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The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, March/April 2019
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, March/April 2019
- C. C. Finlay - Editor
Volume 136, Number 3&4, Whole Number 742
Published by Spilogale, Inc.
Contents:
Gregor Hartmann - The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets
Nick Downes - Cartoon
Matthew Hughes - The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor
S. Qiouyi Lu - At Your Dream's Edge
Bill Long - Cartoon
Charles de Lint - Books to Look For
Michelle West - Musing on Books
Arthur Masear - Cartoon
Mary Soon Lee - In The Caverns of the Moon(verse)
Sophie M. White - Away(verse)
R. S. Benedict - All of Me
Tina Connolly - Miscellaneous Notes From the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised As My Alto Sax
John Kessel - The Mark of Cain
Diana Peterfruend - Playscape
Margaret Killjoy - The Free Orcs of Cascadia
Nick Downes - Cartoon
Paul Park - Dear Sir or Madam
Danny Shanahan - Cartoon
Jerry Oltion - Science: E.T. Shmee-T
David J. Skal - Films: The Yawning Abyss
Jerome Stueart - Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Nick DiChario - Bella and the Blessed Stone
Rich Larson - Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous
Graham Andrews - Curiosities
Cover by Kent Bash for "Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous"
- C. C. Finlay - Editor
Volume 136, Number 3&4, Whole Number 742
Published by Spilogale, Inc.
Contents:
Gregor Hartmann - The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets
Nick Downes - Cartoon
Matthew Hughes - The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor
S. Qiouyi Lu - At Your Dream's Edge
Bill Long - Cartoon
Charles de Lint - Books to Look For
Michelle West - Musing on Books
Arthur Masear - Cartoon
Mary Soon Lee - In The Caverns of the Moon(verse)
Sophie M. White - Away(verse)
R. S. Benedict - All of Me
Tina Connolly - Miscellaneous Notes From the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised As My Alto Sax
John Kessel - The Mark of Cain
Diana Peterfruend - Playscape
Margaret Killjoy - The Free Orcs of Cascadia
Nick Downes - Cartoon
Paul Park - Dear Sir or Madam
Danny Shanahan - Cartoon
Jerry Oltion - Science: E.T. Shmee-T
David J. Skal - Films: The Yawning Abyss
Jerome Stueart - Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Nick DiChario - Bella and the Blessed Stone
Rich Larson - Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous
Graham Andrews - Curiosities
Cover by Kent Bash for "Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous"
258 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2019
About the author
C.C. Finlay
66 books97 followersFormer Editor, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. Author of The Prodigal Troll, the Traitor to the Crown Series, and Wild Things, plus dozens of short stories. World Fantasy Award Winner, and finalist for the Hugo, Nebula, Sidewise, Sturgeon, and Locus Awards. Teacher at Clarion and elsewhere.
Married to novelist Rae Carson.
Married to novelist Rae Carson.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 3, 2019
I purchased this for - Matthew Hughes - "The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor". The further adventures of Baldemar.
None of the book reviews made me want to read any of the books being reviewed.
The Hughes story made this issue be above average.
None of the book reviews made me want to read any of the books being reviewed.
The Hughes story made this issue be above average.
April 28, 2019
Gregor Hartmann's short story "The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets" made my list of the best short SFF of March 2019: https://1000yearplan.com/2019/03/31/t...
March 13, 2019
An average issue with interesting stories by Gregor Hartmann, Matthew Hughes, R.S. Benedict and with an especially interesting story about a musical faun by Jerome Stueart.
- "The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets" by Gregor Hartmann: a detective enlists the help of a patrol officer to solve the mystery of the murder of a currency trader that appears to have been too successful.
- "The Plot Against Fantucco’s Armor" by Matthew Hughes: what starts out for the servant as an innocent task to get the design for trouser buckles for his magical master turns into a detective story as the servant finds himself caught up in a conspiracy over who would eventually replace the ruler of a city and is tasked with getting to the bottom of the plot. But as it turns out, the actual target of the plot may not be the ruler after all.
- "At Your Dream’s Edge" by S. Qiouyi Lu: a story about a Nightmare app that does what it says: summons a nightmare to scare you. The user of the app in this story uses it to prepare for an unpleasant meeting with relatives but in the end, you wonder whether the meeting is really worse than the nightmares faced.
- " All of Me" by R.S. Benedict: an unusual and interesting story that plays with the idea of the mermaid that becomes human. Only this is an unusual 'mermaid' who undergoes radical surgery to appear like a Hollywood starlet and proceeds to use her unusual skills to do more than one thing at a time (actress, writer, 'nature lover', paparazi target, etc.). But when she tires of being human, she plans to go out with a bang.
- "Miscellaneous Notes from the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised As My Alto Sax" by Tina Connolly: that is what happens in the story. Wrapped around the story of an alien disguised as a sax is a woman who longs to be appreciated by another member of the band which might lead to another version of sax.
- "The Mark of Cain" by John Kessel: a disjointed story that Kessel originally wrote years ago but put aside that he now picks up that looks at the life of an writer who may have done some bad things in the past. In between are analysis of the character's action.
- "Playscape" by Diana Peterfreund: a story tinged with horror about a mother with a child who knows a neighbour. When the neighbour's child just disappears while playing on a playscape at a park, opinions ranging from murder to child neglect are thrown at the neighbour. But as the mother lets her child play on the very same playscape, you start to wonder if there might be some truth to the neighbour's version of events.
- "The Free Orcs of Cascadia" by Margaret Killjoy: a strange story about a journalist who looks into unusual musical subcultures. In this case, the musical subculture is 'orc music' which somehow develops into an actual orc culture. The journalist gets the chance to interview an orc musician who created an uproar when he kills another orc musician on stage and goes into hiding. The interview would reveal just what kind of orc culture has developed. Think of it as a LARP (live action role playing) game but played with real seriousness.
- "Dear Sir or Madam" by Paul Park: a letter written to the reader by the protagonist who can fabricate realities. But the story wasn't gripping enough for me to really understand the purpose of the story.
- "Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun" by Jerome Stueart: a fascinating fantasy story about a faun who loses his clarinet to a religiously righteous person. Many years later, the clarinet returns to him via a student who wants to learn to play it. He yearns to be reunited with the magic of his clarinet, but also to be able to teach the student to play jazz with it. It is only with the help of his fairy friends and some improvised jazz music that he may finally achieve his objectives.
- "Bella and the Blessed Stone" by Nick Dichario: a story of strange coincidences involving an stone from the sky (a meteorite) that saves an abused child from being killed by her father. As the story of the miracle spreads, it would take another strange coincidence to end the story.
- "Contagion’s Eve at the House Noctambulous" by Rich Larson: a story of a future involving a group of families with advanced biological technology that are living in a world after a contagion has wiped most of the rest of humanity. But even in this future, sibling rivalry rears it head and it would come to a climax on a day when the families 'celebrate' their freedom from the rest of humanity.
- "The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets" by Gregor Hartmann: a detective enlists the help of a patrol officer to solve the mystery of the murder of a currency trader that appears to have been too successful.
- "The Plot Against Fantucco’s Armor" by Matthew Hughes: what starts out for the servant as an innocent task to get the design for trouser buckles for his magical master turns into a detective story as the servant finds himself caught up in a conspiracy over who would eventually replace the ruler of a city and is tasked with getting to the bottom of the plot. But as it turns out, the actual target of the plot may not be the ruler after all.
- "At Your Dream’s Edge" by S. Qiouyi Lu: a story about a Nightmare app that does what it says: summons a nightmare to scare you. The user of the app in this story uses it to prepare for an unpleasant meeting with relatives but in the end, you wonder whether the meeting is really worse than the nightmares faced.
- " All of Me" by R.S. Benedict: an unusual and interesting story that plays with the idea of the mermaid that becomes human. Only this is an unusual 'mermaid' who undergoes radical surgery to appear like a Hollywood starlet and proceeds to use her unusual skills to do more than one thing at a time (actress, writer, 'nature lover', paparazi target, etc.). But when she tires of being human, she plans to go out with a bang.
- "Miscellaneous Notes from the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised As My Alto Sax" by Tina Connolly: that is what happens in the story. Wrapped around the story of an alien disguised as a sax is a woman who longs to be appreciated by another member of the band which might lead to another version of sax.
- "The Mark of Cain" by John Kessel: a disjointed story that Kessel originally wrote years ago but put aside that he now picks up that looks at the life of an writer who may have done some bad things in the past. In between are analysis of the character's action.
- "Playscape" by Diana Peterfreund: a story tinged with horror about a mother with a child who knows a neighbour. When the neighbour's child just disappears while playing on a playscape at a park, opinions ranging from murder to child neglect are thrown at the neighbour. But as the mother lets her child play on the very same playscape, you start to wonder if there might be some truth to the neighbour's version of events.
- "The Free Orcs of Cascadia" by Margaret Killjoy: a strange story about a journalist who looks into unusual musical subcultures. In this case, the musical subculture is 'orc music' which somehow develops into an actual orc culture. The journalist gets the chance to interview an orc musician who created an uproar when he kills another orc musician on stage and goes into hiding. The interview would reveal just what kind of orc culture has developed. Think of it as a LARP (live action role playing) game but played with real seriousness.
- "Dear Sir or Madam" by Paul Park: a letter written to the reader by the protagonist who can fabricate realities. But the story wasn't gripping enough for me to really understand the purpose of the story.
- "Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun" by Jerome Stueart: a fascinating fantasy story about a faun who loses his clarinet to a religiously righteous person. Many years later, the clarinet returns to him via a student who wants to learn to play it. He yearns to be reunited with the magic of his clarinet, but also to be able to teach the student to play jazz with it. It is only with the help of his fairy friends and some improvised jazz music that he may finally achieve his objectives.
- "Bella and the Blessed Stone" by Nick Dichario: a story of strange coincidences involving an stone from the sky (a meteorite) that saves an abused child from being killed by her father. As the story of the miracle spreads, it would take another strange coincidence to end the story.
- "Contagion’s Eve at the House Noctambulous" by Rich Larson: a story of a future involving a group of families with advanced biological technology that are living in a world after a contagion has wiped most of the rest of humanity. But even in this future, sibling rivalry rears it head and it would come to a climax on a day when the families 'celebrate' their freedom from the rest of humanity.
April 15, 2019
This was a particularly great issue. I don't always read F&SF and, when I do, I usually skip around reading only a few stories that catch my interest. But every story in this issue is a winner here. Standouts for me are the genre-bending novella "All of Me" by R.S. Benedict (an important story that bewilders and disturbs) and the wonderfully pulpy "The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets" by Gregor Hartmann. I always enjoy when a science-fiction oriented magazine publishes a detective/crime story. Hartmann's contribution here does not disappoint. Bravo to F&SF for including it. As usual, the cartoons are entertaining and the Department Features are informative. This magazine is celebrating its 70th year. I hope it's around for at least 70 more!
June 29, 2019
Great issue! Some impressive stories, and a wide span variety of fantasy, SF and even a bit of horror, with a mix of new and long established authors.
Below my personal reading notes I started to do recently - as I’m reading more and more short fiction, I’m starting to lose track on stories and authors.
“The Unbereable Lightness of Bullets”, by Gregory Hartmann (4 stars)
Great characters, and great atmosphere. Two singular cops investigating a murder mystery in a far away moon. Loved the dialogues between the main characters, the agnostic philosopher and the working man believer. Hope to see more stories of this cycle in the future.
“The Plot Against Fatucco’s Armor”, by Mathew Hughes (4 stars)
A masterly crafted sword and sorcery novelette with classic flavor. Great fun.
“At Your Dream’s Edge”, by S. Qiouyi Lu (5 stars)
Sharp and short horror/sci-fi story about the therapeutics of fear and the struggle to project one’s own genre identity. And how utterly dreadful your family can get to be. Brilliant piece from the author of “Mother Tongues”.
“All of Me”, by R.S. Benedict (4 stars)
A crazy, dislocated re-enactment of the classic Mermaid’s tale, from the author of “Your English Name”. You don’t want to mess with this mermaid though. Reads like a puzzle, great fantasy/horror novella.
“miscellaneous notes from the time an alien came to band camp disguised as my alto sax”, by Tina Connolly (3 stars)
The title is self-explanatory. Weird, but fun.
“The Mark of Cain”, by John Kessel (4 stars)
This one was intriguing. Not sure if the whole thing of the found story was made up, but I loved the secondary comments from the older writer. The story itself was a bit erratic, but it clung to me for a few days. To read again.
“The Free Orcs of Cascadia”, by Margaret Killjoy (3 stars)
Cool idea (in a post-civilization society, a group of people creates a made-up culture from Tolkien’s fiction), but I have to admit I have issues with Killjoy’s writing (a similar thing happened to me with her novella The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion). As much as I sympathize with her ideology, proselytizing in fiction puts me down. Very cool idea, though.
“Dear Sir or Madam”, by Paul Park (4 stars)
A curious story between fantasy and SF about the intersection of a technology to make up reality and our longing for epiphany. Not only was seduced by the narrative voice, but, having a weak spot for this kind of reality-veil-piercing stories, I fell in completely. Will read more of this author for sure.
“Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun”, by Jerome Stueart (4 stars)
A touching story on the magic of improvisation in jazz, and never losing hope on second opportunities. Quite good.
“Bella and the Blessed Stone”, by Nick DiChario (2 stars)
A kind of fairy tale on cosmic justice. Fast forward.
“Contagion’s Eve at the House Noctambulous”, by Rich Larson (5 stars)
Rich Larson rarely disappoints. A dark story on the normalization of evil. Outstanding atmosphere and world-building. A reminder of what makes SF so great.
Below my personal reading notes I started to do recently - as I’m reading more and more short fiction, I’m starting to lose track on stories and authors.
“The Unbereable Lightness of Bullets”, by Gregory Hartmann (4 stars)
Great characters, and great atmosphere. Two singular cops investigating a murder mystery in a far away moon. Loved the dialogues between the main characters, the agnostic philosopher and the working man believer. Hope to see more stories of this cycle in the future.
“The Plot Against Fatucco’s Armor”, by Mathew Hughes (4 stars)
A masterly crafted sword and sorcery novelette with classic flavor. Great fun.
“At Your Dream’s Edge”, by S. Qiouyi Lu (5 stars)
Sharp and short horror/sci-fi story about the therapeutics of fear and the struggle to project one’s own genre identity. And how utterly dreadful your family can get to be. Brilliant piece from the author of “Mother Tongues”.
“All of Me”, by R.S. Benedict (4 stars)
A crazy, dislocated re-enactment of the classic Mermaid’s tale, from the author of “Your English Name”. You don’t want to mess with this mermaid though. Reads like a puzzle, great fantasy/horror novella.
“miscellaneous notes from the time an alien came to band camp disguised as my alto sax”, by Tina Connolly (3 stars)
The title is self-explanatory. Weird, but fun.
“The Mark of Cain”, by John Kessel (4 stars)
This one was intriguing. Not sure if the whole thing of the found story was made up, but I loved the secondary comments from the older writer. The story itself was a bit erratic, but it clung to me for a few days. To read again.
“The Free Orcs of Cascadia”, by Margaret Killjoy (3 stars)
Cool idea (in a post-civilization society, a group of people creates a made-up culture from Tolkien’s fiction), but I have to admit I have issues with Killjoy’s writing (a similar thing happened to me with her novella The Lamb Will Slaughter the Lion). As much as I sympathize with her ideology, proselytizing in fiction puts me down. Very cool idea, though.
“Dear Sir or Madam”, by Paul Park (4 stars)
A curious story between fantasy and SF about the intersection of a technology to make up reality and our longing for epiphany. Not only was seduced by the narrative voice, but, having a weak spot for this kind of reality-veil-piercing stories, I fell in completely. Will read more of this author for sure.
“Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun”, by Jerome Stueart (4 stars)
A touching story on the magic of improvisation in jazz, and never losing hope on second opportunities. Quite good.
“Bella and the Blessed Stone”, by Nick DiChario (2 stars)
A kind of fairy tale on cosmic justice. Fast forward.
“Contagion’s Eve at the House Noctambulous”, by Rich Larson (5 stars)
Rich Larson rarely disappoints. A dark story on the normalization of evil. Outstanding atmosphere and world-building. A reminder of what makes SF so great.
March 20, 2019
6 • The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets • 19 pages by Gregor Hartmann
Very Good+. A currency trader is murdered in his office. Phillipa is the detective on the case. She starts by trying to find those that might have a motive. Perhaps he was running a Ponzi scheme and an irate client is responsible. Great interaction between her and Jun, the officer she pulled in to help her with the investigation.
25 • The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor • 39 pages by Matthew Hughes
Very Good/Excellent. The ruler has two children that could be his heir. Baldemar is drawn into a plot that would favor one sibling over the other.
64 • At Your Dream's Edge • 7 pages by S. Qiouyi Lu
Fair. Em calls up a service to deliver a nightmare. This is preparation for the real horror of a family visit. Several pages of a nightmare of pain and fear (Falling...splat, shot with arrows, being eaten, you get the idea).
91 • All of Me • 47 pages by R. S. Benedict
Excellent/Very Good. A Hollywood actor falls into the ocean and is saved by a mythical creature. Eddie teaches her language and names her Isabel. She has an incredible singing voice and when turned to the entertainment industry Isabel del Mar is a natural money maker. First she is taken to a plastic surgeon and formed into a human shape. When a body part is separated it grows into another Isabel. I didn't catch immediately that acquired traits are inherited. Eventually there are dozens or hundreds or thousands of Isabels. The Isabel(s) that we follow want to go back to the sea, but are being continually hunted by the Isabel that is controlling the brand.
138 • Miscellaneous Notes From the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised as My Alto Sax • 3 pages by Tina Connolly
Good/VG. A girl at band camp thinks Greg is cute, but might have blown any chance of future relations when she gloated too much when beating him out for first chair. Then she meets this shape changing alien that loves music. Hilarious.
141 • The Mark of Cain • 14 pages by John Kessel
OK. Cal has a job at a publisher. He makes barely enough to make ends meet. He'd like to write a successful book so that he can die debt free. Or is that the plot of the book real narrator was writing.
155 • Playscape • 10 pages by Diana Peterfreund
OK. The protagonist and her neighbor had their babies at the same time. They often met at the park. That was while the narrator was on maternity leave. Since then it’s back to work. The neighbor’s toddler went missing from that park. People think she may be a killer, or at best a negligent parent that let her attention lapse.
165 • The Free Orcs of Cascadia • 22 pages by Margaret Killjoy
OK. Golfimbul and many others have left mainstream society to live in the woods with a mixture of viking era existence with some modern technology (they have cars and gave stadium type concerts). Golfimbul of the Free Orcs killed a guy on stage. Hellfire Harriet has located him and his story is that there are two Orc cultures, Free Orcs and Orcine, and the guy he killed claimed leadership of all orcs.
187 • Dear Sir or Madam • 10 pages by Paul Park
OK. The narrator is very good at blending people into scenes that may have happened or may just be made up. His clients are people who have lost a loved one and would like to remember them. This goes from pictures and movies to virtual reality including actors to enhance the experience with touch. His final client has special requests. I can’t tell if the guy fell in love with this last client or just needs to work harder because of the job. No mention of using this technology for blackmail, scandal or other nefarious purpose.
208 • Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun • 21 pages by Jerome Stueart
Very Good/Good. Mr. Dance is old. Now on some off chance his clarinet has found him. A hundred years ago Billy Sunday stole his clarinet and mangled his legs so badly no amount of magic could make him walk again. Sunday could not bring out the magic in Shaft of Moonlight, nor any of his friends. Small consolation for Mr. Dance who hasn’t left the house for ages. Now Eric shows up for music lessons and has Shaft of Moonlight.
229 • Bella and the Blessed Stone • 6 pages by Nick Dichario
Good. Bella gets an incredibly miraculous piece of good luck. Perhaps life saving. She thanks God, her mother wants to cash in.
235 • Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous • 21 pages by Rich Larson
Good/VG. Wars and famine became widespread, because of overpopulation and disregard for the environment, but the humans blamed the families. All but one were exterminated. Burgewick's ancestors hid underground for a century while the contagion they left on the surface wiped out most of the parasites. They have highly developed bioengineering. It's used for everything from clothing to transportation, when the story opens Burgewick is playing with a toy that spits a gluey substance. The uncle who gave it to them had a solvent. Today there is a big party, many relatives are attending and several traditional events. Before the guests arrive Burgewick gets into it with his older brother Mortice, enough that he fears for his safety. Quite a story of sibling rivalry thrown into world that Larson has built.
Very Good+. A currency trader is murdered in his office. Phillipa is the detective on the case. She starts by trying to find those that might have a motive. Perhaps he was running a Ponzi scheme and an irate client is responsible. Great interaction between her and Jun, the officer she pulled in to help her with the investigation.
25 • The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor • 39 pages by Matthew Hughes
Very Good/Excellent. The ruler has two children that could be his heir. Baldemar is drawn into a plot that would favor one sibling over the other.
64 • At Your Dream's Edge • 7 pages by S. Qiouyi Lu
Fair. Em calls up a service to deliver a nightmare. This is preparation for the real horror of a family visit. Several pages of a nightmare of pain and fear (Falling...splat, shot with arrows, being eaten, you get the idea).
91 • All of Me • 47 pages by R. S. Benedict
Excellent/Very Good. A Hollywood actor falls into the ocean and is saved by a mythical creature. Eddie teaches her language and names her Isabel. She has an incredible singing voice and when turned to the entertainment industry Isabel del Mar is a natural money maker. First she is taken to a plastic surgeon and formed into a human shape. When a body part is separated it grows into another Isabel. I didn't catch immediately that acquired traits are inherited. Eventually there are dozens or hundreds or thousands of Isabels. The Isabel(s) that we follow want to go back to the sea, but are being continually hunted by the Isabel that is controlling the brand.
138 • Miscellaneous Notes From the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised as My Alto Sax • 3 pages by Tina Connolly
Good/VG. A girl at band camp thinks Greg is cute, but might have blown any chance of future relations when she gloated too much when beating him out for first chair. Then she meets this shape changing alien that loves music. Hilarious.
141 • The Mark of Cain • 14 pages by John Kessel
OK. Cal has a job at a publisher. He makes barely enough to make ends meet. He'd like to write a successful book so that he can die debt free. Or is that the plot of the book real narrator was writing.
155 • Playscape • 10 pages by Diana Peterfreund
OK. The protagonist and her neighbor had their babies at the same time. They often met at the park. That was while the narrator was on maternity leave. Since then it’s back to work. The neighbor’s toddler went missing from that park. People think she may be a killer, or at best a negligent parent that let her attention lapse.
165 • The Free Orcs of Cascadia • 22 pages by Margaret Killjoy
OK. Golfimbul and many others have left mainstream society to live in the woods with a mixture of viking era existence with some modern technology (they have cars and gave stadium type concerts). Golfimbul of the Free Orcs killed a guy on stage. Hellfire Harriet has located him and his story is that there are two Orc cultures, Free Orcs and Orcine, and the guy he killed claimed leadership of all orcs.
187 • Dear Sir or Madam • 10 pages by Paul Park
OK. The narrator is very good at blending people into scenes that may have happened or may just be made up. His clients are people who have lost a loved one and would like to remember them. This goes from pictures and movies to virtual reality including actors to enhance the experience with touch. His final client has special requests. I can’t tell if the guy fell in love with this last client or just needs to work harder because of the job. No mention of using this technology for blackmail, scandal or other nefarious purpose.
208 • Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun • 21 pages by Jerome Stueart
Very Good/Good. Mr. Dance is old. Now on some off chance his clarinet has found him. A hundred years ago Billy Sunday stole his clarinet and mangled his legs so badly no amount of magic could make him walk again. Sunday could not bring out the magic in Shaft of Moonlight, nor any of his friends. Small consolation for Mr. Dance who hasn’t left the house for ages. Now Eric shows up for music lessons and has Shaft of Moonlight.
229 • Bella and the Blessed Stone • 6 pages by Nick Dichario
Good. Bella gets an incredibly miraculous piece of good luck. Perhaps life saving. She thanks God, her mother wants to cash in.
235 • Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous • 21 pages by Rich Larson
Good/VG. Wars and famine became widespread, because of overpopulation and disregard for the environment, but the humans blamed the families. All but one were exterminated. Burgewick's ancestors hid underground for a century while the contagion they left on the surface wiped out most of the parasites. They have highly developed bioengineering. It's used for everything from clothing to transportation, when the story opens Burgewick is playing with a toy that spits a gluey substance. The uncle who gave it to them had a solvent. Today there is a big party, many relatives are attending and several traditional events. Before the guests arrive Burgewick gets into it with his older brother Mortice, enough that he fears for his safety. Quite a story of sibling rivalry thrown into world that Larson has built.
March 10, 2019
As I finished this issue I felt very good about a couple of the stories in it, especially "Postlude to ...".
Gregor Hartmann - The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets - 4 stars
- A police mystery story involving future science. An OK story.
Matthew Hughes - The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor - 4 stars
- Magic, wizards, royalty, sneaky plots. Nice story.
S. Qiouyi Lu - At Your Dream's Edge - 4 stars
- An app for your phone can trigger a specific requested type of nightmare. A scary story.
R. S. Benedict - All of Me - 4 stars
- A 'mermaid' who can be cloned by cutting off a body part. Things get a little bit carried away.
Tina Connolly - Miscellaneous Notes From the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised As My Alto Sax - 5 stars
- Just a little E.T. story. Very good.
John Kessel - The Mark of Cain - 5 stars
- This story was begun in the early 1980s and set to the side, then finished recently. There's a mixture of social views from then and now. The story style of having a man telling the story of his life, with a higher narrator discussing the man telling the story, makes for a very interesting, very good over-all effect.
Diana Peterfruend - Playscape - 4 stars
- A child disappears and the mother is accused of killing him. Was it her, or was it the playground?
Margaret Killjoy - The Free Orcs of Cascadia - 3 stars
- Social rebellion. Being different just to be different. An OK story, but it's missing something.
Paul Park - Dear Sir or Madam - 3 stars
- A man makes made-to-order personalized interactive movies. He receives a special request ... then the story becomes too obscure to be enjoyable.
Jerry Oltion - Science: E.T. Shmee-T - 3 stars
- What's the likelyhood that other intelligent life exists in the universe? What's the probability that we could get in contact with them? What's the chance that society in general would care if we did?
Jerome Stueart - Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun - 5 stars
- Magical, near-immortal mythical characters and jazz music. A very well written story.
Nick DiChario - Bella and the Blessed Stone - 5 stars
- A neat little story about a young woman, an abusive father and an asteroid. Really!
Rich Larson - Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous - 4 stars
- A view of a post-apocalyptic future where social castes have been established with biological differences included. I don't like the setting, but the story is good.
Gregor Hartmann - The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets - 4 stars
- A police mystery story involving future science. An OK story.
Matthew Hughes - The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor - 4 stars
- Magic, wizards, royalty, sneaky plots. Nice story.
S. Qiouyi Lu - At Your Dream's Edge - 4 stars
- An app for your phone can trigger a specific requested type of nightmare. A scary story.
R. S. Benedict - All of Me - 4 stars
- A 'mermaid' who can be cloned by cutting off a body part. Things get a little bit carried away.
Tina Connolly - Miscellaneous Notes From the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised As My Alto Sax - 5 stars
- Just a little E.T. story. Very good.
John Kessel - The Mark of Cain - 5 stars
- This story was begun in the early 1980s and set to the side, then finished recently. There's a mixture of social views from then and now. The story style of having a man telling the story of his life, with a higher narrator discussing the man telling the story, makes for a very interesting, very good over-all effect.
Diana Peterfruend - Playscape - 4 stars
- A child disappears and the mother is accused of killing him. Was it her, or was it the playground?
Margaret Killjoy - The Free Orcs of Cascadia - 3 stars
- Social rebellion. Being different just to be different. An OK story, but it's missing something.
Paul Park - Dear Sir or Madam - 3 stars
- A man makes made-to-order personalized interactive movies. He receives a special request ... then the story becomes too obscure to be enjoyable.
Jerry Oltion - Science: E.T. Shmee-T - 3 stars
- What's the likelyhood that other intelligent life exists in the universe? What's the probability that we could get in contact with them? What's the chance that society in general would care if we did?
Jerome Stueart - Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun - 5 stars
- Magical, near-immortal mythical characters and jazz music. A very well written story.
Nick DiChario - Bella and the Blessed Stone - 5 stars
- A neat little story about a young woman, an abusive father and an asteroid. Really!
Rich Larson - Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous - 4 stars
- A view of a post-apocalyptic future where social castes have been established with biological differences included. I don't like the setting, but the story is good.
September 27, 2019
Wow; there is a lot going on in this issue. Some of the stories are superb, and all of them are thought-provoking.
The absolute standout of the issue is All of Me, by the incomparable R.S. Benedict.
"All of Me" starts with a premise that's pure gonzo, then walks us through layer after layer of pain, depth, and gravity.
Isabel del Mar came out of the sea to become a Hollywood superstar. A mermaid plucked out of the water (by a man who was no prince...), she has many unusual talents -- captivating beauty, a hypnotizing singing voice, and, oh yes, asexual reproduction -- when Isabel cuts off a piece of her own body, it grows into a full double.
This has happened many times; far too many times -- sometimes for reasons that are horribly trivial, others simply horrible.
It's a story about the different paths like can take you. About comparing yourself to someone else who's *almost* just like you, but not quite. About how a person has different sides to them, which each come to the fore in different situations.
It's also a story about how Hollywood, wealth and glamour are all deeply fucked up, and ruthlessly mercenary.
Everybody wants a piece of Isabel del Mar.
Benedict, as usual, delivers a fantastic and powerful story -- and what's even more impressive is that she never seems to do the same thing twice.
Other favorites:
"Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun," by Jerome Stueart. A music-as-magic story. Mr. Dance's magic instrument was long-lost, now recovered -- but it doesn't thrill to him anymore. It's changed, and he's changed. A great story of loss and restoration; the closing lines are a fantastic conclusion.
"Playscape," by Diana Peterfreund, is one of the stories that absolute nightmare fuel for parents. I don't love gratuitous child-endangerment stories, but this is much more *about* omnipresent parental fears, than just simply playing upon them.
"At Your Dream's Edge," by S. Qiouyi Lu. Really liked this. Vivid, compelling idea -- a "nightmare app", a protagonist who WANTS a nightmare. As we learn how and why, everything slots into place. Horror used as inspiration.
"The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor,” by Matthew Hughes. Baldemar is caught up in political in-fighting, and needs to figure out who’s behind the latest maneuvering. This is one of two light mystery stories that the issue opens with. The other one being William Ledbetter’s "The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets", which is well and good and fun and colorful -- but, put in direct contrast, you can see how good and how carefully constructed “Fantucco’s Armor” really is. “Lightness” is a fun romp, whose protagonist runs around trying random theories and eventually goes for the good old “use self as bait” gambit -- while “Fantucco’s Armor” builds up, one question leading to the next, and advances Baldemar's story besides.
---
“The Free Orcs of Cascadia,” by Margaret Killjoy, is a story I found very difficult. Not the reading of it; it’s absolutely compelling; an investigation into groups of music fans who have taken to living as “free orcs,” who rose to infamy when one of them beheaded another during a live concert. No; my issue is in its naked call for armed anarchy and vigilantism.
The story opens with the intriguing hook of why this particular orc, Golfimbul, killed his rival musician on-stage. He offers us this, which I found very promising indeed:
And the promise is made good: we eventually learn that
Having uncovered this hidden struggle, framed explicitly as fascists vs. anarchists, all that’s left is what to do about it. And this is the true thrust the story arrives at: that the orcs who wish to stay free, had damn well better start gathering guns:
Don’t want to use guns? Well, that’s understandable, as long as you’re fine with getting other people to bring guns:
The other thing you need to gather, says the story, is recruits. People who think you’re cool and awesome, because of your great music and elaborate costumes, and therefore they’ll be willing to go to war for you. Or maybe, I’m just thinking out loud here, writing a vivid short story about how great it would be to have armed combat against a hypothetical army of fascists would also have a similar effect?
Almost every story uses some sleight of hand to push us in certain directions. Here, though, the reader is being unceremoniously shoved. The story does very nice work getting us onboard with Golfimbul’s onstage murder -- “there are circumstances under which it’s okay to kill someone”. But it tries to leap from there over to “you should arm yourselves against an entire enemy population, with no distinction between civilians and combatants”. And, with little subtlety, its signal to us readers is that we should start getting comfy about the idea of violence against “fascists,” and with nary a thought about which circumstances make killing okay, beyond “will we win.”
Last year I criticized an F&SF story where civic resistance against totalitarianism Just Works Out; now I’m criticizing one where arming ourselves against fascism is meant to Just Works Out. These are, by all means, crucial topics for the current reader, and I am very pleased that F&SF regularly engages with them. But, these stories are also overtly prescriptive political texts, which makes it all the more important to pay attention to what precisely they’re prescribing. Some stories manage to include real-life nuance; others create compelling situations where nuance is unnecessary, but leave room for nuance when returning to real life. “The Free Orcs of Cascadia” does neither, leaving things at a disturbingly uncomplicated “armed anarchy == good.”
---
All in all, a very strong issue. Even the stories I have less to remark about were enjoyable, unusual, interesting -- or all of the above.
The absolute standout of the issue is All of Me, by the incomparable R.S. Benedict.
"All of Me" starts with a premise that's pure gonzo, then walks us through layer after layer of pain, depth, and gravity.
Isabel del Mar came out of the sea to become a Hollywood superstar. A mermaid plucked out of the water (by a man who was no prince...), she has many unusual talents -- captivating beauty, a hypnotizing singing voice, and, oh yes, asexual reproduction -- when Isabel cuts off a piece of her own body, it grows into a full double.
This has happened many times; far too many times -- sometimes for reasons that are horribly trivial, others simply horrible.
It's a story about the different paths like can take you. About comparing yourself to someone else who's *almost* just like you, but not quite. About how a person has different sides to them, which each come to the fore in different situations.
It's also a story about how Hollywood, wealth and glamour are all deeply fucked up, and ruthlessly mercenary.
Everybody wants a piece of Isabel del Mar.
Benedict, as usual, delivers a fantastic and powerful story -- and what's even more impressive is that she never seems to do the same thing twice.
Other favorites:
"Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun," by Jerome Stueart. A music-as-magic story. Mr. Dance's magic instrument was long-lost, now recovered -- but it doesn't thrill to him anymore. It's changed, and he's changed. A great story of loss and restoration; the closing lines are a fantastic conclusion.
"Playscape," by Diana Peterfreund, is one of the stories that absolute nightmare fuel for parents. I don't love gratuitous child-endangerment stories, but this is much more *about* omnipresent parental fears, than just simply playing upon them.
"At Your Dream's Edge," by S. Qiouyi Lu. Really liked this. Vivid, compelling idea -- a "nightmare app", a protagonist who WANTS a nightmare. As we learn how and why, everything slots into place. Horror used as inspiration.
"The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor,” by Matthew Hughes. Baldemar is caught up in political in-fighting, and needs to figure out who’s behind the latest maneuvering. This is one of two light mystery stories that the issue opens with. The other one being William Ledbetter’s "The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets", which is well and good and fun and colorful -- but, put in direct contrast, you can see how good and how carefully constructed “Fantucco’s Armor” really is. “Lightness” is a fun romp, whose protagonist runs around trying random theories and eventually goes for the good old “use self as bait” gambit -- while “Fantucco’s Armor” builds up, one question leading to the next, and advances Baldemar's story besides.
---
“The Free Orcs of Cascadia,” by Margaret Killjoy, is a story I found very difficult. Not the reading of it; it’s absolutely compelling; an investigation into groups of music fans who have taken to living as “free orcs,” who rose to infamy when one of them beheaded another during a live concert. No; my issue is in its naked call for armed anarchy and vigilantism.
The story opens with the intriguing hook of why this particular orc, Golfimbul, killed his rival musician on-stage. He offers us this, which I found very promising indeed:
My status as a person who has ended the life of another person carries no implications about by personal ethics other than that I clearly believe there are circumstances under which it’s okay to kill someone.
And the promise is made good: we eventually learn that
Having uncovered this hidden struggle, framed explicitly as fascists vs. anarchists, all that’s left is what to do about it. And this is the true thrust the story arrives at: that the orcs who wish to stay free, had damn well better start gathering guns:
The world isn’t a goddammed better place if you let your subculture (...) be taken over by fucking Nazis. And I respect that you’re going to fight them for it, that’s cool. But have you considered buying some guns?
Make it so that when you fight the fash, in your epic spears-and-swords Viking death match, you win.
Don’t want to use guns? Well, that’s understandable, as long as you’re fine with getting other people to bring guns:
Guns would break the spell. And the spell that you’re casting here? It’s powerful. It’s good. So no guns. Other people have guns, though. Let those people stand guard. Or make their armed presence known.
The other thing you need to gather, says the story, is recruits. People who think you’re cool and awesome, because of your great music and elaborate costumes, and therefore they’ll be willing to go to war for you. Or maybe, I’m just thinking out loud here, writing a vivid short story about how great it would be to have armed combat against a hypothetical army of fascists would also have a similar effect?
Almost every story uses some sleight of hand to push us in certain directions. Here, though, the reader is being unceremoniously shoved. The story does very nice work getting us onboard with Golfimbul’s onstage murder -- “there are circumstances under which it’s okay to kill someone”. But it tries to leap from there over to “you should arm yourselves against an entire enemy population, with no distinction between civilians and combatants”. And, with little subtlety, its signal to us readers is that we should start getting comfy about the idea of violence against “fascists,” and with nary a thought about which circumstances make killing okay, beyond “will we win.”
Last year I criticized an F&SF story where civic resistance against totalitarianism Just Works Out; now I’m criticizing one where arming ourselves against fascism is meant to Just Works Out. These are, by all means, crucial topics for the current reader, and I am very pleased that F&SF regularly engages with them. But, these stories are also overtly prescriptive political texts, which makes it all the more important to pay attention to what precisely they’re prescribing. Some stories manage to include real-life nuance; others create compelling situations where nuance is unnecessary, but leave room for nuance when returning to real life. “The Free Orcs of Cascadia” does neither, leaving things at a disturbingly uncomplicated “armed anarchy == good.”
---
All in all, a very strong issue. Even the stories I have less to remark about were enjoyable, unusual, interesting -- or all of the above.
June 29, 2019
Normal collection of short stories. There was stuff I really enjoyed ("Free Orcs of Cascadia"), stuff that pulled on the heartstrings ("Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous") and the stuff I didn't find particularly enjoyable ("The Mark of Cain"). Lots of music-based stories this time around, if bards are something you're looking for in short stories.
Included in this edition of F&SF is the novella "All of Me," which was rather enjoyable about clonal autonomy. Definitely rec checking it out if you're looking for hard more novella for /r/fantasy's book bingo.
Obviously this also fits short stories, for those playing bingo, although I certainly would rec more the Nov/Dec 2018 issue of F&SF, which has some of the best short stories I've read in a long time.
Included in this edition of F&SF is the novella "All of Me," which was rather enjoyable about clonal autonomy. Definitely rec checking it out if you're looking for hard more novella for /r/fantasy's book bingo.
Obviously this also fits short stories, for those playing bingo, although I certainly would rec more the Nov/Dec 2018 issue of F&SF, which has some of the best short stories I've read in a long time.
March 12, 2019
My favorite stories:
- Matthew Hughes - The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor. The further adventures of Baldemar.
- R. S. Benedict - All of Me. The Little Mermaid as A Star is Born. With asexual reproduction.
- Tina Connolly - Miscellaneous Notes From the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised As My Alto Sax. This one time, at band camp...
- Rich Larson - Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous. The 0.1% survive The Contagion and reassert the natural order of things. A CRISPR-punk Ayn Randian black comedy of manners.
- Matthew Hughes - The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor. The further adventures of Baldemar.
- R. S. Benedict - All of Me. The Little Mermaid as A Star is Born. With asexual reproduction.
- Tina Connolly - Miscellaneous Notes From the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised As My Alto Sax. This one time, at band camp...
- Rich Larson - Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous. The 0.1% survive The Contagion and reassert the natural order of things. A CRISPR-punk Ayn Randian black comedy of manners.
April 19, 2020
Another good issue. I especially enjoyed ‘Playscape’, ‘All of Me’ and ‘Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun’.
April 9, 2019
This issue got off to slow start for me, but the back half (give or take) had me pretty well hooked, story after story.
Unbearable Lightness of Bullets-This one is a neat sci-fi police procedural, a story in an author's established universe. It all works well enough, and goes more or less how you'd expect. But it's fun. Although it ends with a baffling image: "She mimed deleting a text file." I guess in the future that statement makes sense? It certainly doesn't to me. Overall, two or three stars on this one. It's good, not great.
The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor: This is the second of the 'Baldemar' stories I've read. It's heavy on the exposition, constantly explaining in a tell-don't-show style both the world and previous events. Supposedly the main character was granted preternatural abilities, though he seems to get outsmarted, outwitted, and beaten up by literally everyone he encounters, so I'm not sure I see that. I wish I liked it more-I genuinely like the serialized storytelling in these, but the exposition needs to be refined (or excised). Also, I can't help but think this is based on the Ars Magika rpg.
At Your Dream's Edge: Interesting concept, generally fine. I'm not the biggest fan of second person, but it works here. But there is a "twist ending" reveal that doesn't really work for it. Anyway, I found it a bit...I don't know. Like it was trying to be shocking and horrifying, but I found some of the later stories much more so for their relative mundanity and simplicity.
No comment on book reviews, science articles, or poems.
All of Me: This is where the issue picked up for me. This one was pretty great. Hard to follow at times, but that can be ignored and pushed through and the payoff works. Something in here about the permeability and mutability of identity in the modern world, I suppose as well, but not so heavy handed as to be didactic or pedantic. Just there, in the background working as a theme for the narrative to play with.
miscellaneous notes...: This is short and fun. Silly, really.
The Mark of Cain: The novelty in this one, and what makes it work, is the back and forth between the author and the author of thirty years ago (the first draft was written long ago, then finished, in a way, more recently when it resurfaced). Without that, I don't know that it would work, but the insight it gives is interesting and worth the read. The characterization and motivation is all really well done-much more so than so many genre pieces, honestly. But the centerpiece is the difference between the characters and the author, and two or three versions of the author at that.
Playscapes: Terrifying, honestly. Simple, subtle, and it works. Also second person, like Dream's Edge. But this one is more subtle, simpler. Less messagey, though it certainly has its messages, and knows what they are unabashedly.
Free Orcs of Cascadia: Together with Playscapes, probably my favorite in the issue. A work with an interesting anthropological and sociological bent, about our modern (or near future) world. Just the anthropological social building makes this one worth it (it's a concept I appreciate in genre fiction).
Dear Sir or Madam: This one was okay. Didn't really jump out at me, especially following the previous two. I also didn't entirely follow what was happening, but there are some neat ideas in it. Leaves it to the reader to fill in a lot of details, including to whom the piece is addressed.
Postlude: I don't normally like "faerie" stories, but this one didn't get all pretentious about it. It's grounded, and mostly focused on individual suffering and strife and overcoming it. It's good.
Bella and the BS: It's okay. Short enough that not much can be asked of it, and it delivers for it's length. It's a modern fairy tale of sorts, a Paul Bunyan sort of deal.
Contagion's Eve: Along with Playscapes and Free Orcs, this one is excellent. The story does some nice meandering, which all pays off in the end. There is a reveal, of sorts, but you'll probably see it coming miles away. But the journey there is all the better for that, and the payoff on it still delivers.
Unbearable Lightness of Bullets-This one is a neat sci-fi police procedural, a story in an author's established universe. It all works well enough, and goes more or less how you'd expect. But it's fun. Although it ends with a baffling image: "She mimed deleting a text file." I guess in the future that statement makes sense? It certainly doesn't to me. Overall, two or three stars on this one. It's good, not great.
The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor: This is the second of the 'Baldemar' stories I've read. It's heavy on the exposition, constantly explaining in a tell-don't-show style both the world and previous events. Supposedly the main character was granted preternatural abilities, though he seems to get outsmarted, outwitted, and beaten up by literally everyone he encounters, so I'm not sure I see that. I wish I liked it more-I genuinely like the serialized storytelling in these, but the exposition needs to be refined (or excised). Also, I can't help but think this is based on the Ars Magika rpg.
At Your Dream's Edge: Interesting concept, generally fine. I'm not the biggest fan of second person, but it works here. But there is a "twist ending" reveal that doesn't really work for it. Anyway, I found it a bit...I don't know. Like it was trying to be shocking and horrifying, but I found some of the later stories much more so for their relative mundanity and simplicity.
No comment on book reviews, science articles, or poems.
All of Me: This is where the issue picked up for me. This one was pretty great. Hard to follow at times, but that can be ignored and pushed through and the payoff works. Something in here about the permeability and mutability of identity in the modern world, I suppose as well, but not so heavy handed as to be didactic or pedantic. Just there, in the background working as a theme for the narrative to play with.
miscellaneous notes...: This is short and fun. Silly, really.
The Mark of Cain: The novelty in this one, and what makes it work, is the back and forth between the author and the author of thirty years ago (the first draft was written long ago, then finished, in a way, more recently when it resurfaced). Without that, I don't know that it would work, but the insight it gives is interesting and worth the read. The characterization and motivation is all really well done-much more so than so many genre pieces, honestly. But the centerpiece is the difference between the characters and the author, and two or three versions of the author at that.
Playscapes: Terrifying, honestly. Simple, subtle, and it works. Also second person, like Dream's Edge. But this one is more subtle, simpler. Less messagey, though it certainly has its messages, and knows what they are unabashedly.
Free Orcs of Cascadia: Together with Playscapes, probably my favorite in the issue. A work with an interesting anthropological and sociological bent, about our modern (or near future) world. Just the anthropological social building makes this one worth it (it's a concept I appreciate in genre fiction).
Dear Sir or Madam: This one was okay. Didn't really jump out at me, especially following the previous two. I also didn't entirely follow what was happening, but there are some neat ideas in it. Leaves it to the reader to fill in a lot of details, including to whom the piece is addressed.
Postlude: I don't normally like "faerie" stories, but this one didn't get all pretentious about it. It's grounded, and mostly focused on individual suffering and strife and overcoming it. It's good.
Bella and the BS: It's okay. Short enough that not much can be asked of it, and it delivers for it's length. It's a modern fairy tale of sorts, a Paul Bunyan sort of deal.
Contagion's Eve: Along with Playscapes and Free Orcs, this one is excellent. The story does some nice meandering, which all pays off in the end. There is a reveal, of sorts, but you'll probably see it coming miles away. But the journey there is all the better for that, and the payoff on it still delivers.
Read
April 30, 2019This issue contains a dozen stories. Spoilers ahead.
As usual, I recommend this issue.
As usual, I recommend this issue.
May 5, 2019
This was a mixed issue. I really liked Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun by Jerome Stueart about a satyr cut off from his music by Billy Sunday and how he regains it by mentoring an aspiring musician. I may nominate this for a Hugo. I liked All of Me by R. S Benedict, about a mermaid who, like a starfish, can regenerate copies of herself from cut off bits. It could have used some trimming but it was an interesting look at the Hollywood star system. I also liked The Free Orcs of Cascadia, about people who live like Orcs and a journalist who is writing an article analyzing them. I thought that the Unbearable Lightness of Bullets by Greg Hartmann and The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor by Matthew Hughes were okay sf mystery and fantasy mystery stories respectively. I also found the Tina Connolly short story amusing and the Diana Peterfreund story touching (although it is never clear if the sf device here was real or just the child's imagination.)
December 14, 2019
A solid edition of stories. I read all of them and mostky enjoyed them, but I particularly liked All of Me by R. S. Benedict, Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous by Rich Larson, Playscape by Diana Peterfreund, and At your Dream's Edge by S. Quiouyi Lu. The Lu and the Larson are both quite dark and I thought especially good.
May 19, 2019
Another great issue. I always enjoy Matthew Hughes's work and Rich Larson is one of the best SF/F writers out there.
May 23, 2019
Favorites were “All of Me”, “Playscape”, and “Contagion’s Eve at the House of Noctambulous”
March 23, 2019
Much better than some of the other issues of F&SF that I've read. 'All of Me' is an interesting and gripping novella, an original idea that kept me hooked the entire time (although I do think the ending fell a little flat), and 'The Free Orcs of Cascadia' is one of the most original short stories that I've read in a long time. 'Bella and the Blessed Stone' is probably my favorite story I've read so far from this magazine, and the cruel ironic twist at the end of it was a perfect ending in my opinion.
My one complaint about this issue is 'The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor' by Matthew Hughes. It's the return of a character named Baldemar, a wizard's henchman, and it's once again one of the most boring, formulaic stories found within theses pages. I wish the editors of this magazine would stop publishing stories by Hughes featuring this character, as they are always dull, predictable, and way too long.
My one complaint about this issue is 'The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor' by Matthew Hughes. It's the return of a character named Baldemar, a wizard's henchman, and it's once again one of the most boring, formulaic stories found within theses pages. I wish the editors of this magazine would stop publishing stories by Hughes featuring this character, as they are always dull, predictable, and way too long.
April 15, 2019
I especially enjoyed “All of Me” by R.S. Benedict, playscape by Diana Peterfreund, and by S. Qiouyi Lu.
May 15, 2026
Miscellaneous Notes from the Time an Alien Came to Band Camp Disguised as My Alto Sax - Tina Connolly : Blah
In the Caverns of the Moon - Mary Soon Lee : Blah
Away - Sophie M. White : Blah
The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets - Gregor Hartmann : Enjoyable
All of Me - R. S. Benedict : Enjoyable
Playscape - Diana Peterfreund : Meh
Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun - Jerome Stueart : Meh
Bella and the Blessed Stone - Nick DiChario : Meh
Dear Sir or Madam - Paul Park : Meh
At Your Dream's Edge - S. Qiouyi Lu : Meh
The Mark of Cain - John Kessel : Ok
The Free Orcs of Cascadia - Margaret Killjoy : Ok
The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor - Matthew Hughes : Ok
Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous - Rich Larson : Ok
In the Caverns of the Moon - Mary Soon Lee : Blah
Away - Sophie M. White : Blah
The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets - Gregor Hartmann : Enjoyable
All of Me - R. S. Benedict : Enjoyable
Playscape - Diana Peterfreund : Meh
Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun - Jerome Stueart : Meh
Bella and the Blessed Stone - Nick DiChario : Meh
Dear Sir or Madam - Paul Park : Meh
At Your Dream's Edge - S. Qiouyi Lu : Meh
The Mark of Cain - John Kessel : Ok
The Free Orcs of Cascadia - Margaret Killjoy : Ok
The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor - Matthew Hughes : Ok
Contagion's Eve at the House Noctambulous - Rich Larson : Ok
February 3, 2022
Gregor Hartmann – “The Unbearable Lightness of Bullets” (4½ stars)
Matthew Hughes - The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor (4½ stars)
S. Qiouyi Lu - At Your Dream's Edge (3 stars)
R. S. Benedict - All of Me (2½-3 stars)
Tina Connolly - Miscellaneous Notes… (2½ stars)
John Kessel - The Mark of Cain (2 stars)
Diana Peterfruend – Playscape (3½ stars)
Margaret Killjoy - The Free Orcs of Cascadia (3 stars)
Paul Park - Dear Sir or Madam (2 stars)
Jerome Stueart - Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun (3 stars)
Nick DiChario - Bella and the Blessed Stone (4 stars)
Rich Larson - Contagion's Eve…(3 stars)
Matthew Hughes - The Plot Against Fantucco's Armor (4½ stars)
S. Qiouyi Lu - At Your Dream's Edge (3 stars)
R. S. Benedict - All of Me (2½-3 stars)
Tina Connolly - Miscellaneous Notes… (2½ stars)
John Kessel - The Mark of Cain (2 stars)
Diana Peterfruend – Playscape (3½ stars)
Margaret Killjoy - The Free Orcs of Cascadia (3 stars)
Paul Park - Dear Sir or Madam (2 stars)
Jerome Stueart - Postlude to the Afternoon of a Faun (3 stars)
Nick DiChario - Bella and the Blessed Stone (4 stars)
Rich Larson - Contagion's Eve…(3 stars)
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews