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Lightspeed Magazine, January 2018
LIGHTSPEED is an online science fiction and fantasy magazine. In its pages, you will find science fiction: from near-future, sociological soft SF, to far-future, star-spanning hard SF--and fantasy: from epic fantasy, sword-and-sorcery, and contemporary urban tales, to magical realism, science-fantasy, and folktales.
Our cover art this month is by Alan Bao, illustrating a new science fiction short by Adam-Troy Castro ("The Streets of Babel"). Susan Jane Bigelow gives us our other piece of original SF ("The Eyes of the Flood"). We also have with SF reprints by Catherynne M. Valente ("Golubash, or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy") and James Patrick Kelly ("Someday"). Our fantasy originals are from José Pablo Iriarte ("The Substance of My Lives, The Accidents of Our Birth") and Sarah Pinsker ("The Court Magician"). Our fantasy reprints are by Joanna Ruocco ("Auburn") and Roger Zelazny ("Divine Madness"). All that, and of course we also have our usual assortment of author spotlights, along with our book and media review columns, and an interview with author Fonda Lee. For our ebook readers, our exclusive novella is by Will McIntosh ("A Thousand Nights Till Morning"). And of course we have a book excerpt just for our ebook readers, too--it's a snippet from THE NIGHT MARKET by Jonathan Moore.
Our cover art this month is by Alan Bao, illustrating a new science fiction short by Adam-Troy Castro ("The Streets of Babel"). Susan Jane Bigelow gives us our other piece of original SF ("The Eyes of the Flood"). We also have with SF reprints by Catherynne M. Valente ("Golubash, or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy") and James Patrick Kelly ("Someday"). Our fantasy originals are from José Pablo Iriarte ("The Substance of My Lives, The Accidents of Our Birth") and Sarah Pinsker ("The Court Magician"). Our fantasy reprints are by Joanna Ruocco ("Auburn") and Roger Zelazny ("Divine Madness"). All that, and of course we also have our usual assortment of author spotlights, along with our book and media review columns, and an interview with author Fonda Lee. For our ebook readers, our exclusive novella is by Will McIntosh ("A Thousand Nights Till Morning"). And of course we have a book excerpt just for our ebook readers, too--it's a snippet from THE NIGHT MARKET by Jonathan Moore.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2018
3 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
John Joseph Adams
370 books989 followersJohn Joseph Adams is the series editor of BEST AMERICAN SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY. He is also the bestselling editor of many other anthologies, such as ROBOT UPRISINGS, DEAD MAN'S HAND, BRAVE NEW WORLDS,WASTELANDS, and THE LIVING DEAD. Recent and forthcoming books include WHAT THE #@&% IS THAT?, OPERATION ARCANA, PRESS START TO PLAY, LOOSED UPON THE WORLD, and THE APOCALYPSE TRIPTYCH (consisting of THE END IS NIGH, THE END IS NOW, and THE END HAS COME). Called “the reigning king of the anthology world” by Barnes & Noble, John is a two-time winner of the Hugo Award (for which he has been nominated nine times), is a seven-time World Fantasy Award finalist, and served as a judge for the 2015 National Book Award. John is also the editor and publisher of the digital magazines LIGHTSPEED and NIGHTMARE, and is a producer for Wired's THE GEEK'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY podcast. You can find him online at www.johnjosephadams.com and on Twitter @JohnJosephAdams.
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January 18, 2018
The January issue of Lightspeed has four slightly-better-than-average original stories (reviewed here), two of them SF and the other two fantasy, as usual. I always perk up a little when I see new stuff from Adam-Troy Castro and Sarah Pinsker, but I was mildly disappointed with their offerings here. Reprints are by Catherynne M. Valente, James Patrick Kelly, Joanna Ruocco, Roger Zelazny, and Will McIntosh (his excellent novella “A Thousand Nights Till Morning” from 2015). There is also an interview with Jade City author Fonda Lee, reviews of recent Tor novellas, and an excerpt from Jonathan Moore’s new novel The Night Market.
The first of the two original SF stories, “The Streets of Babel” by Adam-Troy Castro, is a swift, surreal odyssey where an Everyman-ish protagonist is propelled through an automated city that literally engineers and enforces conformity and productivity at a hurried pace. Adding to the cacophony and confusion is the fact that none of the inhabitants seem to speak the same language. A darkly funny, up-tempo allegory for big city life, delivered in sharp and measured prose by one of science fiction’s more expert and astute writers. Written as a kind of long-form joke – complete with punchline – with a deliberately generic protagonist and anonymized setting, I was amused by it but never truly engrossed or affected. My favorite story in this issue’s crop of originals, but not by much.
The second SF tale is Susan Jane Bigelow’s “The Eyes of the Flood”, which successfully maintains an eerie atmosphere from start to finish. It’s a mood piece set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where the unnamed protagonist searches for contact with fellow survivors, all the while feeling as though something uncanny is watching her every move. Character development is minimal, and in place of a plot, the story is built around the eventual reveal of the second-person narrator’s identity. That final twist is predictable, and strains the internal logic of the world Bigelow constructs. There is some effective descriptive prose here, so it is readable despite its flaws.
José Pablo Iriarte’s “The Substance of My Lives, the Accident of Our Births” has an instantly captivating story hook: Jamie is a teenager who can remember all their past lives, and discovers that the person who was convicted of murdering their previous incarnation has just been released from prison and is living nearby. Jamie is an interesting and engaging protagonist; because they have switched genders so many times, they have no use for gender distinctions – they feel like both a boy and a girl and is the only person in the story who doesn’t find this at all confusing. The suspension of disbelief required to swallow the premise – not only is Jamie coincidentally born and raised in the same city as their most recent past life, but also has a similar-sounding name (Janie) and looks almost identical to them despite having no genetic relation – is not so much the problem as where the story ends up, with Jamie resorting to some disingenuous and manipulative tactics to achieve their goal. It’s an easy way out for both the character and the author, and it left me with a sour taste for a story that had otherwise built up plenty of good will.
The final story is “The Court Magician”, by one of my favorite short fiction authors, Sarah Pinsker. A common boy is chosen to be the next court magician, an occupation that takes a precise and measurable toll on the individual selected for it. The Court Magician has a single duty: when the Regent has a problem, the Magician says the magic word and the problem disappears. However, when the problem disappears, so too does something of the Magician’s – a finger, a toe, an eye, or, more disturbingly, something or someone the Magician loves. The obvious allegory – that people who benefit from structures of power can escape the consequences of their actions while the less fortunate suffer – is effectively conveyed, if a little on the nose. One of the things that makes Pinsker such a brilliant short fiction writer is her ability to make a story feel both sweeping and intimate in compact spaces, but “The Court Magician” falters a bit on the intimate side. Our identification with the protagonist is assumed rather than earned and an emotional connection is never made. Pinkser’s stories are usually about a protagonist who is willing to fall all the way down the rabbit hole of their choosing, though in this case the consequences are dark and depressing, rather than triumphantly cathartic. It is possible this schism is responsible for my lukewarm response to the story, for the story’s failure get me invested in its tragic hero. Whatever the reason, like the other originals in this issue it just misses getting my recommendation.
The first of the two original SF stories, “The Streets of Babel” by Adam-Troy Castro, is a swift, surreal odyssey where an Everyman-ish protagonist is propelled through an automated city that literally engineers and enforces conformity and productivity at a hurried pace. Adding to the cacophony and confusion is the fact that none of the inhabitants seem to speak the same language. A darkly funny, up-tempo allegory for big city life, delivered in sharp and measured prose by one of science fiction’s more expert and astute writers. Written as a kind of long-form joke – complete with punchline – with a deliberately generic protagonist and anonymized setting, I was amused by it but never truly engrossed or affected. My favorite story in this issue’s crop of originals, but not by much.
The second SF tale is Susan Jane Bigelow’s “The Eyes of the Flood”, which successfully maintains an eerie atmosphere from start to finish. It’s a mood piece set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland where the unnamed protagonist searches for contact with fellow survivors, all the while feeling as though something uncanny is watching her every move. Character development is minimal, and in place of a plot, the story is built around the eventual reveal of the second-person narrator’s identity. That final twist is predictable, and strains the internal logic of the world Bigelow constructs. There is some effective descriptive prose here, so it is readable despite its flaws.
José Pablo Iriarte’s “The Substance of My Lives, the Accident of Our Births” has an instantly captivating story hook: Jamie is a teenager who can remember all their past lives, and discovers that the person who was convicted of murdering their previous incarnation has just been released from prison and is living nearby. Jamie is an interesting and engaging protagonist; because they have switched genders so many times, they have no use for gender distinctions – they feel like both a boy and a girl and is the only person in the story who doesn’t find this at all confusing. The suspension of disbelief required to swallow the premise – not only is Jamie coincidentally born and raised in the same city as their most recent past life, but also has a similar-sounding name (Janie) and looks almost identical to them despite having no genetic relation – is not so much the problem as where the story ends up, with Jamie resorting to some disingenuous and manipulative tactics to achieve their goal. It’s an easy way out for both the character and the author, and it left me with a sour taste for a story that had otherwise built up plenty of good will.
The final story is “The Court Magician”, by one of my favorite short fiction authors, Sarah Pinsker. A common boy is chosen to be the next court magician, an occupation that takes a precise and measurable toll on the individual selected for it. The Court Magician has a single duty: when the Regent has a problem, the Magician says the magic word and the problem disappears. However, when the problem disappears, so too does something of the Magician’s – a finger, a toe, an eye, or, more disturbingly, something or someone the Magician loves. The obvious allegory – that people who benefit from structures of power can escape the consequences of their actions while the less fortunate suffer – is effectively conveyed, if a little on the nose. One of the things that makes Pinsker such a brilliant short fiction writer is her ability to make a story feel both sweeping and intimate in compact spaces, but “The Court Magician” falters a bit on the intimate side. Our identification with the protagonist is assumed rather than earned and an emotional connection is never made. Pinkser’s stories are usually about a protagonist who is willing to fall all the way down the rabbit hole of their choosing, though in this case the consequences are dark and depressing, rather than triumphantly cathartic. It is possible this schism is responsible for my lukewarm response to the story, for the story’s failure get me invested in its tragic hero. Whatever the reason, like the other originals in this issue it just misses getting my recommendation.
May 25, 2020
Golubash, Or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy
by Catherynne M. Valente
The struggles of a little winery that faces an almighty competitor and has to go the extra mile to survive in an uneven playing field and in a world that is ultimately consumed by war.
Set in the far future, on distant worlds, Valente tells her tale of a persistent family of vintners as the narrator presents several wines from the 26nd to 29th century to the reader and recounts their individual stories.
Thematically this 2009 short story, which Valente described as her first foray into science-fiction, was not my cup of tea (or glass of wine?). And a confusing number of names thrown in without a proper preface made it sometimes a little hard to read.
At the same time, it is very clear that Catherynne Valente is a special writer. Her beautiful prose is so fitting for the subject matter and it made me enjoy the story in spite of the difficulties I encountered.
Can be read for free using this link.
Interview with the author about the story: http://www.johnjosephadams.com/federa...
The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births
by José Pablo Iriarte
Not sure Lightspeed Magazine chose the right picture for this one, as this is not a horror story. Death does play a role though.
Jamie is a 16 year old transgender who has lived several lives already. They vaguely remember those former lives, which is something that will become an important part of the story.
Jamie has to deal with being bullied by classmates and also with their confusing feelings for their friend Alicia, who herself is a lesbian.
One day Jamie is in trouble with some bullies again and a new resident of their trailer park intervenes. That guy, though, Jamie remembers very well. Because he was convicted for murdering Jamie in one of their former lives.
The plot revolves around how Jamie is dealing with the knowledge of their former lives as memories begin to get clearer and clearer. With Jamie's and Alicia's relationship being the other focal point of the story.
I was missing a little more depth or something more special about the writing to give this a higher rating. But it was a nice story to spend an hour with.
Quick and easy read. Enjoyed it.
Nebula 2018 finalist for Best Novelette.
You can read it for yourself here.
Interview with the author about the story (contains spoilers!): http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/non...
The Court Magician
by Sarah Pinsker
The story of a young boy with a hunger to learn magic. Or is it just tricks?
Either way, he's taken to the court where he's supposed to become the Court Magician.
His task is to let the Regent's problems disappear, which he does with the utterance of a single word. There's a price to pay, though. And it's not the Regent who's paying it, but the Court Magician. Every time he lets something disappear that troubles the Regent there's also something disappearing that's important to the Court Magician himself. So why does he keep doing it?
The answer to that question is one of the several morals to be taken away from that story. Some of them I liked and one of them I didn't. But it's really best you find out for yourself.
You can read it here.
Nebula 2018 and Hugo 2019 finalist for Best Short Story.
Interview with the author, who has a strong opinion about the current US presidency. Who doesn't?! But it has something to do with that story as well. Again, I advise to read the interview only after you've read the story.
http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/non...
So that's three times three stars then. These three stories all offered something different that I liked, but none of them managed to put it all together. I think Sarah Pinsker's story is the one most likely to win any awards.
_________________
Best Novel
• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)
• The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager US; Harper Voyager UK)
• Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller (Ecco; Orbit UK)
• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (Del Rey; Macmillan)
• Witchmark by C.L. Polk (Tor.com Publishing)
• Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
Best Novella
• Fire Ant by Jonathan P. Brazee (Semper Fi)
• The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com Publishing)
• The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean)
• Alice Payne Arrives by Kate Heartfield (Tor.com Publishing)
• Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach by Kelly Robson (Tor.com Publishing)
• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com Publishing)
• The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections by Tina Connolly (Tor.com 7/11/18)
• An Agent of Utopia by Andy Duncan (An Agent of Utopia)
• The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births by José Pablo Iriarte (Lightspeed 1/18)
• The Rule of Three by Lawrence M. Schoen (Future Science Fiction Digest 12/18)
• Messenger by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne and R.R. Virdi (Expanding Universe, Volume 4)
Best Short Story
• Interview for the End of the World by Rhett C. Bruno (Bridge Across the Stars)
• The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by Phenderson Djèlí Clark (Fireside 2/18)
• Going Dark by Richard Fox (Backblast Area Clear)
• And Yet by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 3-4/18)
• A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow (Apex 2/6/18)
• The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed 1/18)
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan)
• Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (Rick Riordan Presents)
• A Light in the Dark by A.K. Du Boff (BDL)
• Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman (Random House)
• Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien (Henry Holt)
____________________________
Best Novel
• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
• Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
• Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee
• Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente
• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
• Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
Best Novella
• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
• Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire
• Binti: The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor
• The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
• Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach by Kelly Robson
• The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard
Best Novelette
• If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again by Zen Cho (Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog)
• The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections by Tina Connolly (Tor.com)
• Nine Last Days on Planet Earth by Daryl Gregory (Tor.com)
• The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com)
• The Thing About Ghost Stories by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine)
• When We Were Starless by Simone Heller (Clarkesworld Magazine)
Best Short Story
• The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed Magazine)
• The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine)
• The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by P. Djèlí Clark (Fireside Magazine)
• STET by Sarah Gailey (Fireside Magazine)
• The Tale of the Three Beautiful Raptor Sisters, and the Prince Who Was Made of Meat by Brooke Bolander (Uncanny Magazine)
• A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow (Apex Magazine)
Best Series
• The Centenal Cycle by Malka Older
• The Laundry Files by Charles Stross
• Machineries of Empire by Yoon Ha Lee
• The October Daye Series by Seanan McGuire
• The Universe of Xuya by Aliette de Bodard
• Wayfarers by Becky Chambers
Best Graphic Story
• Abbott, written by Saladin Ahmed, art by Sami Kivelä, colors by Jason Wordie, letters by Jim Campbell
• Black Panther: Long Live the King, written by Nnedi Okorafor and Aaron Covington, art by André Lima Araújo, Mario Del Pennino, and Tana Ford
• Monstress, Volume 3: Haven, written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda
• On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
• Paper Girls, Volume 4 , written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Cliff Chiang, colors by Matt Wilson, letters by Jared K. Fletcher
• Saga, Volume 9, written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples
Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan Children’s Books)
• The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton (Freeform / Gollancz)
• The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (Little, Brown / Hot Key Books)
• Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• The Invasion by Peadar O’Guilin (David Fickling Books / Scholastic)
• Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman (Random House / Penguin Teen)
by Catherynne M. Valente
The difficulties of transporting wine over interstellar distances are manifold. Wine is, after all, like a child. It can bruise. It can suffer trauma—sometimes the poor creature can recover; sometimes it must be locked up in a cellar until it learns to behave itself. Sometimes it is irredeemable. I ask that you greet the seven glasses before you tonight not as simple fermented grapes, but as the living creatures they are, well-brought up, indulged but not coddled, punished when necessary, shyly seeking your approval with clasped hands and slicked hair. After all, they have come so very far for the chance to be loved.
The struggles of a little winery that faces an almighty competitor and has to go the extra mile to survive in an uneven playing field and in a world that is ultimately consumed by war.
Set in the far future, on distant worlds, Valente tells her tale of a persistent family of vintners as the narrator presents several wines from the 26nd to 29th century to the reader and recounts their individual stories.
Thematically this 2009 short story, which Valente described as her first foray into science-fiction, was not my cup of tea (or glass of wine?). And a confusing number of names thrown in without a proper preface made it sometimes a little hard to read.
At the same time, it is very clear that Catherynne Valente is a special writer. Her beautiful prose is so fitting for the subject matter and it made me enjoy the story in spite of the difficulties I encountered.
Can be read for free using this link.
Interview with the author about the story: http://www.johnjosephadams.com/federa...
The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births
by José Pablo Iriarte
Not sure Lightspeed Magazine chose the right picture for this one, as this is not a horror story. Death does play a role though.
Jamie is a 16 year old transgender who has lived several lives already. They vaguely remember those former lives, which is something that will become an important part of the story.
Jamie has to deal with being bullied by classmates and also with their confusing feelings for their friend Alicia, who herself is a lesbian.
One day Jamie is in trouble with some bullies again and a new resident of their trailer park intervenes. That guy, though, Jamie remembers very well. Because he was convicted for murdering Jamie in one of their former lives.
The plot revolves around how Jamie is dealing with the knowledge of their former lives as memories begin to get clearer and clearer. With Jamie's and Alicia's relationship being the other focal point of the story.
I was missing a little more depth or something more special about the writing to give this a higher rating. But it was a nice story to spend an hour with.
Quick and easy read. Enjoyed it.
Nebula 2018 finalist for Best Novelette.
You can read it for yourself here.
Interview with the author about the story (contains spoilers!): http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/non...
The Court Magician
by Sarah Pinsker
The story of a young boy with a hunger to learn magic. Or is it just tricks?
Either way, he's taken to the court where he's supposed to become the Court Magician.
His task is to let the Regent's problems disappear, which he does with the utterance of a single word. There's a price to pay, though. And it's not the Regent who's paying it, but the Court Magician. Every time he lets something disappear that troubles the Regent there's also something disappearing that's important to the Court Magician himself. So why does he keep doing it?
The answer to that question is one of the several morals to be taken away from that story. Some of them I liked and one of them I didn't. But it's really best you find out for yourself.
You can read it here.
Nebula 2018 and Hugo 2019 finalist for Best Short Story.
Interview with the author, who has a strong opinion about the current US presidency. Who doesn't?! But it has something to do with that story as well. Again, I advise to read the interview only after you've read the story.
http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/non...
So that's three times three stars then. These three stories all offered something different that I liked, but none of them managed to put it all together. I think Sarah Pinsker's story is the one most likely to win any awards.
_________________
2018 Nebula Award Finalists
Best Novel
• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal (Tor)
• The Poppy War by R.F. Kuang (Harper Voyager US; Harper Voyager UK)
• Blackfish City by Sam J. Miller (Ecco; Orbit UK)
• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (Del Rey; Macmillan)
• Witchmark by C.L. Polk (Tor.com Publishing)
• Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
Best Novella
• Fire Ant by Jonathan P. Brazee (Semper Fi)
• The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark (Tor.com Publishing)
• The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean)
• Alice Payne Arrives by Kate Heartfield (Tor.com Publishing)
• Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach by Kelly Robson (Tor.com Publishing)
• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells (Tor.com Publishing)
Best Novelette
• The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com Publishing)
• The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections by Tina Connolly (Tor.com 7/11/18)
• An Agent of Utopia by Andy Duncan (An Agent of Utopia)
• The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births by José Pablo Iriarte (Lightspeed 1/18)
• The Rule of Three by Lawrence M. Schoen (Future Science Fiction Digest 12/18)
• Messenger by Yudhanjaya Wijeratne and R.R. Virdi (Expanding Universe, Volume 4)
Best Short Story
• Interview for the End of the World by Rhett C. Bruno (Bridge Across the Stars)
• The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by Phenderson Djèlí Clark (Fireside 2/18)
• Going Dark by Richard Fox (Backblast Area Clear)
• And Yet by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 3-4/18)
• A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow (Apex 2/6/18)
• The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed 1/18)
Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan)
• Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi (Rick Riordan Presents)
• A Light in the Dark by A.K. Du Boff (BDL)
• Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman (Random House)
• Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• Peasprout Chen: Future Legend of Skate and Sword by Henry Lien (Henry Holt)
____________________________
2019 Hugo Award Finalists
Best Novel
• The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal
• Record of a Spaceborn Few by Becky Chambers
• Revenant Gun by Yoon Ha Lee
• Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente
• Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik
• Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse
Best Novella
• Artificial Condition by Martha Wells
• Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire
• Binti: The Night Masquerade by Nnedi Okorafor
• The Black God’s Drums by P. Djèlí Clark
• Gods, Monsters, and the Lucky Peach by Kelly Robson
• The Tea Master and the Detective by Aliette de Bodard
Best Novelette
• If at First You Don’t Succeed, Try, Try Again by Zen Cho (Barnes & Noble Sci-Fi & Fantasy Blog)
• The Last Banquet of Temporal Confections by Tina Connolly (Tor.com)
• Nine Last Days on Planet Earth by Daryl Gregory (Tor.com)
• The Only Harmless Great Thing by Brooke Bolander (Tor.com)
• The Thing About Ghost Stories by Naomi Kritzer (Uncanny Magazine)
• When We Were Starless by Simone Heller (Clarkesworld Magazine)
Best Short Story
• The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker (Lightspeed Magazine)
• The Rose MacGregor Drinking and Admiration Society by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine)
• The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington by P. Djèlí Clark (Fireside Magazine)
• STET by Sarah Gailey (Fireside Magazine)
• The Tale of the Three Beautiful Raptor Sisters, and the Prince Who Was Made of Meat by Brooke Bolander (Uncanny Magazine)
• A Witch’s Guide To Escape: A Practical Compendium Of Portal Fantasies by Alix E. Harrow (Apex Magazine)
Best Series
• The Centenal Cycle by Malka Older
• The Laundry Files by Charles Stross
• Machineries of Empire by Yoon Ha Lee
• The October Daye Series by Seanan McGuire
• The Universe of Xuya by Aliette de Bodard
• Wayfarers by Becky Chambers
Best Graphic Story
• Abbott, written by Saladin Ahmed, art by Sami Kivelä, colors by Jason Wordie, letters by Jim Campbell
• Black Panther: Long Live the King, written by Nnedi Okorafor and Aaron Covington, art by André Lima Araújo, Mario Del Pennino, and Tana Ford
• Monstress, Volume 3: Haven, written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda
• On a Sunbeam by Tillie Walden
• Paper Girls, Volume 4 , written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Cliff Chiang, colors by Matt Wilson, letters by Jared K. Fletcher
• Saga, Volume 9, written by Brian K. Vaughan, art by Fiona Staples
Lodestar Award for Best Young Adult Book
• Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi (Henry Holt; Macmillan Children’s Books)
• The Belles by Dhonielle Clayton (Freeform / Gollancz)
• The Cruel Prince by Holly Black (Little, Brown / Hot Key Books)
• Dread Nation by Justina Ireland (Balzer + Bray)
• The Invasion by Peadar O’Guilin (David Fickling Books / Scholastic)
• Tess of the Road by Rachel Hartman (Random House / Penguin Teen)
May 28, 2019
Sarah Pinsker's "Court Magician": short, nasty little story about how far one might go to find out what's actually making a trick or magic work.
July 31, 2019
The Court Magician is a 2019 Hugo Awards finalist in the Best Short Story category.
I adore underdogs who set out to achieve whatever they dream of through sheer determination and persistence. I smile with glee when an author writes a story that lulls me into a sense of safety before pulling the rug from under me with a twist that is at once brutal and brilliant. I‘m surprised when an unnamed character finds their way into my heart in only a few short pages. I will always want to read about magic. I love that I enjoyed this story even more the second time I read it.
You can read this short story online here.
“The Guild is for magicians who feel the need to compete with each other. The Palace trains magicians who feel compelled to compete against themselves.”This story haunted me when I first read it a few months ago and I’m not sure why I only gave it ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ at the time. All day I’ve been bingeing on the finalists in this Hugo Award category and I purposely left this story to last, remembering how much I enjoyed it the first time I read it.
I adore underdogs who set out to achieve whatever they dream of through sheer determination and persistence. I smile with glee when an author writes a story that lulls me into a sense of safety before pulling the rug from under me with a twist that is at once brutal and brilliant. I‘m surprised when an unnamed character finds their way into my heart in only a few short pages. I will always want to read about magic. I love that I enjoyed this story even more the second time I read it.
You can read this short story online here.
May 1, 2019
The Court Magician, Sarah Pinsker, 7 pages, ★★★★☆
Read this when it was nominated for the Nebula and read it again now, after its Hugo nomination.
The question I see here in this story—what are we willing to sacrifice to gain a nicer life? And knowledge. Knowledge above all. Is the cost worth it? How far are we willing to go?
He craves that moment where the trick behind the thing is revealed to him, where it can be stripped of power and made ordinary.
Can be read for free here: http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...
Read this when it was nominated for the Nebula and read it again now, after its Hugo nomination.
The question I see here in this story—what are we willing to sacrifice to gain a nicer life? And knowledge. Knowledge above all. Is the cost worth it? How far are we willing to go?
He craves that moment where the trick behind the thing is revealed to him, where it can be stripped of power and made ordinary.
Can be read for free here: http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...
December 16, 2019
Merged review:
Rating solely for the Nebula-nominated fantasy"The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births"
by José Pablo Iriarte . Direct link: http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...
A boy who can remember his past lives meets his murderer. The story has some interesting twists, and the writing is first-rate. The logic of the premise is a bit shaky, and I don't really think it's Nebula-worthy. 3.6 stars
● "Someday" by James Patrick Kelly (science-fantasy). A 4-star story, that I first read in one of the Dozois Year's Best anthols. You should definitely read it. Especially if you are a Kelly fan. http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...
● "The Court Magician" (fantasy) by Sarah Pinsker. Another 2018 Nebula nominee, but this one didn't really catch my fancy. Poor guy! Skimmed. YMMV, http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...
More at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Rating solely for the Nebula-nominated fantasy"The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births"
by José Pablo Iriarte . Direct link: http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...
A boy who can remember his past lives meets his murderer. The story has some interesting twists, and the writing is first-rate. The logic of the premise is a bit shaky, and I don't really think it's Nebula-worthy. 3.6 stars
● "Someday" by James Patrick Kelly (science-fantasy). A 4-star story, that I first read in one of the Dozois Year's Best anthols. You should definitely read it. Especially if you are a Kelly fan. http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...
● "The Court Magician" (fantasy) by Sarah Pinsker. Another 2018 Nebula nominee, but this one didn't really catch my fancy. Poor guy! Skimmed. YMMV, http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...
More at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 22, 2019
I always love short stories with cool (and nasty) twists. :) This one fits that bill nicely. :)
There's always a trick. :)
Nommed for 2019 Hugo.
There's always a trick. :)
Nommed for 2019 Hugo.
February 21, 2019
Reviews for two stories only:
José Pablo Iriarte "The Substance of My Lives, The Accidents of Our Birth"
Simple, but sweet story about reincarnation. I liked the teenaged MC, their voice is really unique.
Sarah Pinsker "The Court Magician"
This is the best story I read from her so far. Magic (always) comes with a price. It's a tragic tale, with the usual good characterization and construction of the imaginary world.
José Pablo Iriarte "The Substance of My Lives, The Accidents of Our Birth"
Simple, but sweet story about reincarnation. I liked the teenaged MC, their voice is really unique.
Sarah Pinsker "The Court Magician"
This is the best story I read from her so far. Magic (always) comes with a price. It's a tragic tale, with the usual good characterization and construction of the imaginary world.
June 24, 2021
The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker
This story secretly grows on you.
This story secretly grows on you.
October 19, 2023
I only listened to the short story The Court Magician by Sarah Pinsker from this magazine collection through the LeVar Burton Reads podcast. In this dark fantasy story, a young street boy who shows promise is recruited to be the Court Magician for the local Regent. He is taught real magic vs sleight-of-hand tricks, but this new power comes with a heavy cost. Every time he utilizes real magic to benefit the Regent, he loses something dear to him- belongings, teeth, fingers and even those he loves. While he feels guilt for what he does and sorrow for what he loses, he preservers beyond what most would deem acceptable, and we see how he is but a pawn for a ruler who himself faces no consequences. The inequity of this arrangement will break your heart.
February 21, 2018
Cada vez disfruto más de leer relatos, y de escucharlos! En este numero me ha gustado especialmente :
Someday de James Patrick Kelly
( https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fi... )
The Court Magician de Sarah Pinsker
(http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...)
Otros relatos que me gustaría destacar son :
Golubash, Or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy de Catherine M Valente (http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...)
The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births José Pablo Iriarte
(http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...)
Lecturas muy diversas y interesantes.
Someday de James Patrick Kelly
( https://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fi... )
The Court Magician de Sarah Pinsker
(http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...)
Otros relatos que me gustaría destacar son :
Golubash, Or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy de Catherine M Valente (http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...)
The Substance of My Lives, the Accidents of Our Births José Pablo Iriarte
(http://www.lightspeedmagazine.com/fic...)
Lecturas muy diversas y interesantes.
May 17, 2019
“Would you like to learn real magic?” The boy snorts. “There’s no such thing.”
Excellent short story. As with the best of any genre, it is compact and forceful. Little fluff; lots of misdirection.
“The Guild is for magicians who feel the need to compete with each other. The Palace trains magicians who feel compelled to compete against themselves.” It’s perhaps the truest thing I’ll ever tell him.
Read it at one sitting; it’s short enough. Let yourself go to the power and flow of the narrator. It increases the final impact.
“Is magic only a trick I haven’t figured out yet?”
(2019 Hugo Short Story Ward finalist. Published in Lightspeed magazine. January 2018)
Merged review:
“Would you like to learn real magic?” The boy snorts. “There’s no such thing.”
Excellent short story. As with the best of any genre, it is compact and forceful. Little fluff; lots of misdirection.
“The Guild is for magicians who feel the need to compete with each other. The Palace trains magicians who feel compelled to compete against themselves.” It’s perhaps the truest thing I’ll ever tell him.
Read it at one sitting; it’s short enough. Let yourself go to the power and flow of the narrator. It increases the final impact.
“Is magic only a trick I haven’t figured out yet?”
(2019 Hugo Short Story Award finalist. Published in Lightspeed magazine. January 2018)
Excellent short story. As with the best of any genre, it is compact and forceful. Little fluff; lots of misdirection.
“The Guild is for magicians who feel the need to compete with each other. The Palace trains magicians who feel compelled to compete against themselves.” It’s perhaps the truest thing I’ll ever tell him.
Read it at one sitting; it’s short enough. Let yourself go to the power and flow of the narrator. It increases the final impact.
“Is magic only a trick I haven’t figured out yet?”
(2019 Hugo Short Story Ward finalist. Published in Lightspeed magazine. January 2018)
Merged review:
“Would you like to learn real magic?” The boy snorts. “There’s no such thing.”
Excellent short story. As with the best of any genre, it is compact and forceful. Little fluff; lots of misdirection.
“The Guild is for magicians who feel the need to compete with each other. The Palace trains magicians who feel compelled to compete against themselves.” It’s perhaps the truest thing I’ll ever tell him.
Read it at one sitting; it’s short enough. Let yourself go to the power and flow of the narrator. It increases the final impact.
“Is magic only a trick I haven’t figured out yet?”
(2019 Hugo Short Story Award finalist. Published in Lightspeed magazine. January 2018)
June 6, 2019
"The Court Magician" by Sarah Pinsker
This quiet, somewhat metaphorical story about the price of power left me feeling contemplative and melancholy.
I received this story as part of the 2019 Hugo Voters Packet.
This quiet, somewhat metaphorical story about the price of power left me feeling contemplative and melancholy.
I received this story as part of the 2019 Hugo Voters Packet.
April 30, 2019
A young boy from the streets is raised up to be court magician but it's a classic case of "careful what you wish for."
Other than STET, this the most disturbing of the Hugo nominated short stories for this year. Pinsker really plays with the cost of knowledge and the desire for power and the lengths to which it can lead a person, even if they're not cruel. Really enjoyed this and it might have been a favorite for Hugo if not for STET. It's still pretty high on my list for the Nebula short story nominees.
Other than STET, this the most disturbing of the Hugo nominated short stories for this year. Pinsker really plays with the cost of knowledge and the desire for power and the lengths to which it can lead a person, even if they're not cruel. Really enjoyed this and it might have been a favorite for Hugo if not for STET. It's still pretty high on my list for the Nebula short story nominees.
January 16, 2018
I read (actually, listened to) Adam-Troy Castro's SF story, The Streets of Babel. Terrifying but amazing! I can tell it's going to stick with me for a long time.
May 12, 2019
Placeholder for the story *The Court Magician* by Sarah Pinsker (Hugo & Nebula nominee 2019, short story).
I really liked this story and am looking forward to reading more from Pinsker!
I really liked this story and am looking forward to reading more from Pinsker!
April 2, 2019
This is a nominee for best short story for 2019 Hugo Awards and I had a 5-10 mins to spare so I figured i'd give it a read.
I was bored for the first 30%, intrigued by the next 50% and then let down by the ending. There's no reveal or "ending" really, it just kind of fizzles out. I did enjoy her writing style though
I was bored for the first 30%, intrigued by the next 50% and then let down by the ending. There's no reveal or "ending" really, it just kind of fizzles out. I did enjoy her writing style though
June 24, 2019
Summer 2019 (Hugo Award Nominee 2019 - Best Short Story);
While I was not overly impressed or in love with this one, I was very much driven to follow the plight of the character we are watching (which is very much not the narrator we're in the point of view of). I've always had a knack for liking to see how different worlds handle magic, and what the cost might be.
I loved the recurring question in the removal. Was it gone just from his sight, or gone from all of space and time? It's a beautiful and chilling thing to drive someone with that power, and conscious, and lack of cruelty, mad.
While I was not overly impressed or in love with this one, I was very much driven to follow the plight of the character we are watching (which is very much not the narrator we're in the point of view of). I've always had a knack for liking to see how different worlds handle magic, and what the cost might be.
I loved the recurring question in the removal. Was it gone just from his sight, or gone from all of space and time? It's a beautiful and chilling thing to drive someone with that power, and conscious, and lack of cruelty, mad.
September 7, 2022
This review is for The Court magician by José Pablo Iriarte.
I read The Court magician as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon, but I was already familiar with the Nebula award winner author, and I was looking forward reading it.
This short story focuses on the terrible cost of magic. The main character is someone that like many typical protagonists of fantasy novels has a very humble beginning (in this case a poor orphan), but manages to raise up to one of the highest ranks in the magical world (in this case, he becomes the court magician). This story focuses on the cost associated to such a post, that soon turns out to be a real curse.
This is an excellent short story and a worthy candidate for the Hugo award.
I read The Court magician as part of my Hugo 2019 finalists read-a-thon, but I was already familiar with the Nebula award winner author, and I was looking forward reading it.
This short story focuses on the terrible cost of magic. The main character is someone that like many typical protagonists of fantasy novels has a very humble beginning (in this case a poor orphan), but manages to raise up to one of the highest ranks in the magical world (in this case, he becomes the court magician). This story focuses on the cost associated to such a post, that soon turns out to be a real curse.
This is an excellent short story and a worthy candidate for the Hugo award.
January 6, 2026
The Court Magician - 4.5 ☆
It's hard to describe this short story without giving to much away but I will say it has quickly become one of my all time favorite and I often think of the narrative and the ending. It was very well-written and the concept was well done. I hope to read other books by Sarah Pinsker
There have been no wars in his lifetime; he tells himself his body bears the cost of peace so others are spared.
It's hard to describe this short story without giving to much away but I will say it has quickly become one of my all time favorite and I often think of the narrative and the ending. It was very well-written and the concept was well done. I hope to read other books by Sarah Pinsker
May 23, 2019
Hugo Nominated Novelettes & Short Stories buddy reads with WBtM
I loved this read! A little dark, but a great lesson about consequences. I'm always amazed how creative authors can become with these quick, short reads.
May 13, 2019
A boy is groomed to become a great magician, but at what cost? This story examines the unexpected and often painful losses one must take in order to reach one's goals, and whether those losses are worth the successes.
September 16, 2019
Review: The Court Magician
A clever little short story that really caught me. Dark and refreshing in it's simplicity, I really enjoyed this little gem with its alternate view of magic and the costs involved.
A clever little short story that really caught me. Dark and refreshing in it's simplicity, I really enjoyed this little gem with its alternate view of magic and the costs involved.
Read
September 11, 2019It's a pretty clear attack on employee/employment relationships.
May 24, 2019
pleasantly creepy and Bluebeard reminiscent.
January 1, 2019
An ordinary hunter is snatched up to be one of the cogs in a city. He's pushed from place to place, forced to live out the role the city demands of him. I didn't like the writing style much, I thought the main character was too devoid of personality, and I hated the "clever" last line. I was intrigued by the city itself, though. Did it achieve sentience and think of the people it forced to be its citizenry as a necessary part of its eco system, or what?
April 16, 2019
This is a good story, almost a 4 but not quite. Pinsker sets us up with an introduction about a curious orphan, and stage magic, and real magic, but the point of the story goes past those. The theme is common enough--what will you give up to learn the "real truth"? But the way this one works out saves it from being too ordinary. I think it's probably a contender for the award, but I haven't read them all yet...
December 11, 2019
The Streets Of Babel - Adam-Troy Castro ****
Auburn - Joanna Ruocco ****
Golubash, Or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy - Catherynne M Valente ***
The Substance Of My Lives, The Accidents Of Our Births - José Pablo Iriarte ****
The Eyes Of The Flood - Susan Jane Bigelow ***
Divine Madness - Roger Zelazny ***
Someday - James Patrick Kelly ***
The Court Magician - Sarah Pinsker *****
Auburn - Joanna Ruocco ****
Golubash, Or Wine-Blood-War-Elegy - Catherynne M Valente ***
The Substance Of My Lives, The Accidents Of Our Births - José Pablo Iriarte ****
The Eyes Of The Flood - Susan Jane Bigelow ***
Divine Madness - Roger Zelazny ***
Someday - James Patrick Kelly ***
The Court Magician - Sarah Pinsker *****
May 5, 2018
No misses among the shorts this issue. My favorites were José Pablo Iriarte's story, for the unspoken connections he drew for his lead, and Adam-Troy Castro's - "for the emptiness" sounds stupid, but there it is.
April 14, 2019
The style of the writing took a bit longer than it should have, but you know you are drawn in when you can no longer look away. A strong short story questioning the power of belief and the desire to excel.
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