(Science Fantasy) As a physics grad student, Sophie researches mirrors as potential gateways to alternate realities. She shares her unexpected results. (4,839 words; Time: 16m)
Rating: ★★★★☆ Effective Fantasy in a Scientific Setting
"Reflected," by Kat Howard [bio] (edited by Dominik Parisien and Navah Wolfe), appeared in The Starlit Wood (RSR review), published on October 18, 2016 by Saga Press.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: Loosely inspired by the first story in The Snow Queen, by Hans Christian Andersen, this story is a fantasy placed in a scientific setting. As the story progresses, the fantastic element gets stronger and stronger until we’re not surprised that Sophie’s mental reflection on her love for Zack is enough to attract the attention of something powerful enough to send him back..
Con: Sophie is a terrible scientist. There’s no way they let her into grad school.
Readers of SF (especially hard SF) have very little tolerance for scientific inaccuracy. Anyone who reads this as hard SF is going to absolutely hate it.
Other Reviews: Search Web, GoodReads.com
Kat Howard Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Con: Sophie is a terrible scientist. There’s no way they let her into grad school.
Readers of SF (especially hard SF) have very little tolerance for scientific inaccuracy. Anyone who reads this as hard SF is going to absolutely hate it.
Other Reviews: Search Web, GoodReads.com
Kat Howard Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
The premise is clever, but I just could not engage with the characters.
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