A review by mikewhiteman
Clarkesworld Magazine, Issue 129 by Jason Heller, Andy Dudak, Neil Clarke, Jay Lake, Aliette de Bodard, S.E. Jones, Nina Allan, Julia K. Patt, Sam J. Miller, Chris Urie, A Que
4.0
Fool's Cap - Andy Dudak ***
A woman hunts down a mass-murderer for punishment but gets stranded with him. Complicated by the "moss" on the planet he is hiding on, which gives people third person dreams that may reveal more about themselves than they want to know. Lots of questions of free will and predestination, the conflicts within individual people, which I liked, but the writing didn't quite carry it for me.
My Dear, Like The Sky And Stars And Sun - Julia K Patt ***
A biological modder (or "mod'r") specialising in tech to help abused women does some work for a mysterious young girl and gets in over her head with the corporations controlling the technology. Not much tension to the story but the world and the central relationship between Elspeth and Mari was well done.
Neptune's Trident - Nina Allan ***
Bleak post-apocalyptic story about a scavenger in Scotland where alien invasion/disease has begun to infect and take over people. Some overdone apocalypse tropes - charismatic preacher, etc - but the writing in general is strong and touching, albeit slow-moving. Given the title and the submarines mentioned, I read a critique of nuclear weapons here but the story stands without that layer.
The Ways Out - Sam J Miller **
A government agent monitors two "variants", people with various powers who are kept oppressed and controlled. The presentation as a series of reports didn't work for me, the increasing frequency and inconsistency of the redactions and corrections just felt messy by the end.
An Account Of The Sky Whales - A Que ****
After his ex dies, a man travels to the planet where she was working as a researcher to bring back her ashes. To get off the planet with the ashes, he becomes involved with poachers smuggling the whales' blood, which provides anti-gravity. Wanders a bit but a touching story of someone coming to terms with the person they love leaving them.
Human Error - Jay Lake **
A miner makes a potentially life-changing discovery has to deal with the two other members of her crew, one of whom believes she killed his partner. A standard story of people getting irrational dealing with massive wealth and heartbreak but not much depth beyond.
The Waiting Stars - Aliette De Bodard ****
Lovely story of two young women searching for and trying to restore the Mind ship of their great-great-aunt, intertwined with the life of a woman who has been "rescued" and rehomed from the Dai Viet to Galactic society. Touching depiction of life as a refugee, integrating into a new culture while always being aware of your old one, forming new relationships and loves but knowing you were taken from something else.
A woman hunts down a mass-murderer for punishment but gets stranded with him. Complicated by the "moss" on the planet he is hiding on, which gives people third person dreams that may reveal more about themselves than they want to know. Lots of questions of free will and predestination, the conflicts within individual people, which I liked, but the writing didn't quite carry it for me.
My Dear, Like The Sky And Stars And Sun - Julia K Patt ***
A biological modder (or "mod'r") specialising in tech to help abused women does some work for a mysterious young girl and gets in over her head with the corporations controlling the technology. Not much tension to the story but the world and the central relationship between Elspeth and Mari was well done.
Neptune's Trident - Nina Allan ***
Bleak post-apocalyptic story about a scavenger in Scotland where alien invasion/disease has begun to infect and take over people. Some overdone apocalypse tropes - charismatic preacher, etc - but the writing in general is strong and touching, albeit slow-moving. Given the title and the submarines mentioned, I read a critique of nuclear weapons here but the story stands without that layer.
The Ways Out - Sam J Miller **
A government agent monitors two "variants", people with various powers who are kept oppressed and controlled. The presentation as a series of reports didn't work for me, the increasing frequency and inconsistency of the redactions and corrections just felt messy by the end.
An Account Of The Sky Whales - A Que ****
After his ex dies, a man travels to the planet where she was working as a researcher to bring back her ashes. To get off the planet with the ashes, he becomes involved with poachers smuggling the whales' blood, which provides anti-gravity. Wanders a bit but a touching story of someone coming to terms with the person they love leaving them.
Human Error - Jay Lake **
A miner makes a potentially life-changing discovery has to deal with the two other members of her crew, one of whom believes she killed his partner. A standard story of people getting irrational dealing with massive wealth and heartbreak but not much depth beyond.
The Waiting Stars - Aliette De Bodard ****
Lovely story of two young women searching for and trying to restore the Mind ship of their great-great-aunt, intertwined with the life of a woman who has been "rescued" and rehomed from the Dai Viet to Galactic society. Touching depiction of life as a refugee, integrating into a new culture while always being aware of your old one, forming new relationships and loves but knowing you were taken from something else.