Saturday, June 4, 2016

Firebird, by Isha Karki

(Military SF) As a rare immigrant trainee, Percy needs to prove herself to her instructors at the Academy. What they have in mind for her is challenging indeed. (8,579 words)

Rating: 3, Unremarkable
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"Firebird," by appeared in the June 2016 issue of Lightspeed Magazine (Issue 73), published . This story is only available in paid copies of the magazine. It is not available online.

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

Pro: Although Percy sets out to prove herself, she ends up proving to herself that the Academy isn't worth selling her soul. She ends the story going to almost certain death, but it's still a victory of sorts.

Con: The Academy seems to be run by idiots. If they wanted to get rid of Firebird, why go to all that trouble to dump it on an island? Just put it to sleep. And why entrust the mission to a first-year immigrant? Yes, the story offers some "explanations" for this, but they don't wash.

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