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A review by mikkiokko
The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy 2023 by R.F. Kuang, John Joseph Adams
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This is the first short story collection I've read where EVERY SINGLE ONE of them was a hit! All of the authors featured are extremely talented and R.F Kuang, as always, knows what she is doing. She picked such great stories that were so confident, imaginative, and reignited my love for sci-fi and fantasy.
While they were all great here are my top stories in no particular order:
1. Air to Shape Lungs - Great and creative immersion for the complexities of displacement, and all somehow done in 3 pages. Incredible work!
2. Beginnings – If you've read that first sentence, you know. This one also ended up shocking me in the end. The pains of being a women are felt so hard in this one and fuck those extremely American-suburban-white-men-murderer-dumbass-losers King & Prince.
3. Sparrows - I have never felt so heart-warmed by an apocalypse! This was also a shockingly great read during finals week, not only because it helped coax the "never stop" mentality of higher education, but also because it made me feel like maybe there is a point to all of this stress. I am working toward a goal despite all the chaos of my life and I am fulfilling my want to learn no matter how futile it might be.
4. The Six Deaths of the Saint - Holy fricking shirt balls. I actually have no words, just go read it! It IS one of the best short stories you will ever read, hands down, pack up your bags, flip the sign to "Closed".
5. Rabbit Test - The different perspectives and timelines was so vital to effectively communicating the necessity for bodily autonomy in this story, and I am thrilled to report it was done expertly here. I love this story so much. Yes. Yes. And oh yeah, yes!
6. Murder by Pixel: Crime and Responsibility in the Digital Darkness - So well written that it honestly felt real. I love how it focused on AI, but also the companies involved and society as a whole. Just made me think a lot and I like that :)
7. In the Beginning of Me I Was a Bird - First of all, AMAZING title. Secondly, wow, I love when people use the English language like this! Minus the stalking, a pretty story too.
8. The Difference Between Love and Time - Yeah I giggled my ass off and bawled my bug-looking eyes out, are you going to pretend like you didn't?
While they were all great here are my top stories in no particular order:
1. Air to Shape Lungs - Great and creative immersion for the complexities of displacement, and all somehow done in 3 pages. Incredible work!
2. Beginnings – If you've read that first sentence, you know. This one also ended up shocking me in the end. The pains of being a women are felt so hard in this one and fuck those extremely American-suburban-white-men-murderer-dumbass-losers King & Prince.
3. Sparrows - I have never felt so heart-warmed by an apocalypse! This was also a shockingly great read during finals week, not only because it helped coax the "never stop" mentality of higher education, but also because it made me feel like maybe there is a point to all of this stress. I am working toward a goal despite all the chaos of my life and I am fulfilling my want to learn no matter how futile it might be.
4. The Six Deaths of the Saint - Holy fricking shirt balls. I actually have no words, just go read it! It IS one of the best short stories you will ever read, hands down, pack up your bags, flip the sign to "Closed".
5. Rabbit Test - The different perspectives and timelines was so vital to effectively communicating the necessity for bodily autonomy in this story, and I am thrilled to report it was done expertly here. I love this story so much. Yes. Yes. And oh yeah, yes!
6. Murder by Pixel: Crime and Responsibility in the Digital Darkness - So well written that it honestly felt real. I love how it focused on AI, but also the companies involved and society as a whole. Just made me think a lot and I like that :)
7. In the Beginning of Me I Was a Bird - First of all, AMAZING title. Secondly, wow, I love when people use the English language like this! Minus the stalking, a pretty story too.
8. The Difference Between Love and Time - Yeah I giggled my ass off and bawled my bug-looking eyes out, are you going to pretend like you didn't?