★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended
(Alternate Reality) Ruth studies insects in an alternate reality where the giant insects from 50's horror movies are real. But the giant butterfly blocking the driveway is just an annoyance. So far. (4,100 words; Time: 13m)
"Butterflies," by Peter Wood [bio] (edited by Sheila Williams), appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction issue 01|15, published on November 3, 2014 by Penny Publications.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: The first part of the story works pretty well. There's a nice slipstream effect of everyone treating the butterfly the way they'd treat a rare moose or something.
Con: The interactions between Ruth and Professor Steiner are impossible to believe. She catches the man in a crime, yet doesn't report it? Even though she has every reason to hate him? He just shows up at the crime scene when she calls? Her solution to his problem didn't sound very realistic either--a virus that protects cells from radiation? Finally, the conclusion doesn't seem to follow from the events that led up to it. There was no clue at all that the insects were useful.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 01|15)
Peter Wood Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Con: The interactions between Ruth and Professor Steiner are impossible to believe. She catches the man in a crime, yet doesn't report it? Even though she has every reason to hate him? He just shows up at the crime scene when she calls? Her solution to his problem didn't sound very realistic either--a virus that protects cells from radiation? Finally, the conclusion doesn't seem to follow from the events that led up to it. There was no clue at all that the insects were useful.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 01|15)
Peter Wood Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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