SFF Reviews - Science Fiction and Fantasy

Review of Unboxing by Lavie Tidhar (2100 words) Apex Magazine, Issue 136 : Purchase or Read Online A timely, terrible tale about the (unfortunately common) unsupervised use of the internet by toddlers. In itself, the idea is scary, because we know these kids channels can get really creepy, with the algorithms pushing viewers from one channel to another - we can’t anticipate where the suggestions will take us. This is much more unsettling when it comes to children, and this story takes it a step further. The story quickly turned supernatural and sinister, but what scared me most is how many elements of the story were true to life. Using the internet as a way to keep your child occupied is something almost all parents do on occasion, and if supervised, I believe it might still be okay - the world we live in is so interconnected it’s difficult to isolate your child from it. But watching these kind of videos that provide no education or value is, quite simply, bad. Their popul

Review of Lost Between the Plates by Benjamin Abbott (1008 words) Daily Science Fiction, May 2021 :  Read Online How I love time travel stories! This one is particularly interesting, and our narrator travels through time, only for moments each time. In pursuit. In pursuit of someone with a prescient mind. How do you pursue someone who can see the future? Read this and find out! Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks  

  Review of Death Drive by Pat Jameson (1001 words) SmokeLong Quarterly, Issue 78, December 2022 : Donate or Read Online   A story about how endings could also be new beginnings. What are the things that really matter in life, when it comes down to time for introspection? For an old man with a life full of regrets, what really matters? And are people willing to change their opinions, broaden their horizons? This story may be short, but raises a lot of important questions. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks    

Review of confessional by James Redfern (97 words) Radon Journal, Issue 03 : Purchase or Read Online Short yet incisive, this is one of the first times I'm encountering SFF poetry, and I'm so pleased. A commentary on capitalism set in a likely post-capitalist society. It'll take a minute, go read it! Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks