★★☆☆☆
(Legal SF) In which we learn about a software package that can change the sex, race, orientation, etc. of the characters to make stories more inclusive. (2,115 words; Time: 07m)
"Booksavr," by Ken Liu [bio] (edited by C.C. Finlay), appeared in Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction issue 09-10|19, published on September 3, 2019 by Spilogale Inc.
Mini-Review (click to view--possible spoilers)
Review: 2019.521 (A Word for Authors)
Pro: For the most part, minorities in stories are represented by tokens anyway, so a program such as this one isn’t that far-fetched, especially if authors helped it by marking up their manuscripts.
Con: This isn’t a story; it’s like reading a blogger’s observations (and even the comments) about a product I’m not that interested in.
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Ken Liu Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
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Pro: For the most part, minorities in stories are represented by tokens anyway, so a program such as this one isn’t that far-fetched, especially if authors helped it by marking up their manuscripts.
Con: This isn’t a story; it’s like reading a blogger’s observations (and even the comments) about a product I’m not that interested in.
Other Reviews: Search Web
Ken Liu Info: Interviews, Websites, ISFDB, FreeSFOnline
Follow RSR on Twitter, Facebook, RSS, or E-mail.
I liked this a bit more than you did: it's not the most original thing in the world, but a story like this is all about tone, and that Liu gets exactly right: not just in the comments, but in the rather petulant blogger, who can't understand why this is the only topic that gets anyone to read his blog. (Sorry: blawg.)
ReplyDeleteAlthough I'm past the point where I automatically give 2 stars (or fewer) to plotless stories, they still have to make up that lack some other way. This one just didn't do it for me.
DeleteI agree with you about the tone, though; you could almost believe you were reading about a real product.