sofinch's review against another edition
4.75
One of the best short story anthologies I've read! Usually anthologies are very hit or miss for me, but I really enjoyed the majority of these.
Favorites:
Das Steingeschöpf - G.V. Anderson
The Deepwater Bride - Tamsyn Muir
The Shape of My Name - Nino Cipri
Don't Press Charges and I Won't Sue - Charlie Jane Anders
Secondhand Bodies - Neon Yang
Né łe! - Darcie Little Badger
Cat Pictures Please - Naomi Kritzer
The Lily and the Horn - Catherynne M. Valente
Favorites:
Das Steingeschöpf - G.V. Anderson
The Deepwater Bride - Tamsyn Muir
The Shape of My Name - Nino Cipri
Don't Press Charges and I Won't Sue - Charlie Jane Anders
Secondhand Bodies - Neon Yang
Né łe! - Darcie Little Badger
Cat Pictures Please - Naomi Kritzer
The Lily and the Horn - Catherynne M. Valente
alanadeluca's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.5
moddey_dhoo's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
bookswithbets's review
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
dreamereternal's review
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
As a collection it was entertaining with some fitting the theme of queer speculative fiction better than others. There were a lot of now currently popular and well known authors that pop up and it was interesting getting a taste of authors I had heard of or had on my to-read but had not dived into yet. I liked the mix of styles and types of speculative fiction from historical, to straight sci-fi to fairytale inspired and you could definitely tell who was familiar with short story writing vs those whose works were more asides in larger narratives and not really complete of themselves. That would be my biggest criticism of the anthology as a whole, where some of the pieces selected didn't really work for me as short stories and either lost my interest or confused me in their setup. Overall though I did enjoy it and the collections offered.
For individual reviews:
<i>Destroyed By the Waters</i>-Rachel Swirsky
I thought this was a weak start. I was intrigued by the speculative future it offered but didn't find the short story itself very compelling and found it okay at most.
<i>The Sea Troll's Daughter</i>-Caitlin R Kiernan
The world and story for this piece was wonderfully imagined and very vivid. I enjoyed the almost old Norse/medieval, Beowulf-esque tale of the story itself and as a setting it felt well-established and complete. The writing also worked really well for this type of tale.
<i>And if the Body Were Not the Soul</i>-AC Wise
I found myself losing interest near the end and skimmed the rest. The overall short story didn't really capture me and I honestly found it a bit boring. Despite taking place in a world well after first contact I was mostly reminded of Arrival when reading it. I also felt as a story concerning touch-aversion and asexuality it fell a little flat. I did appreciate the the distinctly non-humanoid aliens though.
<i>Imago</i>-Tristan Alice Neto
Very fun! By far the most cinematic of the pieces and among my favorites of the anthology. I loved the very cyberpunk atmosphere of the zombie/extreme medical dystopia of the premise and the story itself is both lovely in what it wants to say and dark. There is something very modern Gothic ghost story novel in the whole thing and the butterfly fact framing and the vivid imagery carry the story spectacularly.
<i>Paranormal Romance</i>-Christopher Barzak
Among the more average. The story was cute and I enjoyed the urban magic vibe of it but the narrator was not to my taste and it didn't have much to say overall.
<i>Three Points Masculine</i>-An Owomoyela
I don't enjoy hard military sci-fi, but the discussion of the sometimes contradictory and layered expression of the trans experience worked well. The characters conflicting attitudes of and expressions of masculinity as set in a very masculine military story genre and the narrators experience as a transmasculine individual intersect in interesting ways. It was otherwise fine however as again I just couldn't engage with the plot or setting of the story itself.
<i>Das Steingeschopf</i>-GV Anderson
Another favorite of the collection! I absolutely loved the concept and the speculative historical fiction aspect of it. The time period of pre-WW2 is also a great choice for the story that the author wants to tell. The narrator voice is strong and compelling and the small bit of the world we see already feels rich and full. It strikes me as a setting perfect for an animated version of this short story and I would deeply enjoy a collection of vignettes set in this universe.
<i>The Deepwater Bride</i>-Tamsyn Muir
Delightful! A favorite in the anthology and makes me so excited to read Muir's full novel. By far the most fun and easiest to read with a great narrator voice. Humorous and witty with a really fun take on eldritch mythos that had me smiling. I loved the multiple layers of satire in both the teenage narrator's very self-serious take on everything going on and the parodying of the type of writing that eldritch stories and Lovecraft were written in. Just super fun all around!
<i>The Shape of My Name</i>-Nino Cipri
Well crafted! I was really struck by the way the non-linear storytelling echoed the concept so well. The story had a lot of rich things to say about family relationships, motherhood, acceptance of your trueself and an individual's relationship with queerness and family. The narrator's circular journey to forgiveness of their mother and understanding of themselves and the repeated use of "mama" with the full circle of traveling really made for a haunting tale. Saddening but poignant.
<i>Otherwise</i>-Nisi Shawl
An unfortunately mostly forgetful piece, not only did I not find it personally appealing but its attempt at a polyam relationship felt shoehorned in and underdeveloped at the end.
<i>The Night Train</i>-Lavie Tidhar
Among the more atmospheric pieces with a setting that felt very Hong Kong/Asian cinema inspired. The biopunk aspect of it reminded me of anime more than anything and while I found it overall intriguing the story itself and its narration were disjointed and hard to parse.
<i>Ours Is the Prettiest</i>-Nalo Hopkinson
Didn't really work as a short story. While the setting is vivid and colorful it often felt like there was too much going on for the format so the short story itself felt very rushed. It was both full of too much and underdeveloped in both characters and place. For a work as a short story there were far too many flashbacks to get a sense of what was going on and who our characters were. I enjoyed the writing itself and what was seen but it definitely felt like a cut scene from a larger series.
<i>Don't Press Charges and I Won't Sue</i>-Charlie Jane Anderson
Disquieting in both how realistic it is and the speculative body transfer tech of the short story. I enjoyed it and what it had to say about "normal" "average" people who aren't really transphobic and are just "following orders" or "doing their job." The juxtaposing of the victim and the manager and the childhood connection really drive home the harm of the whole thing. I do love that it ends on an ultimately hopeful note despite the consequences of what was done.
<i>Driving Jenny Home</i>-Seanan McGuire
I think the author was trying to go for a like a 80s teen horror movie vibe in the premise but it ultimately fell flat. The story itself was mostly forgetful and a bit boring and I could do without.
<i>I'm Alive, I Love You, I'll See You in Reno</i>-Vylar Kaftan
A perfectly crafted short story. It was well-done, with a full and simple tale to it. I enjoyed and thought the writing was skillful but ultimately don't have much else to say.
<i>In the Eyes of Jack Saul</i>-Richard Bowes
This piece appealed to the lit nerd in me deeply! I was absolutely delighted by the remix of Dorian Gray with a figure from early homosexual erotica. If you know what the book the narrator alludes to is about it's a really fun easter egg! Otherwise it was an easy read and an entertaning narrator voice with the lit connections as the real draw of the story.
<i>Secondhand Bodies</i>-Neon Yang
I did not enjoy this one at all. I couldn't quite tell if the POV was meant to be discomforting and unlikable as it was or it was accidental. The premise wasn't terrible the way the story worked with it gave the whole thing a very weird feel that didn't work at all. Whatever it had to say about dysmorphia, ableism and identity didn't even carry through fully.
<i>Seasons of Glass and Iron</i>-Amal El-Mohtar
Lovely! Another favorite with its lyrical quality to the writing and the fairytale deconstruction. The short story working as the aftermath/midpoint of fairy and folk tales works really well and I loved the two main characters and the stories they came from.
<i>Ne'le!</i-Darcie Little Badger
Cute but bland. While I enjoyed and could see what it wanted to express and say about indigenous identity I just didn't care for it much. The romance was at most okay and felt more like a Lifetime movie lesbian romance and not in a fun way. I was unfortunately also just reminded of both the movie Passenger and Gundam Wing at once in the story's setting and concept.
<i>The Duke of Riverside</i>-Ellen Kushner
Another story that felt like cut scenes from a larger narrative where you could really tell it was part of some other series. It felt like you already needed to be a fan to appreciate what this short story revealed, filled in about a world and characters. The setting itself is very classic fantasy, with a Sherwood esque feel to it (and who did this style much better!). Not boring but I could take it or leave it.
<i>Cat Pictures Please</i>-Naomi Kritzer
Not much to say, beyond fun with AI. I really enjoyed the narrator and thought the concept was clever. Worked excellently as short story.
<i>The Lily and the Horn</i>-Catherynne M Valente>
Gorgeous! I really loved this one and will count it among my favorites from the anthology. Its rich imagery and full feeling setting with the thick description and clear voice work so well. I thought it was written rather strikingly in weaving concept, character and setting with well crafted and rich prose. I love the kind of alternate take on middle ages like fiefdoms and the wives who run lord's houses.
<i>Calved</i>-Sam J Mille
Definitely among the more sad and ironic pieces. I was intrigued by the world painted in the story but enjoyed how contained and interesting the father and son tale is in itself. The story had a lot to offer on fatherhood, guilt and blame, isolation and unreliable views of ourselves. It's sad and bittersweet and well done.
<i>The River's Children</i>-Shweta Narayan
A strong ending to the anthology for me as I really loved this piece. The sweet mythical feel to the narration is brilliant and I really love how well it works as a sort of creation myth/old god story for trans identity and gender fluidity in the tale of the river children. Really captures the myth feeling well.
For individual reviews:
Spoiler
<i>Destroyed By the Waters</i>-Rachel Swirsky
I thought this was a weak start. I was intrigued by the speculative future it offered but didn't find the short story itself very compelling and found it okay at most.
<i>The Sea Troll's Daughter</i>-Caitlin R Kiernan
The world and story for this piece was wonderfully imagined and very vivid. I enjoyed the almost old Norse/medieval, Beowulf-esque tale of the story itself and as a setting it felt well-established and complete. The writing also worked really well for this type of tale.
<i>And if the Body Were Not the Soul</i>-AC Wise
I found myself losing interest near the end and skimmed the rest. The overall short story didn't really capture me and I honestly found it a bit boring. Despite taking place in a world well after first contact I was mostly reminded of Arrival when reading it. I also felt as a story concerning touch-aversion and asexuality it fell a little flat. I did appreciate the the distinctly non-humanoid aliens though.
<i>Imago</i>-Tristan Alice Neto
Very fun! By far the most cinematic of the pieces and among my favorites of the anthology. I loved the very cyberpunk atmosphere of the zombie/extreme medical dystopia of the premise and the story itself is both lovely in what it wants to say and dark. There is something very modern Gothic ghost story novel in the whole thing and the butterfly fact framing and the vivid imagery carry the story spectacularly.
<i>Paranormal Romance</i>-Christopher Barzak
Among the more average. The story was cute and I enjoyed the urban magic vibe of it but the narrator was not to my taste and it didn't have much to say overall.
<i>Three Points Masculine</i>-An Owomoyela
I don't enjoy hard military sci-fi, but the discussion of the sometimes contradictory and layered expression of the trans experience worked well. The characters conflicting attitudes of and expressions of masculinity as set in a very masculine military story genre and the narrators experience as a transmasculine individual intersect in interesting ways. It was otherwise fine however as again I just couldn't engage with the plot or setting of the story itself.
<i>Das Steingeschopf</i>-GV Anderson
Another favorite of the collection! I absolutely loved the concept and the speculative historical fiction aspect of it. The time period of pre-WW2 is also a great choice for the story that the author wants to tell. The narrator voice is strong and compelling and the small bit of the world we see already feels rich and full. It strikes me as a setting perfect for an animated version of this short story and I would deeply enjoy a collection of vignettes set in this universe.
<i>The Deepwater Bride</i>-Tamsyn Muir
Delightful! A favorite in the anthology and makes me so excited to read Muir's full novel. By far the most fun and easiest to read with a great narrator voice. Humorous and witty with a really fun take on eldritch mythos that had me smiling. I loved the multiple layers of satire in both the teenage narrator's very self-serious take on everything going on and the parodying of the type of writing that eldritch stories and Lovecraft were written in. Just super fun all around!
<i>The Shape of My Name</i>-Nino Cipri
Well crafted! I was really struck by the way the non-linear storytelling echoed the concept so well. The story had a lot of rich things to say about family relationships, motherhood, acceptance of your trueself and an individual's relationship with queerness and family. The narrator's circular journey to forgiveness of their mother and understanding of themselves and the repeated use of "mama" with the full circle of traveling really made for a haunting tale. Saddening but poignant.
<i>Otherwise</i>-Nisi Shawl
An unfortunately mostly forgetful piece, not only did I not find it personally appealing but its attempt at a polyam relationship felt shoehorned in and underdeveloped at the end.
<i>The Night Train</i>-Lavie Tidhar
Among the more atmospheric pieces with a setting that felt very Hong Kong/Asian cinema inspired. The biopunk aspect of it reminded me of anime more than anything and while I found it overall intriguing the story itself and its narration were disjointed and hard to parse.
<i>Ours Is the Prettiest</i>-Nalo Hopkinson
Didn't really work as a short story. While the setting is vivid and colorful it often felt like there was too much going on for the format so the short story itself felt very rushed. It was both full of too much and underdeveloped in both characters and place. For a work as a short story there were far too many flashbacks to get a sense of what was going on and who our characters were. I enjoyed the writing itself and what was seen but it definitely felt like a cut scene from a larger series.
<i>Don't Press Charges and I Won't Sue</i>-Charlie Jane Anderson
Disquieting in both how realistic it is and the speculative body transfer tech of the short story. I enjoyed it and what it had to say about "normal" "average" people who aren't really transphobic and are just "following orders" or "doing their job." The juxtaposing of the victim and the manager and the childhood connection really drive home the harm of the whole thing. I do love that it ends on an ultimately hopeful note despite the consequences of what was done.
<i>Driving Jenny Home</i>-Seanan McGuire
I think the author was trying to go for a like a 80s teen horror movie vibe in the premise but it ultimately fell flat. The story itself was mostly forgetful and a bit boring and I could do without.
<i>I'm Alive, I Love You, I'll See You in Reno</i>-Vylar Kaftan
A perfectly crafted short story. It was well-done, with a full and simple tale to it. I enjoyed and thought the writing was skillful but ultimately don't have much else to say.
<i>In the Eyes of Jack Saul</i>-Richard Bowes
This piece appealed to the lit nerd in me deeply! I was absolutely delighted by the remix of Dorian Gray with a figure from early homosexual erotica. If you know what the book the narrator alludes to is about it's a really fun easter egg! Otherwise it was an easy read and an entertaning narrator voice with the lit connections as the real draw of the story.
<i>Secondhand Bodies</i>-Neon Yang
I did not enjoy this one at all. I couldn't quite tell if the POV was meant to be discomforting and unlikable as it was or it was accidental. The premise wasn't terrible the way the story worked with it gave the whole thing a very weird feel that didn't work at all. Whatever it had to say about dysmorphia, ableism and identity didn't even carry through fully.
<i>Seasons of Glass and Iron</i>-Amal El-Mohtar
Lovely! Another favorite with its lyrical quality to the writing and the fairytale deconstruction. The short story working as the aftermath/midpoint of fairy and folk tales works really well and I loved the two main characters and the stories they came from.
<i>Ne'le!</i-Darcie Little Badger
Cute but bland. While I enjoyed and could see what it wanted to express and say about indigenous identity I just didn't care for it much. The romance was at most okay and felt more like a Lifetime movie lesbian romance and not in a fun way. I was unfortunately also just reminded of both the movie Passenger and Gundam Wing at once in the story's setting and concept.
<i>The Duke of Riverside</i>-Ellen Kushner
Another story that felt like cut scenes from a larger narrative where you could really tell it was part of some other series. It felt like you already needed to be a fan to appreciate what this short story revealed, filled in about a world and characters. The setting itself is very classic fantasy, with a Sherwood esque feel to it (and who did this style much better!). Not boring but I could take it or leave it.
<i>Cat Pictures Please</i>-Naomi Kritzer
Not much to say, beyond fun with AI. I really enjoyed the narrator and thought the concept was clever. Worked excellently as short story.
<i>The Lily and the Horn</i>-Catherynne M Valente>
Gorgeous! I really loved this one and will count it among my favorites from the anthology. Its rich imagery and full feeling setting with the thick description and clear voice work so well. I thought it was written rather strikingly in weaving concept, character and setting with well crafted and rich prose. I love the kind of alternate take on middle ages like fiefdoms and the wives who run lord's houses.
<i>Calved</i>-Sam J Mille
Definitely among the more sad and ironic pieces. I was intrigued by the world painted in the story but enjoyed how contained and interesting the father and son tale is in itself. The story had a lot to offer on fatherhood, guilt and blame, isolation and unreliable views of ourselves. It's sad and bittersweet and well done.
<i>The River's Children</i>-Shweta Narayan
A strong ending to the anthology for me as I really loved this piece. The sweet mythical feel to the narration is brilliant and I really love how well it works as a sort of creation myth/old god story for trans identity and gender fluidity in the tale of the river children. Really captures the myth feeling well.
spinebreaker01's review
5.0
One of the best anthologies I’ve ever read, with an incredibly strong story selection. I liked all but one of the stories, and marked 11/24 as ones that I really enjoyed and want to check out the authors other work. Excellent diversity in genre and themes and in terms of character diversity as well, which was much appreciated. It’s a pretty big book but I finished in just over a week because it was so engaging.