SFF Reviews - Science Fiction and Fantasy

Review of Keep Moving by Raluca Balasa (3834 words) Luna Station Quarterly, Issue 039 : Read Online A dystopian society where people are afraid to love, indeed, it isn't even allowed legally. Children grow up in institutions, away from their "lifegivers". They don't even know the names of their caretakers until they are old enough to be able to handle such informattion without forming an emotional bond. Reminiscent of Brave New World, but somehow more horrifying, because reproduction still happens the traditional way. It is a world where love is not allowed, emotional bonds are to be avoided, feelings are to be eliminated and music leads to hurt and pain. The foundation of the story, and the world building within, is well structured and the details flow together very well. It's certainly a sad word to live in, and that makes Sarrai's life demand even more sympathy, while also understanding how the people in that world may react. Support us on Ko-fi...

Review of The Devil and Dice by Diana Hurlburt (6901 words) Luna Station Quarterly, Issue 039 : Read Online This is the second story by Diana Hurlburt that I am reviewing. It stood out to me then, and it stands out to me instantly now, that her descriptions are beyond spectacular. She paints wonderful pictures, and I repeat myself, but it's true - I don't like to read descriptions very much for many reasons. They do nothing for me in terms of the story in most cases, it gets draggy and people don't edit. But Hurlburt is just fantastic. Orca and Dice. Black and White. Devil and God. Twins. Twins that grow up together, but one is for the Devil and one is for God, as declared by the pastor of their small town. The premise is interesting, as well as the description of the passage of time. The story has fantastical elements, combined with the general ordinariness of life, which isn't always ordinary to begin with. Combining the real, unreal and surreal is a special skill,...

Review of  Recovery by Kate Sheeran Swed  (3956 words) Luna Station Quarterly, Issue 039 :   Read Online What stood out to me instantly was the age of the MC, Penny. She is eighty-six, and has never used her recovery card - a card that let's you re-live four minutes of your life. Most people use it for frivolous things, but not Penny. She still has it, safely tucked away for later. She, however, is in the hospital, with her roommate Molly. This story is pretty much about the fun they have, looking for the Well-Dressed Man, and it sheds light on the bond they've formed during their escapade. The story is light, fun, yet poignant. It's only after I started reviewing short stories here that I started reading even more of them, and what surprises me the most is how often I use the word poignant in terms of short stories. And it is not a word I use lightly. Short stories like this are what drew me into creating a dedicated review blog in the first place. What a beautif...

Review of  You Called Me by Avra Margariti   (999 words) Flash Fiction Online, October 2019 Issue :  Read Online "Guilt bursts citric-sour in her mouth." Sentences like these really make me vividly visualize things, which I always appreciate. And to find it in a short story, no less! This is a story about a fourteen year old girl who is a minor deity and is called by the people who believe in her. Her mum worries, like any teenager's mum would, and their relationship is beautifully portrayed with very few words. It's a special skill and something I definitely appreciate. They are distant as the story starts, and the mother, Carol, works hard to maintain the peace and have a semblance of a working, healthy relationship. We soon discover that this is not entirely the case, and Carol herself is pretty hurt. Janie doesn't call her mom. By the end of the story, we understand where the distance, hurt, and resentment comes from, and how things might change j...

Review of The Planting Prayer by   Caroline Diorio (919 words) Flash Fiction Online, October 2019 Issue :  Read Online I particularly enjoyed the second person POV narration. I don't get to see that enough, honestly, so this stood out for me right from the outset. The story opens with our unnamed protagonist fulfilling a ritual - their sister is dead and they need to do this for the sake of her soul. For peace. The revelations are scattered throughout the story, and each new bit of information makes the story more intense and terrifying. The fear of death is a real thing, especially if youth are involved. Both the protagonist and the sister are fairly young, and while they have experienced the death of a close one (their mother) before, it's worse when it's someone quite young. This touches on that visceral fear, and the heightened terror and magic intertwine to create a beautiful, if scary, story. Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjus...

Review of Mr. Buttons by  Miyuki Jane Pinckard  (950 words) Flash Fiction Online, October 2019 Issue :  Read Online I absolutely adore stories that can change the entire setting at a moment's notice. Mr. Buttons is exactly that. The background is of a kid who loves his stuffed toy, and we see that the child is soothed by it. Maybe it's just childish imagination, or maybe it's actually magic. Suddenly, though, you're hit by a split second decision and wide-ranging implications. Beautifully spooky.  Support us on Ko-fi -  https://ko-fi.com/ohjustbooks

Review of Zeitgeber by Greg Egan (10399 words) Tor.com, Sept 2019, Read Online   A beautifully written short that seems disturbing and unnatural on the surface of it, but you slowly start to realize that it isn't entirely unlikely for something like circadian rhythm changes to affect the structure of society as a whole. Focusing on the microcosm of Sam's family with the backdrop of society as whole, we get a glimpse into how it changes the life of each person. This story touches on the effect on a human level, and not just on a widespread global level. Indeed, the interspersed narrative of Sam with his family, and the larger society and the school he teaches at, shows how individuals are dealing with it. Individuals like his daughter, Emma, who is now functioning on a different internal clock. As these things go, she is eventually forced to have medication, which keeps her up at "normal" times, but she's dull, feel heavy, and doesn't really feel like h...