Reviews
Uncanny Magazine Issue 49: November/December 2022, by Michael Damian Thomas, Lynne M. Thomas
bookwyrmknits's review
3.0
Uncanny Magazine does a great job of presenting lots of different POVs and stories, and this issue is no different. There's something for just about everyone here, and while I didn't love all of the stories in the issue, that means (IMO) that more people will be able to find something they like here. Even the stories I didn't like as much felt very well crafted to me, which shows the quality that Uncanny has been putting out.
My thoughts on the individual stories (fiction only; I didn't make notes on the nonfiction or poetry):
“Rabbit Test” by Samantha Mills ~ This is an important topic (pregnancy & agency & privacy & choice) but the way it was handled was too depressing for me. It felt like too real a possibility. Not the kind of fiction I tend to seek out for pleasure.
“Transference” by Vivian Shaw ~ Creepy. There are some paintings that I won't be looking closely at, now that I've read this story...
“The Other Side of Mictlān” by Matthew Olivas ~ Neat look at the afterlife with a Mexican-American perspective. This is not "Coco," though there are enough shared parts that I was able to envision a setting for this story. I liked this one a lot.
“Travelers’ Unrest” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman ~ Fun look at what tourists owe to the people who live in the places they travel. I've traveled with some people like the character in this story who gets the lesson... though fortunately none of my real-world experiences were with people quite as bad as the character here.
“can i offer you a nice egg in this trying time” by Iori Kusano ~ A different take on portal fantasy and what happens to the travelers when they return home. Darker than many portal fantasy stories, but a good read.
“Earth Dragon, Turning” by Anya Ow ~ Really interesting look at grief and love (without really showing much of either) as seen from a third party. I like the setting, and I'd be curious to read more in this world where the earth dragon that causes quakes according to Chinese folklore is a real beast.
“To Walk the River of Stars” by Emily Y. Teng ~ Another well-told second person POV story. (I've been seeing more good second person POV pieces lately, and it makes me happy.) This one was a neat look at reclamation of history and culture, and while the story is hopeful, it makes me sad for the indigenous cultures that we have already lost.
“A Fall Counts Anywhere” by Catherynne M. Valente ~ So far I have not had any luck with Valente's stories. This one was no different; I'm sure some readers will love it, but I bounced off it hard before I could even tell you what it was about. The storytelling format was not to my personal liking.
My thoughts on the individual stories (fiction only; I didn't make notes on the nonfiction or poetry):
“Rabbit Test” by Samantha Mills ~ This is an important topic (pregnancy & agency & privacy & choice) but the way it was handled was too depressing for me. It felt like too real a possibility. Not the kind of fiction I tend to seek out for pleasure.
“Transference” by Vivian Shaw ~ Creepy. There are some paintings that I won't be looking closely at, now that I've read this story...
“The Other Side of Mictlān” by Matthew Olivas ~ Neat look at the afterlife with a Mexican-American perspective. This is not "Coco," though there are enough shared parts that I was able to envision a setting for this story. I liked this one a lot.
“Travelers’ Unrest” by Nina Kiriki Hoffman ~ Fun look at what tourists owe to the people who live in the places they travel. I've traveled with some people like the character in this story who gets the lesson... though fortunately none of my real-world experiences were with people quite as bad as the character here.
“can i offer you a nice egg in this trying time” by Iori Kusano ~ A different take on portal fantasy and what happens to the travelers when they return home. Darker than many portal fantasy stories, but a good read.
“Earth Dragon, Turning” by Anya Ow ~ Really interesting look at grief and love (without really showing much of either) as seen from a third party. I like the setting, and I'd be curious to read more in this world where the earth dragon that causes quakes according to Chinese folklore is a real beast.
“To Walk the River of Stars” by Emily Y. Teng ~ Another well-told second person POV story. (I've been seeing more good second person POV pieces lately, and it makes me happy.) This one was a neat look at reclamation of history and culture, and while the story is hopeful, it makes me sad for the indigenous cultures that we have already lost.
“A Fall Counts Anywhere” by Catherynne M. Valente ~ So far I have not had any luck with Valente's stories. This one was no different; I'm sure some readers will love it, but I bounced off it hard before I could even tell you what it was about. The storytelling format was not to my personal liking.
8bitlapras's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
Rabbit Test by Samantha Mills: 4.5/5
Transference by Vivian Shaw: 4/5
The Other Side of Mictlān by Matthew Olivas: 3.5/5
Travelers' Unrest by Nina Kiriki Hoffman: 3/5
Can I Offer You a Nice Egg in This Trying Time by Iori Kusano: 5/5
Earth Dragon, Turning by Anya Ow: 3/5
To Walk the River of Stars by Emily Y. Teng: 4/5
A Fall Counts Anywhere by Catherynne M. Valente: 2/5
Average rating: 3.625, rounded to 3.5
Transference by Vivian Shaw: 4/5
The Other Side of Mictlān by Matthew Olivas: 3.5/5
Travelers' Unrest by Nina Kiriki Hoffman: 3/5
Can I Offer You a Nice Egg in This Trying Time by Iori Kusano: 5/5
Earth Dragon, Turning by Anya Ow: 3/5
To Walk the River of Stars by Emily Y. Teng: 4/5
A Fall Counts Anywhere by Catherynne M. Valente: 2/5
Average rating: 3.625, rounded to 3.5
jabberwock's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
howardgo's review
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Every other month, I read the latest issue of Uncanny Magazine. Why do I do this? Lots of reason, really. There are great stories in each issue by well-known and new writers. The non-fiction essays touch on topics modern with respect to our culture and how it is evolving. But mostly I love how new cultural and technical ideas are explored in its pages.
Speculative fiction is my favorite genre. I love it when a writer takes some idea, tool, or practice in today's world and twists it with a "what if" that explores some aspect of that thing that most of us have yet to consider or think about. That's why I read this magazine. Six times a year, I get to read the thoughts of people who have pondered these ideas deeply and share them through stories and essays. I encourage you to dive in and see for yourself.
Here are the pieces I most appreciated in the latest issue of Uncanny Magazine, Issue 49 November/December 2022.
- "Rabbit Test" by Samantha Mills – a timely tale of pregnancies and abortion.
- "The Other Side of Mictlān" by Matthew Olivas – an exploration of family and magic.
- "can i offer you a nice egg in this trying time" by Iori Kusano – a story of fast food, identity, and longing. (available online December 6).
verumsolum's review
4.75
This is the first issue I've read of <i>Uncanny</i> that I didn't have to seek out individually (as, after often seeing stories from it given awards and nominations and buying a few individual issues, I backed it on Kickstarter). And I'm really glad I did! I love the quality of the stories here, most of which also line up very well with my personal tastes. I enjoy getting a bit of poetry and look forward to reading the interviews with some of the issue's contributors. The only sadness I feel is that I now have to wait until January for the next issue! (But given how good their issues are, I will be happy to wait!)
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