Status Updates From Uncanny Magazine, Issue 30,...

Aysha U. Farah - The Tailor and the Beast: 4 stars. Lovely adaption of Beauty and the Beast. Very well written, kind of cozy.

Karlo Yeager Rodríguez - This Is Not My Adventure: 5 stars. Melancholy, but hopeful short story about a man not wanting to let go of his fairy tale childhood in the aftermath of his mother's death. Having not long ago experienced the death of a parent myself, I can relate to this story. I also don't think I know another work in the fairy tale genre where the main protagonist is a middle-aged adult.

Tochi Onyebuchi - The Fifth Day: 5 stars. Sad and lyrical story full of metaphors that combines motifs of evolution, burying one's dead and the bitter history of African natives and slavery.

Jei D. Marcade - Seed and Cinder: 5 stars
I love this short story. It reminds me of Lee Yoon Ha's flash fiction in The Fox's Tower. The author has created a handful of narrative and storytelling games, all of which can be found on their website. I'll check them out some day, games are my second most important hobby.

Tower - Lane Waldman: 4 stars. Strange, but intriguing short story similar to the tale of Rapunzel. I don't think I've ever come across a work of fiction where the problems of having very long hair played any part at all. Even though hair often plays a role in fairy tales and is described quite accurately in contemporary romance novels for example, it seldom plays a part beyond its appearance.

Away With the Wolves - Sarah Gailey: 5 stars. Short story about a shapeshifter preferring the form that doesn't have to deal with chronic pain. I'm quite familiar with constant pain myself and I can relate a lot to the main character. Great idea! I will definitely read more by Sarah Gailey.

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