(Scientific Fantasy) In an alternate history where Rome never fell, a woman scientist clones herself and looks for ways to augment her creation. (5,082 words; Time: 16m)
Rating: ★★☆☆☆ Not Recommended
"The Destroyer," by Tara Isabella Burton [bio] (edited by Ann VanderMeer), published on April 20, 2016 by Tor.com.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: This is really the tragedy of the narrator's mother, who reaches too far and destroys everything. The narrator isn't really the protagonist.
Con: Even for a scientific fantasy, there are too many challenges to disbelief. For example, if the artificial eyes have vision, why don't the artificial limbs have feeling? If every part has been replaced, does that really include the brain too? If not, then how did the narrator escape the effect of the spores? And, at the end, if they had to atomize everything then wouldn't that include the narrator too?
And if Rome never fell, why are the people speaking modern Italian?
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 04/20/16)
Tara Isabella Burton Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB
Con: Even for a scientific fantasy, there are too many challenges to disbelief. For example, if the artificial eyes have vision, why don't the artificial limbs have feeling? If every part has been replaced, does that really include the brain too? If not, then how did the narrator escape the effect of the spores? And, at the end, if they had to atomize everything then wouldn't that include the narrator too?
And if Rome never fell, why are the people speaking modern Italian?
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 04/20/16)
Tara Isabella Burton Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB
What a bizarre mother-daughter love-hate relationship.
ReplyDelete(Btw, the editor is Ann VanderMeer. Ashley Mackenzie is the illustrator.)
Thanks for the correction. I've regenerated the review from the spreadsheet to replace the older, manually created review.
DeleteNice, I like the links for other reviews and author info.
Delete