books edited by George R. R. Martin and a graduate of the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop.
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
March 14, 2017
“You’ll never find what you’re looking for,” they told her. “Nevertheless,” she replied.
more excellent work by tor! this is a linked-theme story project where eleven authors took the now-immortalized sentences regarding elizabeth warren’s senate-floor bouncing: She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted and each structured a story around them. the stories themselves are really short, so i’m not going to write a proper review around them, but you should definitely check them out, and i’ve even left a load of links at the bottom to make it really easy for you. BOOM!
read more about the project here:
http://www.tor.com/2017/03/06/neverth...
links:
Our Faces, Radiant Sisters, Our Faces Full of Light! by Kameron Hurley
God Product by Alyssa Wong
Alchemy by Carrie Vaughn
Persephone by Seanan McGuire
Margot and Rosalind by Charlie Jane Anders
Astronaut by Maria Dahvana Headley
More than Nothing by Nisi Shawl
The Last of the Minotaur Wives by Brooke Bolander
The Jump Rope Rhyme by Jo Walton
Anabasis by Amal El-Mohtar
The Ordinary Woman and the Unquiet Emperor by Catherynne M. Valente
March 31, 2017
3.5 stars. This is another Tor short story, free online here, that is part of the "Nevertheless, She Persisted" set of flash fiction published March 8, 2017 on Tor.com. Review first posted on Fantasy Literature:
A woman toils away in a lab. Endless lab experiments, countless hours of study, discouraging words from those around her. Yet she persists in seeking for the breakthrough. “Alchemy” has some beautiful imagery:
A woman toils away in a lab. Endless lab experiments, countless hours of study, discouraging words from those around her. Yet she persists in seeking for the breakthrough. “Alchemy” has some beautiful imagery:
She had patience. The patience of stones worn away by wind and water, of continents creeping into one another to create mountains, of crystals growing in dark places. The patience of a planet caught in orbit around a sun that would last ten billion years before burning it all back to stardust.This is very flash-fictiony, but a lovely little read.
She longed to be stardust.
March 30, 2017
She longed to be stardust.
3.5 stars.
Reminiscent thematically of another story in this series, "Astronaut," Carrie Vaughan has crafted a very short tale about the rewards of hard work, persistence, perseverance, and patience. A bit of length could have added stars to this because though it was good, I don't think it has a lot of staying power. Though it does contain some striking and beautiful writing. Writing which makes me interested in her other stories and/or novels.
A woman spends countless hours studying and working on alchemy and chemistry, trying for a new discovery. A nice little gem about the fruits of labor, and gender equality.
This is the seventh story I've read in the "Neverthless, she persisted" series for International Women's Day on tor.com
3.5 stars.
Reminiscent thematically of another story in this series, "Astronaut," Carrie Vaughan has crafted a very short tale about the rewards of hard work, persistence, perseverance, and patience. A bit of length could have added stars to this because though it was good, I don't think it has a lot of staying power. Though it does contain some striking and beautiful writing. Writing which makes me interested in her other stories and/or novels.
A woman spends countless hours studying and working on alchemy and chemistry, trying for a new discovery. A nice little gem about the fruits of labor, and gender equality.
This is the seventh story I've read in the "Neverthless, she persisted" series for International Women's Day on tor.com
December 29, 2020
Alchemy is well written but kind of short. You don't really get to get into the story and it just feels like you read a glimpse of the actual story.
March 24, 2017
While I avidly believe the 'discovery' should be left a blank,
these words took my breath away.
She had patience. The patience of stones worn away by wind and water, of continents creeping into one another to create mountains, of crystals growing in dark places. The patience of a planet caught in orbit around a sun that would last ten billion years before burning it all back to stardust.
She longed to be stardust.
So, all the stars.
these words took my breath away.
She had patience. The patience of stones worn away by wind and water, of continents creeping into one another to create mountains, of crystals growing in dark places. The patience of a planet caught in orbit around a sun that would last ten billion years before burning it all back to stardust.
She longed to be stardust.
So, all the stars.
October 16, 2021
Short stories do not often engage me at a five star level of excitement because they are either too short to whet an eager immersion, or too short to spark profound enthrallment. Readers agree that this Tor.com instalment of March 2017 is too short to sink into but its high quality craftsmanship sets Carrie Vaughn apart. The benefit to trying free short is being introduced to an authoress from whom I will happily read more. Honestly, it is praise to lament that “Alchemy” does not continue past a tantalizing outcome to what may occur next. That is why I have given three stars to fine writing that is a cut above the rest.
I am glad I was taught as a child to thumb my nose at peer pressure. Naysayers abound. No one knows better than folks who are spiritual instead of religious and vegetarians whose cats are their kids. Non-conformance is hard enough. Carrie shows us the story of an ambitious scientist, undaunted by shallow bystanders claiming that her special project could not work. She ignores infantile behaviour from adults at a university. The more doubt there is, won’t the victory be much more sweet?
Relatable scenarios entail an indomitable inventor we would cherish as a colleague or friend but the highlight is immersion into the texture of Carrie’s voice washing over us. We root for her scientist, relishing the glory that we wanted her to achieve. Reviewers favoured the same poetic quote but I loved different images.
“She piled books and notes around her, a sort of fence to claim her space”.
“One day, after the burette had dripped its liquid out - there in the bottom of a ceramic dish rested a particle. It was late and she was alone and so the moment was all hers”.
I am glad I was taught as a child to thumb my nose at peer pressure. Naysayers abound. No one knows better than folks who are spiritual instead of religious and vegetarians whose cats are their kids. Non-conformance is hard enough. Carrie shows us the story of an ambitious scientist, undaunted by shallow bystanders claiming that her special project could not work. She ignores infantile behaviour from adults at a university. The more doubt there is, won’t the victory be much more sweet?
Relatable scenarios entail an indomitable inventor we would cherish as a colleague or friend but the highlight is immersion into the texture of Carrie’s voice washing over us. We root for her scientist, relishing the glory that we wanted her to achieve. Reviewers favoured the same poetic quote but I loved different images.
“She piled books and notes around her, a sort of fence to claim her space”.
“One day, after the burette had dripped its liquid out - there in the bottom of a ceramic dish rested a particle. It was late and she was alone and so the moment was all hers”.
February 21, 2018
Pretty relevant in how the main character was treated by her peers.
February 10, 2019
Alchemy by Carrie Vaughn. Nevertheless, she persisted... About not giving up in the face of active opposition.
A short five pages, can be found here: https://www.tor.com/2017/03/08/alchem...
A short five pages, can be found here: https://www.tor.com/2017/03/08/alchem...
July 2, 2017
Fun little nugget of a story included in the anthology Nevertheless, She Persisted. Each story had to include that particular line, and here Vaughn certainly lives up to it.
August 12, 2018
For International Women's Day some science fiction authors wrote stories inspired by the phrase “She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." This piece of flash fiction was about a woman working tirelessly in lab, trying again and again even through the doubt and whispers.
March 16, 2017
I am loving the Nevertheless, She Persisted collection from Tor.com, but this one packed far less of a punch than the first two.
January 27, 2021
Though well-written, this little story is a very on the nose fable about the value of hard work amid adversity.
She longed to be stardust.
In this tale we have a scientist - implied to be the only woman scientist at the unnamed institution where she works - who toils day and night to achieve her goal. Her colleagues sneer at her. She keeps her ultimate goal a secret because she knows they would not understand and would try to dissuade her. It could be viewed as a comment on misogyny in the workplace, but I didn't feel as connected to this story as others - there just isn't enough going on. This story did not pack the same punch as the others, especially since the ending is given away by the title.
She had patience. The patience of stones worn away by wind and water, of continents creeping into one another to create mountains, of crystals growing in dark places. The patience of a planet caught in orbit around a sun that would last ten billion years before burning it all back to stardust.
This story was forgettable but well-written, so I would love to read more by this author.
She longed to be stardust.
In this tale we have a scientist - implied to be the only woman scientist at the unnamed institution where she works - who toils day and night to achieve her goal. Her colleagues sneer at her. She keeps her ultimate goal a secret because she knows they would not understand and would try to dissuade her. It could be viewed as a comment on misogyny in the workplace, but I didn't feel as connected to this story as others - there just isn't enough going on. This story did not pack the same punch as the others, especially since the ending is given away by the title.
She had patience. The patience of stones worn away by wind and water, of continents creeping into one another to create mountains, of crystals growing in dark places. The patience of a planet caught in orbit around a sun that would last ten billion years before burning it all back to stardust.
This story was forgettable but well-written, so I would love to read more by this author.
November 8, 2018
"She had patience. The patience of stones worn away by wind and water, of continents creeping into one another to create mountains, of crystals growing in dark places. The patience of a planet caught in orbit around a sun that would last ten billion years before burning it all back to stardust.
She longed to be stardust."
This one is another call out story of misogyny. Whooohooohh
December 28, 2017
“What are you looking for?” “The secrets of the universe,” she said, speaking in riddles because if she revealed the truth they would tell her she was doing it wrong. They would explain until she wanted to scream, but she never did. Patience. Practice.
January 3, 2018
She had patience. The patience of stones worn away by wind and water, of continents creeping into one another to create mountains, of crystals growing in dark places. The patience of a planet caught in orbit around a sun that would last ten billion years before burning it all back to stardust.
She longed to be stardust.
i initially wanted to give this a 4, because the writing is quite excellent.
however, the story itself wasn't memorable in the slightest, and the title is wholly unimaginative and obvious and lessens any effect the ending of the story might have had under a different title.
She longed to be stardust.
i initially wanted to give this a 4, because the writing is quite excellent.
however, the story itself wasn't memorable in the slightest, and the title is wholly unimaginative and obvious and lessens any effect the ending of the story might have had under a different title.
April 25, 2022
Read here
From a 2017 project/collection of sci-fi/fantasy flash fiction on TOR - https://www.tor.com/series/neverthele...
From a 2017 project/collection of sci-fi/fantasy flash fiction on TOR - https://www.tor.com/series/neverthele...
January 11, 2018
Competent.
November 9, 2018
I'm really liking this series of little allegories and vignettes in response to the phrase "Nevertheless, she persisted."
October 17, 2020
Fairly wholesome and feelgood little short with some lovely writing.
September 7, 2021
Một trong 11 truyện ngắn tham gia sự kiện chúc mừng 8/3 của Tor. Tất cả đều do cây bút nữ viết, có nhân vật chính là nữ, và lấy cảm hứng từ 3 câu "She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted." (Cô đã được cảnh báo. Cô đã được giải thích. Tuy vậy, cô vẫn dấn thân." Các truyện này đều quá ngắn (hoàn toàn có thể đọc xong trong 5p) để giới thiệu mà không spoil mất nội dung.
Với cốt truyện đơn giản đến độ có thể tóm lại trong một câu, tác giả cần thủ pháp thực viết tốt để bù lại. Đáng tiếc là văn phong của truyện ngắn này không có sức nặng như thế. Tuy vậy, các tác phẩm sau này của Carrie Vaughn có sự tiến bộ đáng kể.
Với cốt truyện đơn giản đến độ có thể tóm lại trong một câu, tác giả cần thủ pháp thực viết tốt để bù lại. Đáng tiếc là văn phong của truyện ngắn này không có sức nặng như thế. Tuy vậy, các tác phẩm sau này của Carrie Vaughn có sự tiến bộ đáng kể.
December 19, 2022
Short story advent utilising tordotcom free fiction 18/25
March 28, 2017
very short but complete story
March 29, 2017
I can perfectly understand why someone would like the story, but for me it held no surprise; it was predictable and, frankly, I was more than a little disappointed to read the last word of the story and find out what was the aim of the heroine's quest...
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews