Status Updates From Clarkesworld Magazine, Issu...

The nonfiction includes an article about termites, interviews with Diana M. Pho and LaShawn M. Wanak, and the editor's overview of the magazines stories in 2024.

The Temporary Murder of Thomas Monroe - Tashiro: A semi-complicated plot of a young man trying to get free of his uncaring rich family, and a grifter who gets involved.

Beyond Everything - Wang: A simple yet trippy story about a human from a wartorn Earth visiting other civilizations for clues.

Autonomy - Elison: In a world with selfdriving cabs, how do you keep the car moving when men are in your way.

When There Are Two of You: A Documentary - Tan: A story about digital "clone" and autopilot.

Child of the Mountain - De Winter: Bizarre story of a monastery in a mountain with strange sisters and vultures.

Never Eaten Vegetables - Pak: Lovely story about a ship trying to do right by the babies inside it.

autonomy - 2★ - left absolutely zero impression on me any which way, so call it a literal 2 stars (it was okay). not rly unique or striking but it's classic feminist lit so I can't be mad. kill your rapist :)

beyond everything - 1★ - I read this at like 3am because I couldn't sleep and my notes are "hated it. fundamentally divorced from humanity as a concept but also grandstands on human potential. scifi version of ayn rand if she'd been a Buddhist." so I guess I hated it lol

temporary murder - 3.75★ - a bit of a "young, beautiful people" story, which I'm typically not into, but good worldbuilding and an interesting meetcute brings up the rating for me. almost wish it hadn't had a HEA, which I think weakens the narrative of choice and self-determination, as well as the critique of dystopic wealth - rich, beautiful white ppl on a beach in a cheap, exotic country, amiright?

never eaten vegetables - 5★ - in tears about granny ship. she's a granny. grandmother. she loved them and was loved. in vein of murderbot with the commentary on capitalism's influence on human life and purpose + dehumanization en route to creation of sentient non-human life to further a corporation's goals, but with the maternal instinct thrown in. really deeply loved this. what is love in terms of code?

"sad like red" oh!!!!!!!! no!!!

child of the mountain - 2 1/2★ - and what good is all the information you gather without action? what is the point of preservation if it leads to stagnation at best, decline at worst, thru the effort to preserve? very explicit symbolism with the youth/elder thing. new worlds built on the old. interesting worldbuilding. it's a me problem that I found it a touch boring"

when there are two of you - 3★ - a bit short for what it wants to approach. interesting w the self-centered/selfless mirror of extremes. externalizing/internalizing the voice in your head and the dangers thereof, the isolation at either end. minimization/aggrandization of self. okay. alright. I'll give it three stars instead of two. I didn't rly like it but I appreciate it, how about that.