Saturday, October 3, 2015

No Gain, by Aubry Kae Andersen

Analog Science Fiction and Fact, May 2015;  ~4,600 words
Rating: 4, Recommended

Maggie, a former champion gymnast, coaches a 16-year-old Uzbek, Sabina, who seems inhumanly focused on winning.

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Pro: Our knowledge of Sabina unrolls at just the right pace--as does our knowledge of the depth of Maggie's narcotic addiction. There's lots of tension and apprehension leading up to that final, disastrous performance. Reading this story is a powerful experience.

Con: We don't really build any emotional attachment to any of the characters. The threat to Maggie is hard to take seriously.

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