★★★☆☆
(Alternate History) In an alternate world, a counsellor helps people with an unusual mental problem adjust to life in a world that finds them strange. (3,678 words; Time: 12m)
"Speaker to Emos," by Harry Turtledove [bio] (edited by Sheila Williams), appeared in Asimov's Science Fiction issue 07-08|19, published on June 15, 2019 by Penny Publications.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2019.376 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: I figured out the twist about half-way in. It’s pretty cute.
If you didn’t figure it out, this is an alternate universe where everything is more or less the same as in our universe except that almost everyone has Asperger’s syndrome. The therapist is treating people who’d have been considered normal in our world. It gives you a strong idea of what it might feel like for someone with Asperger’s in our world who might be resentful of being asked to try to fit in when he doesn’t really want to and doesn’t see why he has to.
Con: It’s a cute trick, but there’s nothing to the story beyond that.
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Pro: I figured out the twist about half-way in. It’s pretty cute.
If you didn’t figure it out, this is an alternate universe where everything is more or less the same as in our universe except that almost everyone has Asperger’s syndrome. The therapist is treating people who’d have been considered normal in our world. It gives you a strong idea of what it might feel like for someone with Asperger’s in our world who might be resentful of being asked to try to fit in when he doesn’t really want to and doesn’t see why he has to.
Con: It’s a cute trick, but there’s nothing to the story beyond that.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Harry Turtledove Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
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