★★★☆☆ Mixed
(Modern Fantasy Dystopia) The government wants to build affordable housing for the homeless, but it wants them to agree to quit using magic first. (6,924 words; Time: 23m)
"Toward a New Lexicon of Augury," by Sabrina Vourvoulias [bio] (edited by Jason Sizemore), appeared in Apex Magazine issue 114, published on November 6, 2018.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2018.665 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: The best part of the story is Alma’s accounts of her experiences—especially the bits about how members of the community helped each other out.
Her trick at the end to beat the government people is a clever one, using their own spell against them, even though she pays a very high price.
Con: This is a story about homeless people fighting for their right to live in cardboard boxes. That’s hard to get too excited about. The political content doesn’t entirely ruin the story, but it does detract from it.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 114)
Sabrina Vourvoulias Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
Pro: The best part of the story is Alma’s accounts of her experiences—especially the bits about how members of the community helped each other out.
Her trick at the end to beat the government people is a clever one, using their own spell against them, even though she pays a very high price.
Con: This is a story about homeless people fighting for their right to live in cardboard boxes. That’s hard to get too excited about. The political content doesn’t entirely ruin the story, but it does detract from it.
Other Reviews: Search Web, Browse Review Sites (Issue 114)
Sabrina Vourvoulias Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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