Here are my super short reviews on the fiction in issue 223 of Clarkesworld Magazine Issue 223, published in April 2025.
“Through These Moments, Darkly” by Samantha Murray — You and your love contemplate the idea of a portal in a world tipped past a warming climate to a cooling one. I love the focus on individuals true to themselves but in relationship to each other. (My rating: 5/5)
“The Seed” by Sheri Singerling — A childless woman in a world without technology is enticed by a beacon from another world to become the progenitor of her people’s rebirth. Felt a little heavy-handed and left me wanting a little something, I am not sure what, that was missing from the story. (My rating:4/5)
“Aegiopolis Testudo” by Gordon Li — A contracted worker living on a leviathan considers whether they should stay at the end of their contract. Feels somewhat confusing or disorienting at the start. A bit unclear. Reminds of me of The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi and Godzilla movies. (My rating: 3/5)
“Still Water” by Zhang Ran, translated from Chinese by Jay Zhang — A mother does her best to comfort and care for her teenage son with ALS. Sections alternate between 2nd and 1st person. First person is the mother narrating. The “you” in second person is her son. Deeply personal and touching. (My rating: 5/5)
“Symbiotic” by Carolyn Zhao — Two people in a technologically induced symbiotic relationship deal with how uneven it is. Very confusing story exploring a fascinating concept. (My rating: 2/5)
“In My Country” by Thomas Ha — A father in a world with no kings but lots of control has a son and a daughter he struggles to understand. A touching story of family in a political situation. Reminds me a bit of Orwell’s 1984. (My rating: 4/5)
“An Even Greater Cold to Come” — A pregnant woman hides with her daughters from soldiers looking for them. This one is a bit on the horror side. It was only “meh” for me. (My rating: 3/5)
My average rating for this issue: 3.75 out of 5.
