★★★☆☆ Average
(Christian Fantasy) Miss Geneva is a very elderly black woman who assists with the church services on Sundays. But the church is dying, and her secret magical powers are dying with it. (2,628 words; Time: 08m)
"Early Morning Service," by Irette Y. Patterson [bio] (edited by Jane Crowley and Kate Dollarhyde), appeared in Strange Horizons issue 02/19/18, published on February 19, 2018.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: There’s probably a larger symbolic meaning, but superficially, Miss Geneva has been around since the time of slavery, doing little miracles for her community. But as people leave her traditional church for more modern things, her power has dwindled until she can’t even conjure a candy for a child. And she can no longer keep Satan at bay.
In her confrontation with the Prince of Darkness, she’s rescued by the gift of a little child, which gives her strength to keep up her fight.
Con: Is he really the Devil, or is he just the Angel of Death? It feels very much as though there’s a deeper symbolism here, but I’m just not seeing it.
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Irette Y. Patterson Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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In her confrontation with the Prince of Darkness, she’s rescued by the gift of a little child, which gives her strength to keep up her fight.
Con: Is he really the Devil, or is he just the Angel of Death? It feels very much as though there’s a deeper symbolism here, but I’m just not seeing it.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 02/19/18)
Irette Y. Patterson Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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