★☆☆☆☆ Needs Improvement
(Fantasy Dystopia) Octavia and her sentient handbag spark an investigation as they try to pass through customs. (5,113 words; Time: 17m)
"The Quiltbag," by Ashok K. Banker [bio] (edited by John Joseph Adams), appeared in Lightspeed Magazine issue 97, published on June 1, 2018.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Pro: It’s a bit of a surprise to learn that Octavia’s purpose is to pass judgment on alternate realities. Not a surprise her name is Reaper.
It's kind of cool in a weird sort of way when we learn the quiltbag hasn't been trying to protect her--it's anxious for her to rule against this universe so it can eat it.
Con: It’s all message and no story. Big slabs of it are as-you-know-Bob infodumps. The idea that racism is genetic is abhorrent, and killing an entire universe just because of the actions of one person is incomprehensibly horrible.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 97)
Ashok K. Banker Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
It's kind of cool in a weird sort of way when we learn the quiltbag hasn't been trying to protect her--it's anxious for her to rule against this universe so it can eat it.
Con: It’s all message and no story. Big slabs of it are as-you-know-Bob infodumps. The idea that racism is genetic is abhorrent, and killing an entire universe just because of the actions of one person is incomprehensibly horrible.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 97)
Ashok K. Banker Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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