wanderlustlover's review
4.0
** Finished is April, finally went back to check if it had a Goodreads entry. Review forthcoming.
lizinthelibrary's review
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
4.75
This is my first time reading an issue of Uncanny Magazine and I really loved it. I will be seeking out some more of them. I think there was one or two authors I will also seek out.
bookaneer's review
3.0
Rating for two stories only:
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson.
Exciting! But that's what you get when going into labor while zombies are banging outside your door. Lots of cool female-comradeship moments.
My Country is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou.
The premise was interesting at first, I was genuinely intrigued with the opening. But then it just falters and I stopped caring even before halfway.
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson.
Exciting! But that's what you get when going into labor while zombies are banging outside your door. Lots of cool female-comradeship moments.
My Country is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou.
The premise was interesting at first, I was genuinely intrigued with the opening. But then it just falters and I stopped caring even before halfway.
nataliya_x's review
4.0
This review is for three (!) award-nominated stories: “Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse” (Hugo and Nebula), “My Country is a Ghost” (Nebula) and “Where You Linger” (Nebula). The rating is for “Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse” — by far my favorite of the three.
————
————
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson - 4/5
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Badass moms in the zombie apocalypse. Giving birth is hard, especially when besieged by bloodthirsty horde of zombies. Featuring placental consumption that actually makes survival sense - a sentence I never thought I’d say.
“Eyes up, knives ready.”
4 stars.
—————
—————
My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou - 2/5
When you emigrate to another country, you are made to leave your ghosts behind at the border. Literally. The new country doesn’t want to be burdened with immigrants’ ghosts and pasts.
Interesting beginning that quickly fizzles out into a heavy metaphor/melancholic message lesson. I could not bring myself to care, sadly.
2 stars.
————
————
Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam - 1.5/5
Huh? A woman recounts all the men and women she had sex with, then gets to revisit her memories of them in some kind of science-fictional experience, accompanied by one of her past selves, and has more sex with them, and then some sort of lesson is learned.
Yeah, I was bored and baffled. It’s a trainwreck in slow motion, and I so don’t care.
1.5 stars.
——————
My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2021: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3701332299
————
————
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson - 4/5
Does exactly what it says on the tin. Badass moms in the zombie apocalypse. Giving birth is hard, especially when besieged by bloodthirsty horde of zombies. Featuring placental consumption that actually makes survival sense - a sentence I never thought I’d say.
“Eyes up, knives ready.”
4 stars.
—————
—————
My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou - 2/5
When you emigrate to another country, you are made to leave your ghosts behind at the border. Literally. The new country doesn’t want to be burdened with immigrants’ ghosts and pasts.
“Foreign ghosts were considered unnecessary. The only things they had to offer were stories and memories.”
Interesting beginning that quickly fizzles out into a heavy metaphor/melancholic message lesson. I could not bring myself to care, sadly.
2 stars.
————
————
Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam - 1.5/5
Huh? A woman recounts all the men and women she had sex with, then gets to revisit her memories of them in some kind of science-fictional experience, accompanied by one of her past selves, and has more sex with them, and then some sort of lesson is learned.
Yeah, I was bored and baffled. It’s a trainwreck in slow motion, and I so don’t care.
1.5 stars.
——————
My Hugo and Nebula Awards Reading Project 2021: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3701332299
villyidol's review
Review (so far) for three of the stories in this issue of Uncanny Magazine, which, astonishingly, contains three stories that were nominated for this year’s Nebula Awards (one of those stories also being a Hugo finalist).
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (horror / read January 25, 2021)
Well, the title almost says it all. This is about two women that are trying to get their baby during a zombie apocalypse. You must be kind of a badass to do that – and they are.
There’s tension and atmosphere and love and women doing badass things to protect themselves and their baby.
I think this would have worked great as part of some longer story. In its current format some of its more emotional moments fall flat because you don’t have enough time to get attached to the characters. Still, it was not bad at all.
3.5 stars
2020 Nebula and 2021 Hugo finalist for Best Short Story.
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/badass-moms-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/
I listened to it as part of the Uncanny Magazine Podcast #32A. The story starts at 10:51 and is roughly 36 minutes long. It was competently narrated by Erika Ensign.
My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (fantasy / read May 30, 2021)
When Niovi is immigrating to an unnamed country she must leave the ghost of her mother behind at the border. Her mom’s ghost being a metaphor for memories and the connection to the place we call home. Niovi is trying to find a way to not be a ghostless person anymore, she’s trying to find a new home.
Honestly, this story had lost me already before the halfway point. It just didn’t make me care about the main character. And seeing that this is a quiet and introspective story, well, that became a problem.
1.5 stars
Nebula 2020 finalist for Best Short Story.
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/my-country-is-a-ghost/
And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands by Sharon Hsu (fantasy / read January 27, 2021)
A portal fantasy told from the perspective of a tree-being.
As the constant wars the humans are fighting begin to spill over into the forest world, Dryad who’s being acquainted with the kings and queens of England for several generations already needs to push back against her rulers (and friends).
Well, I understood the words but struggled a bit to grasp the whatness of this story and particularly the whyness of a couple of things that are happening towards the end.
Maybe some things could have been fleshed out a little better, or maybe it’s just me.
1.5 stars
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/and-all-the-trees-of-the-forest-shall-clap-their-hands/
I once again listened to the Uncanny Magazine Podcast. This story can be found under #32B. It starts at 10:44 and is roughly 21 minutes long. The narration by Joy Piedmont was okay.
Best Novel
• [b:Piranesi|50202953|Piranesi|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609095173l/50202953._SY75_.jpg|73586702] by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury)
• [b:The City We Became|42074525|The City We Became (Great Cities #1)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585327950l/42074525._SY75_.jpg|54760675] by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
• [b:Mexican Gothic|53152636|Mexican Gothic|Silvia Moreno-Garcia|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607462569l/53152636._SY75_.jpg|73647361] by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey)
• [b:The Midnight Bargain|49151031|The Midnight Bargain|C.L. Polk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587158919l/49151031._SY75_.jpg|74297088] by C.L. Polk (Erewhon)
• [b:Black Sun|50892360|Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601212809l/50892360._SY75_.jpg|61321587] by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
• Network Effect by Martha Wells (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novella
• [b:Tower of Mud and Straw|55236234|Tower of Mud and Straw|Yaroslav Barsukov|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1599295493l/55236234._SX50_.jpg|86121622] by Yaroslav Barsukov (Metaphorosis)
• [b:Finna|44081573|Finna (LitenVerse #1)|Nino Cipri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563304090l/44081573._SY75_.jpg|68548236] by Nino Cipri (Tordotcom Publishing)
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (Tordotcom Publishing)
• [b:Ife-Iyoku, Tale of Imadeyunuagbon|57370124|Ife-Iyoku, Tale of Imadeyunuagbon|Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|89792116] by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki (Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora, Aurelia Leo)
• [b:The Four Profound Weaves|51600161|The Four Profound Weaves|R.B. Lemberg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575992755l/51600161._SY75_.jpg|73397963] by R.B. Lemberg (Tachyon)
• [b:Riot Baby|43719523|Riot Baby|Tochi Onyebuchi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556633991l/43719523._SY75_.jpg|68038597] by Tochi Onyebuchi (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novelette
• [b:Stepsister|56671617|Stepsister|Leah Cypess|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|88573911] by Leah Cypess (F&SF 5-6/20)
• [b:The Pill|53052208|Big Girl|Meg Elison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575492744l/53052208._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73371095] by Meg Elison (Big Girl, PM Press)
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 5-6/20)
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com 6/17/20)
• Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Shadow Prisons by Caroline M. Yoachim (serialized in the Dystopia Triptych series as The Shadow Prison Experiment, Shadow Prisons of the Mind and The Shadow Prisoner’s Dilemma, Broad Reach Publishing + Adamant Press)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Advanced Word Problems in Portal Math by Aimee Picchi (Daily Science Fiction 1/3/20)
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• The Eight-Thousanders by Jason Sanford (Asimov’s 9-10/20) (Asimov’s 9-10/20)
• My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
The Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction
• [b:Raybearer|50158128|Raybearer (Raybearer, #1)|Jordan Ifueko|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567330635l/50158128._SX50_SY75_.jpg|70180082] by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet)
• [b:Elatsoe|49089632|Elatsoe|Darcie Little Badger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581002562l/49089632._SX50_.jpg|71388826] by Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido)
• [b:A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|54369251|A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|T. Kingfisher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593743861l/54369251._SX50_.jpg|84842875] by T. Kingfisher (Argyll)
• [b:A Game of Fox and Squirrels|44280976|A Game of Fox & Squirrels|Jenn Reese|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567292584l/44280976._SY75_.jpg|68794492] by Jenn Reese (Holt)
• [b:Star Daughter|52781202|Star Daughter|Shveta Thakrar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1596350537l/52781202._SY75_.jpg|66825697] by Shveta Thakrar (HarperTeen)
Best Novel
• [b:Black Sun|50892360|Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601212809l/50892360._SY75_.jpg|61321587] by Rebecca Roanhorse
• [b:The City We Became|42074525|The City We Became (Great Cities #1)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585327950l/42074525._SY75_.jpg|54760675] by N.K. Jemisin
• [b:Harrow the Ninth|39325105|Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #2)|Tamsyn Muir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602323622l/39325105._SY75_.jpg|60943273] by Tamsyn Muir
• Network Effect by Martha Wells
• [b:Piranesi|50202953|Piranesi|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609095173l/50202953._SY75_.jpg|73586702] by Susanna Clarke
• [b:The Relentless Moon|52381417|The Relentless Moon (Lady Astronaut Universe, #3)|Mary Robinette Kowal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574326388l/52381417._SY75_.jpg|65396089] by Mary Robinette Kowal
Best Novella
• [b:Come Tumbling Down|44804083|Come Tumbling Down (Wayward Children, #5)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556543251l/44804083._SY75_.jpg|60132774] by Seanan McGuire
• [b:The Empress of Salt and Fortune|51190882|The Empress of Salt and Fortune (The Singing Hills Cycle, #1)|Nghi Vo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565188992l/51190882._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71836130] by Nghi Vo
• [b:Finna|44081573|Finna (LitenVerse #1)|Nino Cipri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563304090l/44081573._SY75_.jpg|68548236] by Nino Cipri
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
• [b:Riot Baby|43719523|Riot Baby|Tochi Onyebuchi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556633991l/43719523._SY75_.jpg|68038597] by Tochi Onyebuchi
• [b:Upright Women Wanted|45320365|Upright Women Wanted|Sarah Gailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556718522l/45320365._SY75_.jpg|62411007] by Sarah Gailey
Best Novelette
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 34: May/June 2020|53340305|Uncanny Magazine Issue 34 May/June 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588778181l/53340305._SY75_.jpg|81991633])
• [b:I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter|56389293|Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160 (January 2020)|Neil Clarke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|87868218] by Isabel Fall (Clarkesworld, January 2020)
• The Inaccessibility of Heaven by Aliette de Bodard ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 35: July/August 2020|54425955|Uncanny Magazine Issue 35 July/August 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594094718l/54425955._SY75_.jpg|84933097])
• Monster by Naomi Kritzer ([b:Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160|51267546|Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160 (January 2020)|Neil Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581723430l/51267546._SY75_.jpg|87868218])
• The Pill by Meg Elison (from [b:Big Girl|53052208|Big Girl|Meg Elison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575492744l/53052208._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73371095])
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 32: January/February 2020|50493730|Uncanny Magazine Issue 32 January/February 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579080364l/50493730._SY75_.jpg|75468797])
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• Little Free Library by Naomi Kritzer (Tor. com)
• The Mermaid Astronaut by Yoon Ha Lee (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, February 2020)
• Metal Like Blood in the Dark by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine, September/October 2020)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
Best Series
• The Daevabad Trilogy by [a:S.A. Chakraborty|16002992|S.A. Chakraborty|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1495447627p2/16002992.jpg]
• The Interdependency by [a:John Scalzi|4763|John Scalzi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1562613145p2/4763.jpg]
• The Lady Astronaut Universe by [a:Mary Robinette Kowal|2868678|Mary Robinette Kowal|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1602692419p2/2868678.jpg]
• The Murderbot Diaries by [a:Martha Wells|87305|Martha Wells|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397566224p2/87305.jpg]
• October Daye by [a:Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]
• The Poppy War by [a:R.F. Kuang|16820001|R.F. Kuang|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1563395354p2/16820001.jpg]
Best Graphic Story or Comic
• [b:Die, Vol. 2: Split the Party|49426262|Die, Vol. 2 Split the Party|Kieron Gillen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575345987l/49426262._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72153103], written by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, letters by Clayton Cowles
• [b:Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1: Dog Days Are Over|49984842|Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1 Dog Days Are Over|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580942524l/49984842._SY75_.jpg|72585311], written by Seanan McGuire, art by Takeshi Miyazawa and Rosi Kämpe
• Invisible Kingdom, Vol. 2: Edge of Everything, written by G. Willow Wilson, art by Christian Ward
• [b:Monstress, Vol. 5: Warchild|52637764|Monstress, Vol. 5 Warchild|Marjorie M. Liu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600742631l/52637764._SY75_.jpg|78402003], written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda
• Once & Future, Vol. 1: The King is Undead, written by Kieron Gillen, iIllustrated by Dan Mora, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, lettered by Ed Dukeshire
• Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, written by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings
Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (horror / read January 25, 2021)
Well, the title almost says it all. This is about two women that are trying to get their baby during a zombie apocalypse. You must be kind of a badass to do that – and they are.
There’s tension and atmosphere and love and women doing badass things to protect themselves and their baby.
Eyes up, knives ready.
I think this would have worked great as part of some longer story. In its current format some of its more emotional moments fall flat because you don’t have enough time to get attached to the characters. Still, it was not bad at all.
3.5 stars
2020 Nebula and 2021 Hugo finalist for Best Short Story.
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/badass-moms-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/
I listened to it as part of the Uncanny Magazine Podcast #32A. The story starts at 10:51 and is roughly 36 minutes long. It was competently narrated by Erika Ensign.
My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (fantasy / read May 30, 2021)
When Niovi is immigrating to an unnamed country she must leave the ghost of her mother behind at the border. Her mom’s ghost being a metaphor for memories and the connection to the place we call home. Niovi is trying to find a way to not be a ghostless person anymore, she’s trying to find a new home.
Honestly, this story had lost me already before the halfway point. It just didn’t make me care about the main character. And seeing that this is a quiet and introspective story, well, that became a problem.
1.5 stars
Nebula 2020 finalist for Best Short Story.
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/my-country-is-a-ghost/
And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands by Sharon Hsu (fantasy / read January 27, 2021)
A portal fantasy told from the perspective of a tree-being.
As the constant wars the humans are fighting begin to spill over into the forest world, Dryad who’s being acquainted with the kings and queens of England for several generations already needs to push back against her rulers (and friends).
Well, I understood the words but struggled a bit to grasp the whatness of this story and particularly the whyness of a couple of things that are happening towards the end.
Maybe some things could have been fleshed out a little better, or maybe it’s just me.
1.5 stars
Can be read for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/and-all-the-trees-of-the-forest-shall-clap-their-hands/
I once again listened to the Uncanny Magazine Podcast. This story can be found under #32B. It starts at 10:44 and is roughly 21 minutes long. The narration by Joy Piedmont was okay.
_________________
2020 Nebula Award Finalists
Best Novel
• [b:Piranesi|50202953|Piranesi|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609095173l/50202953._SY75_.jpg|73586702] by Susanna Clarke (Bloomsbury)
• [b:The City We Became|42074525|The City We Became (Great Cities #1)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585327950l/42074525._SY75_.jpg|54760675] by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
• [b:Mexican Gothic|53152636|Mexican Gothic|Silvia Moreno-Garcia|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1607462569l/53152636._SY75_.jpg|73647361] by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey)
• [b:The Midnight Bargain|49151031|The Midnight Bargain|C.L. Polk|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1587158919l/49151031._SY75_.jpg|74297088] by C.L. Polk (Erewhon)
• [b:Black Sun|50892360|Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601212809l/50892360._SY75_.jpg|61321587] by Rebecca Roanhorse (Saga)
• Network Effect by Martha Wells (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novella
• [b:Tower of Mud and Straw|55236234|Tower of Mud and Straw|Yaroslav Barsukov|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1599295493l/55236234._SX50_.jpg|86121622] by Yaroslav Barsukov (Metaphorosis)
• [b:Finna|44081573|Finna (LitenVerse #1)|Nino Cipri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563304090l/44081573._SY75_.jpg|68548236] by Nino Cipri (Tordotcom Publishing)
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark (Tordotcom Publishing)
• [b:Ife-Iyoku, Tale of Imadeyunuagbon|57370124|Ife-Iyoku, Tale of Imadeyunuagbon|Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|89792116] by Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki (Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora, Aurelia Leo)
• [b:The Four Profound Weaves|51600161|The Four Profound Weaves|R.B. Lemberg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575992755l/51600161._SY75_.jpg|73397963] by R.B. Lemberg (Tachyon)
• [b:Riot Baby|43719523|Riot Baby|Tochi Onyebuchi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556633991l/43719523._SY75_.jpg|68038597] by Tochi Onyebuchi (Tordotcom Publishing)
Best Novelette
• [b:Stepsister|56671617|Stepsister|Leah Cypess|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|88573911] by Leah Cypess (F&SF 5-6/20)
• [b:The Pill|53052208|Big Girl|Meg Elison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575492744l/53052208._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73371095] by Meg Elison (Big Girl, PM Press)
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt (Uncanny 5-6/20)
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com 6/17/20)
• Where You Linger by Bonnie Jo Stufflebeam (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Shadow Prisons by Caroline M. Yoachim (serialized in the Dystopia Triptych series as The Shadow Prison Experiment, Shadow Prisons of the Mind and The Shadow Prisoner’s Dilemma, Broad Reach Publishing + Adamant Press)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Advanced Word Problems in Portal Math by Aimee Picchi (Daily Science Fiction 1/3/20)
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• The Eight-Thousanders by Jason Sanford (Asimov’s 9-10/20) (Asimov’s 9-10/20)
• My Country Is a Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (Uncanny 1-2/20)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
The Andre Norton Nebula Award for Middle Grade and Young Adult Fiction
• [b:Raybearer|50158128|Raybearer (Raybearer, #1)|Jordan Ifueko|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567330635l/50158128._SX50_SY75_.jpg|70180082] by Jordan Ifueko (Amulet)
• [b:Elatsoe|49089632|Elatsoe|Darcie Little Badger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581002562l/49089632._SX50_.jpg|71388826] by Darcie Little Badger (Levine Querido)
• [b:A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|54369251|A Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking|T. Kingfisher|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1593743861l/54369251._SX50_.jpg|84842875] by T. Kingfisher (Argyll)
• [b:A Game of Fox and Squirrels|44280976|A Game of Fox & Squirrels|Jenn Reese|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1567292584l/44280976._SY75_.jpg|68794492] by Jenn Reese (Holt)
• [b:Star Daughter|52781202|Star Daughter|Shveta Thakrar|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1596350537l/52781202._SY75_.jpg|66825697] by Shveta Thakrar (HarperTeen)
________________
2021 Hugo Award Finalists
Best Novel
• [b:Black Sun|50892360|Black Sun (Between Earth and Sky, #1)|Rebecca Roanhorse|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1601212809l/50892360._SY75_.jpg|61321587] by Rebecca Roanhorse
• [b:The City We Became|42074525|The City We Became (Great Cities #1)|N.K. Jemisin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1585327950l/42074525._SY75_.jpg|54760675] by N.K. Jemisin
• [b:Harrow the Ninth|39325105|Harrow the Ninth (The Locked Tomb, #2)|Tamsyn Muir|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1602323622l/39325105._SY75_.jpg|60943273] by Tamsyn Muir
• Network Effect by Martha Wells
• [b:Piranesi|50202953|Piranesi|Susanna Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1609095173l/50202953._SY75_.jpg|73586702] by Susanna Clarke
• [b:The Relentless Moon|52381417|The Relentless Moon (Lady Astronaut Universe, #3)|Mary Robinette Kowal|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1574326388l/52381417._SY75_.jpg|65396089] by Mary Robinette Kowal
Best Novella
• [b:Come Tumbling Down|44804083|Come Tumbling Down (Wayward Children, #5)|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556543251l/44804083._SY75_.jpg|60132774] by Seanan McGuire
• [b:The Empress of Salt and Fortune|51190882|The Empress of Salt and Fortune (The Singing Hills Cycle, #1)|Nghi Vo|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565188992l/51190882._SX50_SY75_.jpg|71836130] by Nghi Vo
• [b:Finna|44081573|Finna (LitenVerse #1)|Nino Cipri|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1563304090l/44081573._SY75_.jpg|68548236] by Nino Cipri
• Ring Shout by P. Djèlí Clark
• [b:Riot Baby|43719523|Riot Baby|Tochi Onyebuchi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556633991l/43719523._SY75_.jpg|68038597] by Tochi Onyebuchi
• [b:Upright Women Wanted|45320365|Upright Women Wanted|Sarah Gailey|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1556718522l/45320365._SY75_.jpg|62411007] by Sarah Gailey
Best Novelette
• Burn or the Episodic Life of Sam Wells as a Super by A.T. Greenblatt ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 34: May/June 2020|53340305|Uncanny Magazine Issue 34 May/June 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1588778181l/53340305._SY75_.jpg|81991633])
• [b:I Sexually Identify as an Attack Helicopter|56389293|Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160 (January 2020)|Neil Clarke|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/book/50x75-a91bf249278a81aabab721ef782c4a74.png|87868218] by Isabel Fall (Clarkesworld, January 2020)
• The Inaccessibility of Heaven by Aliette de Bodard ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 35: July/August 2020|54425955|Uncanny Magazine Issue 35 July/August 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1594094718l/54425955._SY75_.jpg|84933097])
• Monster by Naomi Kritzer ([b:Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160|51267546|Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 160 (January 2020)|Neil Clarke|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1581723430l/51267546._SY75_.jpg|87868218])
• The Pill by Meg Elison (from [b:Big Girl|53052208|Big Girl|Meg Elison|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575492744l/53052208._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73371095])
• Two Truths and a Lie by Sarah Pinsker (Tor.com)
Best Short Story
• Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson ([b:Uncanny Magazine Issue 32: January/February 2020|50493730|Uncanny Magazine Issue 32 January/February 2020|Lynne M. Thomas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1579080364l/50493730._SY75_.jpg|75468797])
• A Guide For Working Breeds by Vina Jie-Min Prasad (Made to Order: Robots and Revolution, Solaris)
• Little Free Library by Naomi Kritzer (Tor. com)
• The Mermaid Astronaut by Yoon Ha Lee (Beneath Ceaseless Skies, February 2020)
• Metal Like Blood in the Dark by T. Kingfisher (Uncanny Magazine, September/October 2020)
• Open House on Haunted Hill by John Wiswell (Diabolical Plots 6/15/20)
Best Series
• The Daevabad Trilogy by [a:S.A. Chakraborty|16002992|S.A. Chakraborty|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1495447627p2/16002992.jpg]
• The Interdependency by [a:John Scalzi|4763|John Scalzi|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1562613145p2/4763.jpg]
• The Lady Astronaut Universe by [a:Mary Robinette Kowal|2868678|Mary Robinette Kowal|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1602692419p2/2868678.jpg]
• The Murderbot Diaries by [a:Martha Wells|87305|Martha Wells|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1397566224p2/87305.jpg]
• October Daye by [a:Seanan McGuire|2860219|Seanan McGuire|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1245623198p2/2860219.jpg]
• The Poppy War by [a:R.F. Kuang|16820001|R.F. Kuang|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1563395354p2/16820001.jpg]
Best Graphic Story or Comic
• [b:Die, Vol. 2: Split the Party|49426262|Die, Vol. 2 Split the Party|Kieron Gillen|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575345987l/49426262._SX50_SY75_.jpg|72153103], written by Kieron Gillen and Stephanie Hans, letters by Clayton Cowles
• [b:Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1: Dog Days Are Over|49984842|Ghost-Spider, Vol. 1 Dog Days Are Over|Seanan McGuire|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1580942524l/49984842._SY75_.jpg|72585311], written by Seanan McGuire, art by Takeshi Miyazawa and Rosi Kämpe
• Invisible Kingdom, Vol. 2: Edge of Everything, written by G. Willow Wilson, art by Christian Ward
• [b:Monstress, Vol. 5: Warchild|52637764|Monstress, Vol. 5 Warchild|Marjorie M. Liu|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1600742631l/52637764._SY75_.jpg|78402003], written by Marjorie Liu, art by Sana Takeda
• Once & Future, Vol. 1: The King is Undead, written by Kieron Gillen, iIllustrated by Dan Mora, colored by Tamra Bonvillain, lettered by Ed Dukeshire
• Parable of the Sower: A Graphic Novel Adaptation, written by Octavia Butler, adapted by Damian Duffy, illustrated by John Jennings
woahno's review
4.0
I'm using this space for “Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse” by Rae Carson. This is a great story. I was hooked right away, from the opening paragraph in fact. The concept is insane. Having a kid at any time is difficult and intense and nerve wracking but doing it during the zombie apocalypse when the zombies can sense when your labor begins is a entirely different set of problems. I wish a couple of things were done differently but on the whole, this was excellent.
kristamccracken's review
5.0
Favourites in this issue:
-My Country Is A Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (fiction)
-Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (fiction)
-Who Do You Think You Are by Ada Hoffmann (poetry)
-Writing With My Keys Between My Fingers by Meg Elison (essay)
-Street Harassment Is an Access Issue by Katharine Duckett (essay)
-My Country Is A Ghost by Eugenia Triantafyllou (fiction)
-Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse by Rae Carson (fiction)
-Who Do You Think You Are by Ada Hoffmann (poetry)
-Writing With My Keys Between My Fingers by Meg Elison (essay)
-Street Harassment Is an Access Issue by Katharine Duckett (essay)
marlene8020's review
2.0
Didn’t mind the premise or the violence but the writing seemed very awkward & not believable. Running for your life? Quick break for a pep talk that goes over every ‘strong-woman’ moment in your recent life. We need to be quiet to avoid being eaten, but you’re giving birth so I guess I’ll scream FUCK THE FLESH EATERS in case that helps.
trish204's review
4.0
So I ended up being interested in three titles in this magazine.
Here's my review for Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse:
You get what the title promsies you: the zombie apocalypse happened. A few survivors are trying to stay alive and some even give birth - which makes them a primary target for the flesh-eaters.
Questions are being raised about whether to give up, just fight for yourself or even try to repopulate the planet and the musings weren't too bad.
I liked the rough and gritty feel to this story. Granted, I'm a sucker for zombie apocalypse stories anyway.
What I find myself tiring of are all-female end-of-the-world communities because I can't quite wrap my mind around what's bad about having men there too. But that's just me and. *shrugs*
3 stars
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/badass-moms-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/
Here's my review for You Perfect, Broken Thing:
Race Day. A wall-climbing, puzzle-solving contest. The prize: a shot (or two) of "the cure". In this future world, a disease has infected all humans. Degeneration, cells dying off and more rapidly than due to simple aging. Physical exertion makes it accelerate and kill you faster but that is a calculated risk some take to win the afore-mentioned race and thus a cure.
The people here don't have typical names. Instead, they are called Rowboat and Shell or Honey and Little. It makes it all a bit less personal while also making it MORE personal by emphasizing this world's harsh reality if that makes any sense.
I really liked the intensity of the actual race that had me very invested. In the end, I actually teared up when we got to the "we do what we can" bit.
4 stars
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/you-perfect-broken-thing/
Here's my review for And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands:
The story of a dryad or tree herd (I was reminded of Tolkien's, yes) and how/why he killed a child.
It is not true that a witch ruled our world, unless witch is the word Your Honours use for all beings who are so powerful and so free that they can rule themselves.
A wonderful tale with even more wonderful worldbuilding (I swear I could hear birds sing and smell forest while reading this). The story was that of children ending up in some form of fairyland/wonderland (only gone entirely wrong) and thus told of magic, old power and nature/environmentalism in contrast to humanity's world (England), war and a need for control / dominance. And it told of love and what we allow others to do to us because of it.
Absolutely wonderful and thus deserving 5 stars.
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/and-all-the-trees-of-the-forest-shall-clap-their-hands/
Here's my review for Badass Moms in the Zombie Apocalypse:
You get what the title promsies you: the zombie apocalypse happened. A few survivors are trying to stay alive and some even give birth - which makes them a primary target for the flesh-eaters.
Questions are being raised about whether to give up, just fight for yourself or even try to repopulate the planet and the musings weren't too bad.
I liked the rough and gritty feel to this story. Granted, I'm a sucker for zombie apocalypse stories anyway.
What I find myself tiring of are all-female end-of-the-world communities because I can't quite wrap my mind around what's bad about having men there too. But that's just me and
Spoiler
the baby was a boy so maybe there will be mixed genders in that enclave from now on3 stars
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/badass-moms-in-the-zombie-apocalypse/
Here's my review for You Perfect, Broken Thing:
Race Day. A wall-climbing, puzzle-solving contest. The prize: a shot (or two) of "the cure". In this future world, a disease has infected all humans. Degeneration, cells dying off and more rapidly than due to simple aging. Physical exertion makes it accelerate and kill you faster but that is a calculated risk some take to win the afore-mentioned race and thus a cure.
The people here don't have typical names. Instead, they are called Rowboat and Shell or Honey and Little. It makes it all a bit less personal while also making it MORE personal by emphasizing this world's harsh reality if that makes any sense.
I really liked the intensity of the actual race that had me very invested. In the end, I actually teared up when we got to the "we do what we can" bit.
4 stars
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/you-perfect-broken-thing/
Here's my review for And All the Trees of the Forest Shall Clap Their Hands:
The story of a dryad or tree herd (I was reminded of Tolkien's, yes) and how/why he killed a child.
It is not true that a witch ruled our world, unless witch is the word Your Honours use for all beings who are so powerful and so free that they can rule themselves.
A wonderful tale with even more wonderful worldbuilding (I swear I could hear birds sing and smell forest while reading this). The story was that of children ending up in some form of fairyland/wonderland (only gone entirely wrong) and thus told of magic, old power and nature/environmentalism in contrast to humanity's world (England), war and a need for control / dominance. And it told of love and what we allow others to do to us because of it.
Absolutely wonderful and thus deserving 5 stars.
You can read it for free here: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/and-all-the-trees-of-the-forest-shall-clap-their-hands/