Status Updates From Report to the Men's Club an...

'I get behind a rock though I don't know if that thing can get around and find me there or not. But he doesn't zap it. Then I think about how silly I was not to take that zap thing away[.] I name myself Silly Old Do Nothing When It Should Be Done. I laugh at such a funny name and I know Zap hears me. I wonder if he's naming me The One Who Laughs When She Should Be Afraid.'

'"How do you make a bomb? It's for art."

'He doesn't look a bit suspicious.'

Yep, 'Mrs. Jones' remains the single creepiest story in the Emshwiller canon.

"After All" is poetic, heartwarming, and one other adjective I can't use for fear of spoiling the story! 5/5

"Nose" is probably my least-favorite piece here. Beautiful writing didn't make up for taking 1/2 the story to get to the heart of things.

Temporarily skipped the novella "Venus Rising." I'll get back to it, promise!

"Desert Child" gives one possible answer to the question of what makes a family. 4/5.

"Abominable" comes just a wee shy of being heavy-handed with its message, but the writing's so beautiful, I don't care. 5/5

It's no wonder "Water Master" was published in the late, lamented SCIFICTION. This is how you build a literary fantasy world! 5/5

"Overlooking" seemed more of a beautifully-written character piece than anything else. 4/5

Would've enjoyed "Report to the Men's Club" more if it hadn't rehashed "Acceptance Speech." Still compelling, though. 3/5

"Prejudice and Pride" was brilliant in form and content, to say nothing of the length. 5/5.

"It Comes From Deep Inside" took 10pgs to get to the heart of the matter. But the title was very apropos. 3/5.

Almost gave up on "The Project." It was slow-going, not picking up until 2/3 in. Great tension that was never resolved :(. 3/5.

"Creature" is a wonderful variation on the theme in "Foster Mother" & just as heartwrenching. 5/5

"Foster Mother" was absolutely heart-wrenching on multiple levels! 5 out of 5!

"One Part of the Self..." wasn't so much a "story," but it had some delicious tension.

"Acceptance Speech" was as slow as the last one. Didn't care for the 1st-person POV. Still, a solid tale.

"Mrs. Jones" had a nice, if slow setup, an even pace, and deliciously subtle tension.

Reading "Mrs. Jones."