Review: That Story Isn't the Story by John Wiswell

-

Review of That Story Isn't the Story by John Wiswell (9033 words)

Uncanny Magazine, Issue Forty-Three : Purchase or Read Online

This Hugo and Nebula finalist and Locus Award winner novelette places a striking tale of trauma and recovery in an urban fantasy setting.

The details are often left to our imagination, but as we have likely experienced in other stories, our imagination is quite capable of conjuring up horrors to fill the gaps.

A supernatural creature holds sway over his familiars, symbolic of the less fortunate who are often preyed on by folks with bad intentions. Victims range from teens to immigrants to gay people - people in difficult situations who are likely to forget their own strength. And that brings us to the heart of the story - recovering your own strength. That journey towards recovery is exceedingly difficult to traverse, and it's made relatively manageable when you have a support system and a semblance of independence and the beginnings of a more comfortable and happier living situation. All of which is beautifully described in this story.

The title itself is so meaningful, as will be elaborated on when you read the story. It's a wonderful way to reframe trauma and take control of your own narrative.

A must read.

 

Support us on Ko-fi - https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Nine Lives by P.A. Cornell

-
Review of Nine Lives by P.A. Cornell (799 words) If There's Anyone Left, Issue 2, January 2022 : Purchase or Read Online A very endearing bit of flash fiction. We hear that cats have nine lives, but this particular cat very literally has nine lives, and he keeps coming back as a cute little kitten every time. And his very lucky human gets to experience his cat's affection over the course of many lifetimes. Beautiful. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks    
Read more

Review: Kali_Na by Indrapramit Das

-
Review of Kali_Na by Indrapramit Das (7558 words) The Year's Best Science Fiction, Volume 1, Edited by Jonathan Strahan, Purchase Anthology A cyberpunk style story set in India, Kali_Na focuses on our protagonist, a lower caste girl named Durga, and an AI Goddess simply named Devi. Devi is the Hindi word for Goddess - she is simply that. Not one of the many Goddesses from Hindu culture with a rich and varied life and stories, and this is an important distinction. No, she is just generic Goddess 2.0, to whom devotees may ascribe any quality they choose, one who will bless everyone with their own particular type of request, instead of having to ask specific Goddesses for specific things. A product of capitalism, she was supposed to be every Goddess in one. But maybe they forgot to code out the qualities of Kali Maa. And then we see a shift. The sheer power and scale of this story was reminiscent of the scale and scope of Hindu sagas and tales. A truly fantastic story and
Read more

Review: A Fall Backward Through the Hourglass by P.A. Cornell

-
Review of A Fall Backward Through the Hourglass by P.A. Cornell (1082 words) Cossmass Infinities, Issue 8, April 2022 : Purchase or Read Online A heartfelt fantasy by the author who also wrote Nine Lives . I enjoyed that story and loved this even more. If I had to use just one word, it would be poignant. The protagonist starts aging backwards after the birth of her daughter, born on her thirtieth birthday. As she keeps getting younger, she and her daughter go through different phases where their relationship changes as their relative ages change. It is often difficult for both of them, but there's no lack of love and affection, even through the hard times. As she keeps getting younger, some observations just slice through you, especially if you're a parent or have been a caregiver to a young child. The story was tight, with strong prose and emotional resonance. Loved it! Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks    
Read more