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Wild Cards #28.5
Grow
For over 35 years, the Wild Cards universe has been entertaining readers with stories of superpowered people in an alternate history. In Carrie Vaughn’s “Grow”, ace Maryam Shahidi makes a big splash in the news after one of her "experiments" goes awry.
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.
31 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 20, 2022
1 person is currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Carrie Vaughn
280 books4,542 followersCarrie Vaughn is the author more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories. She's best known for her New York Times bestselling series of novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk radio advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. In 2018, she won the Philip K. Dick Award for Bannerless, a post-apocalyptic murder mystery. She's published over 20 novels and 100 short stories, two of which have been finalists for the Hugo Award. She's a contributor to the Wild Cards series of shared world superhero books edited by George R. R. Martin and a graduate of the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop.
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
August 28, 2022
Grow by author Carrie Vaughn is a short story set in the Wild Cards Universe. (Wild Cards is a science fiction and superhero anthology series set in a shared universe. The series was created by a group of New Mexico science fiction authors, and mostly edited by George R. R. Martin) .You can read this short for free on the Tor.com site https://www.tor.com/2022/07/20/grow-c...
Ace Maryam Shahidi makes a big splash in the news after one of her “experiments” goes awry.
#28.5 in the Wild Card series was a lot of fun :-) Vaughn has written more of them so I will seek them out.
Themes: Leeds 1994, streaking as a giant for a laugh, thrill seeker, the Towering Teenager.
4 Stars
Ace Maryam Shahidi makes a big splash in the news after one of her “experiments” goes awry.
#28.5 in the Wild Card series was a lot of fun :-) Vaughn has written more of them so I will seek them out.
Themes: Leeds 1994, streaking as a giant for a laugh, thrill seeker, the Towering Teenager.
4 Stars
July 25, 2022
If I wasn't a die-hard fan of Vaughn's from the last Wild Cards story she published, then I certainly am now!
In this shorter story we follow Maryam, a teenager in Britain as she tests out her growing abilities with her friend Elaine. But as she continues to do one stunt after another with increasing confidence and potential danger involved, has she bitten off more than she can chew?
From beginning to end, this story was a ton of fun.
Maryam is a ballsy main character, and I enjoyed her confidence and thought process that was reflected in the writing. Her family and the world at large seem against aces, those with powers, and it was easy to cheer for Maryam from the sidelines. She just wants to do something with her powers, and she's figuring it out.
The writing was great and easy to follow, especially the sensations of Maryam's powers and how they worked. I also enjoy that I can pick up miscellaneous stories in this long going series without having to have read all the others.
This story moved fast, which is something I enjoy. There wasn't a dull moment, and we got to see several stunts before the big kahuna came along and the story becomes a roller coaster ride.
All in all, a wonderful continuation of the Wild Cards saga. I can't wait to read more!
In this shorter story we follow Maryam, a teenager in Britain as she tests out her growing abilities with her friend Elaine. But as she continues to do one stunt after another with increasing confidence and potential danger involved, has she bitten off more than she can chew?
From beginning to end, this story was a ton of fun.
Maryam is a ballsy main character, and I enjoyed her confidence and thought process that was reflected in the writing. Her family and the world at large seem against aces, those with powers, and it was easy to cheer for Maryam from the sidelines. She just wants to do something with her powers, and she's figuring it out.
The writing was great and easy to follow, especially the sensations of Maryam's powers and how they worked. I also enjoy that I can pick up miscellaneous stories in this long going series without having to have read all the others.
This story moved fast, which is something I enjoy. There wasn't a dull moment, and we got to see several stunts before the big kahuna came along and the story becomes a roller coaster ride.
All in all, a wonderful continuation of the Wild Cards saga. I can't wait to read more!
January 22, 2025
It is 1994. Maryam Shahidi is an A-Level student from Horsforth in Leeds who has been practicing with her Ace power in secret behind ger Iranian family's back. She can grow to over five metres tall, which soon draws the attention of the authorities.
A simple story, rich in detail. Vaughn has brought her character to life by making her a normal girl with extraordinary abilities.
A simple story, rich in detail. Vaughn has brought her character to life by making her a normal girl with extraordinary abilities.
July 28, 2022
One of the best Wild Cards stories I've read in a while. It seems to celebrate the original wonder of the series, but not diminish the social consciousness the series tries to embody.
Read
July 27, 2022As much as I enjoy Tor's Wild Cards stories, and most of Carrie Vaughn's contributions to the universe, this one didn't really feel like it did much. Plotwise, it's a first act; the lead has growth powers, shows them off, realises that maybe she didn't want so much attention after all, the end. In terms of distinctiveness, having a lead whose family are immigrants from a Muslim country, and whose power is to embiggen, which comes out this close to the Ms Marvel show, feels like it needs more of a twist not to seem like a copycat. And in terms of practicalities, we keep hearing about Maryam's giant's perspective, the way everything looks so small from up there – but also, repeatedly, that she's grown to 15 feet. Which, surely that's only a little past twice a tall person's height? High, sure, but not the sort of fee-fi-fo-fum size the rest of the text suggests, unable to hear what the tiny people down below are saying. Was it a bad edit from 15 metres, maybe, or 150 feet? I don't know, but something ain't right.
August 25, 2022
Author Carrie Vaughn brings us back to the Wild Card universe with her short tale called Grow. Maryam is an Ace and her power is to grow to great heights. She lives in Leeds in 1994 and her family isn't supportive of the fact that she is an Ace but I'm getting a head of myself she gos so far as to make herself known as an Ace to the point where she is disrupting the ribbon cutting ceremony. After that she then finds that her mom is more concerned for her to find a husband than to show the world her potential. She then runs away from home to distract the police and twists her ankle. This is a light and somewhat sad story but I highly recommend it for all Wild Card and science fiction fans.
August 4, 2022
Review of eBook
After much experimentation, Maryam Shahidi has learned how to grow herself into a fifteen-foot person and then return herself to her normal size. She is an ace. But as Maryam puts her larger self on display, her friend, Elaine, tries to warn her of the danger, but Maryam is enjoying being the Towering Teenager.
So far, no one has recognized Maryam. But what will happen when Maryam is recognized and her giant size creates mayhem?
=========
This Tor short story is part of the Wild Cards alternative history series where people with superpowers exist. Here Maryam’s confidence grows stronger with each appearance of the Towering Teenager despite the fact that her family seems to find no pleasure in the accomplishments of the aces.
Maryam seems like a typical teen, wanting to try her powers just to see what she can do. The story moves quickly reaching a denouement that hints at a promising future for the Towering Teen. [But many will wish to know what comes next for Maryam.]
Highly recommended.
After much experimentation, Maryam Shahidi has learned how to grow herself into a fifteen-foot person and then return herself to her normal size. She is an ace. But as Maryam puts her larger self on display, her friend, Elaine, tries to warn her of the danger, but Maryam is enjoying being the Towering Teenager.
So far, no one has recognized Maryam. But what will happen when Maryam is recognized and her giant size creates mayhem?
=========
This Tor short story is part of the Wild Cards alternative history series where people with superpowers exist. Here Maryam’s confidence grows stronger with each appearance of the Towering Teenager despite the fact that her family seems to find no pleasure in the accomplishments of the aces.
Maryam seems like a typical teen, wanting to try her powers just to see what she can do. The story moves quickly reaching a denouement that hints at a promising future for the Towering Teen. [But many will wish to know what comes next for Maryam.]
Highly recommended.
August 11, 2022
Grow
by Carrie Vaughn
Look at the new birth of a wild card power, only after her A-exam, does she explore her ability to change. A young girl finds that she can not hide her ability in a modern world. A picture is her loss, she is found out, and it creates many problems though she has done nothing but appear.
by Carrie Vaughn
Look at the new birth of a wild card power, only after her A-exam, does she explore her ability to change. A young girl finds that she can not hide her ability in a modern world. A picture is her loss, she is found out, and it creates many problems though she has done nothing but appear.
August 2, 2022
This was a pretty cute origin story. It reminded me a little bit of the recent TV series, Ms. Marvel, which could be intentional.
August 4, 2022
Another good entry in the Wild Cards universe
August 12, 2022
This was a thoughtful story about a teenager figuring out herself and her new powers. The protagonist felt very real and I loved seeing a family who isn't whitebread. Recommended
August 19, 2022
Well, that was fun! You can read it too: https://www.tor.com/2022/07/20/grow-c...
January 28, 2023
Fun WildCard romp, short and sweet.
Characters you can root for, and yeah would love to see their "grow"th.
Characters you can root for, and yeah would love to see their "grow"th.
August 8, 2022
A towering short story
Wildcards immediately hooked me when it was first released. Reading this short story immediately hooked me and the story is definitely in the vein of those original books.
Wildcards immediately hooked me when it was first released. Reading this short story immediately hooked me and the story is definitely in the vein of those original books.
August 5, 2022
Great story
A bit of a Ms. Marvel spin, really could make a longer book. Interesting twist at the end. Great fun!
A bit of a Ms. Marvel spin, really could make a longer book. Interesting twist at the end. Great fun!
April 7, 2023
A rare British based WC story
What seems like an origin tale of sorts for a young British Wild Card ace. Nicely worked story, easy to read
What seems like an origin tale of sorts for a young British Wild Card ace. Nicely worked story, easy to read
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews