Status Updates From Apex Magazine Issue 135

Your Rover is Here: 2* Black man working rideshares to pay rent, ends up with a [magical terrorist] on his backseat. Prevents the attack on a Black Church, but his car and possessions are destroyed. He tries to get compensation, but ends up reaching out to his brother for help from their father, the Devil(?)

Message in a Vessel: 2* "Vampires" are sending a spaceship to find new planets to harvest. MC sabotaged the spaceship to send false reports and warn intelligent species away, hopefully until they become extinct.

Interview with Artist Asya Yordanova: Good

Words for Thought: About 3 short stories in other magazines. I skimmed this article, as I do not want spoilers.

What Underlies Our Conversations about Witches: Good
"We must question the heart and soul of anyone who prescribes suffering while touting their beliefs as the only cure for society’s ills."

Walking the Deep Down: 3* MC is walking the deep in the desert, shadowed by an hungry monster. She tells it she is the king of the desert and every creature bows to the monster who follows her, making it believe her, clever. Planting her aunt Cleo's finger at the end and a new girl emerging is the part I'm not sure I get.

The Radical Nature of Slipstream Fiction: I don't feel I know more about Slipstream now than before... Included an extract of the collaboration, but didn't resonate with me.

Experimental Protocol for the Coronal Sectioning and Assessment of a Human Soul: 4* Flash so very short. Memories in between part of a protocol for judging souls. Cool idea

The Wreck of the Medusa: 2* Readable, but I'm not sure I get it.

Interview with Author Akis Linardos: Good.

Daughter, Mother, Charcoal: 2* Young girl is sneaking out at night to look upon the faeries beyond the garden. Men can resist the faeries' song while her mother burns herself away keeping the fire. and it is on the girl to keep the fire. She is married by her father (then no other mention of him) to a man who didn't share his name. One night her daugher is taken by faeries and she no longer hears their song. Why?

River Bargain Baby: 2* Not sure I get it. A river spirit(?) gave a woman who wanted a child two and kept one. The human child grows up, is haunted by the river child. Then the river does what?

The Immortal Game: 3* The Daisy lures a man to her hotel room. They play chess and he gets eaten?/transformed into a chess piece. Soon she will play for her freedom?

Interview with Author Isabel J. Kim: Good. mentions the other stories from this author and influences

Carnival Ever After: 2* Based on the fairy tale of the sisters, one spitting toads and snakes and the other diamonds and pearls. The toad sister is working in a carnaval. Her brother-in-law comes to visit her, her sister is unwell. Then nothing happens?

The Big Glass Box and the Boys Inside: 4*
Young man Adair (written in second person) is planning to work in an old firm for the summer. He meets his coworker Finn and they hook up. Finn has bargained for his transition, and the firm is trying to force Adair to stay. Staying means changing and not caring eventually. They leave together instead of signing their partnership papers.

Musings from Maryland: Fine, presenting the stories in this issue