Thursday, May 2, 2019

Full Metal Mother, by Joe M. McDermott

[Analog]
★★★☆☆ Average

(Medical SF) Martin’s mother has pancreatic cancer, and the treatment involves replacing more and more of her body with prosthetics. (4,576 words; Time: 15m)


"Full Metal Mother," by (edited by Trevor Quachri), appeared in issue 05-06|19, published on by .

Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)

Review: 2019.227 (A Word for Authors)

Pro: The best parts of this story are the interactions between Martin and his mother. She doesn’t want to need help, but she does need it. He wants to help her, but he also resents doing it.

Martin’s response to his mother’s gradual transformation parallels the way the whole world has lost so many of its people. At one point he wonders if his own community is all that’s real.

Con: It’s rather confused in terms of plot. Martin needs to get his life in order, but he doesn’t really take steps in that direction. We’re told of his mom’s death 75% of the way through the story, and everything after that point seems purposeless.

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