Sela, Thief

by Zabe Bent

Fiction, Short Story

In honor of Black Speculative Fiction Month, eight SFF authors share stories that honor forebearers and memories of the past, fight the legacies that underpin the brutalities of the present, and demand a future that’s freer than today.

The stories publish on Tor.com all throughout the morning of October 19.

Genres: Short Stories, Fantasy

6 pages, ebook

First published October 19, 2020

Reviews

[Jess ❈Harbinger of Blood-Soaked Rainbows❈ · Rating 4 out of 5]

In honor of Black Speculative Fiction Month, eight SFF authors share stories that honor forebearers and memories of the past, fight the legacies that underpin the brutalities of the present, and demand a future that’s freer than today.

I love me a flash fiction tor.com series. Even though I am a few months late to the party as this little series premiered on tor.com last October, I will waste no time in devouring each little ditty piece by piece over the next several weeks. The last series that I read from tor, the Nevertheless, She Persisted series for Women's Day back in 2017, was a series that I thoroughly enjoyed, hits and misses both. This one is a collaboration between Tor and Fiyah Magazine, a Black Speculative Fiction quarterly, in a series entitled Breathe Fiyah (a title I so envy)

So anywho, this short was really short, a little itty bitty piece of flash fiction, about a university professor named Sela, who, after a really long and tiring day, wants nothing more than to sit by herself in her new apartment with nothing but a bottle of chilled Chardonnay to keep her company. She stops by the little corner store to find something to eat and finds herself smack dab in the middle of the owner's preconceived notions and ignorant judging of the color of her skin. What this man doesn't know is that Sela has secrets and her own tricks up her sleeve.

This was a powerful short story, one that so many people should read. Thieving takes many forms here, and really shows the cracks in a system that is set up to be broken. I couldn't help but picture Sela as Angela Bassett with her quiet strength and power held close to her, while trying to just get through her day. Her frustrations and fatigues were almost palpable, and we can all relate to having that feeling at the end of the day of just not giving a fuck. A little Rosa Parks fire lights up the ending which I thoroughly enjoyed. The magical elements are scarce but there and they really played an important role in the overall theme of the story. Sometimes it isn't the front page newsworthy stories that make the difference in a person's course of life, but the everyday persecutions and day to day injustices that pile up, and sometimes breed apathy. It is above all a story with something important to say, and something that is very effective in providing perspective and understanding.

4 stars. Cannot wait to read more!

Read it for FREE here:
https://www.tor.com/2020/10/19/sela-t...

[Tani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Flash fiction about a woman who's fed up with all the casual racism she faces, day in and day out. Crisp imagery and tightly focused story. My rating is more a function of my feelings on flash fiction than on this particular story.

[Marita_z · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh! Too small!

[Per · Rating 3 out of 5]

https://www.tor.com/2020/10/19/sela-t...