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Questions Asked in the Belly of the World
For the residents of this mycological ecosystem, creating art feeds the World around you and requires working in harmony with your inner voice. When one artist's voice begins screaming, he's forced to travel farther than he ever has before to reconcile with the noise in his head and find his true place in society before it's too late.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
40 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 4, 2021
In the darkness, the voice in his head is screaming again.
this is a three-for-me, but it's on the high end of that rating. it's a pretty traditional set-up (two misfit lovers drawn together by their questions about and shared dissatisfaction with the strictures of their society), set within a truly original world (a mushroom-planet(?) that values artistic creation above all else, where people draw from and give back...inspiration(?) to the surrounding mushroom-force(?), and are each monitored/encouraged/berated by an inner voice independent from their own will and, when that voice dies, the individual is cast out and killed in an all-hands-on-deck ceremony shirley jackson would have slow-clapped.)
it's one of those scenarios that makes more sense when the author who conceived of it describes it than when someone like me, less-gifted with words, tries to convey its details and ends up sounding like a child recollecting a nightmare.
i liked a lot of the story, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me, except it made the dead milkmen song Little Man In My Head run through my own head for hours.
please feel free to get more out of it than i did!
read it for yourself here:
https://www.tor.com/2021/09/29/questi...
come to my blog!
this is a three-for-me, but it's on the high end of that rating. it's a pretty traditional set-up (two misfit lovers drawn together by their questions about and shared dissatisfaction with the strictures of their society), set within a truly original world (a mushroom-planet(?) that values artistic creation above all else, where people draw from and give back...inspiration(?) to the surrounding mushroom-force(?), and are each monitored/encouraged/berated by an inner voice independent from their own will and, when that voice dies, the individual is cast out and killed in an all-hands-on-deck ceremony shirley jackson would have slow-clapped.)
it's one of those scenarios that makes more sense when the author who conceived of it describes it than when someone like me, less-gifted with words, tries to convey its details and ends up sounding like a child recollecting a nightmare.
i liked a lot of the story, but it didn't leave much of an impression on me, except it made the dead milkmen song Little Man In My Head run through my own head for hours.
please feel free to get more out of it than i did!
read it for yourself here:
https://www.tor.com/2021/09/29/questi...
come to my blog!
May 18, 2022
Questions Asked in the Belly of the World by Aliza Greenblatt - 3+/5★
An enclosed mycological World that feeds from the creativity and artiness of its residents, through an inner voice contained in a protuberance in the back of the neck. Quite strange, but also interesting and making you wonder.
The short story is found in Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2021 Edition and can also be read on Tor.com.
An enclosed mycological World that feeds from the creativity and artiness of its residents, through an inner voice contained in a protuberance in the back of the neck. Quite strange, but also interesting and making you wonder.
The short story is found in Some of the Best from Tor.com, 2021 Edition and can also be read on Tor.com.
October 4, 2021
This is excellent! I do wish it'd been longer and the ending more finite, but the possibilities as to what's outside the World are endless. The story is so well written and it's attention grabbing as well as thought provoking. It's my first story by A.T. Greenblatt and I look forward to reading more from them!
November 23, 2021
Set in a place that appears to be a sealed, biologically contained world, this is a story about two people in love who don't fit in the society of artistic giving and taking, who push at the boundaries which, biologically speaking, push back.
One person is interested in ancient artistic technologies and, through trial and error, produces a new form of artistic expression: paper. The other uses the paper to produce artwork that questions the existence of their enclosed world and asks what is outside it.
Both are dangerous questions to ask in this world and when the world pushes back at them, they know they have no choice but to push at the boundaries and see what lies beyond them.
One person is interested in ancient artistic technologies and, through trial and error, produces a new form of artistic expression: paper. The other uses the paper to produce artwork that questions the existence of their enclosed world and asks what is outside it.
Both are dangerous questions to ask in this world and when the world pushes back at them, they know they have no choice but to push at the boundaries and see what lies beyond them.
July 25, 2022
The trope of "i'm giving the organ you need and sacrificing myself" was a little too on the nose and knocked it down one star but other than that I really enjoyed this short story and the world it painted.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2021
Interesting premise, and it has some subtext of society built in. I wish there was better flow to tell when the flashbacks were, as it sometimes got very confusing.
October 30, 2021
""That’s ridiculous,” his voice whispered, “of course it’s alive.” But Kenji gritted his teeth, focusing on this bright, strange woman. There was a dangerous edge to her questions about the World, like holding black paint too close to a pale, perfect painting, and from the cautious look on her face, she knew it, too.
His parents always said Kenji was too curious for his own well-being..." -[A.T. Greenblatt]
As a self-proclaimed "artist", I can confirm that this short story is absolutely amazing. I decided to "buy" this book [if you can even call 99¢ a purchase] on my kindle. For a 40-page short story, that is pretty cheap. Otherwise, you can read it for free, that's right, f r e e at https://www.tor.com/2021/09/29/questi... [also it is supposed to be there; the author themselves put it up for free]. Other than the price, this short story contained so many emotions, so much character development, and wonderful world-building. The characters connected to the creator inside of me and refused to let go. To this day, I'll still think of the parasitic voice in my head. Overall, Questions Asked in the Belly of the World is one of my favorite stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I honestly cannot recommend it enough.
Kenji and Eva coexist in a World that demands constant creativity. People talk about art a lot. Imagine our world, except all the talk and marketing of sports suddenly shifted towards composition, scales of value, mediums, and other art stuff. And it lasted year-long. Understandably, these characters have grown tired of this. Kenji and Eva have decided to exit the World and find a new place to live. However, they are forced to take drastic measures when Kenji's parasitic voice starts to die. Throughout the story, Greenblatt uses strong emotions, relatable feelings, and masterful world-building to enhance the beautiful piece. I'm extremely happy to induct this book into The Good Place, and I already can't wait to reread it.
Concept: 5 Stars [What the book is supposed to be about.]
Writing Style: 5 Stars [How the author writes the book, chooses words, and describes the story.]
Plot: 4 Stars [How the author executes the concept. What happens? How does the first sentence lead to the last?]
Questions Asked in the Belly of the World Is one of the best short stories I've ever read. It tells a beautiful story of love, emotion, and curiosity in a world seeking to eliminate it..
Total: 5 + 5 + 4 = 14 ||| 14 / 3 = ~4.5
4.5 has been rounded to 5 Stars , as I generally liked the book.
His parents always said Kenji was too curious for his own well-being..." -[A.T. Greenblatt]
As a self-proclaimed "artist", I can confirm that this short story is absolutely amazing. I decided to "buy" this book [if you can even call 99¢ a purchase] on my kindle. For a 40-page short story, that is pretty cheap. Otherwise, you can read it for free, that's right, f r e e at https://www.tor.com/2021/09/29/questi... [also it is supposed to be there; the author themselves put it up for free]. Other than the price, this short story contained so many emotions, so much character development, and wonderful world-building. The characters connected to the creator inside of me and refused to let go. To this day, I'll still think of the parasitic voice in my head. Overall, Questions Asked in the Belly of the World is one of my favorite stories I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I honestly cannot recommend it enough.
Kenji and Eva coexist in a World that demands constant creativity. People talk about art a lot. Imagine our world, except all the talk and marketing of sports suddenly shifted towards composition, scales of value, mediums, and other art stuff. And it lasted year-long. Understandably, these characters have grown tired of this. Kenji and Eva have decided to exit the World and find a new place to live. However, they are forced to take drastic measures when Kenji's parasitic voice starts to die. Throughout the story, Greenblatt uses strong emotions, relatable feelings, and masterful world-building to enhance the beautiful piece. I'm extremely happy to induct this book into The Good Place, and I already can't wait to reread it.
Concept: 5 Stars [What the book is supposed to be about.]
Writing Style: 5 Stars [How the author writes the book, chooses words, and describes the story.]
Plot: 4 Stars [How the author executes the concept. What happens? How does the first sentence lead to the last?]
Questions Asked in the Belly of the World Is one of the best short stories I've ever read. It tells a beautiful story of love, emotion, and curiosity in a world seeking to eliminate it..
Total: 5 + 5 + 4 = 14 ||| 14 / 3 = ~4.5
4.5 has been rounded to 5 Stars , as I generally liked the book.
November 23, 2021
She takes nothing, but if he could, he'd give her anything.
Interesting short story with a cool setting, just thought the scene cuts were a bit abrupt, though fitting. The tense changes for example were a brilliant idea but made it seem a little messy.
It's a joke between them that they can solve any problem as long as the soles of their shoes hold out.
Interesting short story with a cool setting, just thought the scene cuts were a bit abrupt, though fitting. The tense changes for example were a brilliant idea but made it seem a little messy.
It's a joke between them that they can solve any problem as long as the soles of their shoes hold out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 14, 2022
This Worldbuilding had me hooked immediately.. Betrayal by the literal voices in your head... a really well done het relationship, and a hopeful ending! It didn't go the way I expected at the end, I was ready to be disappointed but no! Amazing. I want a whole novel of this, just incredible.
October 2, 2021
2.5 This one was ok. I liked the characters, but the shifting from past and present was way too abrupt.
December 1, 2021
3 1/2 stars really
February 23, 2022
A very thought-provoking tale.
June 30, 2022
4.5 (review coming)
December 9, 2022
Short story advent utilising tordotcom free fiction 9/25.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews