SFF Reviews - Science Fiction and Fantasy

Review of If We Live to Be Giants by Allison Mulder (997 words) Fireside Magazine, Issue 47, Sept 2017 : Read Online The gradual raising of stakes was beautifully showcased. The sense of relief the girls must have felt at the end was palpable, without diminishing the severity of what they went through over the course of the story. A lot packed into this flash fiction piece, not least the depth of narrative and choice of prose that elevate this story. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks    

Review of The Hanging of Billy Crabtree by H. A. Eugene (974 words) Flash Fiction Online, September 2024 : Purchase , Subscribe or Read Online  This story is weird in a really fun way! Every twist takes this piece to another level, all in unexpected ways, and escalating quick. Don't even try to predict where this one is going, just let it wash over you - a quick dose of surreal fiction! Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Beautiful Poison in Pastel by Beth Dawkins (3589 words) Apex Magazine, Issue 136 : Purchase or Read Online First of all, great descriptions! It’s always a treat to read such stories. If nightmares are pastel colored, are they still scary? The spread of pastel was a beautiful, intriguing concept. I’d have loved to see more exploration of that liminal space where nightmares exist, but as it stands, it’s still an engaging and fun read! Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks    

Review of Reproduction on the Beach by Rich Larson (999 words) Apex Magazine, Issue 136 : Purchase or Read Online A story that starts off with a couple in a secret relationship on a getaway. It slowly descends into horror, but there’s a lot left unexplored. However, it was still very well written. I have really enjoyed other works by this author, this just felt like it had more to explore.   Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

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 Object! by Matt Goldberg (991 words) SmokeLong Quarterly, Issue 77, September 2022 : Donate or Read Online In this world, there is a game-show where people can be turned into objects! The protagonist is spiraling in life, and he thinks he doesn't have anything left to live for. Turns out, though, that he does. And much like life, sometimes you don't know what you're capable of till you're pushed into a corner. And from there, good things may begin. But you don't know that, because sometimes you need to challenge to understand yourself. Also, pretty fun wordplay here! Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks  

Review of Redbean by Dixon March (4530 words) Luna Station Quarterly, Issue 051 : Purchase or Read Online Set in an unhappy world with an unhappy protagonist named Larron, it starts off with her looking for food to nourish her during her pregnancy. She picks up a box of beans, and I think it is clear pretty quick that it is the speculative element of the story. While I was anticipating something perhaps happier than her current existence, this story did not immediately go in that direction! It got even darker, but the prose and descriptions were vivid throughout. Even though it got harsher and more grim than the story was at the beginning, I could see her Larron finding pockets of joy and being able to nourish herself and her little one. Which is different from when the story started, so I suppose it was sort of happy after all, just not in any way I would have assumed. As much as I like standard SFF tropes, I do enjoy stories that turn those tropes upside down. Again, thi...

Review of Not Quite What We're Looking for Right Now by Jana Bianchi (312 words) Fireside Magazine, Issue 96, October 2021 : Purchase or Read Online An all too familiar story about receiving a rejection letter, but taken to a different plane. A fun mix of fantasy that swerves into horror, I'm amazed at the level of detail the author managed in 312 words. Parts of the story literally tried to harm the slush readers and editors! Very imaginative and tight. Power of words, quite literally! Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks    

Review of Thin Crust by Erin MacNair (2825 words) Luna Station Quarterly, Issue 049 : Purchase or Read Online It started off with a 2012 (the movie) vibe, which is not at all a bad thing. But then it proceeded to get better from there. This is the kind of evocatively descriptive story that could be made into a short film. The plot is strong and very well constructed. The prose makes it even better. Each sentence, each adjective even - so carefully chosen. Who knew an apocalyptic event could be narrated in such a soothing manner? With hints of humor scattered throughout. Truly a joy to read. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks    

Review of An Eventual Feast by Lindsay King-Miller (5434 words) Planet Scumm, Issue #11, Summer 2021 : Purchase A strong, emotionally charged story. I'm also glad the author was realistic about labour, "unlike the movies". It was a great setting as well, with zombies, spaceships, galactic travel and childbirth. The buildup was so strong, right from the very first sentence. I was wondering how it would play out at the end, but the ending was so much better than I expected. A fitting story to round off this fantastic issue. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Ma Dresden by Laura Barker (2453 words) Planet Scumm, Issue #11, Summer 2021 : Purchase Lovely prose. The author has a way of being able to describe things beautifully with just a few words. The arc was great too, as was the visit with Mama Levi. A short story, but it had a lot of depth and emotion. The ending just didn't resonate with me very much, but only because I felt like it needed more space to breathe. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Tomatoes by Eugenia Triantafyllou (4200 words) khōréō Magazine, Issue 4 : Purchase or Read Online The narrator and her sister are magic, and sometimes tomatoes and corn can be too. They certainly are in this place, where the narrator is struggling to come to terms with the responsibility towards magic within their tomatoes - tomatoes that her family has been in charge of for generations. She yearns for a different life, one where she can be free to do the things she wants, even if only for a little while. But she learns that what her heart wanted, what she intuitively really wanted, was something else. A layered, poignant story that will likely unsettle you.     Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Hivemind by LC von Hessen (4192 words) Planet Scumm, Issue #11, Summer 2021 : Purchase   The Hive is an experiment in architecture, an ultramodern structure in the heart of Manhattan. Many are impressed, but not Sasha. She's mostly annoyed by the tourists and confused as to why the Hive holds such attraction for so many. At one point in the story, she finds the Hive hypnotic, hinting at a possibly nefarious intelligence, but I was unprepared for this being a story that started off as fantasy (at least in my opinion) and ramped up to horror at a much later stage. The situation quickly devolves into a horrifying outcome, and the reality of the Hive comes to light. Sasha's reluctance to be impressed by modern contraptions turned out to be a lucky trait for her. Plus, the details about her personality and choices help us - as readers - eventually understand how the person she is helped her become a truly objective observer of what transpires in this story.  ...

Review of A Girl Forages for Mushrooms by Ruth Joffre (931 words) Flash Fiction Online, September 2021 : Purchase or Read Online I am amazed at how brilliantly writers can put together so much in a thousand words or under. Flash fiction continues to surprise me, and stories like this one is why. Starting off sweet with a father-daughter weekend bonding ritual. They go hiking, foraging for mushrooms. Slowly, we discover that the daughter is a secret-keeper for her father. The secrets are increasing in magnitude, but she understands him. Disturbing, but still full of love.  Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks   

  Review of The Good Girl by Jennifer Lee Rossman (633 words) Luna Station Quarterly, Issue 047 : Purchase or Read Online A story about transitions of different kinds. A bit heavy on the allegories but I enjoyed the bright, happy descriptions, even while gore and sadness cast occasional shadows. Overall, a tale of strength in sadness and learning to love yourself, whatever you may be. Even if it takes a while to accept yourself. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks   

Review of Swallows (or How to Men Lost Their Magic) by E A Fowler (948 words) Luna Station Quarterly, Issue 046: Purchase or Read Online     A quick story full of lovely, raw imagery. It starts out that way, at least, and creates a world of magic and strange traditions. It slowly devolves into a story less lovely and more disturbing, with the ending having different connotations than one would have expected at the beginning. Very well written.    Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

  Review of My Lakeside Graveyard by Peter S. Drang (1000 words) Flash Fiction Online, May 2021 : Purchase or Read Online Stories about death and graves are not my bag, but I'm trying to push out of my reading comfort zone. And taking it slow via the medium of short stories seemed like a good idea. I'm glad this story was short. Visceral horror and detail gave me chills on a sunny day. Though our unnamed narrator was following unethical practices, these were family practices. They were simply following instructions from forebears. Does that absolve them? Who knows. I certainly did not imagine having to face an ethical conundrum in a short, scary story.  As the story progressed, I realized that choices are what make us, and the narrator's choice defined how the story shaped up. Because sometimes when you have nobody to speak up for you, you have to speak up for yourself. And maybe help will arrive from unexpected quarters. But you needn't count on it.  Supp...