"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one." – George R. R. Martin
A lovely story of overcoming secrets and pain.
The Music of the Siphorophenes by C.L. Polk (2023) — 9,232 words (about 37 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Uncanny magazine issue #53, July/August 2023.
It seems that no matter how far back you go, there have always been problem children.
The Ransom of Red Chief by O. Henry (1907) — 4,150 words (about 17 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in The Saturday Evening Post, 6 July 1907.
This feels like a cosmic version of Live Aid or We Are the World
The United Systems of Goodwill Concert Series and the Greatest Performance of All Time by James Van Pelt (2023) — 1,258 words (about 5 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Lightspeed magazine issue #158, July 2023.
This is an inside look at a reality show of the future. I don’t think I’d be participating in this one.
The Narrative Implications of Your Untimely Death by Isabel J. Kim (2023)
Originally published in Lightspeed magazine issue #152, January 2023.
A clerk for the ruling fascists presides over a warehouse of the personal effects and paperwork of the government’s victims with whom he can converse.
The Relationship of Ink to Blood by Alex Langer (2023) — 4,700 words (about 19 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Apex magazine issue #138, May 2023.
An unusual story told in the second person.
Timelock by Davian Aw (2023) — 5,620 words (about 23 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Clarkesworld magazine issue 202, July 2023.
This one may take you back to that old high school crush.
“Ain’t Houses, Ain’t Names” by Nino Cipri (2023) — 3,340 words (about 13 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in The Sunday Morning Transport, 16 July 2023.
An allegory for what technology is doing to so many of us today.
Loneliness Universe by Eugenia Triantafyllou (2024) — 8,173 words (about 32 for the average reader)
Originally published in Uncanny magazine issue #58, May/June 2024.
An unusual way to tell a story. Loved it!
Through Dreams She Moves by Tonya Liburd (2023) — 5,600 words (about 22 minutes for the average reader)
Originally published in Apex magazine issue 140, September 2023.
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.