★★★☆☆ Honorable Mention
(Military SF) After 700 years of isolation, the colony faces invasion from fellow humans. Fleeing from the destruction of her home town, Senne hooks up with four soldiers trying to find what’s left of their unit. (9,216 words; Time: 30m)
"Fleeing Oslyge," by Sally Gwylan [bio] (edited by Neil Clarke), appeared in Clarkesworld issue 140, published on May 1, 2018.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: The story does a wonderful job of filling us in on the background without a single infodump. Simply through their actions, the five characters become clear and distinct, so by the climax, we know them all.
It’s interesting that the setting focuses entirely on members of the resistance. We never meet any of the invaders, and we only see their supporters in flashbacks.
Con: Although I agree with the conclusion at the end that the invaders must be fought from the camps by trying to disrupt their business plan, it seems pretty weak. If nothing else, other people must already be doing exactly that. It reduces the importance of these people and the sacrifices they’ve made to nothing.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 140)
Sally Gwylan Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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It’s interesting that the setting focuses entirely on members of the resistance. We never meet any of the invaders, and we only see their supporters in flashbacks.
Con: Although I agree with the conclusion at the end that the invaders must be fought from the camps by trying to disrupt their business plan, it seems pretty weak. If nothing else, other people must already be doing exactly that. It reduces the importance of these people and the sacrifices they’ve made to nothing.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 140)
Sally Gwylan Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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