sleeping_while_awake's review
3.0
Pay Phobetor - 3 stars
Second person pov. In the future, technology interfaces with people's minds, similar to apps on current smart phones. You get hacked and have to deal with a criminal taking control of your mind and physical abilities, and you don't know what is real and what is not. Really made me think of how criminality will evolve as technology evolves.
Valedictorian - 3 stars
Young adult focused. The main character works with all her effort to be the valedictorian of her class. In this world, artificial intelligence has taken over, and the remaining humans reside in a walled area. The AIs take the bottom 10% of the class, supposedly to get rid of them in attempts to breed out low intellect, and also take the 1%, but it is unknown why. The story ends before the fate is finalized for main character. I liked the world-building and the fact that the AIs were taking on human-like traits in their own culture.
Wake-Rider - 4 stars
Main character rides in a scab ship, which is a small ship that is propelled by staying in the wake of larger ships in space. After following alongside a scavenger ship, the MC boards an abandoned ship, and finds people in stasis that were escaping a nano-plague brought on by their corporate economy. I really liked all the parts to this story: the action, setting, and the sense of danger and hopelessness. A great space scifi story.
The Lost Sepulcer of Huascar Capec - 2 stars
Main character uses the mental technique of memory palaces to remember things (this is actually a real method, I had never heard of it before). It was developed in earnest when he goes blind for a few years. When his sight recovers, his reliance on memory palaces influences how he interacts with the world. Reminded me slightly of Borges, as the character has an exceptionally great memory. There is no hard sci-fi or fantasy in this story, although it is well written. It is set in a country in South America.
They Tell Me There Will Be No Pain - 3 stars
Female soldier discharged from the military, suffering from PTSD. She had all of her special military implants taken out, which gave her all sorts of superhuman physical powers and prowess. She is trying to reintegrate back into society, but thinks they may have missed taking out one implant, or she may be going crazy. Although set in the future, the story represents the eternal struggle of military members attempting to rejoin society and act in a normal manner, as if they never left.
The Faerie Cony-Catcher - 2 stars
A lascivious adult fairy tale. Main character is enchanted by a woman on the side of a country road. Turns out she is a fairy and he gets drawn into her world, and presented to the fairy royal court. The language is playful and has an archaic feel to it. The mentioning of codpieces and such made me think of Gargantua and Pantagruel.
The Draw String Detective - 4 stars
I was surprised that this story packed a lot more punch that I thought it would have. Main character loses her wedding ring. She goes to an antique shop, thinking to buy a replacement, but instead buys a toy of a tin detective with a draw string. Pulling on his string reveals that he can talk and interact like any real person. The detective provides emotional support to the MC, especially since her marriage is not going so well.
Soul Case - 3 stars
A very short story. African setting. Soldiers advance on a village. The village witch plans to defeat them. Even for the short space, the world-building is rich.
A Lie You Give, and This I Take - 2 stars
In the vein of European fairy tales. The story structure was difficult to follow. It is essentially a metaphor for how the lies people tell can feel like sweet candy and desserts. Characters are living in a house of candy out in the woods.
The Girlhood of Shakespeare's Heroines - 4 stars
I didn't catch the sci-fi or fantasy angle on this one, although the author has written genre books so maybe that is why it was included. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the story. I think it would probably be very popular among literature readers, and if expanded, would make a great novel. Two teenagers in the 1950s volunteer their summer at a Shakespearean theater, created out of an elaborate barn abandoned by a Utopian community in Indiana. There is a romance between them, surrounded by the work on the set, and questions over whether Francis Bacon is actually the true Shakespeare. Tragedy occurs and the characters meet later in life. Well written and intelligent, engaging to read.
Second person pov. In the future, technology interfaces with people's minds, similar to apps on current smart phones. You get hacked and have to deal with a criminal taking control of your mind and physical abilities, and you don't know what is real and what is not. Really made me think of how criminality will evolve as technology evolves.
Valedictorian - 3 stars
Young adult focused. The main character works with all her effort to be the valedictorian of her class. In this world, artificial intelligence has taken over, and the remaining humans reside in a walled area. The AIs take the bottom 10% of the class, supposedly to get rid of them in attempts to breed out low intellect, and also take the 1%, but it is unknown why. The story ends before the fate is finalized for main character. I liked the world-building and the fact that the AIs were taking on human-like traits in their own culture.
Wake-Rider - 4 stars
Main character rides in a scab ship, which is a small ship that is propelled by staying in the wake of larger ships in space. After following alongside a scavenger ship, the MC boards an abandoned ship, and finds people in stasis that were escaping a nano-plague brought on by their corporate economy. I really liked all the parts to this story: the action, setting, and the sense of danger and hopelessness. A great space scifi story.
The Lost Sepulcer of Huascar Capec - 2 stars
Main character uses the mental technique of memory palaces to remember things (this is actually a real method, I had never heard of it before). It was developed in earnest when he goes blind for a few years. When his sight recovers, his reliance on memory palaces influences how he interacts with the world. Reminded me slightly of Borges, as the character has an exceptionally great memory. There is no hard sci-fi or fantasy in this story, although it is well written. It is set in a country in South America.
They Tell Me There Will Be No Pain - 3 stars
Female soldier discharged from the military, suffering from PTSD. She had all of her special military implants taken out, which gave her all sorts of superhuman physical powers and prowess. She is trying to reintegrate back into society, but thinks they may have missed taking out one implant, or she may be going crazy. Although set in the future, the story represents the eternal struggle of military members attempting to rejoin society and act in a normal manner, as if they never left.
The Faerie Cony-Catcher - 2 stars
A lascivious adult fairy tale. Main character is enchanted by a woman on the side of a country road. Turns out she is a fairy and he gets drawn into her world, and presented to the fairy royal court. The language is playful and has an archaic feel to it. The mentioning of codpieces and such made me think of Gargantua and Pantagruel.
The Draw String Detective - 4 stars
I was surprised that this story packed a lot more punch that I thought it would have. Main character loses her wedding ring. She goes to an antique shop, thinking to buy a replacement, but instead buys a toy of a tin detective with a draw string. Pulling on his string reveals that he can talk and interact like any real person. The detective provides emotional support to the MC, especially since her marriage is not going so well.
Soul Case - 3 stars
A very short story. African setting. Soldiers advance on a village. The village witch plans to defeat them. Even for the short space, the world-building is rich.
A Lie You Give, and This I Take - 2 stars
In the vein of European fairy tales. The story structure was difficult to follow. It is essentially a metaphor for how the lies people tell can feel like sweet candy and desserts. Characters are living in a house of candy out in the woods.
The Girlhood of Shakespeare's Heroines - 4 stars
I didn't catch the sci-fi or fantasy angle on this one, although the author has written genre books so maybe that is why it was included. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed the story. I think it would probably be very popular among literature readers, and if expanded, would make a great novel. Two teenagers in the 1950s volunteer their summer at a Shakespearean theater, created out of an elaborate barn abandoned by a Utopian community in Indiana. There is a romance between them, surrounded by the work on the set, and questions over whether Francis Bacon is actually the true Shakespeare. Tragedy occurs and the characters meet later in life. Well written and intelligent, engaging to read.
macthekat's review
4.0
Such a weird story. It is a fairytale and it isn't. It is this kind of weird meta-fiction, but I think I liked it. It might be riffing on a story that I do not know.
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